# US 2020/0399983 A1 · Well fluid flow control choke > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0399983 A1 - Document ID: US20200399983A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/004,582 - Filed: 2020-08-27 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-06 - Assignees: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC - Applicants: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC - Inventors: Kevin L. GRAY; Gerald GEORGE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200399983A1 ## CPC - E21B 34/08: responsive to flow or pressure of the fluid obtained (E21B34/10 takes precedence) - E21B 21/08: Controlling or monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid, e.g. automatic filling of boreholes, automatic control of bottom pressure (valve arrangements therefor E21B21/10) - E21B 21/106: {Valve arrangements outside the borehole, e.g. kelly valves (valves specifically for maintaining circulation of drilling fluid while connecting or disconnecting tubular joints E21B21/019)} - E21B 34/025: {Chokes or valves in wellheads and sub-sea wellheads for variably regulating fluid flow} - E21B 44/005: {Below-ground automatic control systems} - E21B 47/06: Measuring temperature or pressure - E21B 47/10: Locating fluid leaks, intrusions or movements - E21B 47/117: Detecting leaks, e.g. from tubing, by pressure testing - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A choke can include a variable flow restrictor, external ports in communication with a flow passage respectively upstream and downstream of the flow restrictor, and sensor(s) in communication with the external ports. A method can include flowing a well fluid through a flow passage in a body of a choke including a variable flow restrictor, measuring a pressure differential between external ports in communication with respective upstream and downstream sides of the flow restrictor, and operating the flow restrictor, thereby varying a restriction to the flow through the flow passage, in response to the measured pressure differential. A well system can include a well fluid pump, a flow choke including a variable flow restrictor operable by an actuator that includes a displaceable stem and a stem seal that isolates the actuator from the well fluid in the flow choke, and a control system that operates the actuator. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-24. (canceled) ### Claim 25 A flow choke for use with a subterranean well, the flow choke comprising: a body; a variable flow restrictor configured to restrict flow through a flow passage extending through the body; an actuator including a stem configured to displace a closure member of the flow restrictor relative to the body; a chamber surrounding the stem; and a sensor in communication with the chamber. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The flow choke of claim 25, in which the chamber is positioned internal to an adapter that connects the actuator to the body. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The flow choke of claim 26, in which the closure member is slidingly and sealingly received in the adapter. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The flow choke of claim 25, in which the sensor detects whether a fluid is present in the chamber. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The flow choke of claim 25, in which the sensor detects pressure in the chamber. ### Claim 30 (depends on 25) The flow choke of claim 25, in which a seal isolates the chamber from the flow passage. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The flow choke of claim 30, in which the sensor detects fluid leakage past the seal from the flow passage to the chamber. ### Claim 32 (depends on 25) The flow choke of claim 25, in which the sensor is in fluid communication with the chamber via a fluid line extending through the body. ### Claim 33 A method for use with a flow choke, the method comprising: connecting the flow choke to a well, the flow choke comprising a body with a flow passage extending through the body, a variable flow restrictor configured to restrict flow through the flow passage, the variable flow restrictor including a closure member and a seat, and a first sealing surface of the closure member sealingly engaging a first sealing surface of the seat in a closed configuration of the flow choke; and reversing a selected one of the closure member and the seat, so that a second sealing surface of the selected one of the closure member and the seat sealingly engages the first sealing surface of the other of the closure member and the seat, in the closed configuration of the choke. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33, in which the closure member is the selected one of the closure member and the seat, and in which the first and second sealing surfaces of the closure member are formed proximate respective opposite ends of the closure member. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The method of claim 34, in which the closure member is sealingly and slidingly received within a sleeve, and in which a seal is sealingly engaged between the sleeve and the closure member at a location between the first and second sealing surfaces of the closure member. ### Claim 36 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33, in which the seat is the selected one of the closure member and the seat, and in which the first and second sealing surfaces of the seat are formed proximate respective opposite ends of the seat. ### Claim 37 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33, in which the reversing comprises disconnecting the closure member from an actuator stem, and then connecting the closure member to the actuator stem in an opposite orientation. ### Claim 38 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33, in which the reversing comprises removing the seat from the body, and then installing the seat in the body in an opposite orientation.