Smart fluid completions, isolations, and safety systems

Abstract

Systems and related methods are disclosed for applying electrorheological fluids in hydro-carbon-producing environments. The systems include a fluid-retaining member having a conductive inner surface and a conductive outer surface. The fluid-retaining member retains a smart fluid. The systems also include a controller that is electrically coupled to a power source and at least one of the conductive inner surface and conductive outer surface of the fluid-retaining member to actuate an electric field or magnetic field across fluid-retaining member. Actuation of the electric field or magnetic field results in a near instantaneous increase in the viscosity of the fluid, causing the fluid to solidify, nearly solidify, gel or otherwise increase in viscosity. The actuated fluid retaining member may be used as a well casing, an isolator, a blowout inhibitor, or in a well insulation system to absorb energy in the event of an explosion.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for use in a wellbore, the system comprising:
 a fluid-retaining member having an inner surface and an outer surface, the fluid-retaining member being operable to retain a smart fluid;   a controller, the controller being electrically coupled to at least one of the inner surface and outer surface of the fluid-retaining member and operable to actuate a field between the inner surface and outer surface of the fluid-retaining member;   a surface control subsystem communicatively coupled to the controller and operable actuate the controller.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the field is an electric field. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the field is a magnetic field. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid-retaining member is selected from the group consisting of a sponge, a lattice, and a hollow cylindrical structure. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid-retaining member is prefilled with the smart fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid delivery system for the smart fluid to the fluid-retaining member. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a smart fluid disposed within the fluid-retaining member, the smart fluid being operable to solidify in response to the actuation of the field; and   a pressure sensor coupled to at least one of the controller and the surface control, the pressure sensor being operable to monitor a pressure within the wellbore downhole from the fluid-retaining member,   wherein the fluid-retaining member forms a blowout inhibitor in response to the actuation of the field.   
     
     
         8 . A method for forming a temporary fluid-restraining member in a wellbore, the method comprising:
 providing a fluid-retaining member having an inner surface and an outer surface within a wellbore, the fluid-retaining member being operable to retain a smart fluid;   providing a controller, the controller being electrically coupled to at least one of the inner surface and outer surface of the fluid-retaining member; and   actuating a field between the inner surface and outer surface of the fluid-retaining member.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the smart fluid comprises a magnetorheological fluid and the field comprises a magnetic field. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the smart fluid comprises an electrorheological fluid and the field comprises an electric field. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the fluid-retaining member is selected from the group consisting of a sponge, a lattice, and a hollow cylindrical structure. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising prefilling the fluid-retaining structure with a smart fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising delivering a smart fluid to the fluid-retaining member in response to receiving a control signal at the controller. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising causing a smart fluid disposed within the fluid-retaining member to solidify in response to the actuation of the field. 
     
     
         15 . A wellhead insulation system comprising:
 at least one fluid-retaining member having an inner surface and an outer surface;   a power source operable to actuate a field between the inner surface and outer surface of the fluid-retaining member; and   a smart fluid disposed within the fluid-retaining member, the smart fluid being operable to solidify in response to the field.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the smart fluid comprises a magnetorheological fluid and wherein the field comprises a magnetic field. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the smart fluid comprises an electrorheological fluid and wherein the field comprises an electric field. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one fluid-retaining member comprises a cylindrical member that forms a circumferential barrier around the wellhead. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one fluid-retaining member comprises a series of structures arranged in segments to form a barrier around a wellhead. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a controller, the controller being electrically coupled to the power source and at least one of the inner surface and outer surface of the fluid-retaining member and operable to actuate an electric field between the inner surface and outer surface of the fluid-retaining member; and   a pressure sensor coupled to the controller, the pressure sensor being operable to monitor a pressure within a well downhole from the wellhead, wherein   the controller is operable to generate a control signal that results in actuation of the electric field in response to determining that the pressure within the well is greater than a pre-determined threshold rate.