Flow regulator for use in a subterranean well
First Claim
1. A well flow regulating system, comprising:
- a flow regulator which regulates a flow rate of a fluid in a wellbore, the flow rate remaining substantially constant at a first value while a differential pressure across the flow regulator varies, and the flow regulator being selectively reconfigurable while positioned within the wellbore by at least one of a selectively adjustable biasing force and a selectively adjustable restriction force, which reconfiguration of the flow regulator thereby causes the flow rate to remain substantially constant at a second value different from the first value.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A flow regulator for use in a subterranean well. A well flow regulating system includes a flow regulator for regulating a flow rate of a fluid in a wellbore, the flow rate remaining substantially constant while a differential pressure across the flow regulator varies. The flow regulator is adjustable while positioned within the wellbore to change the flow rate. Another well flow regulating system includes a flow regulator for maintaining a desired fluid flow rate between an annulus and an interior passage of a tubular string. The flow regulator includes a closure device, a biasing device which applies a biasing force to the closure device, and a flow restriction which operates to apply a restriction force to the closure device. The biasing force and/or the restriction force is adjustable downhole to change the flow rate.
89 Citations
37 Claims
-
1. A well flow regulating system, comprising:
a flow regulator which regulates a flow rate of a fluid in a wellbore, the flow rate remaining substantially constant at a first value while a differential pressure across the flow regulator varies, and the flow regulator being selectively reconfigurable while positioned within the wellbore by at least one of a selectively adjustable biasing force and a selectively adjustable restriction force, which reconfiguration of the flow regulator thereby causes the flow rate to remain substantially constant at a second value different from the first value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
10. A well flow regulating system, comprising:
-
a tubular string positioned in a wellbore, an annulus being formed between the tubular string and the wellbore; and a flow regulator which maintains a first desired flow rate of a fluid flowing between the annulus and an interior passage of the tubular string, the flow regulator including a closure device, a biasing device which applies a biasing force to the closure device in a first direction, and a flow restricting projection which is acted upon by the fluid and applies a restriction force to the closure device in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the flow rate being changed to a second desired flow rate by at least one of the biasing force and the restriction force being selectively reconfigured downhole. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
-
-
35. A well flow regulating system, comprising:
-
a tubular string positioned in a wellbore, an annulus being formed between the tubular string and the wellbore; and a flow regulator which regulates flow of a fluid flowing between the annulus and an interior passage of the tubular string, the flow regulator including a closure device, a biasing device which applies a biasing force to the closure device in a first direction, and a flow restricting projection which is acted upon by the fluid and applies a restriction force to the closure device in a second direction opposite to the first direction, at least one of the biasing force and the restriction force being adjustable downhole to achieve a first desired flow rate of the fluid, and at least one of the biasing force and the restriction force being adjustable downhole to achieve a second desired flow rate of the fluid, wherein the flow regulator includes an actuator which adjusts the biasing force applied to the closure device by the biasing device, and wherein the actuator includes a material responsive to temperature change in the wellbore to vary the biasing force applied to the closure device by the biasing device.
-
-
36. A well flow regulating system, comprising:
-
a flow regulator which regulates a flow rate of a fluid in a wellbore through a flow path in the regulator, the flow rate remaining substantially constant while a differential pressure across the flow regulator varies, and the flow regulator being selectively reconfigurable while positioned within the wellbore by at least one of a selectively adjustable biasing force and a selectively adjustable restriction force, wherein the flow regulator includes a flow restriction, and a closure device which displaces in response to a variance in a pressure differential across the flow restriction to thereby maintain the flow rate substantially constant, and wherein the flow restriction is formed between the closure device and the wellbore.
-
-
37. A well flow regulating system, comprising:
-
a tubular string positioned in a wellbore, an annulus being formed between the tubular string and the wellbore; and
a flow regulator which maintains a desired flow rate of a fluid flowing through a flow path between the annulus and an interior passage of the tubular string, the flow regulator including a closure device, a biasing device which applies a biasing force to the closure device in a first direction, and a flow restricting projection which is acted upon by the fluid and applies a restriction force to the closure device in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the characteristics of the flow path being changed by at least one of the biasing force and the restriction force being selectively reconfigured downhole,wherein the flow regulator includes an actuator which adjusts the biasing force applied to the closure device by the biasing device, and the actuator includes a piston which displaces to vary the biasing force applied to the closure device by the biasing device.
-
Specification