Flow control apparatus for use in a wellbore

• US 6,883,613 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2003
• Issued: 04/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb Incorporated (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Fishbeck, Craig, Bode, Jeffrey, Hill, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsay, Frank
• Application Number:
  US10/626,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20040154806A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 166/373, 166/233, 166/236, 166/370, 166/278, 166/228, 166/51, 166/133
• US Class Current: 166/373
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/006 "J-slot" systems, i.e. lug and slot indexing mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/066 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/10 operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/08 Screens or liners expandable screens or liners E21B43/108
• 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 and method of controlling the flow of hydrocarbons into and/or out of a string of tubing disposed in a wellbore. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a tubular member having at least one aperture formed in a wall thereof and a sleeve disposed radially outward of the tubular member. The sleeve is selectively movable between a first position and a second position to control the flow between the outside and the inside of the tubular member. In one aspect, the apparatus further comprises a biasing member disposed adjacent the sleeve and adapted to apply a force against the sleeve in an axial direction and further comprises a piston adapted to receive a hydraulic pressure to move the sleeve against the force of the biasing member. In another aspect, the apparatus further comprises a electromechanical device adapted to selectively move the sleeve between the first position and the second position and further comprises a control line adapted to conduct an electrical current. In another embodiment, the apparatus comprises a tubular member having at least one aperture formed therein and a fixed ring and a rotatable ring disposed radially outward of the tubular member. In still another embodiment, the apparatus comprises a plurality of annular ribs having an inner surface, at least one support rod disposed along the inner surface of the annular ribs, and at least one control line disposed along the inner surface of the annular ribs.

Claims

1. A flow control apparatus for use in wellbore operations, comprising:

a tubular member having at least one aperture formed in a wall thereof, the aperture providing fluid communication between an outside and an inside of the tubular member;

a sleeve disposed radially outward of the tubular member, the sleeve being selectively movable between a first position and a second position to control the flow of fluid between the outside and the inside of the tubular member;

a electromechanical device adapted to impart movement to the sleeve; and

a control line adapted to supply an electrical current to the electromechanical device.

2. The flow control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromechanical device is a motor.

3. The flow control apparatus of claim 2, further comprising teeth formed on the outer surface of the sleeve and a gear coupled to the motor and associated with the teeth of the sleeve.

4. The flow control apparatus of claim 1, wherein in the first position a reduced amount of fluid may flow between the outside and the inside of the tubular member in comparison to the second position.

5. The flow control apparatus of claim 4, wherein in the first position the sleeve covers at least a portion of the at least one aperture of the tubular member.

6. The flow control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromechanical device is adapted to rotate the sleeve between the first position and the second position.

7. The flow control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sleeve has at least one aperture formed in a wall therein and wherein in the second position the at least one aperture of the sleeve at least partially aligns with the at least one aperture of the tubular member.

8. The flow control apparatus of claim 7, wherein the sleeve has a plurality of different sized apertures.

9. The flow control apparatus of claim 7, wherein the tubular member has a plurality of different sized apertures.

10. The flow control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a tubular screen disposed around the tubular member.

11. The flow control apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control line is integrated with the tubular screen.

12. A flow control apparatus for use in wellbore operations, comprising:

a tubular member having at least one aperture formed in a wall thereof, the aperture providing fluid communication between an outside and an inside of the tubular member;

a fixed ring and a rotatable ring disposed radially outward of the tubular member, the fixed ring and the rotatable ring having voids formed on an outer surface thereof, the rotatable ring being selectively movable to align the voids of the fixed ring and the rotatable ring to create a passage along the outer surface of the fixed ring and the rotatable ring; and

a chamber in communication with the passage and the aperture of the tubular member.

13. The flow control apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a tubular screen disposed around the tubular member.

14. The flow control apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a motor coupled to the rotatable ring and adapted to move the rotatable ring.

15. The flow control apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a control line adapted to supply an electrical current to the motor.

16. The flow control apparatus of claim 15, wherein the control line is integrated with the screen.

17. A system for controlling flow of hydrocarbons in wellbore operations, comprising:

a string of tubing; and

a plurality of flow control apparatuses coupled to the string of tubing,

each flow control apparatus comprising a tubular member having at least one aperture formed in a wall thereof, the aperture providing fluid communication between an outside and an inside of the tubular member, each flow control apparatus adapted to be set in a first position and in a second position to control a flow of fluid between the outside and the inside of the tubular member.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein in the first position a reduced amount of fluid may flow between the outside and the inside of the tubular member in comparison to the second position.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein in the first position the aperture is at least partially closed to restrict flow of fluid therethrough and in the second position the aperture is at least partially open to increase flow of fluid therethrough.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein one or more of the flow control apparatuses are adapted to be set between the first position and the second position by at least one control line.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one control line is adapted to provide an electrical current.

22. The system of claim 20, further comprising a control panel at the surface of the wellbore coupled to the at least one control line.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the control panel is adapted to receive communications from a remote location.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the control panel is adapted to send communications to a remote location.

25. A method of controlling flow in wellbore operations, comprising:

running in a plurality of flow control apparatuses coupled to a string of tubing, each flow control apparatus comprising a tubular member having at least one aperture formed in a wall thereof, the aperture providing fluid communication between an outside and an inside of the tubular member, each flow control apparatus adapted to be set in a first position and in a second position to control a flow of fluid between the outside and the inside of the tubular member; and

remotely setting each of the flow control apparatuses in the first position or the second position.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein in the first position a reduced amount of fluid may flow between the outside and the inside of the tubular member in comparison to the second position.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein in the first position the aperture is at least partially closed to restrict flow of fluid therethrough.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the flow control apparatuses of a formation are set in the second position and wherein the flow control apparatuses of flow control apparatuses removed from the formation are set in the first position to isolation production of hydrocarbons from the formation.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the flow control apparatuses located at a heal section of a horizontal tubing are set in the first position and wherein the flow control apparatuses in the toe section of the horizontal tubing are set in the second position.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the flow control apparatuses are set in the first position, the method further comprising performing a gravel packing operation around the flow control apparatuses set in the first position.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein setting one of the flow control apparatuses from between the first position and the second position comprises supplying an electrical current to the one of the flow control apparatuses.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein setting comprises sending communications from a remote source to a control panel adapted to actuate the flow control apparatuses.