Inflow control device, method, and system

Abstract

An inflow control device includes a first flow control structure that is porous and forms differing flowpaths for water and oil. A method of controlling flow includes flowing a fluid from a source to a destination through the inflow control device, and controlling flow via the first flow control structure such that oil flows through the inflow control device more easily than water. A method of controlling flow includes flowing a fluid from a source to a destination through the inflow control device, and flowing a portion of water in the fluid through the first flow control structure to impinge on an upstream surface of the second flow control structure. A wellbore system includes a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string disposed in the borehole, and the inflow control device disposed within or as part of the string.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.