Water sensitive variable counterweight device driven by osmosis

• US 8,839,849 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2008
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Guest, Randall V., Crow, Stephen L., Coronado, Martin P.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAYRE, JAMES G
• Application Number:
  US12/050,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20090236102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,380 Days
• Field of Search: 166/54, 166/319, 166/386, 166/373, 166/316, 166/227, 137/401, 137/403, 137/404
• US Class Current: 166/54
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/124 Units with longitudinally-spaced plugs for isolating the intermediate space
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/08 responsive to flow or pressure of the fluid obtained E21B34/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/08 Screens or liners expandable screens or liners E21B43/108
• 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 43/14 Obtaining from a multiple-zone well
• 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 method for producing fluid from a subterranean formation includes configuring a body to at least partially fill with a selected fluid; and actuating a flow restriction element using the body. The selected fluid may be water. An apparatus for controlling flow of a fluid into a wellbore tubular may include a selectively buoyant body, and a flow restriction element responsive to a movement of the selectively buoyant body. The selectively buoyant body includes a membrane configured to block a flow of hydrocarbons into the selectively buoyant body. The flow restriction element may include a flapper, a sliding sleeve, and a poppet valve. The body may be at least partially filled with a permeable material, which includes, but is not limited to, open-cell foam, reticulated metal foam, shaped sintered powder and capillary tubes.

Claims

1. A method for producing a fluid mixture from a subterranean formation, the fluid mixture having at least a first fluid and a different second fluid, the method comprising:

placing a body in the fluid mixture flowing between the subterranean formation and a flow bore of a wellbore tubular, the body having a cavity at least partially filling with the first selected fluid, the body having a membrane blocking entry of the second selected liquid into the body; and

actuating a flow restriction element as the body sinks in a surrounding fluid.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first selected fluid is water.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising configuring the body to be buoyant in the surrounding fluid when the first selected fluid is not in the body.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the membrane blocks a flow of hydrocarbons into the body.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising venting a fluid from the body as the body fills with the first selected fluid.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

controlling a flow of fluid into a passage in communication with a flow bore using a flow restriction element; and

applying a force to the flow restriction element using the body as the body sinks in the surrounding fluid, wherein the force urges the flow restriction element into a sealing engagement with the passage.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the flow restriction element has an open position wherein the flow restriction element is disengaged from the passage and a closed position wherein the flow restriction element at least partially blocks the passage;

and wherein the body is a shell.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the flow bore is a bore of a wellbore tubular;

and further comprising maintaining the flow restriction element in the open position while the body is substantially not filled with water, and shifting the flow restriction element to the closed position after the body substantially fills with water.

9. The method according to claim 1 further comprising at least partially filling the body with a permeable material configured to store the first selected fluid.

10. An apparatus for controlling flow of a fluid into a wellbore, comprising:

a body in a fluid mixture, the body being configured to fill with a first selected fluid from the fluid mixture and block a flow of a second selected liquid from the fluid mixture into the body, wherein the body includes a membrane configured to block a flow of the first selected liquid into the body; and

a flow restriction element responsive to a movement of the body, wherein the body is configured to sink in a surrounding fluid as the first selected fluid fills the body.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the first selected fluid is water.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein a selectively buoyant body is coupled to the flow restriction element.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the body is configured to be buoyant in the surrounding fluid when the first selected fluid is not in the body and the flow restriction element is selected from the group consisting of:

(i) a flapper, (ii) a sliding sleeve, and (iii) a poppet valve.

14. A system for controlling a flow of a fluid in a well intersecting a formation of interest, comprising:

a tubular configured to be disposed in the well;

a flow restriction element positioned at a selected location along the tubular, the flow restriction element being configured to control flow between a bore of the tubular and the exterior of the tubular; and

an actuator coupled to the flow restriction element, the actuator including a body having an interior space and a membrane controlling fluid communication into the interior space, the membrane allowing a flow of water into the interior space while blocking a flow of a hydrocarbon into the interior space.

15. The system according to claim 14 wherein the membrane is configured to be semi-permeable to allow water to flow through the membrane.

16. The system according to claim 15 wherein the membrane is further configured to use an osmotic pressure gradient.

17. The system according to claim 14 further comprising a plurality of flow restriction elements positioned at selected locations along the tubular, each flow restriction element being configured to control flow between a bore of the tubular and the exterior of the tubular;

and an actuator coupled to each flow restriction element, each actuator including a body having an interior space and a membrane controlling fluid communication into the interior space.

18. The system according to claim 14 comprising at least partially filling the body with a permeable material.

19. The system according to claim 18 wherein the permeable material includes one of:

(i) open-cell foam, (ii) reticulated metal foam, (iii) shaped sintered powder, and (iv) capillary tube.