REVERSE FLOW IN-FLOW CONTROL DEVICE

• US 20090250222A1
• Filed: 04/02/2008
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Garcia, Luis A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,992,637 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 fluid flow control apparatus includes a flow path that conveys the fluid into a wellbore tubular, a first passage formed along the flow path, an annular space receiving the fluid from the first passage, and a second passage receiving fluid from the annular space. The passages may flow the fluid in an axial direction along the flow path. The apparatus may include an enclosure that receives a sleeve in which the passages are formed. The annular space may be formed between the sleeve and the enclosure. The passages may include an inlet that reduces a pressure of the fluid flowing through the inlet. The passages may include a bore and may include parallel conduits. The first and the second passages may convey the fluid in a first axial direction, and the annular space may be configured to convey the fluid in a direction opposite to the first axial direction.

Claims

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

a flow path configured to convey the fluid into a flow bore of the tubular;

a first passage formed along the flow path, the first passage configured to flow a the fluid in an axial direction along the flow path;

an annular space receiving the fluid from the first passage; and

a second passage receiving fluid from the annular space, the second passage being configured to flow the fluid in an axial direction along the flow path.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a sleeve, wherein the first passage and the second passage are formed in the sleeve.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an enclosure receiving the sleeve, wherein the annular space is formed between the sleeve and the enclosure.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first passage includes a first inlet configured to reduce a pressure of the fluid flowing through the first inlet.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second passage includes a second inlet configured to reduce a pressure of the fluid flowing through the second inlet.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one of the first passage and the second passage includes a bore.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one of the first passage and the second passage includes at least two parallel conduits.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first and the second passages convey the fluid in a first axial direction, and the annular space is configured to convey the fluid in a direction opposite to the first axial direction.

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

an enclosure;

a tubular member disposed in the enclosure;

an inflow passage formed in the tubular member, the inflow passage having an inlet configured to receive the fluid from an exterior of the enclosure;

an annular space formed between the enclosure and the tubular member, the annular space being in fluid communication with the inflow passage; and

an outflow passage formed in the tubular member, the outflow passage having an inlet configured to receive the fluid from the annular space.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the inflow passage and the outflow passage are oriented parallel to one another.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the inflow passage includes a plurality of bores.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the outflow passage includes a plurality of bores.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the inflow and outflow passages convey the fluid in a first axial direction, and the annular space conveys the fluid in a direction opposite to the first axial direction.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the annular space is defined by an inner surface of the enclosure and an outer surface of the sleeve.

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

forming a flow path to convey the fluid into a flow bore of the wellbore;

flowing the fluid in a first direction along a first passage of the flow path;

receiving the fluid from the first passage in an annular space;

flowing the fluid along the annular space;

directing the fluid from the annular space into a second passage of the flow path; and

flowing the fluid in the first direction along the second passage.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the first direction has an axial component and the flowing the fluid along the annular space includes flowing the fluid in an axial direction opposite to the axial component of the first direction.

17. The method according to claim 15 further comprising inducing a pressure drop in the fluid before flowing the fluid along the first passage.

18. The method according to claim 15 further comprising inducing a pressure drop in the fluid while directing the fluid into a second passage.

19. The method according to claim 15 wherein the first passage and the second passage of the flow path are formed in a tubular member.

20. The method of according to claim 19, wherein the annular space is formed between the tubular member and an enclosure housing the sleeve.