Methods and systems for selectively restricting fluid flowing through a downhole tool

Abstract

A bottom set frac plug including an object with an embedded blocking device, wherein the embedded blocking device is configured to form an initial seal across the object, allow communication through the object, be repositioned across the object to once again restrict communication through the object based on fluid flowing in a first direction, and be permanently disengaged from the object based on fluid flowing in a second direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A downhole tool comprising:
 an object configured to selectively form a seal across a passageway within a tubular to isolate communication between a first area and a second area during a first procedure that flows fluid in a first direction, the object maintains the seal across the passageway after being activated, and the object being configured to release the seal after activating the object by flowing fluid in a second direction, wherein the first procedure activates the object;   a control chamber with a proximal end in communication with the first area and a distal end in communication with the second area;   a device positioned within the control chamber, the device being configured to limit movement of the object when the device is intact and allow movement of the object when the device is broken;   wherein the device includes a lower portion, an upper portion, the device being configured to break between the lower portion and the upper portion.   
     
     
         2 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the device is a unitary piece before shearing, and
 the device breaks into to at least two pieces after being sheared.   
     
     
         3 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the device is a shaft being configured to allow the object to rotate before activating the object. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the object is a flapper. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the control chamber is radially offset from the passageway. 
     
     
         6 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion is configured to form the seal across the control chamber before and after the device is broken. 
     
     
         7 . The downhole tool of  claim 6 , wherein the breakable portions are configured to break based on a pressure differential between the first area and the second area. 
     
     
         8 . The downhole tool of  claim 7 , wherein the upper portion is configured to be positioned within control chamber when the device is intact, and the upper portion can freely move in second direction after the device is broken. 
     
     
         9 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein an entirety of the object and the shaft can freely move uphole after the device is broken. 
     
     
         10 . The downhole tool of  claim 9 , wherein coarse fluid is configured to flow through the inner diameter of the downhole tool to erode the downhole tool from the inside out after the sharable device is broken and the object moves uphole. 
     
     
         11 . The downhole tool of  claim 10 , wherein the downhole tool is a frac plug with slips that are configured to engage casing. 
     
     
         12 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first seat positioned within the tubular and a second seat positioned within the tubular, the first seat having a first inner diameter, and the second seat having a second inner diameter, the second inner diameter being smaller than the first inner diameter;   an embedded blocking device positioned within the object, wherein the object and the embedded blocking device are configured to form the seal across the first seat.   
     
     
         13 . The downhole tool of  claim 12 , wherein the embedded blocking device is configured to be sheared from the object to form a second seal across the second seat. 
     
     
         14 . The downhole tool of  claim 13 , wherein the embedded blocking device is configured to be sheared based on a pressure differential between the first area and the second area. 
     
     
         15 . The downhole tool of  claim 14 , wherein the embedded blocking device is configured to be removed from the second seat based on fluid flowing a second direction. 
     
     
         16 . A downhole tool comprising:
 an object configured to selectively form a seal across a passageway within a tubular to isolate communication between a first area and a second area during a first procedure in which fluid flows in a first direction;   a control chamber having a proximal end in communication with the first area and a distal end in communication with the second area; and   an element within the control chamber, the element being configured to restrict movement of the object when intact and to allow movement of the object element when the element is broken or activated;   wherein the control chamber is configured to transition from a sealed state to an unsealed state without requiring removal of the downhole tool from the wellbore.   
     
     
         17 . The tool of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a communication conduit extending between the passageway and the distal end of the control chamber, the conduit configured to communicate pressure from below the object or valve element into the control chamber to apply a differential across the element.   
     
     
         18 . The tool of  claim 16 , wherein the control chamber comprises a proximal portion with a larger diameter and a distal portion with a smaller diameter, the element being positioned to travel within the distal portion upon breaking. 
     
     
         19 . The tool of  claim 16 , wherein the element is configured to break at a first pressure differential and thereafter maintain pressure integrity up to a higher second pressure to allow a fracturing operation. 
     
     
         20 . The tool of  claim 16 , wherein the object comprises a flapper, disc, ball, or sleeve, configured to form a primary seal across a first seat and to allow bi-directional flow after the shearing device is broken.