Flow control apparatus for use in a wellbore
AssigneeWeatherford/Lamb, Inc.
InventorsJeffrey Bode, Eric Lauritzen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus for use in a wellbore to compensate for pressure differentials between fluid in the wellbore and fluid in an oil bearing formation therearound. In one aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for insertion in a string of screened tubulars in a horizontal wellbore. The device includes an inner tubular body portion having apertures in the wall thereof for passing oil, an outer tubular body and a pathway therebetween permitting oil from a formation to migrate into the inner body. Disposed around the inner body is an axially movable member to selectively cover and expose the apertures of the inner body, thereby permitting fluid to flow therethough.
Claims22
A flow control device for use in a wellbore comprising:
- an inner member having at least one aperture formed therein;
- at least one axially movable member disposed radially outwards of the inner member to selectively cover the at least one aperture of the inner member, the movable member having a piston surface formed thereupon;
- a biasing member disposed adjacent the movable member and opposing axial movement of the movable member;
- and
- an outer casing disposed radially outward of the movable member.
A method of controlling the fluid flow into a hydrocarbon producing wellbore comprising:
- inserting a flow control apparatus into the wellbore adjacent a fluid bearing formation such that the fluid in the formation is in communication with an outer surface of the apparatus;
- causing the fluid to act upon a piston surface formed on an axial movable sleeve in the apparatus;
- and
- causing the sleeve to shift in reaction to a predetermined mass flow rate of fluid, thereby misaligning apertures formed in the sleeve with apertures formed in an inner member of the apparatus.
A flow control device for use in a wellbore comprising:
- an inner member having at least one aperture therethrough;
- an outer body disposed around the inner member with an annular area formed therebetween;
- a flexible, flow restriction member disposed in the annular area, the flow restriction member constructed and arranged to deform and reform to permit a variable flow of a fluid to pass through the annular area and into at least one aperture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.