Apparatus and method for passive fluid control in a wellbore
First Claim
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1. A method of making a flow device to control flow of fluid from a formation, comprising:
- providing a shape-conforming material with an open cell structure;
forming a flow control member by injecting a hydrophilic polymer in openings in the open cell structure of the shape-conforming material in an amount sufficient to cause the flow control member to restrict flow of water therethrough, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is bonded to cell walls of the shape-conforming material and is positioned within openings in the open cell structure to restrict flow of water through the openings.
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Abstract
In one embodiment, a device for controlling flow of water from a subterranean formation into a production well may include a flow control member formed from a shape-conforming material and a hydrophilic polymer disposed within the shape-conforming member in an amount sufficient to cause the flow control member to restrict flow of water therethrough.
21 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of making a flow device to control flow of fluid from a formation, comprising:
providing a shape-conforming material with an open cell structure;
forming a flow control member by injecting a hydrophilic polymer in openings in the open cell structure of the shape-conforming material in an amount sufficient to cause the flow control member to restrict flow of water therethrough, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is bonded to cell walls of the shape-conforming material and is positioned within openings in the open cell structure to restrict flow of water through the openings.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A flow control device to control flow of fluid from a formation, comprising:
a flow control member formed from a shape-conforming material with an open cell structure and a hydrophilic polymer injected in openings in the open cell structure of the shape-conforming material in an amount sufficient to cause the flow control member to restrict flow of water therethrough, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is bonded to cell walls of the shape-conforming material and is positioned within openings in the open cell structure to restrict flow of water through the openings. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of producing a fluid from a formation into a wellbore, comprising:
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providing a flow control device that includes a flow control member formed from a shape-conforming material with an open cell structure and a selected amount of a hydrophilic polymer injected in the open cell structure of the shape-conforming material sufficient to cause the flow control member to restrict flow of water therethrough, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is bonded to cell walls of the shape-conforming material and is positioned within openings in the open cell structure to restrict flow of water through the openings; placing the flow control device with the flow control member in a first compacted shape at a selected location in the wellbore; allowing the flow control member to attain a second expanded shape; and
producing the fluid from the formation into the wellbore by flowing the fluid through the flow control device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification