Systems and Methods for Plugging an Oil Well

Abstract

A plug assembly for opening a subterranean wellbore comprises a tubular housing and a first frangible element comprising an activation component. The first frangible element has a first orifice in an uphole side that extends at least partially through the first frangible element. The activation component initially seals the first orifice to prevent fluid communication from the uphole side of the first frangible element with the first orifice. After the activation component is activated, fluid communication is enabled from the uphole side of the first frangible element with the first orifice.

1 . A plug assembly for opening a subterranean wellbore, the plug assembly comprising:
 a tubular housing having an uphole end and a downhole end and configured for internal fluid communication from the uphole end to the downhole end;   a first frangible element disposed in the tubular housing, the first frangible element having a first orifice in an uphole side of the first frangible element, wherein the first orifice extends at least partially through the first frangible element; and   an activation component configured for sealing the first orifice and located at the uphole side of the first frangible element, wherein the activation component initially seals the first orifice to prevent fluid communication from the uphole side of the first frangible element with the first orifice, and wherein, after the activation component is activated, the activation component enables fluid communication from the uphole side of the first frangible element with the first orifice.   
     
     
         2 . The plug assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first frangible element is a glass disc. 
     
     
         3 . The plug assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first orifice extends completely through the first frangible element. 
     
     
         4 . The plug assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first orifice is located off-center of the first frangible element. 
     
     
         5 . The plug assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the activation component is a burst disc. 
     
     
         6 . The plug assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first frangible element is disposed on a beveled seat in the tubular housing. 
     
     
         7 . The plug assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 first support media located in the tubular housing downhole from the first frangible element, wherein an uphole side of the first support media is in physical contact with a downhole side of the first frangible element, wherein the first support media further comprises a first fluid passageway through the first support media, and wherein the first support media is configured for disintegrating when a fluid passes through the first fluid passageway.   
     
     
         8 . The plug assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first support media is housed in a first tapered cavity in the tubular housing, and wherein the first support media is correspondingly tapered to the first tapered cavity to enable detention of the first support media in the first tapered cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The plug assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second frangible element located on a beveled seat formed in the tubular housing, wherein the second frangible element is in physical contact with a downhole surface of the first frangible element.   
     
     
         10 . The plug assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the second frangible element comprises a second orifice that extends partially through the second frangible element. 
     
     
         11 . The plug assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the second orifice is aligned with the first orifice. 
     
     
         12 . The plug assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the second frangible element comprises a glass disc. 
     
     
         13 . The plug assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a conformal layer located between the first frangible element and the second frangible element, wherein the conformal layer maintains physical contact with both the first frangible element and the second frangible element.   
     
     
         14 . The plug assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 second support media located in the tubular housing downhole from the first support media, wherein an uphole side of the second support media is in physical contact with a downhole side of the first support media; and   a third frangible element located in the tubular housing and enabled to seal the tubular housing to prevent the internal fluid communication, the third frangible element having a third orifice in an uphole side of the third frangible element, wherein the third orifice extends partially through the third frangible element, and wherein an uphole side of the third frangible element is in physical contact with a downhole side of the second support media.   
     
     
         15 . The plug assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the second support media is housed in a second tapered cavity in the tubular housing, wherein the second support media is correspondingly tapered to the second tapered cavity to enable detention of the second support media in the second tapered cavity, and wherein the second tapered cavity is tapered in an opposite orientation to the first tapered cavity. 
     
     
         16 . A method of enabling fluid communication through a subterranean wellbore using a plug assembly, the method comprising:
 after installing a plug assembly in a subterranean wellbore, the plug assembly being installed in an initial condition that seals the subterranean wellbore to prevent fluid communication through the subterranean wellbore, the method further comprising:
 responsive to an increase in pressure of a fluid above a threshold pressure value at an uphole side of the plug assembly, activating an activation component located in a tubular housing of the plug assembly, the tubular housing enabling fluid communication with the fluid and the activation component; 
 upon activating the activation component, subjecting a first orifice extending at least partially through a first frangible element to the pressure from the fluid, wherein prior to the activating, the activation component is configured to seal the first orifice from the fluid; and 
 responsive to the pressure of the fluid impacting the first orifice, causing the fluid to penetrate the first frangible element at the first orifice, wherein the first frangible element is shattered. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the activation component and the first orifice are centered on the tubular housing. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the activation component and the first orifice are located eccentrically with respect to the tubular housing. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first frangible element is a glass disc. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the activation component is a burst disc. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first frangible element is disposed on a beveled seat in the tubular housing. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 causing the fluid under the pressure to flow through a first fluid passageway of first support media in physical contact with the first frangible element, wherein the first fluid passageway is aligned with the first orifice, and wherein the fluid disintegrates the first support media until the first support media is flushed downhole by the fluid; and   after the first support media is removed, flushing the first frangible element downhole by the fluid, wherein the tubular housing is fully opened to enable the fluid communication through the tubular housing.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the first support media is housed in a first tapered cavity in the tubular housing, and wherein the first support media is correspondingly tapered to the first tapered cavity to enable detention of the first support media in the first tapered cavity. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 causing the fluid under the pressure to impact a second frangible element in physical contact with the first frangible element, wherein the fluid impacts the second frangible element at the location of the first orifice, and wherein the fluid disintegrates the second frangible element until the second frangible element is flushed downhole by the fluid; and   after the second frangible element is removed, flushing the first frangible element downhole by the fluid, wherein the tubular housing is fully opened to enable the fluid communication through the subterranean wellbore.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the second frangible element includes a second orifice that extends partially through the second frangible element, wherein the second orifice is aligned with the first orifice. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the second frangible element is a glass disc seated on a beveled seat formed in the tubular housing. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 causing the fluid under the pressure to flow through a second fluid passageway of second support media in physical contact with the first support media, wherein the second fluid passageway is in fluid communication with the first fluid passageway;   upon the fluid under the pressure flowing through the second fluid passageway, subjecting a second orifice extending partially through a second frangible element to the pressure from the fluid, wherein the second frangible element is shattered and flushed downhole by the fluid;   responsive to the second frangible element being shattered, causing the fluid under pressure to disintegrate the second support media and the first support media until the second support media and the first support media are flushed downhole by the fluid; and   after the second support media and the first support media are removed, flushing the first frangible element downhole by the fluid, wherein the tubular housing is fully opened to enable the fluid communication through the subterranean wellbore.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the second support media is housed in a second tapered cavity in the tubular housing, wherein the second support media is correspondingly tapered to the second tapered cavity to enable detention of the second support media in the second tapered cavity, and wherein the second tapered cavity is tapered in an opposite orientation to the first tapered cavity.