Flow control regulation method and apparatus
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for controlling fluid production in a horizontal wellbore, comprising:
- a flow pipe the interior of which is in hydraulic communication with the earth'"'"'s surface, the flow pipe disposed in a substantially horizontal portion of the wellbore; and
a plurality of flow control valves disposed at spaced apart positions along the length of the flow pipe, each of the valves providing hydraulic communication between the interior of the flow pipe and a fluid reservoir in an earth formation, each of the valves adapted to maintain a substantially constant pressure drop between the reservoir and the interior of the flow pipe, wherein each flow control valve comprises a pair of pistons actuated against a biasing mechanism by fluid flow from the reservoir, the pair of pistons being adapted to cause closure of a port in hydraulic communication with the interior of the flow pipe when actuated against the biasing mechanism by the fluid flow.
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Abstract
A technique for controlling fluid production in a deviated wellbore is disclosed. The technique utilizes a flow pipe the interior of which is in hydraulic communication with the earth'"'"'s surface. A plurality of flow control valves are disposed at spaced apart positions along the length of the flow pipe. The flow control valves are used to regulate flow along intervals of the flow pipe.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlling fluid production in a horizontal wellbore, comprising:
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a flow pipe the interior of which is in hydraulic communication with the earth'"'"'s surface, the flow pipe disposed in a substantially horizontal portion of the wellbore; and
a plurality of flow control valves disposed at spaced apart positions along the length of the flow pipe, each of the valves providing hydraulic communication between the interior of the flow pipe and a fluid reservoir in an earth formation, each of the valves adapted to maintain a substantially constant pressure drop between the reservoir and the interior of the flow pipe, wherein each flow control valve comprises a pair of pistons actuated against a biasing mechanism by fluid flow from the reservoir, the pair of pistons being adapted to cause closure of a port in hydraulic communication with the interior of the flow pipe when actuated against the biasing mechanism by the fluid flow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for controlling production from a reservoir into a deviated wellbore therethrough, comprising:
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permitting fluid flow from the reservoir into a flow pipe disposed within the deviated wellbore at axial positions along the length of the flow pipe; and
selectively controlling the fluid flow at each of the axial positions by a pressure balancing device having a piston and a secondary piston that move upon changes in pressure differential. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for reducing coning effects along a deviated wellbore within a formation, comprising:
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a flow pipe disposed within the deviated wellbore to receive a fluid from the formation; and
a flow control system coupled to the flow pipe, the flow control system being adaptable to selectively control and adjust flow of the fluid from the formation into the flow pipe at a plurality of unique axial locations within a single production zone by a plurality of valves, each valve having a piston and a secondary piston that move upon changes in pressure differential. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for controlling production from a reservoir into a deviated wellbore therethrough, comprising:
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means for permitting fluid flow from the reservoir into a flow pipe disposed within the deviated wellbore at axial positions along the length of the flow pipe;
means for selectively controlling the fluid flow at each of the axial positions with a pair of pistons actuated against a biasing mechanism by fluid flow from the reservoir, the pair of pistons being adapted to cause closure of a port in hydraulic communication with the interior of the flow pipe when actuated against the biasing mechanism by the fluid flow; and
means for measuring fluid parameters in a flow passage independent of the flow pipe. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification