Multilateral fluid loss device employing degradable material

Abstract

Provided is a multilateral fluid loss device, a well system, and a method. The multilateral fluid loss device, in one aspect, includes a fluid loss device body, the fluid loss device body having a first end and a second end coupled together by a fluid passageway, and a plug member located in the fluid passageway, the plug member configured to move between a first position allowing fluid to traverse the fluid passageway as it travels from the first end to the second end and a second position preventing the fluid from traversing the fluid passageway as it travels from the first end to the second end. The multilateral fluid loss device, in this one aspect, may further include degradable material located within the fluid passageway and engaged with the plug member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multilateral fluid loss device, comprising:
 a fluid loss device body, the fluid loss device body having a first end and a second end coupled together by a fluid passageway;   a plug member located in the fluid passageway, the plug member configured to move between a first position allowing fluid to traverse the fluid passageway as it travels from the first end to the second end and a second position preventing the fluid from traversing the fluid passageway as it travels from the first end to the second end; and   degradable material located within the fluid passageway and engaged with the plug member, the degradable material preventing the plug member from moving to the second position, the degradable material configured to degrade over time and allow the plug member to move from the first position to the second position to prevent the fluid from traversing the fluid passageway as it travels from the first end to the second end.   
     
     
         2 . The multilateral fluid loss device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plug member is a flapper valve, the flapper valve configured to move to the second position and engage with a flapper valve seat after the degradable material had degraded to prevent the fluid from traversing the fluid passageway as it travels from the first end to the second end. 
     
     
         3 . The multilateral fluid loss device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plug member is a ball, the ball configured to move to the second position and engage with a ball seat after the degradable material had degraded to prevent the fluid from traversing the fluid passageway as it travels from the first end to the second end. 
     
     
         4 . The multilateral fluid loss device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the degradable material has one or more openings located therein, the one or more openings allowing fluid to pass through the degradable material as the degradable material prevents the plug member from moving to the second position. 
     
     
         5 . The multilateral fluid loss device as recited in  claim 1 , further including a delay coating surrounding the degradable material, the delay coating configured to increase a time needed for the degradable material to degrade. 
     
     
         6 . The multilateral fluid loss device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the degradable material is a metal based degradable material. 
     
     
         7 . The multilateral fluid loss device as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the metal based degradable material is an expandable metal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis and then degrade to allow the plug member to move from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         8 . The multilateral fluid loss device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the expandable metal is configured to expand in response to hydrolysis and after the hydrolysis has completed then degrade to allow the plug member to move from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         9 . The multilateral fluid loss device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the degradable material is a polymer based degradable material. 
     
     
         10 . The multilateral fluid loss device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid passageway has uphole and downhole diameter portions separated by a larger middle diameter portion, and further wherein the plug member is located in the larger middle diameter portion. 
     
     
         11 . A well system, comprising:
 a wellbore located within a subterranean formation; and   a multilateral fluid loss device located in the wellbore, the multilateral fluid loss device including:
 a fluid loss device body, the fluid loss device body having a first end and a second end coupled together by a fluid passageway; 
 a plug member located in the fluid passageway, the plug member configured to move between a first position allowing fluid to traverse the fluid passageway as it travels from the first end to the second end and a second position preventing the fluid from traversing the fluid passageway as it travels from the first end to the second end; and 
 degradable material located within the fluid passageway and engaged with the plug member, the degradable material preventing the plug member from moving to the second position, the degradable material configured to degrade over time and allow the plug member to move from the first position to the second position to prevent the fluid from traversing the fluid passageway as it travels from the first end to the second end. 
   
     
     
         12 . The well system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the plug member is a flapper valve, the flapper valve configured to move to the second position and engage with a flapper valve seat after the degradable material had degraded to prevent the fluid from traversing the fluid passageway as it travels from the first end to the second end. 
     
     
         13 . The well system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the plug member is a ball, the ball configured to move to the second position and engage with a ball seat after the degradable material had degraded to prevent the fluid from traversing the fluid passageway as it travels from the first end to the second end. 
     
     
         14 . The well system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the degradable material has one or more openings located therein, the one or more openings allowing fluid to pass through the degradable material as the degradable material prevents the plug member from moving to the second position. 
     
     
         15 . The well system as recited in  claim 11 , further including a delay coating surrounding the degradable material, the delay coating configured to increase a time needed for the degradable material to degrade. 
     
     
         16 . The well system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the degradable material is a metal based degradable material. 
     
     
         17 . The well system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the metal based degradable material is an expandable metal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis and then degrade to allow the plug member to move from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         18 . The well system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the expandable metal is configured to expand in response to hydrolysis and after the hydrolysis has completed then degrade to allow the plug member to move from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         19 . The well system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the degradable material is a polymer based degradable material. 
     
     
         20 . The well system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the fluid passageway has uphole and downhole diameter portions separated by a larger middle diameter portion, and further wherein the plug member is located in the larger middle diameter portion. 
     
     
         21 . The well system as recite in  claim 11 , wherein the wellbore is a main wellbore, and further including a multilateral whipstock assembly located in the main wellbore proximate a junction between the main wellbore and where a lateral wellbore is to be formed, wherein the multilateral fluid loss device is located within the multilateral whipstock assembly. 
     
     
         22 . A method for forming a well system, comprising:
 forming a wellbore within a subterranean formation; and   positioning a multilateral fluid loss device in the wellbore, the multilateral fluid loss device including:
 a fluid loss device body, the fluid loss device body having a first end and a second end coupled together by a fluid passageway; 
 a plug member located in the fluid passageway, the plug member configured to move between a first position allowing fluid to traverse the fluid passageway as it travels from the first end to the second end and a second position preventing the fluid from traversing the fluid passageway as it travels from the first end to the second end; and 
 degradable material located within the fluid passageway and engaged with the plug member, the degradable material preventing the plug member from moving to the second position, the degradable material configured to degrade over time and allow the plug member to move from the first position to the second position to prevent the fluid from traversing the fluid passageway as it travels from the first end to the second end. 
   
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 22 , further including circulating reactive fluid about the degradable material to allow the plug member to move from the first position to the second position to prevent the fluid from traversing the fluid passageway as it travels from the first end to the second end. 
     
     
         24 . The method as recite in  claim 23 , wherein the wellbore is a main wellbore, and further including a multilateral whipstock assembly located in the main wellbore proximate a junction between the main wellbore and where a lateral wellbore is to be formed, wherein the multilateral fluid loss device is located within the multilateral whipstock assembly.