Method and apparatus for autonomous downhole fluid selection with pathway dependent resistance system
First Claim
1. A well device for installation in a wellbore in a subterranean zone, comprising:
- a substantially tubular housing wall dividing an interior of the well device and an exterior of the device, the exterior radially outward from the interior, the exterior defining an annulus with the wellbore upon installation in the wellbore; and
a fluid diode in fluid communication between the interior of the well device and the exterior of the well device through the housing wall.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is described for controlling flow of fluid in a subterranean formation based on a selected characteristic of fluid flow, such as viscosity, velocity or density, as that characteristic varies over time. A pathway-dependent resistance assembly, such as a vortex chamber having two inlets and an outlet, provides varying resistance to fluid flow based on the ratio of flow from the inlets, the direction of flow as directed by the inlets, and the characteristic of the fluid. The incoming flow ratio is preferably determined by flowing fluid through a plurality of passageways having differing flow rate responses to fluid having differing characteristics. Fluid of a selected characteristic will encounter lesser resistance to flow across the system, while fluid of an un-favored characteristic will encounter greater resistance to flow. Thus, flow of well fluids can be autonomously restricted as the fluid characteristics change over time.
411 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A well device for installation in a wellbore in a subterranean zone, comprising:
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a substantially tubular housing wall dividing an interior of the well device and an exterior of the device, the exterior radially outward from the interior, the exterior defining an annulus with the wellbore upon installation in the wellbore; and a fluid diode in fluid communication between the interior of the well device and the exterior of the well device through the housing wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of controlling flow in a wellbore in a subterranean zone, comprising:
communicating fluid through a fluid diode positioned in a flow path extending through a well device housing wall and between an interior of the well device and an annulus defined between the exterior of the well device and the wellbore in the subterranean zone. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A well device for installation in a wellbore in a subterranean formation to communicate flow with the subterranean formation when the well device is installed in the wellbore, the well device comprising:
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a well device housing defining an interior and an annular exterior of the well device; a fluid diode positioned in a flow path, the flow path extending through the well device housing and between the interior of the well device and the exterior of the well device to receive flow between the interior and the exterior, the fluid diode comprising; an interior surface that defines an interior chamber, the interior surface includes a side perimeter surface and opposing end surfaces, a greatest distance between the opposing end surfaces is smaller than a largest dimension of the opposing end surfaces; a first port through one of the end surfaces; and a second port through the interior surface and apart from the first port, the side perimeter surface operable to direct flow from the second port to rotate about the first port. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A well device for installation in a wellbore in a subterranean formation to communicate flow with the subterranean formation when the well device is installed in the wellbore, the well device comprising:
a fluid diode in a flow path extending through a well device housing between an interior of the well device and an annular exterior of the well device to receive flow between the interior and the exterior, the fluid diode including a cylindroidal chamber for receiving the flow through a chamber inlet and directing the flow to a chamber outlet, a greatest axial dimension of the cylindroidal chamber is smaller than a greatest diametric dimension of the cylindroidal chamber, and wherein the cylindroidal chamber promotes a rotation of flow about the chamber outlet and change in a degree of the rotation is based on change in a characteristic of inflow through the inlet. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
Specification