Functionalized surface for flow control device
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsMichael Linley Fripp, Michael T. Pelletier, Jason D. Dykstra
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Flow control devices can include functionalized surfaces on inner regions of walls. A functionalized surface can include a hydrophilic and/or a hydrophobic material that can affect fluid flowing in a flow path of a wall to facilitate fluid selection by the flow control device. Fluids may be switched in a flow control device using a functionalized surface even when a density and viscosity of different oil and water mixtures of the fluids are the same.
Claims17
An assembly capable of being positioned in a wellbore, the assembly comprising:
- a hydrophobic material on a first portion of an inner region of a wall;
- and
- a hydrophilic material on a second portion of the inner region of the wall,
- wherein the first portion is on an opposite side of the inner region of the wall to the second portion.
A flow control device adapted to be positioned in a wellbore, the flow control device comprising:
- an inner region of a wall comprising a portion having a hydrophilic material thereon;
- and
- a switching mechanism subsequent to the portion in a flow path of the flow control device,
- wherein the inner region of the wall further comprises a second portion having a hydrophobic material thereon.
A flow control device adapted to be positioned in a wellbore, the flow control device comprising:
- an inner region of a wall comprising a portion having a hydrophobic material thereon;
- and
- a switching mechanism subsequent to the portion in a flow path of the flow control device,
- wherein the inner region of the wall further comprises a second portion having a hydrophilic material thereon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.