Water Sensing Adaptable In-Flow Control Device and Method of Use

• US 20090101355A1
• 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., Richard, Bennett M., Coronado, Martin P., Peterson, Elmer R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,096,351 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/373
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/32 Preventing gas- or water-coning phenomena, i.e. the formation of a conical column of gas or water around wells

Abstract

A device and system for controlling fluid flow into a wellbore tubular may include a flow path in a production control device and at least one in-flow control element along the flow path. A media in the in-flow control element adjusts a cross-sectional flow area of the flow path by interacting with water. The media may be an inorganic solid, a water swellable polymer, or ion exchange resin beads. A method for controlling a fluid flow into a wellbore tubular may include conveying the fluid via a flow path from the formation into a flow bore of the wellbore; and adjusting a cross-sectional flow area of at least a portion of the flow path using a media that interacts with water. The method may include calibrating the media to permit a predetermined amount of flow across the media after interacts with water.

Claims

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

a flow path associated with a production control device, the flow path configured to convey the fluid from the formation into a flow bore of the wellbore tubular; and

at least one in-flow control element along the flow path, the in-flow control element including a media that adjusts a cross-sectional flow area of at least a portion of the flow path by interacting with water.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fluid flows through the media.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the fluid flows through an interspatial volume of the media.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the in-flow control element includes a chamber containing the media.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one in-flow control element includes a channel having the media positioned on at least a portion of the surface area defining the channel.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the channel has a first cross-sectional flow area before the media interacts with water and a second cross-sectional flow area after the media interacts with water.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the media is configured to interact with a regeneration fluid.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the media is an inorganic solid.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the media is selected from the group consisting of silica vermiculite, mica, aluminosilicates, bentonite and mixtures thereof.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the media is a water swellable polymer.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the water swellable polymer is a modified polystyrene.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the media is ion exchange resin beads.

13. A method for controlling a flow of a fluid into a wellbore tubular in a wellbore, comprising:

conveying the fluid via a flow path from the formation into a flow bore of the wellbore; and

adjusting a cross-sectional flow area of at least a portion of the flow path using a media that interacts with water.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising flowing the fluid through the media.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising flowing the fluid through a first cross-sectional flow area before the media interacts with water and flowing the fluid through a second cross-sectional flow area after the media interacts with water.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the media is an inorganic solid.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the media is selected from the group consisting of silica vermiculite, mica, aluminosilicates, bentonite and mixtures thereof.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the media is a water swellable polymer.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising calibrating the media to permit a predetermined amount of flow across the media after the media interacts with water.

20. A system for controlling a flow of a fluid in a well, comprising:

a wellbore tubular in the well;

a production control device positioned along the wellbore tubular;

a flow path associated with the production control device, the flow path configured to convey the fluid from the formation into a flow bore of the wellbore tubular; and

at least one in-flow control element along the flow path, the in-flow control element including a media that adjusts a cross-sectional flow area of at least a portion of the flow path by interacting with water.