Controlled actuation of a reactive metal

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for initiating the reaction of a reactive metal element of a downhole device. An example method introduces the downhole device into a wellbore; wherein the downhole device comprises the reactive metal element; wherein the reactive metal element has a first volume; and wherein the reactive metal element is separated from a reaction-inducing fluid by a frangible casing. The frangible casing is removed and the reactive metal element is contacted with the reaction-inducing fluid to produce a reaction product having a second volume greater than the first volume.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for initiating the reaction of a reactive metal element of a downhole device comprising:
 introducing the downhole device into a wellbore; wherein the downhole device comprises the reactive metal element; wherein the reactive metal element has a first volume; wherein the reactive metal element is separated from a reaction-inducing fluid by a frangible casing;   removing the frangible casing; and   contacting the reactive metal element with the reaction-inducing fluid to produce a reaction product having a second volume greater than the first volume.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reactive metal element is in the shape of a lattice. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reactive metal element is comprised of discrete pieces. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reactive metal element is disposed within a void space of the downhole device and wherein a non-reactive material is interspersed within the reactive metal element while the reactive metal element is disposed within the void space. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the non-reactive material is selected from the group consisting of air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, liquid hydrocarbon, liquid wax, oleaginous fluid, distilled water, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, plastic, solid wax, glycerin, alcohol, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the frangible casing comprises a material selected from the group consisting of metal, polymer, cellulosic material, ceramic material, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reactive metal element comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, calcium, aluminum, tin, zinc, beryllium, barium, manganese, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reactive metal element comprises a metal alloy selected from the group consisting of magnesium-zinc, magnesium-aluminum, calcium-magnesium, aluminum-copper, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A downhole device comprising:
 a reactive metal element, and   a frangible casing covering at least a portion of the reactive metal element.   
     
     
         10 . The downhole device of  claim 9 , wherein the reactive metal element is in the shape of a lattice. 
     
     
         11 . The downhole device of  claim 9 , wherein the reactive metal element is comprised of discrete pieces. 
     
     
         12 . The downhole device of  claim 9 , wherein the reactive metal element is disposed within a void space of the downhole device and wherein a non-reactive material is interspersed within the reactive metal element while the reactive metal element is disposed within the void space. 
     
     
         13 . The downhole device of  claim 12 , wherein the non-reactive material is selected from the group consisting of air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, liquid hydrocarbon, liquid wax, oleaginous fluid, distilled water, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, plastic, solid wax, glycerin, alcohol, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The downhole device of  claim 9 , wherein the frangible casing comprises a material selected from the group consisting of metal, polymer, cellulosic material, ceramic material, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The downhole device of  claim 9 , wherein the reactive metal element comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, calcium, aluminum, tin, zinc, beryllium, barium, manganese, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The downhole device of  claim 9 , wherein the reactive metal element comprises a metal alloy selected from the group consisting of magnesium-zinc, magnesium-aluminum, calcium-magnesium, aluminum-copper, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A downhole device comprising:
 a reactive metal element,   a frangible casing covering at least a portion of the reactive metal element, and   a reaction-inducing fluid capable of reacting with the reactive metal element to produce a reaction product having a second volume that is greater than the first volume.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the reactive metal element is in the shape of a lattice. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the reactive metal element is comprised of discrete pieces. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the reactive metal element is disposed within a void space of the downhole device and wherein a non-reactive material is interspersed within the reactive metal element while the reactive metal element is disposed within the void space.