Permeable Medium Flow Control Devices for Use in Hydrocarbon Production

• US 20090101342A1
• Filed: 10/19/2007
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Johnson, Michael H., Gaudette, Sean L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,918,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/276
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/08 responsive to flow or pressure of the fluid obtained E21B34/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/02 Subsoil filtering
• 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

An in-flow control device controls fluid flow into a wellbore tubular using a permeable medium positioned in a flow space. The permeable medium induces a predetermined pressure differential in the flow space. The permeable medium may include separate elements having interstitial spaces and/or solid porous members. In arrangements, a filtration element may be positioned upstream of the flow space. In arrangements, the flow space may be formed in a plug member associated with the housing. In certain embodiments, a flow restriction element, such as a check valve, in the housing may provide parallel fluid communication with the bore of the wellbore tubular. Additionally, an occlusion body may be positioned in the flow space and configured to disintegrate upon exposure to a preset condition. The occlusion body temporarily seals the flow space so that a bore of the tubular may be pressurized.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a flow of fluid from a formation into a wellbore tubular, comprising:

(a) a flow space configured to provide fluid communication between the formation and a bore of the wellbore tubular; and

(b) a permeable medium positioned in the flow space, the permeable medium having a porosity configured to induce a predetermined pressure differential across the permeable medium.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the permeable medium includes a plurality of substantially separate elements configured to have interstitial spaces therebetween when positioned in the flow space.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the permeable medium includes a substantially solid member having pores.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a housing positioned along the wellbore tubular, the flow space being formed in the housing.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising an occlusion body in the flow space, the occlusion body being configured to disintegrate upon exposure to a preset condition.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a plug member associated with the housing, the flow space being formed in the plug member.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a flow restriction element configured to provide a parallel fluid communication with the bore of the wellbore tubular.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a filtration element positioned upstream of the flow space.

9. A system for controlling a flow of a fluid from a formation into a wellbore tubular, comprising:

(a) a plurality of in-flow control devices positioned along a section of the wellbore tubular, each in-flow control device including a permeable medium positioned in a flow path between the formation and a flow bore of the wellbore tubular to control a flow characteristic.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the flow characteristic is one of:

(i) pressure, (ii) flow rate, and (iii) fluid composition.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the porosity of each permeable medium is configured to cause a substantially uniform flow characteristic along the section of the wellbore tubular.

12. The system of claim 9 further comprising a filtration element positioned upstream of at least one of the plurality of in-flow control devices.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the permeable medium includes a plurality of substantially separate elements configured to have interstitial spaces therebetween when positioned in the flow space.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the permeable medium includes a substantially solid member having pores.

15. A method for controlling a flow of fluid from a formation into a wellbore tubular, comprising:

(a) providing fluid communication between the formation and a bore of the wellbore tubular via a flow space; and

(b) positioning a permeable medium in the flow space, the permeable medium having a porosity configured to induce a predetermined pressure differential across the permeable medium.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the permeable medium includes a plurality of substantially separate elements configured to have interstitial spaces therebetween when positioned in the flow space.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the permeable medium includes a substantially solid member having pores.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising positioning a filtration element upstream of the flow space.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising positioning an occlusion body in the flow space, the occlusion body being configured to disintegrate upon exposure to a preset condition.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the flow space is formed in a plug member associated with a housing.