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US 10,208,575 B2Granted
Alternative helical flow control device for polymer injection in horizontal wells
AssigneeBaker Hughes, A Ge Company, LLC
InventorsKousha Gohari, Heikki Armas Jutila, Carlos Mascagnini, Christopher Harper, Peter J. Kidd
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The flow control device comprises one or more stacked spiral paths where the shape of an inlet to an end of a spiral has a taper on one or more sides to gradually increase the polymer velocity to eliminate rapid acceleration points as the flow enters the spiral path. The entrance with its taper can be curved to get into the spiral. The spiral can be entered tangentially or radially or axially.
Claims17
A flow control assembly for borehole use, comprising:
- at least one housing having opposed end connections adapted for connection to a tubular string;
- at least one coiled path defining an outer periphery and having at least one inlet and at least one outlet and disposed in said housing, the at least one inlet extending spirally and axially about an axis of the housing in general alignment with the periphery of said at least one coiled path, said inlet and outlet communicating with pressure in the tubular string, said inlet comprising, from said housing, a continuing reduction in cross-sectional area while following the outer periphery of said at least one coiled path in the direction of fluid movement into said inlet for reduction of shear effect on fluid traversing said inlet.
A borehole flow balancing method for production or injection, comprising:
- flowing through a tubular string sting in the borehole that further comprises at least one housing having opposed end connections adapted for connection to the tubular string and at least one coiled path defining an outer periphery and comprising at least one inlet and at least one outlet and disposed in said housing, the at least one inlet extending spirally and axially about an axis of the housing in general alignment with the outer periphery of said at least one coiled path, said inlet and outlet communicating with pressure in the tubular string, said inlet comprising, from said housing, a continuing reduction in cross-sectional area while following the outer periphery of said at least one coiled path in the direction of fluid movement into said inlet for reduction of shear effect on fluid traversing said inlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.