Water sensitive adaptive inflow control using couette flow to actuate a valve

• US 7,918,275 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2008
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Clem, Nicholas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gay; Jennifer H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ro; Yong-Suk
• Application Number:
  US12/274,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20090133869A1
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 166/334.4, 166/332.1, 166/334.1, 166/373, 166/386, 166/316, 166/380, 166153-156, 166/77.4, 166/383, 166/78.1, 166/321, 166/304, 166/312, 166/323, 166/385, 166/241.6, 166/242.2, 166/214, 166/206, 174/102.R, 174/105.R, 174/105.SC, 174/75.F
• US Class Current: 166/250.15
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/32 Preventing gas- or water-coning phenomena, i.e. the formation of a conical column of gas or water around wells

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling fluid flow into a wellbore tubular includes a flow control member that selectively aligns a port with an opening in communication with a flow bore of the well bore tubular. The flow control member may have an open position wherein the port is aligned with the opening and a closed position wherein the port is misaligned with the opening. The flow control member moves between the open position and closed position in response to a change in drag force applied by a flowing fluid. A biasing element urges the flow control member to the open or the closed position. The apparatus may include a housing receiving the flow control member. The flow control member and the housing may define a flow space that generates a Couette flow that causes the drag force. The flow space may include a hydrophilic and/or water swellable material.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a flow of a fluid into a wellbore tubular in a wellbore, comprising:

a port aligned with an opening in communication with a flow bore of the wellbore tubular;

a first member operatively coupled to the port;

a biasing element applying a biasing force to the first member; and

an outer member positioned along the wellbore tubular and being separated from a wellbore wall by an annulus receiving the first member, wherein the outer member and the first member define a flow space having at least one dimension selected to cause a Couette fluid flow that applies a drag force to the first member that opposes the biasing force.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the drag force overcomes the biasing force of the biasing element when a fluid having mostly oil flows in the flow space.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the drag force on the first member decreases as a water cut in the flowing fluid increases.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a surface defining the flow space changes a resistance to flow when exposed to oil.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a surface defining the flow space changes a resistance to flow when exposed to water.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first member is configured to translate;

and further comprising a particulate control device positioned adjacent to the first member.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first member is configured to rotate.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the port and the opening are configured to allow fluid flow when the port and the opening are aligned and misaligned.

9. A method for controlling a flow of a fluid into a wellbore tubular in a wellbore, comprising:

conveying the fluid from the formation into a flow bore of the wellbore tubular through a flow space in communication with a port that can be selectively aligned with an opening in the wellbore tubular;

applying a biasing force on a member associated with the port as fluid flows through the opening; and

applying a drag force on the member to align the port and opening and to keep the port aligned with the opening when mostly oil flows through the flow space.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

applying the biasing force when mostly oil flows through the flow space and when mostly water flows through the flow space; and

reducing the drag force when mostly water flows through the flow space.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising configuring the flow space to generate a Couette flow that causes the drag force.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising positioning the member in a housing, wherein an outer surface of the member and an inner surface of the housing defines the flow space.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein at least one surface defining the flow space changes a resistance to flow when exposed to oil.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein at least one surface defining the flow space changes a resistance to flow when exposed to water.

15. The method according to claim 9 further comprising flowing fluid through the port and the opening in the open position and a closed position wherein the port and the opening are misaligned.

16. An apparatus for controlling a flow of a fluid into a wellbore tubular in a wellbore, comprising:

an outer member positioned along the wellbore tubular and being separated from a wellbore wall by an annulus; and

a flow control member coupled to the outer member, the flow control member having an open position and a closed position, wherein moving from the open position to the closed position reduces fluid flow into an opening in communication with a bore of the wellbore tubular, wherein a space between the flow control member and the outer member has at least one dimension selected to cause a Couette fluid flow that generates a drag force to move the flow control member to the open position and to keep the flow control member in the open position.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 further comprising a housing receiving the flow control member, wherein an outer surface of the flow control member and an inner surface of the housing define a flow space.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the flow space is configured to cause a Couette flow in the flow space that applies a drag force that maintains the flow control member in the open position.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising a biasing member that moves the flow control member to the closed position when mostly water flows through the flow space.

20. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein at least one surface defining the flow space includes one of:

(i) a hydrophilic material, and (ii) a water swellable material.