Long thin structures for generating an entangled flow restricting structure

Abstract

A wire includes a plurality of units. Each unit has a relatively stiff region joined to an intermediate region. The intermediate region has a varying stiffness along its length. The intermediate region is joined to a relatively pliable region.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wire comprising:
 a plurality of units, each unit having:
 a relatively stiff region joined to an intermediate region, the intermediate region having a varying stiffness along a length of the wire, and the intermediate region being joined to a relatively pliable region. 
   
     
     
         2 . The wire of  claim 1 , further comprising a stinger coupled to a distal end of the wire. 
     
     
         3 . The wire of  claim 2 , wherein the stinger further comprises a flexible body. 
     
     
         4 . The wire of  claim 2 , wherein the stinger further comprises a pair of flexure legs. 
     
     
         5 . The wire of  claim 4 , wherein the flexure legs comprise a shape memory alloy. 
     
     
         6 . The wire of  claim 2 , wherein the stinger includes a trigger switch that, when activated, causes the stinger to deploy. 
     
     
         7 . The wire of  claim 6 , wherein the stinger includes a torsion spring and a shell, in which activating the trigger switch causes the torsion spring to rotate the shell. 
     
     
         8 . The wire of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of entanglement-promoting features disposed along a body of the wire. 
     
     
         9 . The wire of  claim 8 , in which the plurality of entanglement-promoting features includes a hook disposed along the body of the wire. 
     
     
         10 . The wire of  claim 8 , in which the plurality of entanglement-promoting features includes a deformable beads disposed along the body of the wire. 
     
     
         11 . The wire of  claim 8 , in which the plurality of entanglement-promoting features includes regions of varying surface roughness along the body of the wire. 
     
     
         12 . The wire of  claim 8 , in which the plurality of entanglement-promoting features includes an entanglement-promoting coating. 
     
     
         13 . The wire of  claim 12 , in which the entanglement-promoting coating is creep-capable. 
     
     
         14 . The wire of  claim 12 , in which the entanglement-promoting coating is swellable. 
     
     
         15 . The wire of  claim 8 , in which the plurality of entanglement-promoting features includes a barb. 
     
     
         16 . The wire of  claim 1 , in which the wire is included as a discrete strand of a cable. 
     
     
         17 . The wire of  claim 1 , further comprising a creep-capable material contained in a hollow portion of the wire. 
     
     
         18 . The wire of  claim 13 , in which the creep-capable material is selected from the group consisting of: a thermoplastic, a thermoresin, a heat-activated polymer, a pressure sensitive adhesive, a temperature sensitive adhesive, and a polymer that can flow at temperatures above 50 degrees C. 
     
     
         19 . A wire having a distal end and a body comprising:
 a stinger coupled to the distal end of the wire, wherein the body of the wire has varying stiffness along the body.   
     
     
         20 . The wire of  claim 19 , in which the body includes at least two different materials. 
     
     
         21 . The wire of  claim 19 , in which the body includes a plurality of entanglement-promoting features. 
     
     
         22 . The wire of  claim 21 , in which the plurality of entanglement-promoting features includes a hook disposed along the body of the wire. 
     
     
         23 . The wire of  claim 21 , in which the plurality of entanglement-promoting features includes a bead disposed along the body of the wire. 
     
     
         24 . The wire of  claim 21 , in which the plurality of entanglement-promoting features includes regions of varying surface roughness along the body of the wire. 
     
     
         25 . The wire of  claim 21 , in which the plurality of entanglement-promoting features includes an entanglement-promoting coating. 
     
     
         26 . The wire of  claim 21 , in which the plurality of entanglement-promoting features includes a barb. 
     
     
         27 . The wire of  claim 19 , wherein the stinger further comprises a flexible body. 
     
     
         28 . The wire of  claim 19 , wherein the stinger further comprises a pair of flexure legs. 
     
     
         29 . The wire of  claim 28 , wherein the flexure legs comprise a shape memory alloy. 
     
     
         30 . The wire of  claim 19 , wherein the stinger includes a trigger switch that, when activated, causes the stinger to deploy. 
     
     
         31 . The wire of  claim 30 , wherein the stinger includes a torsion spring and a shell, in which activating the trigger switch causes the torsion spring to rotate the shell. 
     
     
         32 . A method of controlling fluid flow in a wellbore comprising:
 coating a wire with a coating selected from the group consisting of a creep-capable material and a swellable material, thereby forming a coated wire; and   continuously feeding the coated wire into the structure.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , in which the creep-capable material is selected from the group consisting of: a thermoplastic, a thermoresin, a heat-activated polymer, a pressure sensitive adhesive, a temperature sensitive adhesive, and a polymer that can flow at temperatures above 50 degrees C.