Flow control apparatus for use in a wellbore

• US 6,371,210 B1
• Filed: 10/10/2000
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb Incorporated (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Bode, Jeffrey, Lauritzen, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsay, Frank
• Application Number:
  US09/685,368
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 166/233, 166/236, 166/278, 166/228, 166/51, 166/133, 166/242.1, 166/305.1, 166/370
• US Class Current: 166/370
• 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

The present invention provides an apparatus for use in a wellbore to compensate for pressure differentials between fluid in the wellbore and fluid in an oil bearing formation therearound. In one aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for insertion in a string of screened tubulars in a horizontal wellbore. The device includes an inner tubular body portion having apertures in the wall thereof for passing oil, an outer tubular body and a pathway therebetween permitting oil from a formation to migrate into the inner body. Disposed around the inner body is an axially movable member to selectively cover and expose the apertures of the inner body, thereby permitting fluid to flow therethough.

Claims

1. A flow control device for use in a wellbore comprising:

an inner member having at least one aperture formed therein;

at least one axially movable member disposed radially outwards of the inner member to selectively cover the at least one aperture of the inner member, the movable member having a piston surface formed thereupon;

a biasing member disposed adjacent the movable member and opposing axial movement of the movable member; and

an outer casing disposed radially outward of the movable member.

2. The flow control device of claim 1, wherein the axially movable member is a sleeve having at least one aperture formed therethrough.

3. The flow control device of claim 2, wherein at least one aperture of the inner member is aligned with at least one aperture of the sleeve when the sleeve is in a first position relative to the inner member and at least one aperture of the inner member is misaligned with at least one aperture of the sleeve when the sleeve is in a second position relative to the inner member.

4. The flow control device of claim 2, wherein the device is disposed in a horizontal wellbore adjacent a heel portion of the horizontal wellbore.

5. The flow control device of claim 2, wherein a plurality of the devices are disposed in a wellbore having an oil bearing formation therearound.

6. The flow control device of claim 2, wherein the device includes a screened portion extending from a first end thereof, the screened portion directing fluid into the device.

7. The flow control device of claim 2, wherein the device further includes an attachment assembly for attachment to a screened tubular, the attachment assembly including:

exterior threads formed at a first end of the device;

a coupling ring to fasten the exterior threads with exterior threads of the screened tubular; and

a stab portion extending from the first end of the device, the stab portion insertable into the interior of the screened tubular to form an annular area between the exterior of the stab portion and the interior of the screened tubular, the annular area forming a path for fluid flow into the device.

8. The flow control device of claim 2, further comprising a solenoid member mechanically connected to the sleeve, whereby the solenoid member can cause the sleeve to move axially in relation to the inner member.

9. The flow control device of claim 8, further including at least one pressure sensor for sensing a pressure value and communicating the pressure value to the solenoid.

10. The flow control device of claim 3, wherein in the second position, the flow of fluid into the device is restricted by the misalignment of the apertures of the sleeve and the apertures of the inner member.

11. The flow control device of claim 10, wherein the sleeve can assume any number of positions between the first and second position, each of the any number of positions creating a different amount of misalignment between the apertures of the sleeve and the apertures of the inner member.

12. The flow control device of claim 11, wherein the apertures are substantially misaligned in a first and second positions but are substantially aligned in a central position.

13. The flow control device of claim 10, wherein the device restricts the flow of fluid in a first and second position but permits the unrestricted flow of fluid in a center position.

14. The flow control device of claim 10, wherein the device permits the unrestricted flow of fluid in a first and second position but restricts the flow of fluid in a center position.

15. The flow control device of claim 10 further comprising a piston surface formed on the sleeve opposite the biasing member, the piston surface constructed and arranged to be acted upon by the fluid flow into the flow control device.

16. The flow control device of claim 15, wherein the position of the sleeve is determined at least in part by the mass flow rate of the fluid flowing into the flow control device.

17. The flow control device of claim 15, wherein the position of the sleeve is determined at least in part by a difference in fluid pressure between the fluid outside of the device and the fluid inside of the device.

18. The flow control device of claim 15, wherein the device includes a connection member for a hydraulic control line to place hydraulic fluid in communication with the piston surface of the sleeve.

19. The flow control device of claim 18, wherein the hydraulic fluid provides additional biasing to oppose axial movement of the sleeve.

20. A method of controlling the fluid flow into a hydrocarbon producing wellbore comprising:

inserting a flow control apparatus into the wellbore adjacent a fluid bearing formation such that the fluid in the formation is in communication with an outer surface of the apparatus;

causing the fluid to act upon a piston surface formed on an axial movable sleeve in the apparatus; and

causing the sleeve to shift in reaction to a predetermined mass flow rate of fluid, thereby misaligning apertures formed in the sleeve with apertures formed in an inner member of the apparatus.

21. The method of claim 20, further including changing the mass flow rate of fluid by changing the amount of gas injected into the formation from an adjacent gas injection well.

22. A flow control device for use in a wellbore comprising:

an inner member having at least one aperture therethrough;

an outer body disposed around the inner member with an annular area formed therebetween;

a flexible, flow restriction member disposed in the annular area, the flow restriction member constructed and arranged to deform and reform to permit a variable flow of a fluid to pass through the annular area and into at least one aperture.