Water Sensitive Adaptive Inflow Control Using Couette Flow To Actuate A Valve

• US 20090133869A1
• Filed: 11/19/2008
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Clem, Nicholas J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,918,275 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/250.150
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/08 responsive to flow or pressure of the fluid obtained E21B34/10 takes precedence
• 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

An apparatus for controlling fluid flow into a wellbore tubular includes a flow control member that selectively aligns a port with an opening in communication with a flow bore of the wellbore tubular. The flow control member may have an open position wherein the port is aligned with the opening and a closed position wherein the port is misaligned with the opening. The flow control member moves between the open position and closed position in response to a change in drag force applied by a flowing fluid. A biasing element urges the flow control member to the open or the closed position. The apparatus may include a housing receiving the flow control member. The flow control member and the housing may define a flow space that generates a Couette flow that causes the drag force. In embodiments, the flow space may include a hydrophilic and/or water swellable material.

Claims

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

a first member configured to selectively align a port with an opening in communication with a flow bore of the wellbore tubular, the first member having an open position wherein the port is aligned with the opening and a closed position wherein the port is misaligned with the opening;

a biasing element urging the first member to the closed position; and

an outer member receiving the first member, wherein the outer member and the first member define a flow space having at least one dimension selected to cause a Couette flow in the flow space.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the biasing element is configured to allow the first member to move to the open position when a fluid having mostly oil flows in the flow space.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one dimension is selected to cause a fluid flowing the flow space to apply a drag force on the first member that moves the first member to the open position.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the at least one dimension is a gap separating the outer member and the first member.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a surface defining the flow space include a material that increases surface friction when exposed to oil.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a surface defining the flow space include a material that swells when exposed to oil.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first member is configured to translate.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first member is configured to rotate.

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

conveying the fluid from the formation into a flow bore of the wellbore through a flow space in communication with a port that can be selectively aligned with an opening; and

applying a drag force on a member associated with the port that aligns the port with the opening when mostly oil flows through the flow space.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

reducing the drag force when mostly water flows through the flow space.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising biasing the member to an open position wherein the port is substantially aligned with the opening.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising configuring the flow space to generate a Couette flow that causes the drag force.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising positioning the member in housing, wherein an outer surface of the member and an inner surface of the housing defines the flow space.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein at least one surface defining the flow space include a material that increases surface friction when exposed to oil.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein at least one surface defining the flow space includes a material that swells when exposed to oil.

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

a flow control member configured to selectively align a port with an opening in communication with a flow bore of the wellbore tubular, the flow control member being having an open position wherein the port is aligned with the opening and a closed position wherein the port is misaligned with the opening, the flow control member being configured move between the open position and the closed position in response to a change in drag force applied by a flowing fluid.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 further comprising a housing receiving the flow control member, wherein an outer surface of the flow control member and an inner surface of the housing define a flow space.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the flow space is configured to cause a Couette flow in the flow space that applies a drag force that maintains the flow control member in the open position.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising a biasing member that moves the first member to the closed position when mostly water flows through the flow space.

20. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein at least one surface defining the flow space includes one of:

(i) a hydrophilic material, and (ii) a water swellable material.