Permeability flow balancing within integral screen joints and method

• US 8,056,627 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2009
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Johnson, Michael H., Kim, Namhyo
• Primary Examiner(s): Neuder; William P
• Application Number:
  US12/476,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20100300194A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 166/272.3, 166/272.5
• US Class Current: 166/272.3
• 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

A borehole system having a permeability controlled flow profile including a tubular string; one or more permeability control devices disposed in the string; and the plurality of permeability control devices being selected to produce particular pressure drops for fluid entering or exiting various discrete locations along the string and method.

Claims

1. A borehole system having a permeability controlled flow profile comprising:

a tubular string;

one or more beaded matrix permeability control devices disposed in the string; and

the one or more beaded matrix permeability control devices being selected to produce particular pressure drops for fluid entering or exiting various discrete locations along the string, each of the beaded matrix permeability control devices including a tubular having a plurality of openings therein;

a plurality of beaded matrixes, each having a plurality of beads of a rounded geometry sintered into a mass having interstitial spaces between the rounded beads, the plurality of matrixes each being disposed within a housing having a shouldered inside surface that is itself disposed one each in the plurality of openings the beaded matrixes being configured to be selectively pluggable in situ in the downhole environment.

2. A borehole system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more permeability control devices include one or more devices at a heel of the borehole having a pressure drop of about 45% or less.

3. A borehole system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more permeability control devices include one or more devices at a heel of the borehole having a pressure drop of about 30% or less.

4. A borehole system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more permeability control devices include one or more devices at a toe of the borehole having a pressure drop of about 25% or less.

5. A borehole system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more permeability control devices include one or more devices at a toe of the borehole having a pressure drop of about 1% or less.

6. A borehole system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more permeability control devices include permeability creating pressure drops for a heel of the borehole that is higher than a pressure drop created at a toe of the borehole.

7. A method for controlling a flow profile for a borehole comprising:

selecting one or more beaded matrix permeability control devices for inclusion in a completion, each permeability control device including a tubular having a plurality of openings therein;

a plurality of beaded matrixes, each having a plurality of beads of a rounded geometry sintered into a mass having interstitial spaces between the rounded beads, the plurality of matrixes each being disposed within a housing having a shouldered inside surface that is itself disposed one each in the plurality of openings the beaded matrixes being configured to be selectively pluggable in situ in the downhole environment; and

controlling pressure drop for fluid flowing through a wall of the completion by permeability selection.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the method further includes producing or injecting through the one or more permeability control devices and producing a flow profile that is generally uniform along the borehole.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the controlling is creating a higher pressure drop at a heel of the borehole than at a toe of the borehole.