Method and apparatus for autonomous downhole fluid selection with pathway dependent resistance system

A method of controlling flow in a wellbore in a subterranean zone, comprising:

• communicating fluid through a fluid diode in a flow path between an interior and an exterior of a well device in the subterranean zone.

A well device for installation in a wellbore in a subterranean formation to communicate flow with the subterranean formation when the well device is installed in the wellbore, the well device comprising:

• a flow control in a flow path between an interior of the well device and an exterior of the well device to receive flow between the interior and the exterior, the flow control including a cylindroidal chamber for receiving the flow through a chamber inlet and directing the flow to a chamber outlet, a greatest axial dimension of the cylindroidal chamber is smaller than a greatest diametric dimension of the cylindroidal chamber, the cylindroidal chamber promotes a rotation of flow about the chamber outlet and a degree of the rotation is based on a characteristic of inflow through the inlet.

A method of controlling flow in a subterranean wellbore, comprising:

• communicating flow through a cylindroidal chamber in a flow path between an interior of a well device in a subterranean wellbore and an exterior of the well device, a greatest axial dimension of the cylindroidal chamber is smaller than a greatest diametric dimension of the cylindroidal chamber;
• and
• promoting a rotation of the flow through the cylindroidal chamber about a chamber outlet, where a degree of the rotation is based on a characteristic of inflow through a chamber inlet.

A flow control device for installation in a subterranean wellbore, the flow control device comprising:

• a cylindroidal chamber for receiving flow through a plurality of chamber inlets and directing the flow to a chamber outlet, a greatest axial dimension of the cylindroidal chamber is smaller than a greatest diametric dimension of the cylindroidal chamber, the cylindroidal chamber promotes a rotation of the flow about the chamber outlet and a degree of the rotation is based on a characteristic of inflow through at least one of the plurality of inlets.

A method of controlling flow in a subterranean wellbore, comprising:

• receiving flow in a cylindroidal chamber of a flow control device in a wellbore, the cylindroidal chamber comprising a plurality of chamber inlets, a greatest axial dimension of the cylindroidal chamber is smaller than a greatest diametric dimension of the cylindroidal chamber;
• and
• promoting a rotation of the flow through the cylindroidal chamber about a chamber outlet, where a degree of the rotation is based on a characteristic of inflow through at least one of the plurality of chamber inlets.

A flow control device for installation in a subterranean wellbore, the flow control device comprising:

• a first flow path in communication with a chamber inlet to direct fluid into a cylindroidal chamber through a chamber inlet at a first angle;
• a second flow path in communication with the chamber inlet to direct the inflow into the cylindroidal chamber through the chamber inlet at a second, different angle;
• a cylindroidal chamber for receiving flow through a chamber inlet and directing the flow to a chamber outlet, a greatest axial dimension of the cylindroidal chamber is smaller than a greatest diametric dimension of the cylindroidal chamber, the cylindroidal chamber promotes a rotation of the flow about the chamber outlet and a degree of the rotation is based on a characteristic of the inflow through the chamber inlet.

A method of controlling flow in a subterranean wellbore, comprising:

• receiving a first flow from a first flow path, through a chamber inlet, and into a cylindroidal chamber of a flow control device in a wellbore, a greatest axial dimension of the cylindroidal chamber is smaller than a greatest diametric dimension of the cylindroidal chamber, the first flow enters the cylindroidal chamber at first angle;
• receiving a second flow from a second flow path, through the chamber inlet, and into the cylindroidal chamber, the second flow enters the cylindroidal chamber at a second, different angle;
• promoting a rotation of at least one of the first flow or the second flow through the cylindroidal chamber about a chamber outlet, wherein a degree of the rotation is based on a characteristic of inflow through the chamber inlet.

A device, comprising:

• a flow system that divides flow between a plurality of passages based on a characteristic of the flow and that recombines the flow in a direction that depends on the characteristic of the flow.

A method, comprising:

• dividing a flow between a plurality of passages based on a characteristic of the flow;
• and
• recombining the flow to flow in a direction that depends on the characteristic of the flow.

A method of directing flow in a subterranean wellbore, comprising:

• receiving a first and second separate flows of a fluid in a well device, the received first flow being smaller in ratio to the second flow, and the first flow flowing in a first direction that is different than a second direction of the second flow and oriented to combine with the second flow and direct a resulting combined flow more towards the first direction;
• and
• generating a flow condition that increases the tendency of the combined flow to flow more towards the first direction.

A well device for use in a subterranean well bore, comprising:

• a first passage for flowing a first fluid flow from an inlet to an outlet;
• and
• a second passage for flowing a second fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet to combine with the first fluid flow, the first passage oriented in a first trajectory at the outlet and the second passage oriented in a second, different trajectory at the outlet, and, when flowing through the well device, fluid flow from one of the passages influences which of the first trajectory or second trajectory the combined flow tends to flow.