Apparatus for autonomous downhole fluid selection with pathway dependent resistance system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for autonomously controlling flow of fluid comprising:
- a pathway dependent resistance system; and
a flow ratio control system for controlling the pathway dependent resistance system, an output of the flow ratio control system in fluid communication with at least an input of the pathway dependent resistance system,the flow ratio control system having at least a first passageway and a second passageway for defining a ratio of fluid flow through the first passageway and second passageway, the ratio of fluid flow autonomously responsive to change in a characteristic of the fluid flow, wherein the characteristic is viscosity, wherein the first passageway of the fluid ratio control system is more viscosity-dependent than the second passageway, and wherein the first passageway is made of a swellable material, the passageway constricting when the material swells.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is described for controlling flow of fluid in a tubular positioned in a wellbore extending through a subterranean formation. A flow control system is placed in fluid communication with a main tubular. The flow control system has a flow ratio control system and a pathway dependent resistance system. The flow ratio control system has a first and second passageway, the production fluid flowing into the passageways with the ratio of fluid flow through the passageways related to the characteristic of the fluid flow. The pathway dependent resistance system includes a vortex chamber with a first and second inlet and an outlet, the first inlet of the pathway dependent resistance system in fluid communication with the first passageway of the fluid ratio control system and the second inlet in fluid communication with the second passageway of the fluid ratio control system. The first inlet is positioned to direct fluid into the vortex chamber such that it flows primarily tangentially into the vortex chamber, and the second inlet is positioned to direct fluid such that it flows primarily radially into the vortex chamber. Undesired fluids, such as natural gas or water, in an oil well, are directed, based on their relative characteristic, into the vortex primarily tangentially, thereby restricting fluid flow when the undesired fluid is present as a component of the production fluid.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. An apparatus for autonomously controlling flow of fluid comprising:
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a pathway dependent resistance system; and a flow ratio control system for controlling the pathway dependent resistance system, an output of the flow ratio control system in fluid communication with at least an input of the pathway dependent resistance system, the flow ratio control system having at least a first passageway and a second passageway for defining a ratio of fluid flow through the first passageway and second passageway, the ratio of fluid flow autonomously responsive to change in a characteristic of the fluid flow, wherein the characteristic is viscosity, wherein the first passageway of the fluid ratio control system is more viscosity-dependent than the second passageway, and wherein the first passageway is made of a swellable material, the passageway constricting when the material swells. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An apparatus for autonomously controlling flow of fluid comprising:
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a pathway dependent resistance system; and a flow ratio control system for controlling the pathway dependent resistance system, an output of the flow ratio control system in fluid communication with at least an input of the pathway dependent resistance system, the flow ratio control system having at least a first passageway and a second passageway for defining a ratio of fluid flow through the first passageway and second passageway, the ratio of fluid flow autonomously responsive to change in a characteristic of the fluid flow, further comprising a fluid amplifier system interposed between the fluid ratio control system and the pathway dependent resistance system and in fluid communication with both, wherein the fluid ratio control system further comprises a primary flow passageway, the primary flow passageway in fluid communication with the fluid amplifier system, and wherein the primary passageway further comprises a vortex diode. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for autonomously controlling flow of fluid comprising:
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a pathway dependent resistance system; and a flow ratio control system of only fixed parts for controlling the pathway dependent resistance system, an output of the flow ratio control system in fluid communication with at least an input of the pathway dependent resistance system, the flow ratio control system having at least a first passageway and a second passageway for defining a ratio of fluid flow through the first passageway and second passageway, the ratio of fluid flow autonomously responsive to change in a characteristic of the fluid flow; a downhole oilfield tubular for positioning downhole in a wellbore extending through a subterranean formation and wherein the flow ratio control system is positioned in the tubular; the apparatus for injecting steam as injection fluid from the oilfield tubular into the formation and for controlling injection of the injection fluid into the formation; and wherein the apparatus selects injection of steam over injection of water. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. An apparatus for autonomously controlling flow of fluid comprising:
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a pathway dependent resistance system; and a flow ratio control system of only fixed parts for controlling the pathway dependent resistance system, an output of the flow ratio control system in fluid communication with at least an input of the pathway dependent resistance system, the flow ratio control system having at least a first passageway and a second passageway for defining a ratio of fluid flow through the first passageway and second passageway, the ratio of fluid flow autonomously responsive to a characteristic of the fluid flow; and further comprising a downhole oilfield tubular for positioning downhole in a wellbore extending through a subterranean formation and wherein the flow ratio control system is positioned in the tubular, wherein the apparatus is for controlling flow of cementing fluid from the exterior of the oilfield tubular to the interior of the oilfield tubular during reverse cementing; and wherein the apparatus will provide higher resistance to flow of cementing fluid as the composition of the cementing fluid changes to a higher viscosity.
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13. An apparatus for autonomously controlling flow of fluid comprising:
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a pathway dependent resistance system; and a flow ratio control system for controlling the pathway dependent resistance system, an output of the flow ratio control system in fluid communication with at least an input of the pathway dependent resistance system, the flow ratio control system having at least a first passageway and a second passageway for defining a ratio of fluid flow through the first passageway and second passageway, the ratio of fluid flow autonomously responsive to a characteristic of the fluid flow; and further comprising a downhole oilfield tubular for positioning downhole in a wellbore extending through a subterranean formation and wherein the flow ratio control system is positioned in the tubular; and wherein the flow ratio control system and pathway dependent resistance system are positioned within a movable plug.
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14. A system for controlling fluid flow comprising:
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a pathway dependent resistance system, having a vortex chamber;
at least a first inlet; and
an outlet; andwherein at least the first inlet of the pathway dependent resistance system is in fluid communication with a flow direction control system, the flow from the flow direction control system affecting direction flow takes into the pathway dependent resistance system, and wherein the direction fluid flow takes into the pathway dependent resistance system is dependent on fluid viscosity and autonomously changes in response to fluid viscosity changes; and wherein the pathway dependent resistance system is positioned in an oilfield tubular for positioning downhole in a wellbore extending through a subterranean formation. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A flow control system, comprising:
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a flow ratio control system having at least a first passageway and a second passageway, wherein the ratio of fluid flow through the first passageway and second passageway is related to a characteristic of the fluid flow; and a pathway dependent resistance system having a vortex chamber with at least a first inlet and an outlet, the first inlet of the pathway dependent resistance system in fluid communication with either the first or second passageway or both of the fluid ratio control system, variations in the ratio of flow coming from the first and second passageway affecting the relative resistance of the total fluid moving through the pathway dependent resistance system; and wherein the flow control system is positioned in an oilfield tubular for positioning downhole in a wellbore extending through a subterranean formation. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification