In-flow control device utilizing a water sensitive media

• US 7,942,206 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2008
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Coronado, Martin, Crews, James, Hammer, Aaron C., Huang, Tianping
• Primary Examiner(s): WRIGHT, GIOVANNA COLLINS
• Application Number:
  US12/191,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20090095484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 166/373, 166/386, 166/319, 166/227
• US Class Current: 166/373
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/08 responsive to flow or pressure of the fluid obtained E21B34/10 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling fluid flow into a tubular includes an in-flow control device having a plurality of flow paths; and a reactive media disposed in each of the flow paths. The reactive media may change permeability by interacting with a selected fluid such as water. Two or more of the flow paths may be hydraulically parallel. The reactive media may include a Relative Permeability Modifier. An associated method may include conveying the fluid via a plurality of flow paths; and controlling a resistance to flow in plurality of flow paths using a reactive media disposed in each of the flow paths. An associated system may include a wellbore tubular; an in-flow control device; a hydraulic circuit formed in the in-flow control device; and a reactive media disposed in the hydraulic circuit, the reactive media may change permeability by interacting with a selected fluid.

Claims

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

a plurality of flow paths configured to convey the fluid from the formation into the bore of the wellbore tubular, the flow paths being formed between a particulate control device and an opening in the wellbore tubular and wherein at least two of the flow paths are hydraulically parallel; and

a reactive media disposed in at least two flow paths of the plurality of flow paths, each reactive media being configured to change permeability in an associated flow path by interacting with a selected fluid.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the selected fluid is water.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one flow path of the plurality of flow paths is serially aligned with the at least two hydraulically parallel flow paths.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a housing receiving a flow control element, wherein the at least two hydraulically parallel flow paths are formed in the flow control element.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the reactive media includes a Relative Permeability Modifier.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the reactive media increases a resistance to flow as water content increases in the fluid from the formation and decreases a resistance to flow as water content decreases in the fluid from the formation.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the reactive media changes a parameter related to the flow path, the parameter being selected from a group consisting of:

(i) permeability, (ii) tortuosity, (iii) turbulence, (iv) viscosity, and (v) cross-sectional flow area.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an in-flow control device, wherein the plurality of flow paths are formed in the in-flow control device.

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

conveying the fluid via a plurality of flow paths from the formation into the wellbore tubular, the flow paths being formed between a particulate control device and an opening in the wellbore tubular and wherein at least two of the flow paths are hydraulically parallel; and

controlling a resistance to flow across the plurality of flow paths using a reactive media disposed in at least two flow paths of the plurality of flow paths.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the selected fluid is water.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising conveying the fluid via at least one flow path that is serially aligned with the at least two hydraulically parallel flow paths.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising forming the at least two hydraulically parallel flow paths in a flow control element.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the reactive media includes a Relative Permeability Modifier.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the reactive media increases a resistance to flow as water content increases in the fluid from the formation and decreases a resistance to flow as water content decreases in the fluid from the formation.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the reactive media changes a parameter related to the flow path, the parameter being selected from a group consisting of:

(i) permeability, (ii) tortuosity, (iii) turbulence, (iv) viscosity, and (v) cross-sectional flow area.

16. The method of claim 9 further comprising reconfiguring the reactive media in situ.

17. A system for controlling a flow of a fluid from a subsurface formation, comprising:

a wellbore tubular having a bore configured to convey the fluid from the subsurface formation to the surface;

an in-flow control device positioned in the wellbore and along the wellbore tubular;

a hydraulic circuit formed in the in-flow control device, the hydraulic circuit being configured to convey the fluid from the formation into the bore of the wellbore tubular, wherein the hydraulic circuit includes at least two hydraulically parallel flow paths, the flow paths being formed between a particulate control device and an opening in the wellbore tubular; and

a reactive media disposed in each of the at least two flow paths the hydraulic circuit, each reactive media being configured to change permeability in an associated flow path by interacting with a selected fluid.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising a configuration tool adapted to be conveyed into the wellbore and configure the reactive media in situ.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the hydraulic circuit includes at least one flow path that is serially aligned with the at least two hydraulically parallel flow paths.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the reactive media includes a Relative Permeability Modifier.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein the reactive media increases a resistance to flow as water content increases in the fluid from the formation and decreases a resistance to flow as water content decreases in the fluid from the formation.