Expandable liner hanger having a phase change material support

Abstract

Provided is a liner hanger, a method, and a well system. The liner hanger, in one aspect, includes a liner hanger body, the liner hanger body having an expansion section configured to move from a radially unexpanded state to a radially expanded state. The liner hanger, according to this aspect, further includes a sealing element positioned radially about the liner hanger body. The liner hanger, according to this aspect, further includes a flow port extending through a sidewall thickness (t) of the liner hanger body proximate the sealing element, the flow port coupling an inside diameter (ID) of the liner hanger body with an outside diameter (OD) of the liner hanger body such that a phase change material in a liquid phase may move from the ID of the liner hanger body to the OD of the liner hanger body and into contact with the sealing element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liner hanger for suspending a liner, the liner hanger comprising:
 a liner hanger body, the liner hanger body having an expansion section configured to move from a radially unexpanded state to a radially expanded state;   a sealing element positioned radially about the liner hanger body, the sealing element configured to contact an inside diameter (ID) of a wellbore tubular when the expansion section moves to the radially expanded state; and   a flow port extending through a sidewall thickness (t) of the liner hanger body proximate the sealing element, the flow port coupling an inside diameter (ID) of the liner hanger body with an outside diameter (OD) of the liner hanger body such that a phase change material in a liquid phase may move from the inside diameter (ID) of the liner hanger body to the outside diameter (OD) of the liner hanger body and into contact with the sealing element.   
     
     
         2 . The liner hanger as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the sealing element is a first sealing element, and further including a second sealing element positioned radially about the liner hanger body, the second sealing element configured to contact the inside diameter (ID) of the wellbore tubular when the expansion section moves to the radially expanded state, the first and second sealing elements axially offset from each other by a first space. 
     
     
         3 . The liner hanger as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the flow port is located uphole of one of the first and second sealing elements. 
     
     
         4 . The liner hanger as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the flow port is located uphole of both of the first and second sealing elements. 
     
     
         5 . The liner hanger as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the first sealing element includes a first flow channel extending axially there across, the first flow channel configured to allow the phase change material in the liquid phase to move from the flow port past the first sealing element and into the first space to contact the second sealing element. 
     
     
         6 . The liner hanger as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the second sealing element includes a second flow channel extending axially there across, the first and second flow channels configured to allow the phase change material in the liquid phase to move from the flow port past the first and second sealing elements. 
     
     
         7 . The liner hanger as recited in  claim 6 , further including a flow prevention seal positioned downhole of the first and second sealing elements, the flow prevention seal configured to confine the phase change material in the liquid phase to at least partially within the first space between the first and second sealing elements. 
     
     
         8 . The liner hanger as recited in  claim 2 , further including a third sealing element positioned radially about the liner hanger body, the third sealing element configured to contact the inside diameter (ID) of the wellbore tubular when the expansion section moves to the radially expanded state, the second and third sealing elements axially offset from each other by a second space. 
     
     
         9 . The liner hanger as recited in  claim 8 , wherein a single flow port is located in the first space and a single flow port is located in the second space. 
     
     
         10 . The liner hanger as recited in  claim 8 , wherein multiple flow ports are located in the first space and multiple flow ports are located in the second space. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 positioning a liner hanger in a wellbore tubular located in a wellbore, the liner hanger including:
 a liner hanger body, the liner hanger body having an expansion section configured to move from a radially unexpanded state to a radially expanded state; 
 a sealing element positioned radially about the liner hanger body, the sealing element configured to contact an inside diameter (ID) of the wellbore tubular when the expansion section moves to the radially expanded state; 
 a flow port extending through a sidewall thickness (t) of the liner hanger body proximate the sealing element, the flow port coupling an inside diameter (ID) of the liner hanger body with an outside diameter (OD) of the liner hanger body; and 
 a phase change material located proximate the flow port, the phase change material in an initial solid phase; 
   plastically deforming the expansion section into the radially expanded state; and   subjecting the phase change material in the initial solid phase to an event to change the phase change material in the initial solid phase to a liquid phase, such that the phase change material in the liquid phase moves from the inside diameter (ID) of the liner hanger body to the outside diameter (OD) of the liner hanger body and into contact with the sealing element.   
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the subjecting occurs after plastically deforming the expansion section into the radially expanded state. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , further including subjecting the phase change material in the liquid phase to a second event to change the phase change material in the liquid phase to subsequent solid phase, such that the phase change material in the subsequent solid phase remains in contact with the sealing element. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein subjecting the phase change material in the initial solid phase to an event includes subjecting the phase change material in the initial solid phase to an increase in temperature event. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein subjecting the phase change material in the initial solid phase to an increase in temperature event includes subjecting the phase change material in the initial solid phase to the increase in temperature event via an electric heat source. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein subjecting the phase change material in the initial solid phase to an increase in temperature event includes subjecting the phase change material in the initial solid phase to the increase in temperature event via a chemical heat source. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the phase change material is a phase change metal. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the phase change metal comprises bismuth, antimony, gallium, lead, tin, manganese, cadmium, aluminum, iron, magnesium, nickel, beryllium, barium, zinc, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the phase change metal is a bismuth alloy, antimony alloy or gallium alloy. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the phase change material is a plastic or elastomer. 
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the phase change material in the initial solid phase is located radially inside of the liner hanger body. 
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the sealing element is a first sealing element, and further including a second sealing element positioned radially about the liner hanger body, the second sealing element configured to contact the inside diameter (ID) of the wellbore tubular when the expansion section moves to the radially expanded state, the first and second sealing elements axially offset from each other by a first space. 
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the flow port is located uphole of one of the first and second sealing elements. 
     
     
         24 . The method as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the flow port is located uphole of both of the first and second sealing elements. 
     
     
         25 . The method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the first sealing element includes a first flow channel extending axially there across, the first flow channel configured to allow the phase change material in the liquid phase to move from the flow port past the first sealing element and into the first space to contact the second sealing element. 
     
     
         26 . The method as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the second sealing element includes a second flow channel extending axially there across, the first and second flow channels configured to allow the phase change material in the liquid phase to move from the flow port past the first and second sealing elements. 
     
     
         27 . The method as recited in  claim 26 , further including a flow prevention seal positioned downhole of the first and second sealing elements, the flow prevention seal configured to confine the phase change material in the liquid phase to at least partially within the first space between the first and second sealing elements. 
     
     
         28 . The method as recited in  claim 22 , further including a third sealing element positioned radially about the liner hanger body, the third sealing element configured to contact the inside diameter (ID) of the wellbore tubular when the expansion section moves to the radially expanded state, the second and third sealing elements axially offset from each other by a second space. 
     
     
         29 . The method as recited in  claim 28 , wherein a single flow port is located in the first space and a single flow port is located in the second space. 
     
     
         30 . The method as recited in  claim 28 , wherein multiple flow ports are located in the first space and multiple flow ports are located in the second space. 
     
     
         31 . A well system, comprising:
 a wellbore;   a wellbore tubular located within the wellbore; and   a liner hanger located with the wellbore tubular, the liner hanger including:
 a liner hanger body, the liner hanger body having an expansion section configured to move from a radially unexpanded state to a radially expanded state; 
 a sealing element positioned radially about the liner hanger body, the sealing element configured to contact an inside diameter (ID) of a wellbore tubular when the expansion section moves to the radially expanded state; and 
 a flow port extending through a sidewall thickness (t) of the liner hanger body proximate the sealing element, the flow port coupling an inside diameter (ID) of the liner hanger body with an outside diameter (OD) of the liner hanger body such that a phase change material in a liquid phase may move from the inside diameter (ID) of the liner hanger body to the outside diameter (OD) of the liner hanger body and into contact with the sealing element. 
   
     
     
         32 . The well system as recited in  claim 31 , further including phase change material in a subsequent solid phase located proximate the flow port. 
     
     
         33 . The well system as recited in  claim 32 , wherein the phase change material in the subsequent solid phase is in contact with the sealing element. 
     
     
         34 . The well system as recited in  claim 33 , wherein the phase change material in the subsequent solid phase is in contact with the wellbore tubular. 
     
     
         35 . The well system as recited in  claim 32 , wherein the phase change material in the solid phase is a phase change metal. 
     
     
         36 . The well system as recited in  claim 35 , wherein the phase change metal comprises bismuth, antimony, gallium, lead, tin, manganese, cadmium, aluminum, iron, magnesium, nickel, beryllium, barium, zinc, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         37 . The well system as recited in  claim 36 , wherein the phase change metal is a bismuth alloy, antimony alloy or gallium alloy. 
     
     
         38 . The well system as recited in  claim 32 , wherein the phase change material in the solid phase is a plastic or elastomer. 
     
     
         39 . The well system as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the sealing element is a first sealing element, and further including a second sealing element positioned radially about the liner hanger body, the second sealing element configured to contact the inside diameter (ID) of the wellbore tubular when the expansion section moves to the radially expanded state, the first and second sealing elements axially offset from each other by a first space. 
     
     
         40 . The well system as recited in  claim 39 , wherein the flow port is located uphole of one of the first and second sealing elements. 
     
     
         41 . The well system as recited in  claim 39 , wherein the flow port is located uphole of both of the first and second sealing elements. 
     
     
         42 . The well system as recited in  claim 41 , wherein the first sealing element includes a first flow channel extending axially there across, the first flow channel configured to allow the phase change material in the liquid phase to move from the flow port past the first sealing element and into the first space to contact the second sealing element. 
     
     
         43 . The well system as recited in  claim 42 , wherein the second sealing element includes a second flow channel extending axially there across, the first and second flow channels configured to allow the phase change material in the liquid phase to move from the flow port past the first and second sealing elements. 
     
     
         44 . The well system as recited in  claim 43 , further including a flow prevention seal positioned downhole of the first and second sealing elements, the flow prevention seal configured to confine the phase change material in the liquid phase to at least partially within the first space between the first and second sealing elements. 
     
     
         45 . The well system as recited in  claim 39 , further including a third sealing element positioned radially about the liner hanger body, the third sealing element configured to contact the inside diameter (ID) of the wellbore tubular when the expansion section moves to the radially expanded state, the second and third sealing elements axially offset from each other by a second space. 
     
     
         46 . The well system as recited in  claim 45 , wherein a single flow port is located in the first space and a single flow port is located in the second space. 
     
     
         47 . The well system as recited in  claim 45 , wherein multiple flow ports are located in the first space and multiple flow ports are located in the second space.