Patent ID: 11939836
Assignee: ADVANCED UPSTREAM LTD.
Field: Civil engineering (Other fields)
Classification: CPC E | IPC E

Claim 8:
9. A method for selectively opening a plurality of flow ports in a port sub for establishing flow communication between a port sub inner passage and an environment external to the port sub, the plurality of flow ports comprising a standard flow port and a control flow port, the standard flow port having a low-pressure port assembly disposed therein, the control flow port having a high-pressure port assembly disposed therein, the low-pressure port assembly and the high-pressure port assembly each, independently, being disposed in a closed configuration and transitionable to an open configuration, wherein:
while the low-pressure port assembly and the high-pressure port assembly are each, independently, disposed in the closed configuration, the low-pressure port assembly blocks fluid flow through the standard flow port and the high-pressure port assembly blocks fluid flow through the control flow port such that there is an absence of flow communication from the port sub inner passage to the environment external to the port sub via the standard flow port and the control flow port; and
while the low-pressure port assembly and the high-pressure port assembly are each, independently, disposed in the open configuration, the low-pressure port assembly is defeated such that there is an absence of blocking of fluid flow through the standard flow port such that flow communication from the port sub inner passage to the environment external to the port sub, via the standard flow port, is established, and the high-pressure port assembly is defeated such that there is an absence of blocking of fluid flow through the control flow port such that flow communication from the port sub inner passage to the environment external to the port sub, via the control flow port, is established; the method comprising:
(i) increasing a pressure inside the port sub to a first predetermined pressure to rupture a first portion of the low-pressure port assembly, leaving a remaining portion of the low-pressure port assembly disposed in a sealing configuration that is effective to continue to block the standard flow port such that there is an absence of fluid communication from the port sub inner passage to the environment external to the port sub through the standard flow port, and an absence of fluid communication from the port sub inner passage to the environment external to the port sub through the control flow port;
(ii) increasing the pressure inside the port sub to a second predetermined pressure, wherein the second predetermined pressure is greater than the first predetermined pressure and is effective to defeat the high-pressure port assembly and unblock the control flow port such that the control flow port is disposed in the open configuration; and
(iii) introducing a degradation-promoting agent into the port sub such that:
(a) the degradation-promoting agent is emplaced within the port sub inner passage and is disposed in communication with the remaining portion of the low-pressure port assembly, via the port sub inner passage; and
(b) the degradation-promoting agent is emplaced within the environment external to the port sub, via communication through the control flow port, and in communication with the remaining portion of the low-pressure port assembly;, and
emplacement of the degradation-promoting agent within the port sub inner passage and within the environment external to the port sub is with effect that degradation of the remaining portion of the low-pressure port assembly is effected by the degradation-promoting agent such that the low-pressure port assembly transitions to the open configuration.