Apparatus For Controlling Fluid Flow In Or Into A Well and Method Of Using Same
AssigneeAcona Innovalve AS
InventorsRune Killie, Vegar Gruner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention discloses an apparatus and a method for controlling fluid flow in or into a well. The apparatus includes at least one housing (3m, 3g, 3w) having an inlet (5) and at least one outlet (7, 7′), one of which is arranged in a top portion or a bottom portion of the housing (3m, 3g, 3w) when in a position of use, and a flow control means (9m, 9g, 9w) disposed within the housing (3m, 3g, 3w). The flow control means (9m, 9g, 9w) has a density that is higher or lower than a density of a fluid to be controlled and a form adapted to substantially block the outlet (7, 7′) of the housing when the flow control means (9m, 9g, 9w) is in a position abutting the outlet (7, 7′).
Claims18
An apparatus (1) for controlling fluid flow in or into a well, the apparatus being mounted onto or in a portion of a wellpipe, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one housing (3m, 3g, 3w) arranged between a main inlet (4) being in fluid communication with fluid upstream of the apparatus (1) and a main outlet (8) being in fluid communication with fluid downstream of the apparatus (1), the housing (3m, 3g, 3w) having a top portion located in an upper elevation of the housing and a bottom portion located in a lower elevation of the housing when the apparatus (1) is in a position of use, the housing (3m, 3g, 3w) further having:
- an inlet (5) for allowing fluid flow into the housing (3m, 3g, 3w);
- and
- an outlet (7, 7′) for allowing fluid flow out of the housing (3m, 3g, 3w), the outlet (7, 7′) being arranged in one or both of the top portion and the bottom portion of the housing (3m, 3g, 3w);
- a flow control means (9m, 9g, 9w) disposed movably within the housing (3m, 3g, 3w) between said top portion and bottom portion, the flow control means (9m, 9g, 9w) having:
- a density being higher or lower than a density of a fluid to be controlled so that a position of the flow control means within the housing (3m, 3g, 3w) depends on the density of the flow control means relative to the density of the fluid only;
- and
- a shape adapted to substantially block the outlet (7, 7′) of the housing when the flow control means (9m, 9g, 9w) is in a position abutting the outlet (7, 7′) in said top portion or the bottom portion;
- and
- a leakage means (11) configured for allowing leakage of fluid out of at least one of a top portion and a bottom portion of the housing (3m, 3g, 3w) independent of the position of the flow control means (9m, 9g, 9w).
An orientation dependent inflow control apparatus (20) for controlling fluid flow from an outside to an inside of a pipe (P) in a deviated or horizontal well (W), the inflow control apparatus (20) comprising:
- a first housing (22) having a longitudinal axis and provided with a first inlet (24) being in fluid communication with fluid outside of the pipe (P), and a first outlet (26);
- a second housing (28) having a longitudinal axis and provided with a second inlet (30) and a second outlet (32);
- wherein said outlets (26, 32) being provided in an end portion of the housings (22, 28), the first outlet (26) being in fluid communication with the second inlet (30) and the second outlet (32) being arranged for fluid communicating with an inside of the pipe (P);
- a movable blocking member (22b, 28b) arranged within each of the housings (22, 28) and configured for allowing blockage of the of first and second outlets (26, 32) by moving along said longitudinal axis by gravity or buoyancy towards the end portion having the outlet (26, 32), the movable blocking member (22b, 28b) having a density being higher than the a highest density fluid present in the well (W) during at least a period of a lifespan of the well or lower than a lowest density fluid present in the well (W) during at least a period of the lifespan of the well, wherein the first housing (22) and the second housing (28) are arranged mutually distant in or at a perimeter of the pipe (P) such that an angle of inclination of the first housing (22) is different from that of the second housing (28).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.