Downhole flow control device and method
First Claim
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1. A flow control device, comprising:
- a first member defining a first portion of a cross section of a flow path;
a second member defining a second portion of the cross section of the flow path, the second member being distinct from and operably coupled with the first member, the flow path having a cross sectional flow area defined at least partially by the first portion and the second portion, a length of the flow path being greater than a largest dimension of the cross sectional flow area, and the cross sectional flow area being adjustable by axial movement of at least a portion of the first member relative to the second member; and
a crush zone arranged with at least one of the first member and the second member that can change in length due to loading thereof, at least a portion of the crush zone being configured to undergo plastic deformation due to the loading thereof and resulting in the movement of at least a portion of the first member relative to the second member.
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Abstract
A flow control device, including a first member defining a first portion of a flow path and a second member defining a second portion of the flow path. The flow path has a cross sectional flow area defined at least partially by the first member and the second member. A length of the flow path is greater than a largest dimension of the cross sectional flow area, and the cross sectional flow area is adjustable by movement of at least a portion of the first member relative to the second member. A crush zone arranged with at least one of the first member and the second member that can change in length due to loading thereof. A method of adjusting restriction of a flow path is also included.
265 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A flow control device, comprising:
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a first member defining a first portion of a cross section of a flow path; a second member defining a second portion of the cross section of the flow path, the second member being distinct from and operably coupled with the first member, the flow path having a cross sectional flow area defined at least partially by the first portion and the second portion, a length of the flow path being greater than a largest dimension of the cross sectional flow area, and the cross sectional flow area being adjustable by axial movement of at least a portion of the first member relative to the second member; and a crush zone arranged with at least one of the first member and the second member that can change in length due to loading thereof, at least a portion of the crush zone being configured to undergo plastic deformation due to the loading thereof and resulting in the movement of at least a portion of the first member relative to the second member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A flow control device, comprising:
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a first member defining a first portion of a cross section of a flow path; a second member defining a second portion of the cross section of the flow path, the second member being distinct from and operably coupled with the first member, the flow path having a cross sectional flow area defined at least partially by the first portion and the second portion, a length of the flow path being greater than a largest dimension of the cross sectional flow area and the cross sectional flow area being adjustable by movement of at least a portion of the first member relative to the second member; and a crush zone arranged with at least one of the first member and the second member that can change in length due to loading thereof, at least a portion of the crush zone being configured to undergo plastic deformation due to the loading thereof and resulting in the movement of at least a portion of the first member relative to the second member, wherein the flow path has a helical shape.
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11. A method of adjusting restriction of a flow path, comprising:
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porting fluid through the flow path, the flow path having a length greater than a largest dimension of a cross sectional area of the flow path; and altering the cross sectional area of the flow path by loading a crush zone to plastically deform at least a portion of the crush zone thereby changing an alterable length of the crush zone, the crush zone arranged with at least one of a first member defining a first portion of a cross section of the flow path and a second member, distinct from and operably coupled with the first member, defining a second portion of the cross section of the flow path, the loading of the crush zone resulting in axial movement of the first member relative to the second member such that the cross sectional area is altered. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification