Water sensing adaptable in-flow control device and method of use

• US 8,096,351 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2007
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Peterson, Elmer R., Coronado, Martin P., Richard, Bennett M., Johnson, Michael H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Kenneth L
• Application Number:
  US11/875,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20090101355A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,551 Days
• Field of Search: 166/179, 166/227, 166/321, 166/386, 166/320, 166/373
• US Class Current: 166/227
• 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

A device and system for controlling fluid flow into a wellbore tubular may include a flow path in a production control device and at least one in-flow control element along the flow path. A media in the in-flow control element adjusts a cross-sectional flow area of the flow path by interacting with water. The media may be an inorganic solid, a water swellable polymer, or ion exchange resin beads. A method for controlling a fluid flow into a wellbore tubular may include conveying the fluid via a flow path from the formation into a flow bore of the wellbore; and adjusting a cross-sectional flow area of at least a portion of the flow path using a media that interacts with water. The method may include calibrating the media to permit a predetermined amount of flow across the media after interacts with water.

Claims

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

a flow path associated with a production control device, the flow path configured to convey the fluid from the formation into a flow bore of the wellbore tubular;

a particulate control device positioned along the flow path; and

at least one in-flow control element along the flow path and downstream of the particulate control device, the in-flow control element including a particulated media that reduces a flow rate in at least a portion of the flow path by interacting with water, wherein the particulated media separates the fluid based on molecular charge and is configured to maintain a flow of the fluid across the media and not completely seal the flow path after interacting with water.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the media is configured to increase flow across the in-flow control element as water in the fluid dissipates.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the particulated media is packed and wherein the fluid flows through an interspatial volume of the particulated media.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the media is configured to interact with a regeneration fluid.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the media includes is an inorganic solid.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the media is ion exchange resin beads.

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

conveying the fluid via a flow path from a particulate control device into a flow bore of the wellbore; and

adjusting a cross-sectional flow area of at least a portion of the flow path using a particulated media that interacts with water and separates the fluid based on molecular charge while maintaining a flow of the fluid across the media without completely sealing the flow path.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising increasing flow along the flow path as water in the fluid dissipates.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the media includes an inorganic solid.

10. A system for controlling a flow of a fluid in a well, comprising:

a wellbore tubular in the well;

a production control device positioned along the wellbore tubular;

a particulate control device associated with the production control device;

a flow path associated with the production control device, the flow path configured to convey the fluid from the particulate control device into a flow bore of the wellbore tubular; and

at least one in-flow control element along the flow path, the in-flow control element including a media that adjusts flow along at least a portion of the flow path by interacting with water, wherein the media interacts with molecules of a component of the fluid by attraction, and wherein the media is fixed to a surface of the flow path and configured to maintain a flow of the fluid along the flow path and not completely seal the flow path after interacting with water.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the media is one of:

(i) a coating on the surface, and (ii) an insert positioned on the surface.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the media is configured to increase flow across the in-flow control element as water in the fluid dissipates.

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

a flow path associated with a production control device, the flow path configured to convey the fluid from the formation into a flow bore of the wellbore tubular;

a particulate control device positioned along the flow path; and

at least one in-flow control element along the flow path and downstream of the particulate control device, the in-flow control element including a particulated media that reduces a flow rate in at least a portion of the flow path by interacting with water, wherein the particulated media separates the fluid based on molecular size and is configured to maintain a flow of the fluid across the media and not completely seal the flow path after interacting with water.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the media is configured to increase flow across the in-flow control element as water in the fluid dissipates.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the particulated media is packed and wherein the fluid flows through an interspatial volume of the particulated media.

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

a flow path associated with a production control device, the flow path configured to convey the fluid from the formation into a flow bore of the wellbore tubular;

a particulate control device positioned along the flow path; and

at least one in-flow control element along the flow path and downstream of the particulate control device, the in-flow control element including a particulated media that reduces a flow rate in at least a portion of the flow path by interacting with water, wherein the particulated media includes a polar coating and is configured to maintain a flow of the fluid across the media and not completely seal the flow path after interacting with water.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the media is configured to increase flow across the in-flow control element as water in the fluid dissipates.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the particulated media is packed and wherein the fluid flows through an interspatial volume of the particulated media.

19. A system for controlling a flow of a fluid in a well, comprising:

a wellbore tubular in the well;

a production control device positioned along the wellbore tubular;

a particulate control device associated with the production control device;

a flow path associated with the production control device, the flow path configured to convey the fluid from the particulate control device into a flow bore of the wellbore tubular; and

at least one in-flow control element along the flow path, the in-flow control element including a media that adjusts flow along at least a portion of the flow path by interacting with water, wherein the media interacts with molecules of a component of the fluid by repulsion, and wherein the media is fixed to a surface of the flow path and configured to maintain a flow of the fluid along the flow path and not completely seal the flow path after interacting with water.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the media is configured to increase flow across the in-flow control element as water in the fluid dissipates.