Well screen assembly and system with controllable variable flow area and method of using same for oil well fluid production
First Claim
1. A well screen assembly with a controllable variable flow area, the well screen assembly comprising:
- an outer tubular section having a first plurality of openings disposed in a pattern throughout a length of said outer tubular section;
an inner tubular section disposed within said outer tubular section, said inner tubular section having a second plurality of openings disposed throughout a length of said inner tubular section so that said openings may align to form a plurality of passageways that vary in size from a maximum overall opening to a closed position depending on the amount of overlap between said first plurality of openings and second plurality of openings;
an actuator operatively coupled to at least one tubular section;
at least one transducer communicatively coupled to said actuator; and
wherein said actuator imparts motion to said at least one tubular section to vary fluid flow through said passageways by moving said at least one tubular section to change the amount of overlap between said first plurality of openings and said second plurality of openings responsive to changes measured by said at least one transducer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A well screen assembly (70) with a controllable variable flow area. The well screen assembly (70) comprises an outer tubular section (80), the outer tubular section (80) containing a first plurality of openings (90) disposed in a pattern (100) throughout a length “L” of the outer tubular section (80); an inner tubular section (110) that is disposed within the outer tubular section (80), the inner tubular section (110) containing a second plurality of openings (120) disposed in the same pattern (100) throughout a length L of the inner tubular section (110), and when the first plurality of openings (90) and second plurality of openings (120) align, the openings form a plurality of passageways (130) through the outer tubular section (80) and inner tubular section (110). The well screen assembly (70) may therefore, vary the flow of production fluid through it and upwards through the interior of a production tubing (40).
194 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A well screen assembly with a controllable variable flow area, the well screen assembly comprising:
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an outer tubular section having a first plurality of openings disposed in a pattern throughout a length of said outer tubular section;
an inner tubular section disposed within said outer tubular section, said inner tubular section having a second plurality of openings disposed throughout a length of said inner tubular section so that said openings may align to form a plurality of passageways that vary in size from a maximum overall opening to a closed position depending on the amount of overlap between said first plurality of openings and second plurality of openings;
an actuator operatively coupled to at least one tubular section;
at least one transducer communicatively coupled to said actuator; and
wherein said actuator imparts motion to said at least one tubular section to vary fluid flow through said passageways by moving said at least one tubular section to change the amount of overlap between said first plurality of openings and said second plurality of openings responsive to changes measured by said at least one transducer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for extracting production fluid from at least one production zone intersected by a wellbore, the system including at least one well screen assembly comprising:
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production tubing extending along a substantial length of the wellbore, the production tubing including at least one well screen assembly located proximate to each of said at least one production zone;
said at least one well screen assembly comprising;
an outer tubular section, said outer tubular section containing a first plurality of openings disposed in a pattern throughout a length of said outer tubular section;
an inner tubular section that is disposed within said outer tubular section, said inner tubular section containing a second plurality of openings disposed in said pattern throughout a length of said inner tubular section;
an actuator operatively coupled to at least one tubular section;
at least one transducer communicatively coupled to said actuator; and
wherein said actuator imparts motion to said at least one tubular section to vary fluid flow through said at least one well screen assembly by moving said at least one tubular section to change the amount of overlap between said first plurality of openings and said second plurality of openings responsive to changes measured by said at least one tranducer. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for varying the flow area of a well screen assembly in a production fluid extraction operation having production tubing in a down-hole wellbore, the method comprising:
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measuring a condition of the production fluid by at least one transducer;
converting the measured condition into an electrical signal by said least one transducer;
transmitting said electrical signal to a flow control device by an umbilical;
calculating an amount of movement based on said electrical signal by said flow control device;
converting said amount of movement into a control signal by said flow control device;
transmitting said control signal to an actuator by said umbilical; and
moving, by said actuator, a first tubular section containing a plurality of openings disposed in a pattern relative to a second tubular section containing a plurality of openings disposed in said pattern, thereby varying the flow area of the well screen assembly for the transmission of production fluid upwards through the interior of the production tubing. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for varying the flow area of a well screen assembly in a production fluid extraction operation having production tubing in a down-hole wellbore, the method comprising:
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measuring a condition of the production fluid by at least one transducer;
converting the measured condition into an electrical signal by said least one transducer;
communicating said electrical signal to a down-hole wireless telemetry device;
communicating said electrical signal from said down-hole wireless telemetry device to a surface wireless telemetry device;
communicating said electrical signal from said surface wireless telemetry device to a computer;
calculating, by the computer, an amount to move at least one tubular section;
communicating, by the computer, said amount to said surface wireless telemetry device;
communicating said amount from said surface wireless telemetry device to said down-hole wireless telemetry device;
communicating said amount from said down-hole wireless telemetry device to an actuator; and
moving, by said actuator, at least one tubular section according to said amount.
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39. A method for varying the flow area of a well screen assembly in a production fluid extraction operation having production tubing in a down-hole wellbore, the method comprising:
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measuring a condition of the production fluid by at least one transducer;
converting the measured condition into an electrical signal by said least one transducer;
communicating said electrical signal to a down-hole wireless telemetry device;
communicating said electrical signal from said down-hole wireless telemetry device to a surface wireless telemetry device;
communicating said electrical signal from said surface wireless telemetry device to an operator, calculating, by said operator, an amount to move at least one tubular section;
communicating said amount to said surface wireless telemetry device;
communicating said amount from said surface wireless telemetry device to said down-hole wireless telemetry device;
communicating said amount from said down-hole wireless telemetry device to an actuator; and
moving, by said actuator, at least one tubular section according to said amount.
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Specification