Flow control regulation method and apparatus
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for controlling fluid production in a horizontal wellbore, comprising:
- a flow pipe the interior of which is in hydraulic communication with the earth'"'"'s surface, the flow pipe disposed in a substantially horizontal portion of the wellbore; and
a plurality of flow control valves disposed at spaced apart positions along the length of the flow pipe, each of the valves providing hydraulic communication between the interior of the flow pipe and a fluid reservoir in an earth formation, each of the valves adapted to maintain a substantially constant pressure drop between the reservoir and the interior of the flow pipe.
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Abstract
A technique for controlling fluid production in a deviated wellbore is disclosed. The technique utilizes a flow pipe the interior of which is in hydraulic communication with the earth'"'"'s surface. A plurality of flow control valves are disposed at spaced apart positions along the length of the flow pipe. The flow control valves are used to regulate flow along intervals of the flow pipe.
51 Citations
32 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlling fluid production in a horizontal wellbore, comprising:
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a flow pipe the interior of which is in hydraulic communication with the earth'"'"'s surface, the flow pipe disposed in a substantially horizontal portion of the wellbore; and
a plurality of flow control valves disposed at spaced apart positions along the length of the flow pipe, each of the valves providing hydraulic communication between the interior of the flow pipe and a fluid reservoir in an earth formation, each of the valves adapted to maintain a substantially constant pressure drop between the reservoir and the interior of the flow pipe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for controlling production from a reservoir into a deviated wellbore therethrough, comprising:
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permitting fluid flow from the reservoir into a flow pipe disposed within the deviated wellbore at axial positions along the length of the flow pipe; and
selectively controlling the fluid flow at each of the axial positions. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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12. A system for reducing coning effects along a deviated wellbore within a formation, comprising:
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a flow pipe disposed within the deviated wellbore to receive a fluid from the formation; and
a flow control system coupled to the flow pipe, the flow control system being adaptable to selectively control and adjust flow of the fluid from the formation into the flow pipe at a plurality of unique axial locations within a single production zone.
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26. A system for controlling production from a reservoir into a deviated wellbore therethrough, comprising:
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means for permitting fluid flow from the reservoir into a flow pipe disposed within the deviated wellbore at axial positions along the length of the flow pipe; and
means for selectively controlling the fluid flow at each of the axial positions.
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Specification