System and methodology for controlling fluid flow
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsBryan Stamm, Michael Dean Langlais, John R. Whitsitt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A technique facilitates formation of a gravel pack. A well completion is provided to facilitate improved gravel packing during a gravel packing operation and subsequent production. The well completion is constructed to freely return a gravel pack carrier fluid through a base pipe during gravel packing. A valve system is positioned to enable restriction of fluid flow into the base pipe following the gravel packing operation. The valve system may be selectively actuated to restrict the fluid flow into the base pipe via a signal such as a pressure signal or timed electric signal.
Claims16
A system for use in a well, comprising:
- a completion system having a screen assembly sized for deployment in a wellbore, the screen assembly comprising:
- a tubular member having a filter section and a non-permeable section;
- a base pipe disposed within the tubular member and creating an annulus therebetween, the base pipe having a perforated base pipe section radially inward of the non-permeable section and a non-perforated base pipe section radially inward of the filter section;
- a bulkhead extending between the base pipe and the tubular member at a location dividing the perforated base pipe section and the non-perforated base pipe section, the bulkhead having a passage therethrough of sufficient size to allow enough flow to the perforated base pipe section so as to avoid substantial pressure loss during gravel packing;
- and
- a valve assembly positioned in cooperation with the passage for selectively restricting flow through the passage, the valve assembly being actuatable via a signal applied to an actuator system of the valve assembly,
- wherein the completion system comprises a shunt tube system deployed externally of the tubular member, and
- wherein the valve assembly is coupled with a flow line extending to the shunt tube system, the valve assembly being actuatable via a pressure signal, the valve assembly comprising a dart oriented for selective engagement with the passage once the valve assembly is actuated via the pressure signal applied via the flow line, thus restricting flow through the bulkhead and through the perforated section of the base pipe.
A system, comprising:
- a completion system having:
- a screen assembly sized for deployment in a borehole, the screen assembly comprising a tubular member having a filter section and a base pipe disposed in the tubular member;
- and
- a valve assembly positioned to control a fluid flow through a passage disposed within the screen assembly, the valve assembly being actuatable via a signal so as to change flow into the base pipe from a higher rate during a gravel packing operation to a lower rate during a subsequent production operation,
- wherein the completion system comprises a shunt tube system deployed externally of the tubular member, and
- wherein the signal comprises a pressure signal applied through the shunt tube system.
A method, comprising:
- providing a well completion with a shunt tube system to facilitate a gravel packing operation;
- enabling a gravel pack carrier fluid to return through a base pipe of the well completion;
- positioning a valve assembly to restrict fluid flow into the base pipe following the gravel packing operation;
- and
- selectively actuating the valve assembly, via a signal, to restrict fluid flow into the base pipe,
- wherein the signal comprises a pressure signal applied through the shunt tube system, and
- wherein selectively actuating comprises actuating a pressure release mechanism to enable flow of the pressure signal from the shunt tube system to the valve assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.