Consumable Downhole Tools

Abstract

A downhole tool having a body or structural component comprises a material that is at least partially consumed when exposed to heat and a source of oxygen. The material may comprise a metal, such as magnesium, which is converted to magnesium oxide when exposed to heat and a source of oxygen. The downhole tool may further comprise a torch with a fuel load that produces the heat and source of oxygen when burned. The fuel load may comprise a flammable, non-explosive solid, such as thermite.

1 . A downhole tool, comprising:
 a torch body having a plurality of apertures disposed along a length of the torch body.   
   
   
       2 . The downhole tool according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sleeve disposed about the torch body;   wherein the sleeve prevents ingress of matter into the torch body through at least one of the plurality of apertures.   
   
   
       3 . The downhole tool according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sleeve disposed about the torch body, at least a portion of the sleeve being consumable through exposure to heat and a source of oxygen.   
   
   
       4 . The downhole tool according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sleeve disposed about the torch body, the sleeve comprising magnesium.   
   
   
       5 . The downhole tool according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of apertures is an elongated aperture being elongated along the length of the torch body. 
   
   
       6 . The downhole tool according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of apertures are disposed in a radial pattern about a central axis of the torch body. 
   
   
       7 . The downhole tool according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fuel load associated with the torch body, the fuel load being selectively convertible to plasma for passage through at least one of the plurality of apertures.   
   
   
       8 . The downhole tool according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a sleeve disposed about the torch body;   wherein the plasma perforates the sleeve when passed through at least some of the plurality of apertures.   
   
   
       9 . The downhole tool according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first set of radial patterns of apertures, adjacent radial patterns of the first set of radial patterns being substantially equally spaced from each other along the length of the torch body; and   a second set of radial patterns of apertures, adjacent radial patterns of the second set of radial patterns being substantially equally spaced from each other along the length of the torch body;   wherein the distance between the first set of radial patterns and the second set of radial patterns along the length of the torch body is larger than each of the distance between adjacent radial patterns of the first set of radial patterns and the distance between adjacent radial patterns of the second set of radial patterns.   
   
   
       10 . The downhole tool according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of apertures are disposed along a helical curve. 
   
   
       11 . A method for removing a downhole tool from a well bore, comprising:
 exposing a portion of the downhole tool to heat and water;   removing oxygen from the water; and   consuming the portion of the downhole tool using the oxygen removed from the water.   
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein consuming comprises burning or oxidizing. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the portion of the downhole tool comprises magnesium. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein consuming comprises converting magnesium to magnesium oxide. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 igniting a fuel load to produce at least some of the heat.   
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the fuel load comprises thermite. 
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 separating the fuel load and the water at least until a portion of the fuel load is ignited.   
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 converting the fuel load to plasma; and   exposing the consumable downhole tool to the plasma at least until the consumable downhole tool begins to oxidize at a self-sustaining rate.   
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 accelerating the oxidization of the consumable downhole tool using the oxygen removed from the water.   
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 directing the plasma through a plurality of apertures disposed along a length of the consumable downhole tool, thereby placing the plasma along the length of the consumable downhole tool.   
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the water is naturally occurring in situ within the well bore. 
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the water is a component of a well bore servicing fluid. 
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein the downhole tool is substantially consumed.