DOWNHOLE FLOW CONTROL DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 20090283262A1
• Filed: 06/10/2008
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Langeslag, Rene
• Granted Patent: US 8,171,999 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/250.150
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/06 in wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/10 Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a downhole flow control device. The device includes, a first member defining a first portion of a flow path, and a second member defining a second portion of the flow path, the flow path has a cross sectional flow area defined at least partially by the first member and the second member, a length of the flow path is greater than a largest dimension of the cross sectional flow area, and the cross sectional flow area is adjustable by movement of at least a portion of the first member relative to the second member.

Claims

1. A downhole flow control device, comprising:

a first member defining a first portion of a flow path; and

a second member defining a second portion of the flow path, the flow path having a cross sectional flow area defined at least partially by the first member and the second member, a length of the flow path being greater than a largest dimension of the cross sectional flow area, and the cross sectional flow area being adjustable by movement of at least a portion of the first member relative to the second member.

2. The downhole flow control device of claim 1, wherein the movement of at least a portion of the first member is axial movement.

3. The downhole flow control device of claim 2, wherein the cross sectional flow area is altered at every point along the flow path in response to the movement.

4. The downhole flow control device of claim 3, wherein the alteration of the cross sectional flow area varies over the length of the flow path.

5. The downhole flow control device of claim 1, wherein the movement is axial movement.

6. The downhole flow control device of claim 1, wherein the flow path has a helical shape.

7. The downhole flow control device of claim 1, wherein the first member is tubular with a radially inwardly protruding thread and the second member is tubular with a radially outwardly protruding thread and the radially outwardly protruding thread extends radially outwardly a dimension greater than a minimum dimension of the radially inwardly protruding thread.

8. The downhole flow control device of claim 7, wherein clearance between the radially inwardly protruding thread and the radially outwardly protruding thread defines the flow path.

9. The downhole flow control device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the downhole flow control devices are incorporated in a well to equalize at least one of injection of steam and production of hydrocarbons along the well.

10. The downhole flow control device of claim 1, wherein the first member has a first coefficient of thermal expansion and the second member has a second coefficient of thermal expansion and the first coefficient of thermal expansion is different than the second coefficient of thermal expansion.

11. The downhole flow control device of claim 10, wherein the difference between the first coefficient of thermal expansion and the second coefficient of thermal expansion causes the at least a portion of the first member to move relative to the second member in response to a temperature change of the downhole flow control device.

12. The downhole flow control device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first member and the second member includes at least one crush zone that can change in axial length in response to axial loading thereof.

13. The downhole flow control device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first member and the second member includes at least one shear joint that can change in axial length in response to axial loading thereof.

14. A method of adjusting restriction of a downhole flow path, comprising:

porting fluid through the downhole flow path, the downhole flow path having a length greater than a largest dimension of a cross sectional area of the downhole flow path; and

moving at least a portion of one of a first member defining a first portion of the downhole flow path and a second member defining a second portion of the downhole flow path relative to the other of the first member and the second member such that the cross sectional area is altered.

15. The method of adjusting restriction of a downhole flow path of claim 14, further comprising expanding the first member a different amount than the second member in response to a temperature change of the first member and a temperature change of the second member.

16. The method of adjusting restriction of a downhole flow path of claim 15 wherein the temperature change of the first member and the temperature change of the second member are the same temperature change.

17. The method of adjusting restriction of a downhole flow path of claim 15, further comprising varying the alteration of the cross sectional area over the length of the downhole flow path.

18. The method of adjusting restriction of a downhole flow path of claim 15, further comprising automatically altering the cross sectional area in response to temperature changes in the first member and the second member.

19. The method of adjusting restriction of a downhole flow path of claim 18, further comprising automatically reducing the cross sectional area.

20. The method of adjusting restriction of a downhole flow path of claim 14, further comprising shortening a crush zone of at least one of the first member and the second member.