Back to results
US 11,892,096 B2Granted
Additive manufactured floats for use in a downhole environment
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsRyan W. McChesney, Stephen Michael Greci, Michael Linley Fripp
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A float for use with a fluid flow control device. The float, in at least one aspect, includes a fluid impermeable exterior, and a base material having one or more cavities positioned within the fluid impermeable exterior, the base material formed using an additive manufacturing process.
Claims20
A float for use with a fluid flow control device, comprising:
- a fluid impermeable exterior;
- a base material having one or more cavities positioned within the fluid impermeable exterior, the base material formed using an additive manufacturing process;
- and
- a hinge point coupled to the fluid impermeable exterior and the base material, the hinge point configured to allow the float to rotate thereabout.
1 more element
A fluid flow control device, comprising:
- an inlet port;
- an outlet port;
- a float positioned between the inlet port and the outlet port, the float movable between an open position that allows fluid flow through the outlet port and a closed position that restricts fluid flow through the outlet port, the float including:
- a fluid impermeable exterior;
- a base material having one or more cavities positioned within the fluid impermeable exterior, the base material formed using an additive manufacturing process;
- and
- a hinge point coupled to the fluid impermeable exterior and the base material, the hinge point configured to allow the float to rotate thereabout.
4 more elements
A method for manufacturing a fluid flow control device, comprising:
- forming at least a portion of a float using an additive manufacturing process, the float including:
- a fluid impermeable exterior;
- a base material having one or more cavities positioned within the fluid impermeable exterior;
- and
- a hinge point coupled to the fluid impermeable exterior and the base material, the hinge point configured to allow the float to rotate thereabout;
- and
- positioning the float between an inlet port and an outlet port, the float movable between an open position that allows fluid flow through the outlet port and a closed position that restricts fluid flow through the outlet port.
4 more elements
A well system, comprising:
- a wellbore formed through a subterranean formation;
- a tubing string positioned within the wellbore;
- a fluid flow control device coupled to the tubing string, the fluid flow control device including:
- an inlet port operable to receive fluid from the subterranean formation;
- an outlet port operable to pass the fluid to the tubing string;
- and
- a float positioned between the inlet port and the outlet port, the float movable between an open position that allows fluid flow through the outlet port to the tubing string and a closed position that restricts fluid flow through the outlet port to the tubing string, the float including:
- a fluid impermeable exterior;
- a base material having one or more cavities positioned within the fluid impermeable exterior, the base material formed using an additive manufacturing process;
- and
- a hinge point coupled to the fluid impermeable exterior and the base material, the hinge point configured to allow the float to rotate thereabout.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.