Flow control assembly having a fixed flow control device and an adjustable flow control device

• US 7,900,705 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2007
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Patel, Dinesh R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell; David J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ro; Yong-Suk
• Application Number:
  US11/948,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20090008078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 166/50, 166/316, 166/205, 166/153, 166/117.5, 166/373, 166/64, 166/66.4, 166/66.6
• US Class Current: 166/319
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/10 operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0035 Apparatus or methods for multilateral well technology, e.g. for the completion of or workover on wells with one or more lateral branches
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/14 Obtaining from a multiple-zone well

Abstract

An apparatus for use in a well includes a flow control assembly to control fluid flow in a first zone of the well, where the flow control assembly has a fixed flow control device and an adjustable flow control device that cooperate to control the fluid flow in the first zone.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in a well, comprising:

a flow control assembly to control fluid flow in a first zone of the well,

wherein the flow control assembly has a fixed flow control device and an adjustable flow control device that cooperate to control the fluid flow in the first zone,

wherein, the adjustable flow control device comprises;

an electric motor;

a sealing member moveable by the electric motor to provide at least an open position and a closed position;

an outer housing defining an inner chamber; and

a shroud having ports; and

wherein the adjustable flow control device has an inlet path to receive fluid from outside the adjustable flow control device, wherein the electric motor is provided in the chamber, wherein the shroud is located in the chamber, and wherein the sealing member is moveable inside the shroud to plural positions for controlling fluid flow through the ports of the shroud.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first mandrel and a second mandrel inside the first mandrel, wherein the adjustable flow control device is mounted to the second mandrel, and the fixed flow control device is attached to the first mandrel, wherein fluid flows from the first zone through the fixed flow control device and then through the adjustable flow control device into an inner bore defined by the second mandrel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustable flow control device has an inner mandrel that defines an inner bore, and the adjustable flow control device controls fluid flow from outside the flow control device through an inner chamber of the adjustable flow control device and out through an outlet path of the adjustable flow control device to the inner bore of the mandrel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flow control assembly comprises a mandrel to which at least one adjustable flow control device is mounted outside the mandrel.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the mandrel includes a first longitudinal bore and a longitudinal side pocket, wherein at least one adjustable flow control device is positioned in at least one side pocket.

6. A multilateral completion apparatus for use in a multilateral well that has a main wellbore section and a lateral branch, comprising:

a first flow control assembly positioned in the main wellbore section and a second flow control assembly positioned in the lateral branch,

wherein at least one of the first and second flow control assemblies has a fixed flow control device and an adjustable flow control device that cooperate to control fluid flow in a corresponding zone of at least one of the main wellbore section and lateral branch,

wherein, the adjustable flow control device comprises;

an electric motor;

a sealing member moveable by the electric motor to provide at least an open position and a closed position;

an outer housing defining an inner chamber; and

a shroud having ports; and

wherein the adjustable flow control device has an inlet path to receive fluid from outside the adjustable flow control device, wherein the electric motor is provided in the chamber, wherein the shroud is located in the chamber, and wherein the sealing member is moveable inside the shroud to plural positions for controlling fluid flow through the ports of the shroud.

7. The multilateral completion apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

a lower positioning device for positioning below the lateral branch; and

an upper positioning device for positioning above the lateral branch, wherein the lower and upper positioning devices or index casing couplings are azimuthally aligned.

8. The multilateral completion apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a deflector engageable with the lower positioning device to direct equipment toward the lateral branch.

9. The multilateral completion apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a junction liner engageable with the upper positioning device, wherein the junction liner has a window that is orientable by the upper positioning device to align with the main wellbore.

10. The multilateral completion apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a swivel attached to the junction liner to enable the junction liner to freely rotate.

11. The multilateral apparatus of claim 6, further comprising an inductive coupler to provide electrical connection to establish communication and transmit power between the adjustable flow control device and another location.

12. The multilateral apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a connector housing that extends from the main wellbore to the lateral branch, wherein a groove is formed in an outer surface of the connector housing, the groove to carry a control line that is selected from among a power line, a hydraulic line, and a communication line.

13. The multilateral apparatus of claim 6, further comprising plural inductive couplers, and a control station that is electrically connected to the plural inductive couplers.

14. The multilateral completion apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a first mandrel and a second mandrel inside the first mandrel, wherein the adjustable flow control device is mounted to the second mandrel, and the fixed flow control device is attached to the first mandrel, wherein fluid flows from the zone through the fixed flow control device and then through the adjustable flow control device into an inner bore defined by the second mandrel.

15. The multilateral completion system of claim 14, wherein the second mandrel includes a pipe.