Voltage to accelerate/decelerate expandable metal

Abstract

Provided is a method for setting a downhole tool, and a downhole tool, and a well system employing the same. The method, in at least one aspect, includes positioning a downhole tool within a wellbore, the downhole tool including expandable metal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis, and subjecting the expandable metal to a wellbore fluid to expand the expandable metal into contact with one or more surfaces. The method, in at least one aspect, further includes applying a voltage to the expandable metal while the expandable metal is being subjected to the wellbore fluid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A downhole tool, comprising:
 a downhole conductive feature;   expandable metal positioned proximate the downhole conductive feature, the expandable metal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis;   a first electrode coupled to the expandable metal and operable to couple to a first connection of a power source, and thereby provide a voltage to the expandable metal; and   a second electrode coupled to the downhole conductive feature and operable to couple to a second connection of the power source.   
     
     
         2 . The downhole tool as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the downhole conductive feature is conductive tubing positionable within a wellbore. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole tool as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the expandable metal is a first expandable metal feature and the downhole conductive feature is a second expandable metal feature. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole tool as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the first expandable metal feature and the second expandable metal feature are positioned radially about a conductive tubular. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole tool as recited in  claim 4 , further including one or more electrical insulators physically separating at least one of the first expandable metal feature and the second expandable from the conductive tubular. 
     
     
         6 . A well system, comprising:
 a wellbore extending through one or more subterranean formations;   a power source, the power source including a first connection and a second connection; and   a downhole tool located within the wellbore, the downhole tool including;
 a downhole conductive feature; 
 expandable metal positioned proximate the downhole conductive feature, the expandable metal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis; 
 a first electrode coupled between the expandable metal and the first connection of the power source, the first electrode operable to provide a voltage to the expandable metal; and 
 a second electrode coupled between the downhole conductive feature and the second connection of the power source. 
   
     
     
         7 . The well system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the downhole conductive feature is conductive tubing positioned within the wellbore. 
     
     
         8 . The well system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the expandable metal is a first expandable metal feature and the downhole conductive feature is a second expandable metal feature. 
     
     
         9 . The well system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the first expandable metal feature and the second expandable metal feature are positioned radially about a conductive tubular. 
     
     
         10 . The well system as recited in  claim 8 , further including one or more electrical insulators physically separating at least one of the first expandable metal feature and the second expandable from the conductive tubular. 
     
     
         11 . The well system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the power source is a downhole battery power supply. 
     
     
         12 . The well system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the power source is a downhole power generator. 
     
     
         13 . The well system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the power source is an uphole power source, and further including an electric line extending from the uphole power source to the downhole tool. 
     
     
         14 . The well system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the electric line is a tubing encapsulate conductor (TEC). 
     
     
         15 . The well system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the downhole tool is a downhole tool is a packer. 
     
     
         16 . The well system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the downhole tool is a downhole anchor.