Alternating flow resistance increases and decreases for propagating pressure pulses in a subterranean well
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsMichael L. FRIPP, Jason D. DYKSTRA
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of propagating pressure pulses in a well can include flowing a fluid composition through a variable flow resistance system which includes a vortex chamber having at least one inlet and an outlet, a vortex being created when the fluid composition spirals about the outlet, and a resistance to flow of the fluid composition alternately increasing and decreasing. The vortex can be alternately created and dissipated in response to flowing the fluid composition through the system. A well system can include a variable flow resistance system which propagates pressure pulses into a formation in response to flow of a fluid composition from the formation.
Claims16
A method of propagating pressure pulses in a subterranean well, the method comprising:
- flowing a fluid composition through at least one variable flow resistance system which includes a vortex chamber having at least one inlet and an outlet, a vortex being created when the fluid composition flows spirally about the outlet;
- and
- a resistance to flow of the fluid composition through the vortex chamber alternately increasing and decreasing.
16-45. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.