Temperature dependent swelling of a swellable material
US8459366B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 8, 2011 |
| Grant date | Jun 11, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 18, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B33/1208
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A swellable packer can include a material which swells when contacted with a swelling fluid, and a barrier comprising a highly crystalline polymer which is substantially impermeable to the swelling fluid. A method of controlling swelling of a material can include positioning the material and a barrier in a well, the barrier preventing contact between the material and a swelling fluid, the barrier comprising a polymer, and increasing a permeability of the barrier to the swelling fluid in response to the barrier polymer being heated to its crystallization temperature. A well system can include a material which swells in response to contact with a hydrocarbon gas, and a barrier which comprises a crystalline polymer, the polymer being substantially impermeable to the hydrocarbon gas, whereby the polymer initially prevents swelling of the material, but the polymer becomes increasingly permeable to the hydrocarbon gas when heated to its crystallization temperature.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.