Snorkel Device for Flow Control

• US 20060162935A1
• Filed: 01/25/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: MacDougall, Thomas D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,455,114 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/375
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1294 characterised by a valve, e.g. a by-pass valve
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/101 with means for equalizing fluid pressure above and below the valve
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/12 Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00

Abstract

The present invention provides for the operation of a downhole flow control device using a snorkel tube.

Claims

1. A snorkel device for use in a well comprising:

a flow control device; and

a snorkel in fluid communication with the flow control device.

2. The snorkel device of claim 1 in which the snorkel terminates above a packer.

3. The snorkel device of claim 1 further comprising a compensator joined to the snorkel.

4. The snorkel device of claim 1 in which the flow control device has multiple state positions.

5. The snorkel device of claim 4 further comprising a control line in fluid communication with the flow control device and in which fluid pressure in the control line and the snorkel operates to change the state position of the flow control device.

23. The snorkel device of claim 19 further comprising:

a second flow control device located in the second production zone; and

a tubing attached to the first flow control device and to the second flow control device and passing through the packer;

in which the pressure of the fluid entering the tubing from the first production zone is substantially equal to the pressure of the fluid entering the tubing from the second production zone.

6. A snorkel device for flow control in a well comprising:

a plurality of flow control devices, each flow control device being in fluid communication with a distinct control line; and

a snorkel in fluid communication with each flow control device.

7. The snorkel device of claim 6 in which the snorkel terminates above a packer.

8. The snorkel device of claim 6 further comprising a compensator joined to the snorkel.

9. The snorkel device of claim 6 in which each flow control device has multiple state positions.

10. The snorkel device of claim 9 in which the state position of each flow control device is changed by increasing or decreasing the pressure in the control line above or below the pressure in the snorkel.

11. The snorkel device of claim 6 in which pressure in the snorkel is manipulated at the surface of the well.

12. The snorkel device of claim 6 in which the flow control devices are joined to a tubing and the tubing is joined to a packer through which the control lines and snorkel pass.

13. A method to operate a flow control device in a well comprising:

placing the flow control device in a desired location in the well, the flow control device being joined to a control line and a snorkel;

cycling the pressure in the control line above and below the pressure in the snorkel to change the state of the flow control device.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising setting a packer through which the control line and snorkel pass.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising isolating fluid in the snorkel from well fluids using a compensator.

16. A method to establish a reference pressure for a tool in a well comprising using a snorkel to transfer fluid pressure from one location in the well to another location in the well.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising applying pressure in the well annulus from the surface to set the reference pressure.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising distributing the reference pressure via the snorkel to various tools in the well.

19. A snorkel device for use in a well comprising:

a packer to isolate a first production zone in the well from a second production zone in the well;

a first flow control device located in the first production zone; and

a snorkel in fluid communication with the first flow control device.

20. The snorkel device of claim 19 in which the snorkel terminates in the second production zone.

21. The snorkel device of claim 19 in which the first flow control device has a proportional controller.

22. The snorkel device of claim 19 in which the pressure of the fluid discharged by the first flow control device is substantially the same as the pressure of the fluid in the snorkel.