Flow control system for use in a subterranean well
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsStephen Michael Greci, Ryan W. McChesney, Michael Linley Fripp
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Abstract
A flow control system for use in controlling flow of a fluid composition in a subterranean well is disclosed. The flow control system includes a flow chamber that includes an inlet and an outlet oriented such that the fluid composition flows circuitously through the chamber, forming a vortex at least at the outlet. The flow control system further comprises at least one flow control structure shaped and positioned in the flow chamber such that a velocity of the circuitous flow is reduced and the vortex is eliminated or substantially reduced.
Claims17
A flow control system for use in controlling flow of a fluid composition in a subterranean well, the flow control system comprising:
- a flow chamber comprising an inlet and an outlet oriented such that the fluid composition flows circuitously through the flow chamber;
- and
- at least one flow control structure shaped and positioned in the flow chamber such that a velocity of the circuitous flow is reduced and formation of a vortex at the outlet is eliminated or substantially reduced, wherein an inside end of the at least one flow control structure oriented toward the outlet converges to a point.
A method of controlling flow of a fluid composition in a subterranean well through a subterranean formation, comprising:
- locating a tubular string downhole in the subterranean well, the tubular string comprising a flow control system;
- flowing the fluid composition from the subterranean formation into a flow chamber of the flow control system through an inlet so as to induce circuitous flow within the flow chamber;
- flowing the fluid composition out of the flow control system and into the tubular string through an outlet of the flow control system;
- and
- disrupting the circuitous flow with at least one flow control structure in the flow chamber to reduce a velocity of the circuitous flow and eliminate or substantially reduce formation of a vortex at the outlet, wherein an inside end of the at least one flow control structure oriented toward the outlet converges to a point.
A production system for producing at least a portion of a fluid composition from a subterranean formation, the production system locatable in a subterranean well extending through the formation, the production system comprising:
- a tubular string locatable downhole in the subterranean well and comprising a flow control system functional to control flow of the fluid composition into the tubular string,
- wherein the flow control system comprises:
- a flow chamber comprising an inlet and an outlet oriented such that the fluid composition flows circuitously through the flow chamber;
- and
- at least one flow control structure shaped and positioned in the flow chamber such that a velocity of the circuitous flow is reduced and formation of a vortex at the outlet is eliminated or substantially reduced, wherein an inside end of the at least one flow control structure oriented toward the outlet converges to a point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.