Swelling acceleration using inductively heated and embedded particles in a subterranean tool

摘要

The swelling rate of a swelling packer element or a conforming foam screen material is accelerated with heat. Ferromagnetic particles or electrically conductive resins or polymers are interspersed in the swelling material and heat is generated at the particles by an inductive heater. A dielectric mandrel or base pipe can be used to focus the heating effect on the ferromagnetic particles or the electrically conductive resins or polymers in the sealing element or swelling foam screen element to focus the heating there without heating the base pipe. The heat accelerates the swelling process.

主权项

1. A method of acceleration of swelling of at least one element made of a swelling material and having particles of a different material at a subterranean location, comprising:
forming said swelling material with randomly spaced embedded particles;
locating said at least one element on a mandrel and placing said mandrel adjacent at least one said subterranean location using a tubular string; andgenerating heat within said at least one element at the subterranean location by energizing said particles in said at least one element with an axially movable source for a field within the mandrel that is selectively positioned adjacent said at least one element after said at least one element is located at a subterranean location to accelerate element swelling by said particles at the subterranean location;articulating said source for a field to move radially closer to said tubular string when said source for a field is adjacent said element.