Frac-ball with exothermic reaction constituents

Abstract

A frac-ball, a system including the frac-ball, and a method using the frac-ball are provided. The frac-ball includes a body and an exothermic reaction initiator. The frac-ball body includes a material having at least two dissimilar metallic constituents, which dissimilar metallic constituents are configured to permit an exothermic reaction there between. The exothermic reaction initiator is in communication with the body, and is configured to selectively initiate an exothermic reaction between the two dissimilar metallic constituents.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A frac-ball, comprising:
 a body comprising a material having at least two dissimilar metallic constituents, which dissimilar metallic constituents are configured to permit an exothermic reaction there between; and   an exothermic reaction initiator in communication with the body, the exothermic reaction initiator configured to selectively initiate an exothermic reaction between the two dissimilar metallic constituents.   
     
     
         2 . The frac-ball of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two dissimilar metallic constituents are configured to participate in an alloying reaction there between upon being subjected to an input from the exothermic reaction initiator. 
     
     
         3 . The frac-ball of  claim 2 , wherein the at least two dissimilar metallic constituents are present within the material in relative amounts sufficient to sustain the exothermic reaction. 
     
     
         4 . The frac-ball of  claim 2 , wherein the at least two dissimilar metallic constituents include an aluminum metallic constituent and a magnesium metallic constituent. 
     
     
         5 . The frac-ball of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a shell configuration with an interior cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The frac-ball of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a solid body configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The frac-ball of  claim 1  wherein the exothermic reaction initiator includes a trigger mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . A well casing segmentation system, comprising:
 a segmentation device; and   a frac-ball having:
 a body comprising a material having at least two dissimilar metallic constituents, which dissimilar metallic constituents are configured to permit an exothermic reaction there between; and 
 an exothermic reaction initiator in communication with the body, the exothermic reaction initiator configured to selectively initiate an exothermic reaction between the two dissimilar metallic constituents; 
   wherein the frac-ball is configured to function as a seal within the segmentation device disposed in a well casing environment prior to an exothermic reaction, and subsequent to an exothermic reaction is incapable of functioning as a seal within the segmentation device disposed in the well casing environment.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least two dissimilar metallic constituents are configured to participate in an alloying reaction there between upon being subjected to an input from the exothermic reaction initiator. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least two dissimilar metallic constituents are present within the material in relative amounts sufficient to sustain the exothermic reaction. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least two dissimilar metallic constituents include an aluminum metallic constituent and a magnesium metallic constituent. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the body has a shell configuration with an interior cavity. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the body has a solid body configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the exothermic reaction initiator includes a trigger mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . A method of operating a segmentation device disposed within a well casing, comprising:
 providing a segmentation device and a frac-ball, wherein the frac-ball includes a body comprising a material having at least two dissimilar metallic constituents, which dissimilar metallic constituents are configured to permit an exothermic reaction there between, and an exothermic reaction initiator in communication with the body, the exothermic reaction initiator configured to selectively initiate an exothermic reaction between the two dissimilar metallic constituents;   disposing the frac-ball in communication with the segmentation device to create a fluidic seal within the segmentation device, wherein said fluidic seal substantially prevents fluid flow through the segmentation device; and   selectively actuating the exothermic reaction initiator to initiate an exothermic reaction between the at least two dissimilar metallic constituents.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least two dissimilar metallic constituents are configured to participate in an alloying reaction there between upon the exothermic reaction initiator being selectively actuated. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least two dissimilar metallic constituents include an aluminum metallic constituent and a magnesium metallic constituent. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the exothermic reaction initiator includes a trigger mechanism that includes one or more of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and a timing device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising using the trigger mechanism to sense pressure within a well casing environment and actuating the trigger mechanism upon sensing a well casing environment pressure at or above a predetermined pressure. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising using the trigger mechanism to sense temperature within a well casing environment and actuating the trigger mechanism upon sensing a well casing environment temperature at or above a predetermined temperature. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising using the trigger mechanism to determine an amount of time passing subsequent to an occurrence of a predetermined event, and actuating the trigger mechanism upon a determination of a predetermined amount of time passing subsequent to the predetermined event.