Fluid flow control device and method for use of same
First Claim
1. A fluid flow control device for use in a wellbore to control the inflow of production fluids comprising:
- a sand control screen having a base pipe with a first set of openings that allows the production fluids to flow therethrough; and
a sleeve coaxially disposed adjacent to the base pipe forming an annulus therebetween, the sleeve having a second set of openings that allows the production fluids to flow therethrough, the sleeve selectively positionable relative to the base pipe such that a pressure drop in the production fluids is selectively controllable by adjusting an alignment of the first set of openings relative to the second set of openings, thereby adjusting the distance the production fluids must travel in the annulus which alters the pressure drop in the production fluids traveling within the annulus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid flow control device (60) for use in a wellbore to control the inflow of production fluids comprises a sand control screen (62) having a base pipe (64) with a first set of openings (66) that allows the production fluids to flow therethrough and a sleeve (74) coaxially disposed adjacent to the base pipe (64). The sleeve (74) has a second set of openings (76) that allows the production fluids to flow therethrough. The sleeve (74) is selectively positionable relative to the base pipe (64) such that a pressure drop in the production fluids is selectively controllable by adjusting an alignment of the first set of openings (66) relative to the second set of openings (76).
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Citations
60 Claims
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1. A fluid flow control device for use in a wellbore to control the inflow of production fluids comprising:
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a sand control screen having a base pipe with a first set of openings that allows the production fluids to flow therethrough; and a sleeve coaxially disposed adjacent to the base pipe forming an annulus therebetween, the sleeve having a second set of openings that allows the production fluids to flow therethrough, the sleeve selectively positionable relative to the base pipe such that a pressure drop in the production fluids is selectively controllable by adjusting an alignment of the first set of openings relative to the second set of openings, thereby adjusting the distance the production fluids must travel in the annulus which alters the pressure drop in the production fluids traveling within the annulus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 26)
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17. A method for controlling the inflow of production fluids into a production conduit within a wellbore comprising the steps of:
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providing the production conduit including a sand control screen having a base pipe with a first set of openings and a sleeve coaxially disposed adjacent to the base pipe forming an annulus with the base pipe and having a second set of openings; installing the production conduit within the wellbore; producing the production fluids into the production conduit through the first set of openings of the base pipe, the annulus and the second set of openings of the sleeve; and selectively positioning the sleeve relative to the base pipe such that a pressure drop in the production fluids is controlled by adjusting the alignment of the first set of openings relative to the second set of openings, thereby adjusting the distance the production fluids must travel in the annulus which alters the pressure drop in the production fluids traveling within the annulus. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28)
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29. A fluid flow control device for controlling the flow of a fluid therethrough comprising:
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a first tubular member having a plurality of entry openings in a side wall thereof that allow the flow of the fluid therethrough; a filter medium positioned exteriorly of the first tubular; and a second tubular member coaxially disposed within the first tubular member forming an annulus therebetween, the second tubular member having a plurality of exit openings in a side wall thereof that allow the flow of the fluid therethrough, the second tubular member rotatably selectively positionable relative to the first tubular member to adjust the alignment of the entry openings relative to the exit openings such that a pressure drop in the fluid is selectively controllable by adjusting an alignment of the entry openings relative to the exit openings, which adjusts the distance the fluid must travel in the annulus and alters the pressure drop in the production fluids traveling within the annulus. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A fluid flow control device for controlling the flow of a fluid therethrough comprising:
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first tubular member having a plurality of entry openings in a side wall thereof that allow the flow of the fluid therethrough; a filter medium positioned exteriorly of the first tubular; and a second tubular member coaxially disposed within the first tubular member forming an annulus therebetween, the second tubular member having a plurality of exit openings in a side wall thereof that allow the flow of the fluid therethrough, the second tubular member axially and rotatably selectively positionable relative to the first tubular member to adjust the alignment of the entry openings relative to the exit openings such that a pressure drop in the fluid is selectively controllable by adjusting an alignment of the entry openings relative to the exit openings, which adjusts the distance the fluid must travel in the annulus and alters the pressure drop in the production fluids traveling within the annulus. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A fluid flow control device for controlling the flow of a fluid therethrough comprising:
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a first tubular member having a plurality of entry openings in a side wall thereof that allow the flow of the fluid therethrough; a filter medium positioned exteriorly of the first tubular; and a second tubular member coaxially disposed within the first tubular member forming an annulus therebetween, the second tubular member having a plurality of exit openings in a side wall thereof that allow the flow of the fluid therethrough, at least one of an exterior surface of the second tubular member and an interior surface of the first tubular member is a turbulizer surface, the second tubular member selectively positionable relative to the first tubular member such that a pressure drop in the fluid is selectively controllable by adjusting an alignment of the entry openings relative to the exit openings, which adjusts the distance the fluid must travel in the annulus and alters the pressure drop in the production fluids traveling within the annulus. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification