Soluble Plug Usable Downhole

Abstract

Soluble plugs are usable downhole to block fluid flow, but dissolve in response to contact with fluid to allow fluid flow. Some aspects can involve a plug assembly including a housing and a plug. The housing can be positioned in a flow path in a wellbore. The plug can be positioned in an inner area of the housing for preventing fluid flow between a first part of the flow path and a second part of the flow path. The plug can include a solid material for at least partially dissolving in response to contact with a fluid to allow fluid flow between the first part and the second part.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plug assembly comprising:
 a housing positionable in a flow path in a wellbore; and   a plug positionable in a first position in an inner area of the housing for preventing fluid flow between a first part of the flow path and a second part of the flow path, the plug comprising a solid material for at least partially dissolving in response to contact with a fluid to allow the fluid flow between the first part and the second part.   
     
     
         2 . The plug assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a divider in the inner area of the housing for fluidly sealing the plug from at least one of the first part and the second part while the plug is in the inner area of the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The plug assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the divider comprises a natural rubber for retaining an inert fluid between the divider and the plug. 
     
     
         4 . The plug assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a sleeve within the inner area of the housing for responding to a threshold amount of pressure by penetrating the divider to allow the fluid to contact the solid material. 
     
     
         5 . The plug assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a pin coupling the plug to the housing and for responding to a threshold amount of pressure against the plug by shearing to allow the plug to move to a second position. 
     
     
         6 . The plug assembly of  claim 5 , wherein a first surface of the solid material is coated with a substance for fluidly sealing the solid material from at least one of the first part or the second part while the plug is in the first position, and a second surface of the solid material is exposable to the fluid in the second position. 
     
     
         7 . The plug assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a section of the plug extends into a groove in an inner surface of the housing for preventing the plug from moving to a second position. 
     
     
         8 . The plug assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first part of the flow path is in the inner area of the housing, the second part of the flow path is external to the housing, and the plug is positionable to prevent the fluid flow through an opening in the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The plug assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the solid material is not a sand and salt mixture. 
     
     
         10 . The plug assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plug assembly is positionable within the wellbore to form a physical barrier. 
     
     
         11 . A well assembly comprising:
 production tubing for extending from a wellhead to a production zone in a wellbore, and for defining a flow path;   a housing positionable in the flow path; and   a plug positionable in an inner area of the housing for preventing production fluid from flowing from the production zone to the wellhead, the plug comprising a solid material for at least partially dissolving in response to contact with a fluid to allow the production fluid to flow from the production zone to the wellhead.   
     
     
         12 . The well assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a coating on a first surface of the solid material to fluidly seal the solid material from the fluid while the plug is in a first position, and a second surface that is exposable to the fluid while the plug is in a second position. 
     
     
         13 . The well assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first position is within the inner area of the housing, and the plug in the first position is for responding to a threshold amount of pressure by moving to the second position that is external to the inner area of the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The well assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the solid material comprises a magnesium alloy and the fluid comprises water. 
     
     
         15 . The well assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the solid material responds to at least one of an acidity of the fluid, a temperature of the fluid, or a chemical composition of the fluid. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 sealing a first part of a flow path in a wellbore from a second part of the flow path by a plug formed of a solid material;   at least partially dissolving the solid material in response to contact with a fluid; and   allowing fluid flow between the first part and the second part.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein sealing the first part of the flow path from the second part of the flow path comprises using a divider to fluidly seal the plug from the first part, the method further comprising:
 trapping an inert fluid between the divider and the plug.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein at least partially dissolving the solid material further comprises penetrating the divider in response to a threshold amount of pressure in the wellbore. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein sealing the first part of the flow path from the second part of the flow path comprises positioning the plug in an inner area of a housing in the wellbore, and wherein dissolving the solid material further comprises moving the plug to a second position. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein sealing the first part of the flow path from the second part of the flow path further comprises preventing the fluid flow through an opening in a housing positioned in the wellbore such that the first part of the flow path is in an inner area of the housing and the second part of the flow path is external to the housing.