Materials with environmental degradability, methods of use and making

Abstract

A valve device for restricting flow is provided that includes a degradable portion. A method of temporarily blocking flow is also provided which includes a degradable portion of an oilfield element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A valve device for at least partially obstructing flow, the valve device comprising:
 a valve body portion;   a securing portion of the valve body portion configured to securely position the valve body portion in a predetermined location;   a valve seat portion of the valve body portion;   an obstructing portion configured to engage against the valve seat portion and restrict flow therepast; and   a degradable portion of the valve body portion configured to degrade when exposed to specific environmental conditions.   
     
     
         2 . The valve device of  claim 1 , wherein the degradable portion includes the valve body portion. 
     
     
         3 . The valve device of  claim 2 , wherein the degradable portion further includes the obstructing portion. 
     
     
         4 . The valve device of  claim 1 , wherein the degradable portion includes the securing portion so that, upon degradation thereof, the valve body portion is no longer secured in the predetermined location. 
     
     
         5 . The valve device of  claim 4 , wherein the securing portion is a bolt member. 
     
     
         6 . The valve device of  claim 1 , wherein the degradable portion comprises aluminum. 
     
     
         7 . The valve device of  claim 6 , wherein the degradable portion comprises magnesium. 
     
     
         8 . The valve device of  claim 6 , wherein the degradable portion comprises zinc. 
     
     
         9 . The valve device of  claim 6 , wherein the degradable portion comprises a non-metal. 
     
     
         10 . A method of temporarily blocking flow in a well bore, the method comprising:
 positioning an oilfield element in a wellbore to block fluid flow therepast;   exposing the oilfield element to a wellbore condition; and   degrading a degradable portion of the oilfield element so as to allow fluid flow to resume therepast.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein positioning an oilfield element in a wellbore to block fluid flow therepast includes positioning a valve body portion of a valve device within a wellbore, the valve body portion having a valve seat portion;
 placing a blocking portion of the valve device in the wellbore configured to engage the valve seat portion and block fluid therepast; and   engaging the valve seat portion of the valve body portion with the blocking portion to block fluid flow therepast.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the blocking portion is a ball. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the degradable portion of the oilfield element is the valve device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the degradable portion of the oilfield element is the valve seat portion. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the degradable portion of the oilfield element is the valve body portion. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the degradable portion is an engaging portion of the valve body portion configured to secure the valve body portion within the wellbore. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , including releasing a chemical from the degradable portion upon the degradation thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the chemical released from the degradable portion is selected to provide an identifiable signature within the wellbore fluids detectable by a downhole sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  including verifying degradation of the degradable portion by the downhole sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the oilfield element is a packer.