Active integrated flow control for completion system
First Claim
1. A system for use in a well, comprising:
- a completion disposed in an open hole, lateral wellbore, the completion comprising;
a base pipe;
a plurality of sand screens disposed about the base pipe in a plurality of well zones along the open hole, lateral wellbore;
an intelligent flow control device in each well zone of the plurality of well zones, each intelligent flow control device having a controllable actuator which is shiftable between an open position allowing fluid flow into the base pipe and a closed position blocking flow into the base pipe; and
an individual control module located between well zones of the plurality of well zones, the individual control module controlling each controllable actuator individually to place each intelligent flow control device in a specific flow position based on control signals received by the individual control module, thus enabling control over a plurality of the intelligent flow control devices from the individual control module while it is located at a generally middle location along the completion disposed in the open hole, lateral wellbore.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A technique facilitates active zonal control over the inflow of fluids into a lateral wellbore completion at individual well zones of a plurality of well zones. The completion may comprise a plurality of sand screens through which inflowing fluids pass before entering an interior of the completion, e.g. before entering an interior of a completion base pipe. A control module is positioned along the completion between well zones. The control module is controlled via electrical control signals and is operatively connected with a plurality of intelligent flow control devices which are located along the completion in corresponding well zones. Based on signals received, the control module individually controls the intelligent flow control devices to allow or block flow into an interior of the completion at each well zone.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for use in a well, comprising:
a completion disposed in an open hole, lateral wellbore, the completion comprising; a base pipe; a plurality of sand screens disposed about the base pipe in a plurality of well zones along the open hole, lateral wellbore; an intelligent flow control device in each well zone of the plurality of well zones, each intelligent flow control device having a controllable actuator which is shiftable between an open position allowing fluid flow into the base pipe and a closed position blocking flow into the base pipe; and an individual control module located between well zones of the plurality of well zones, the individual control module controlling each controllable actuator individually to place each intelligent flow control device in a specific flow position based on control signals received by the individual control module, thus enabling control over a plurality of the intelligent flow control devices from the individual control module while it is located at a generally middle location along the completion disposed in the open hole, lateral wellbore. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system, comprising:
a completion deployed in a wellbore along a plurality of well zones, the completion comprising; an individual control module located between well zones of the plurality of well zones; and a plurality of intelligent flow control devices coupled to the individual control module, the plurality of intelligent flow control devices being positioned so that at least one intelligent flow control device is located in each well zone to allow or block flow of fluid from an exterior of the completion to an interior of the completion, the individual control module being coupled to each intelligent flow control device of the plurality of intelligent flow control devices to individually control whether each intelligent flow control device allows or blocks the flow of fluid into the completion based on electric control signals received by the individual control module. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method, comprising:
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deploying into a lateral wellbore a completion with a plurality of sand screens arranged in a plurality of corresponding well zones of the lateral wellbore; positioning a single control module between sand screens of the plurality of sand screens; locating an intelligent flow control device in each zone to control the flow of fluid entering through corresponding sand screens; and using the single control module to individually control the intelligent flow control devices to allow or block flow into an interior of the completion at each well zone. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification