A valve for closing fluid communication between a well and a production string, and a method of using the valve

A completion string comprising a valve for closing fluid communication between a horizontal or deviated well and a production string when a content of a first or a second undesired fluid in a fluid flow exceeds a predetermined level, the valve comprising:

• a piston housing;
• a flow barrier inside the housing;
• a primary flow channel having a primary inlet through the flow barrier, and a primary outlet;
• and
• a piston arrangement movable within the piston housing between an inactive position allowing fluid flow through the primary flow channel and an active position preventing fluid flow through the primary flow channel,
• wherein the valve further comprises:
• a secondary flow channel in connection with the primary flow channel, the secondary flow channel having two separate flow paths, each flow path having an inlet through the flow barrier, wherein each flow path of the secondary flow channel is configured for providing a pressure towards the inactive position of the piston arrangement when fluid flows through the secondary flow channel;
• a bypass flow channel having two inlets through the flow barrier, and a bypass flow channel outlet, the bypass flow channel being configured for providing a pressure towards the active position of the piston arrangement when fluid flows through the bypass flow channel;
• two inflow control elements for being exposed to the fluid flow upstream of the flow barrier and having different density and being movable within two independent paths between the inlets in response to a density of fluid, wherein a first of the two inflow control elements has a density between a density of a desired fluid and the density of the first undesired fluid, and a second of the two inflow control elements has a density between the density of the desired fluid and the density of the second undesired fluid;
• wherein the secondary flow channel is open and the bypass flow channel is closed when an amount of one of the first and the second undesired fluid is below the predetermined level, and the piston arrangement is in the inactive position, and
• wherein, when one of the first and the second undesired fluid exceeds the predetermined level, the inflow control elements are caused to move within their respective paths for closing the secondary flow channel at one of its inlets and for opening the bypass flow channel at one of its inlets, and
• said opening and closing causing a change in pressure balance within the piston arrangement thereby moving the piston arrangement to the active position wherein the primary flow channel is closed.

A method for controlling fluid flow in, into, or out of a well, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• mounting at least one valve as part of a well completion string prior to inserting the string in the well, the valve comprising:
• a piston housing;
• a flow barrier inside the housing;
• a primary flow channel having a primary inlet through the flow barrier, and a primary outlet;
• and
• a piston arrangement movable within the piston housing between an inactive position allowing fluid flow through the primary flow channel and an active position preventing fluid flow through the primary flow channel,
• wherein the valve further comprises:
• a secondary flow channel in connection with the primary flow channel, the secondary flow channel having two separate flow paths, each flow path having an inlet through the flow barrier, wherein each flow path of the secondary flow channel is configured for providing a pressure towards the inactive position of the piston arrangement when fluid flows through the secondary flow channel;
• a bypass flow channel having two inlets through the flow barrier, and a bypass flow channel outlet, the bypass flow channel being configured for providing a pressure towards the active position of the piston arrangement when fluid flows through the bypass flow channel;
• two inflow control elements for being exposed to the fluid flow upstream of the flow barrier and having different density and being movable within two independent paths between the inlets in response to a density of fluid, wherein a first of the two inflow control elements has a density between a density of a desired fluid and the density of the first undesired fluid, and a second of the two inflow control elements has a density between the density of the desired fluid and the density of the second undesired fluid;
• wherein the secondary flow channel is open and the bypass flow channel is closed when an amount of one of the first and the second undesired fluid is below the predetermined level, and the piston arrangement is in the inactive position, and
• wherein, when one of the first and the second undesired fluid exceeds the predetermined level, the inflow control elements are caused to move within their respective paths for closing the secondary flow channel at one of its inlets and for opening the bypass flow channel at one of its inlets, and
• said opening and closing causing a change in pressure balance within the piston arrangement thereby moving the piston arrangement to the active position wherein the primary flow channel is closed;
• bringing the well completion string into the well;
• orienting the at least one valve within the well;
• and
• flowing fluid out of the well.