Flow Control Device Utilizing a Reactive Media

• US 20090283275A1
• Filed: 05/13/2008
• 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: Hammer, Aaron C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,762,341 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/370
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 2200/06 Sleeve valves
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling a flow of a fluid into a wellbore tubular includes a flow path associated with a production control device; an occlusion member positioned along the flow path that selectively occludes the flow path, and a reactive media disposed along the flow path that change a pressure differential across at least a portion of the flow path by interacting with a selected fluid. The reactive media may be a water swellable material or an oil swellable material. The reactive media may be selected or formulated to change a parameter related to the flow path. Illustrative parameters include, but are not limited to, (i) permeability, (ii) tortuosity, (iii) turbulence, (iv) viscosity, and (v) cross-sectional flow area.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a flow of a fluid between bore of a 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;

an occlusion member positioned along the flow path, the occlusion member being configured to move between a first position and a second position to control flow along the flow path; and

a reactive media disposed along the flow path, the reactive media being configured to change a pressure differential across at least a portion of the flow path by interacting with a selected fluid, the occlusion member being actuated by the change in the pressure differential.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the reactive media translates the occlusion member from the first position to the second position after the reactive media interacts with the selected fluid.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a housing in which the flow path is formed, the reactive media being positioned along the flow path in the housing and wherein the occlusion member includes a head portion that occludes a section of the flow path when the occlusion member is in the second position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the occlusion member includes an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve, and wherein a portion of the flow path is defined by an annular space separating the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve and wherein the reactive media is positioned in the annular space.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the reactive media is a water swellable material.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the reactive media is an oil swellable material.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the reactive media changes a parameter related to the flow path, the parameter being selected from a group consisting of:

(i) permeability, (ii) tortuosity, (iii) turbulence, (iv) viscosity, and (v) cross-sectional flow area.

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

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

positioning an occlusion member along the flow path;

controlling a pressure differential in at least a portion of the flow path using a reactive material that interacts with a selected fluid; and

moving the occlusion member between the first position and a second position when the selected fluid is in the flowing fluid.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the moving includes translating the occlusion member from the first position to the second position using the reactive media after the reactive media interacts with the selected fluid.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the occlusion member includes a head portion, and further comprising occluding a section of the flow path with the head portion when the occlusion member is in the second position.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising forming the flow path in a housing, positioning the reactive media along the flow path in the housing, and applying a translating force to the occlusion member to move the occlusion member.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the reactive media is a water swellable material.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the reactive media is an oil swellable material.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising changing a parameter related to the flow path using the reactive media, the parameter being selected from a group consisting of:

(i) permeability, (ii) tortuosity, (iii) turbulence, (iv) viscosity, and (v) cross-sectional flow area.

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

a plurality of in-flow control devices positioned along a section of the wellbore tubular, each in-flow control device including an occlusion member and an associated reactive media disposed in a flow path in communication with a bore of the wellbore tubular, the reactive media being configured to change a pressure differential across at least a portion of the flow path by interacting with a selected fluid, each occlusion member being actuated by the change in the pressure differential.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein reactive media translates each associated occlusion member from the first position to the second position after the associated reactive media interacts with the selected fluid.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising a housing in which the flow path is formed, the reactive media being positioned along the flow path in the housing and wherein each occlusion member includes a head portion that occludes a section of the flow path when the occlusion member is in the second position.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein each occlusion member includes a conduit, and wherein the associated reactive media is disposed in the conduit.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the reactive media is a water swellable material.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the reactive media is an oil swellable material.

21. An apparatus for controlling a flow of a fluid along a flow path in a wellbore, comprising:

an occlusion member positioned along the flow path, the occlusion member being configured to control flow in the flow path by selectively occluding the flow path; and

a reactive media disposed along the flow path, the reactive media being configured to change a pressure differential across at least a portion of the flow path by interacting with a selected fluid, the occlusion member being actuated by the change in the pressure differential.