Flow control in a well bore
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorWilliam Mark Richards
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for installation in a well bore includes a flow control device and a control unit coupled to the flow control device. The flow control device is changeable from a first state to a second state. The first state corresponds to a first mode of fluid communication between an interior of a tubular conduit of a completion string and an annulus between the tubular conduit and a wall of the well bore. The second state corresponds to a second, different mode of fluid communication between the interior of the tubular conduit and the annulus. The control unit is coupled to the flow control device to change the flow control device between the first and second states. The control unit is actuated to change the flow control device in response to pressure in the well bore.
Claims27
A system for installation in a well bore, the system comprising:
- a flow control device changeable from a first state to a second state, the first state corresponding to a first mode of fluid communication between an interior of a tubular conduit of a completion string and an annulus between the tubular conduit and a wall of the well bore and the second state corresponding to a second, different mode of fluid communication between the interior of the tubular conduit and the annulus;
- and
- a control unit coupled to the flow control device to change the flow control device between the first and second states, the control unit actuated to change the flow control device in response to pressure in the wellbore.
A method comprising:
- applying pressure in a wellbore;
- and
- in response to the applied pressure, changing a state of a flow control device in a completion string installed in the wellbore from a first state to a second state, the first state corresponding to a first mode of fluid communication between an interior of the tubular conduit and the annulus between the tubular conduit and a wall of the well bore and the second state corresponding to a second, different mode of fluid communication between the interior of the tubular conduit and the annulus.
A method of reconfiguring production inflow, comprising:
- producing fluids from an annulus about a completion string through a sand screen and into an interior of the completion string via a flow path;
- and
- reconfiguring the flow path in response to a hydraulic signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.