Autonomous fluid control system having a fluid diode
First Claim
1. An apparatus for autonomously controlling fluid flow in a subterranean well, the apparatus comprising:
- a fluid passageway having a fluid diode positioned therein;
the fluid diode having opposing high resistance and low resistance entries through which fluid may enter or exit the fluid diode;
the low resistance entry providing a relatively low resistance to fluid flowing into the diode through the low resistance entry; and
the high resistance entry providing a relatively high resistance to fluid flowing into the diode through the high resistance entry, and wherein the high resistance entry has a concave, annular surface surrounding an orifice,wherein the fluid passageway is one of a pair of parallel passageways that extend between a common inlet where fluid may be divided into the pair of parallel passageways and respective outlets where fluid may be recombined from the pair of parallel passageways.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for autonomously controlling fluid flow in a subterranean well are presented, and in particular for providing a fluid diode to create a relatively high resistance to fluid flow in one direction and a relatively low resistance to fluid flowing in the opposite direction. The diode is positioned in a fluid passageway and has opposing high resistance and low resistance entries. In one embodiment, the high resistance entry has a concave, annular surface surrounding an orifice and the low resistance entry has a substantially conical surface. The concave, annular surface of the high resistance entry preferably extends longitudinally beyond the plane of the orifice. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid will flow in eddies adjacent the concave, annular surface.
415 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for autonomously controlling fluid flow in a subterranean well, the apparatus comprising:
-
a fluid passageway having a fluid diode positioned therein; the fluid diode having opposing high resistance and low resistance entries through which fluid may enter or exit the fluid diode;
the low resistance entry providing a relatively low resistance to fluid flowing into the diode through the low resistance entry; andthe high resistance entry providing a relatively high resistance to fluid flowing into the diode through the high resistance entry, and wherein the high resistance entry has a concave, annular surface surrounding an orifice, wherein the fluid passageway is one of a pair of parallel passageways that extend between a common inlet where fluid may be divided into the pair of parallel passageways and respective outlets where fluid may be recombined from the pair of parallel passageways. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method of servicing a wellbore extending through a hydrocarbon-bearing subterranean formation, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a fluid diode in fluid communication with the wellbore; flowing fluid in a first direction through the diode such that fluid enters the diode through a low resistance entry of the diode and exits the diode through a high resistance entry of the diode, the high resistance entry having a concave annular surface surrounding an orifice; and flowing fluid in a second direction through the diode such that fluid enters the diode through the high resistance entry of the diode and encounters the concave annular surface prior to encountering the orifice, thereby restricting fluid flow through the diode. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification