Self-adjusting in-flow control device
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for controlling a flow of a fluid between a wellbore tubular and a formation, comprising:
- a flow control device having a first opening, a second opening, and flow space forming a fluid path between the formation and the wellbore tubular formed therein, the fluid path being between the first opening and the second opening; and
a flow control element positioned in the flow space, the flow control element being configured to flex radially outward from a first radial position to a second radial position in response to a change in a pressure differential along the flow space, wherein the fluid flows across the flow space when the flow control element is in the first radial position and the second radial position and wherein an increase in the pressure differential reduces a gap along the flow space, wherein the flow control element is configured to reduce a space between an inner surface of the flow control device and the flow control element as fluid flow increases in the space, and wherein the space remains after the flow control element flexes to a radially outward position, and wherein the flow control element expands radially outward in response to an increase in a pressure applied on a surface facing the flowing fluid.
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Abstract
Devices, systems and related methods control a flow of a fluid between a wellbore tubular and a formation using a flow control device having a flow space formed therein; and a flow control element positioned in flow space. The flow control element may be configured to flex between a first radial position and a second radial position to in response to a pressure differential along the flow space.
190 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlling a flow of a fluid between a wellbore tubular and a formation, comprising:
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a flow control device having a first opening, a second opening, and flow space forming a fluid path between the formation and the wellbore tubular formed therein, the fluid path being between the first opening and the second opening; and a flow control element positioned in the flow space, the flow control element being configured to flex radially outward from a first radial position to a second radial position in response to a change in a pressure differential along the flow space, wherein the fluid flows across the flow space when the flow control element is in the first radial position and the second radial position and wherein an increase in the pressure differential reduces a gap along the flow space, wherein the flow control element is configured to reduce a space between an inner surface of the flow control device and the flow control element as fluid flow increases in the space, and wherein the space remains after the flow control element flexes to a radially outward position, and wherein the flow control element expands radially outward in response to an increase in a pressure applied on a surface facing the flowing fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for controlling a flow of a fluid between a wellbore tubular and a formation using a flow control device, the flow control device including a first opening, an second opening, and a flow space between the first and the second opening, comprising:
controlling fluid flow between the formation and the wellbore tubular in a flow control device along the wellbore tubular by using a flow control element configured to flex radially outward from a first radial position to a second radial position in response to a change in a pressure differential in flow space, wherein the fluid flows along the wellbore tubular when the flow control element is in the first radial position and the second radial position, and wherein an increase in the pressure differential reduces a gap along the flow space, wherein the flow control element diametrically expands when flexing from the first radial position to the second radial position, and wherein the flow control element expands radially outward in response to an increase in a pressure applied on a surface facing the flowing fluid. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for controlling a flow of a fluid a wellbore tubular, comprising:
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a plurality of flow control devices positioned along the wellbore tubular, wherein each flow control device has a flow space formed therein that allows fluid flow from a first opening in communication with the formation into a second opening in communication with the wellbore tubular; and a flow control element positioned in each flow space, each flow control element having a surface facing a first opening receiving the fluid from the formation, each flow control element being configured to flex radially outward from a first radial position to a second radial position in response to an increase in a pressure applied on the surface facing the fluid flowing from the first opening, wherein the fluid flows across the flow space when the flow control element is in the first radial position and the second radial position, and wherein an increase in the pressure differential reduces a gap along the flow space. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification