Fluid flow control system employing a fluidic diode for control pressure

A well system, comprising:

• a wellbore extending through one or more subterranean formations;
• tubing positioned within the wellbore;
• and
• a fluid flow control system positioned between the wellbore and the tubing, the fluid flow control system including:
• a flow restrictor operable to receive production fluid having a pressure (P3) and discharge control fluid having a control pressure (P2);
• a fluidic diode placed between the flow restrictor and the tubing, wherein the fluidic diode is configured to change the control pressure (P2) to a higher control pressure (P2++) when the fluidic diode encounters lower viscosity fluids and is configured to change the control pressure (P2) to a lower control pressure (P2+) when the fluidic diode encounters higher viscosity fluids;
• an inflow control device having a production fluid inlet operable to receive the production fluid having the pressure (P3), a control inlet operable to receive control fluid having the higher control pressure (P2++) or the lower control pressure (P2+), and a production fluid outlet operable to pass the production fluid having a pressure (P1) to the tubing, the inflow control device configured to close or open the production fluid outlet based upon pressure values (P3, P2++, P1) or (P3, P2+, P1);
• and
• a pressure relief valve positioned between the flow restrictor and the control inlet, the pressure relief valve configured to eliminate a range of pressures between the higher control pressure (P2++) or the lower control pressure (P2+) that would only partially close the inflow control device.

A method, comprising:

• positioning a fluid flow control system within a wellbore extending through one or more subterranean formations, the fluid flow control system located between the wellbore and tubing positioned in the wellbore, the fluid flow control system including:
• a flow restrictor operable to receive production fluid having a pressure (P3) and discharge control fluid having a control pressure (P2);
• a fluidic diode placed between the flow restrictor and the tubing, wherein the fluidic diode is configured to change the control pressure (P2) to a higher control pressure (P2++) when the fluidic diode encounters lower viscosity fluids and is configured to change the control pressure (P2) to a lower control pressure (P2+) when the fluidic diode encounters higher viscosity fluids;
• and
• an inflow control device having a production fluid inlet operable to receive the production fluid having the pressure (P3), a control inlet operable to receive control fluid having the higher control pressure (P2++) or the lower control pressure (P2+), and a production fluid outlet operable to pass the production fluid having a pressure (P1) to the tubing, the inflow control device configured to close or open the production fluid outlet based upon pressure values (P3, P2++, P1) or (P3, P2+, P1);
• and
• a pressure relief valve positioned between the flow restrictor and the control inlet, the pressure relief valve configured to eliminate a range of pressures between the higher control pressure (P2++) or the lower control pressure (P2+) that would only partially close the inflow control device;
• and
• producing fluid from the wellbore into the tubing, the lower viscosity fluids closing the inflow control device and the higher viscosity fluids opening the inflow control device.

A well system, comprising:

• a wellbore extending through one or more subterranean formations;
• tubing positioned within the wellbore;
• and
• a fluid flow control system positioned between the wellbore and the tubing, the fluid flow control system including:
• a flow restrictor operable to receive production fluid having a pressure (P3) and discharge control fluid having a control pressure (P2);
• a fluidic diode placed between the flow restrictor and the tubing, wherein the fluidic diode is configured to change the control pressure (P2) to a higher control pressure (P2++) when the fluidic diode encounters lower viscosity fluids and is configured to change the control pressure (P2) to a lower control pressure (P2+) when the fluidic diode encounters higher viscosity fluids;
• an inflow control device having a production fluid inlet operable to receive the production fluid having the pressure (P3), a control inlet operable to receive control fluid having the higher control pressure (P2++) or the lower control pressure (P2+), and a production fluid outlet operable to pass the production fluid having a pressure (P1) to the tubing, the inflow control device configured to close or open the production fluid outlet based upon pressure values (P3, P2++, P1) or (P3, P2+, P1), wherein the flow restrictor is a first flow restrictor, and further including second and third flow restrictors placed in series with the first flow restrictor and in parallel with the fluidic diode.

A method, comprising:

• positioning a fluid flow control system within a wellbore extending through one or more subterranean formations, the fluid flow control system located between the wellbore and tubing positioned in the wellbore, the fluid flow control system including:
• a flow restrictor operable to receive production fluid having a pressure (P3) and discharge control fluid having a control pressure (P2);
• a fluidic diode placed between the flow restrictor and the tubing, wherein the fluidic diode is configured to change the control pressure (P2) to a higher control pressure (P2++) when the fluidic diode encounters lower viscosity fluids and is configured to change the control pressure (P2) to a lower control pressure (P2+) when the fluidic diode encounters higher viscosity fluids;
• an inflow control device having a production fluid inlet operable to receive the production fluid having the pressure (P3), a control inlet operable to receive control fluid having the higher control pressure (P2++) or the lower control pressure (P2+), and a production fluid outlet operable to pass the production fluid having a pressure (P1) to the tubing, the inflow control device configured to close or open the production fluid outlet based upon pressure values (P3, P2++, P1) or (P3, P2+, P1)), wherein the flow restrictor is a first flow restrictor, and further including second and third flow restrictors placed in series with the first flow restrictor and in parallel with the fluidic diode;
• and
• producing fluid from the wellbore into the tubing, the lower viscosity fluids closing the inflow control device and the higher viscosity fluids opening the inflow control device.