Water control device using electromagnetics

• US 7,891,430 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2007
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Willauer, Darrin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gay; Jennifer H
• Assistant Examiner(s): GITLIN, ELIZABETH C GOTTLIEB
• Application Number:
  US11/875,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20090101341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 166/373, 166/66.5, 166/66.6, 166/66.7, 166/386
• US Class Current: 166/373
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/066 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/08 responsive to flow or pressure of the fluid obtained E21B34/10 takes precedence
• 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 for controlling a flow of fluid in a well includes a flow control device and a generator that generates electrical energy in response to a flow of an electrically conductive fluid. The flow control device may include an actuator receiving electrical energy from the generator, and a valve operably coupled to the actuator. The actuator may be configured to operate after a preset value for induced voltage is generated by the generator. The generator may use a pair of electrodes positioned along a flow path of the electrically conductive fluid to generate electrical energy. In one arrangement, one or more elements positioned proximate to the electrodes generate a magnetic field along the flow path of the electrically conductive fluid that causes the electrodes to generate a voltage. In another arrangement, the electrodes create an electrochemical potential in response to contact with the electrically conductive fluid.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a flow of a production fluid between a wellbore tubular and a formation, wherein the production fluid has an electrically conductive component and a non-electrically conductive component, the apparatus comprising:

a flow control device configured to control the flow of the production fluid between the wellbore tubular and the formation; and

a generator coupled to the flow control device, the generator configured to generate both an electrical energy and an electrical signal in response to an increase in the flow of the electrically conductive component through a magnetic field, the generator activating the flow control device upon a preset concentration of the electrically conductive component being in the production fluid.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the flow control device includes an actuator receiving the electrical signal from the generator.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the actuator includes one of (i) a solenoid, (ii) a pyrotechnic element, (iii) a heat-meltable element, (iv) a magnetorheological element, (v) an electrorheological element.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the actuator includes an energy storage element to store electrical energy received from the generator.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the actuator is configured to operate after a preset value for induced voltage is generated by the generator.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a power source configured to supply power to the actuator.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the flow control device includes circuitry configured to:

(i) detect the electrical energy from the generator, and (ii) actuate a valve upon detecting a predetermined voltage value.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the generator includes:

at least one element configured to generate the magnetic field along a flow path of the production fluid.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the generator includes:

a plurality of electrodes positioned along a flow path of the production fluid, the plurality of electrodes being electrically coupled to the flow control device; and

at least one element positioned proximate to the plurality of electrodes and being configured to generate the magnetic field along the flow path of the production fluid.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the pair of electrodes includes dissimilar metals.

11. A method for controlling a flow of a production fluid between a wellbore tubular and a formation, wherein the production fluid has an electrically conductive component and a non-electrically conductive component, the method comprising:

flowing the production fluid from the formation into the wellbore;

controlling the flow of the production fluid between the wellbore tubular and the formation using a flow control device; and

activating the flow control device upon a preset concentration of the electrically conductive fluid being in the production fluid and using electrical energy generated by the increasing flow of the electrically conductive component of the production fluid through a magnetic field.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein the flow control device includes a valve that is coupled to an actuator that receives the electrical energy;

and further comprising reducing the flow of the production fluid into the wellbore tubular as a concentration of water in the production fluid changes.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the actuator includes one of (i) a solenoid, (ii) a pyrotechnic element, (iii) a heat-meltable element, (iv) a magnetorheological element, (v) an electrorheological element.

14. The method according to claim 12 further comprising:

generating the electrical energy using a generator;

storing energy received from the generator in an energy storage element.

15. The method according to claim 12 further comprising:

generating the electrical energy using a generator; and

operating the actuator after a preset value for induced voltage is generated by the generator.

16. The method according to claim 12 further comprising supplying power to the actuator using a power source.

17. The method according to claim 11 further comprising:

generating electrical energy using a generator;

detecting electrical energy from the generator; and

activating the flow control device upon detecting a predetermined voltage value.

18. The method according to claim 11 further comprising:

generating electrical energy by;

generating the magnetic field using at least one element positioned along a flow path of the electrically conductive production fluid.

19. The method according to claim 11 further comprising:

generating electrical energy by positioning a plurality of electrodes along a flow path of the production fluid, the plurality of electrodes being electrically coupled to the flow control device.

20. A method for controlling production fluid flow in a well having a wellbore tubular, wherein the production fluid has an electrically conductive component and a non-electrically conductive component, the method comprising:

positioning a flow control device along the wellbore tubular;

positioning a plurality of electrodes along a flow of the production fluid;

positioning at least one magnetic element along a flow of production fluid;

generating both an electrical signal and an electrical energy using the plurality of electrodes and the at least one magnetic element in response to an increase in the flow of the electrically conductive component; and

actuating the flow control device using the generated electrical signal upon a preset concentration of the electrically conductive component flowing the flow control device.