Plugging device deployment in subterranean wells

Abstract

A method of deploying plugging devices can include conveying a bottom hole assembly into a well, the bottom hole assembly comprising a plug deployment tool, and actuating the plug deployment tool, thereby dispensing at least one of the plugging devices from an interior of the plug deployment tool. A plug deployment tool can include a first chamber, a valve that isolates the first chamber from a second chamber, multiple plugging devices contained in an outer housing, and a piston that displaces one or more of the plugging devices out of the outer housing in response to the valve being opened. The second chamber can be disposed in the piston and can displace with the piston in response to the valve being opened.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of deploying plugging devices into a subterranean well, the method comprising:
 conveying a bottom hole assembly into the well, the bottom hole assembly comprising a plug deployment tool; and   actuating the plug deployment tool, thereby dispensing at least one of the plugging devices from an interior of the plug deployment tool into the well.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the actuating the plug deployment tool comprises opening a valve that selectively permits and prevents flow of fluid from a first chamber to a second chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , in which the conveying comprises the first chamber being pressurized by hydrostatic pressure in the well. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , in which the actuating the plug deployment tool comprises the first chamber being at a greater fluid pressure than the second chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , in which the opening the valve comprises displacing a piston of the plug deployment tool, thereby pushing the at least one of the plugging devices from the interior of the plug deployment tool. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , in which the displacing the piston comprises displacing the second chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , in which the second chamber is disposed in the piston. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , in which the displacing the piston comprises displacing the valve. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , in which the valve is disposed in the piston. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the actuating the plug deployment tool comprises operating a fluid pump of the plug deployment tool. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , in which the plug deployment tool comprises a first piston positioned in an outer housing, and in which the operating the fluid pump comprises pumping fluid into the outer housing and thereby displacing the first piston to dispense the plugging devices from the outer housing. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , in which the plug deployment tool further comprises a second piston, the fluid being contained between the fluid pump and the second piston. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , in which the first and second pistons are pressure balanced. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising fracturing a formation of the well, and in which the actuating the plug deployment tool is performed after the fracturing. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the bottom hole assembly further comprises a perforator, and further comprising connecting the plug deployment tool downhole of the perforator. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the bottom hole assembly further comprises a perforator, and further comprising connecting the plug deployment tool uphole of the perforator. 
     
     
         17 . A plug deployment tool for use with a subterranean well, the plug deployment tool comprising:
 a first chamber;   a valve that isolates the first chamber from a second chamber;   multiple plugging devices contained in an outer housing; and   a piston configured to displace at least one of the plugging devices out of the outer housing in response to the valve being opened, the second chamber being disposed in the piston.   
     
     
         18 . The plug deployment tool of  claim 17 , further comprising a fluid metering device configured to meter fluid flow into the second chamber in response to the valve being opened. 
     
     
         19 . The plug deployment tool of  claim 17 , in which the second chamber is configured to displace with the piston in response to the valve being opened. 
     
     
         20 . The plug deployment tool of  claim 17 , further comprising a control system to control operation of the valve, the control system being electrically connected to the valve via at least one conductor that extends through a conveyance connected to the plug deployment tool. 
     
     
         21 . The plug deployment tool of  claim 17 , in which the valve is disposed in the piston. 
     
     
         22 . The plug deployment tool of  claim 17 , in which the valve is configured to displace with the piston in response to the valve being opened. 
     
     
         23 . A plug deployment tool for use with a subterranean well, the plug deployment tool comprising:
 a first chamber;   a valve that isolates the first chamber from a second chamber;   multiple plugging devices contained in an outer housing; and   a piston configured to displace at least one of the plugging devices out of the outer housing in response to the valve being opened,   in which the second chamber is configured to displace with the piston in response to the valve being opened.   
     
     
         24 . The plug deployment tool of  claim 23 , further comprising a fluid metering device configured to meter fluid flow into the second chamber in response to the valve being opened. 
     
     
         25 . The plug deployment tool of  claim 23 , in which the second chamber is disposed in the piston. 
     
     
         26 . The plug deployment tool of  claim 23 , further comprising a control system to control operation of the valve, the control system being electrically connected to the valve via at least one conductor that extends through a conveyance connected to the plug deployment tool. 
     
     
         27 . The plug deployment tool of  claim 23 , in which the valve is disposed in the piston. 
     
     
         28 . The plug deployment tool of  claim 23 , in which the valve is configured to displace with the piston in response to the valve being opened. 
     
     
         29 . The plug deployment tool of  claim 23 , in which the piston is configured to displace less than all of the plugging devices out of the outer housing in response to the valve being opened.