Valve and a method for closing fluid communication between a well and a production string, and a system comprising the valve

A system for controlling inflow of a fluid from a well and into a tubular body forming part of a production string, the system comprising at least one valve comprising:

• a primary flow channel having a primary inlet through a flow barrier, and a low pressure portion;
• a secondary flow channel connected to the primary flow channel at the low pressure portion, the secondary flow channel having a secondary inlet through the flow barrier and provided with a flow restrictor;
• a chamber in connection with the secondary flow channel;
• a piston arranged in the primary flow channel for opening and closing the primary flow channel, the piston defining a portion of the chamber in connection with the secondary flow channel;
• an inflow control element movable between a first position and a second position in response to a density of a fluid;
• wherein the inflow control element is exposed to the fluid flow upstream of the flow barrier and is arranged to move to the second position and close the secondary inlet when the content of the undesired fluid in the flow upstream of the flow barrier exceeds the predetermined level;
• and
• wherein the closing of the secondary inlet causes an underpressure in the chamber such that the piston is activated and the valve is closed;
• wherein the system further comprises:
• a diverting device arranged upstream of at least one of the at least one valve, the diverting device having an upstream end portion and a downstream end portion;
• a flow through inlet in the upstream end portion;
• a flow through conduit for allowing fluid communication from the flow through inlet to the downstream end portion;
• a bypass inlet in the upstream end portion;
• a bypass conduit for allowing fluid communication from the bypass inlet to an outlet arranged in fluid communication with an aperture in a wall of the production string , the outlet being arranged between the upstream end portion and the downstream end portion of the diverting device, the flow through inlet being spaced apart from the bypass inlet;
• and
• at least one diverting device inflow control element responsive to a density of a fluid;
• wherein the diverting device inflow control element is located in the fluid flow at the upstream end portion of the diverting device and is arranged to block one of the flow through inlet and the bypass inlet depending on the density of the fluid at the upstream end portion of the diverting device.

A method for controlling fluid flow in, into or out of a well, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• mounting at least one valve as part of a well completion string prior to inserting the string in the well, the at least one valve comprising:
• a primary flow channel having a primary inlet through a flow barrier, and a low pressure portion;
• a secondary flow channel connected to the primary flow channel at the low pressure portion, the secondary flow channel having a secondary inlet through the flow barrier and provided with a flow restrictor;
• a chamber in connection with the secondary flow channel;
• a piston arranged in the primary flow channel for opening and closing the primary flow channel, the piston defining a portion of the chamber in connection with the secondary flow channel;
• an inflow control element movable between a first position and a second position in response to a density of a fluid;
• wherein the inflow control element is exposed to the fluid flow upstream of the flow barrier and is arranged to move to the second position and close the secondary inlet when the content of the undesired fluid in the flow upstream of the flow barrier exceeds the predetermined level;
• and
• wherein the closing of the secondary inlet causes an underpressure in the chamber such that the piston is activated and the valve is closed;
• bringing the well completion string into the well;
• orienting the at least one valve within the well;
• and
• flowing fluid in, into or out of the well.