# US 8,739,880 B2 · Fluid discrimination for use with a subterranean well > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,880 B2 - Document ID: US8739880B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/659,375 - Filed: 2012-10-24 - Published: 2013-05-09 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2012-10-24 - Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, P.C. - Applicants: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Inventors: Jason D. Dykstra; Michael L. Fripp - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739880B2 ## CPC - E21B 34/06: in wells - E21B 34/08: responsive to flow or pressure of the fluid obtained (E21B34/10 takes precedence) - E21B 43/14: Obtaining from a multiple-zone well - Y10T 137/0335: Controlled by consistency of mixture - Y10T 137/2098: Vortex generator as control for system - Y10T 137/2506: By viscosity or consistency - Y10T 137/87812: Pivoted valve or deflector - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A fluid discrimination system can include a fluid discriminator which selects through which of multiple outlet flow paths a fluid composition flows, the selection being based on a direction of flow of the fluid composition through the discriminator, and the direction being dependent on a fluid type in the fluid composition. Another fluid discriminator can include a structure which displaces in response to a fluid composition flow, whereby an outlet flow path of the fluid composition changes in response to a change in a ratio of fluids in the fluid composition. A method of discriminating between fluids can include providing a fluid discriminator which selects through which of multiple outlet flow paths a fluid composition flows in the well, the selection being based on a direction of flow of the fluid composition through the discriminator, and the direction being dependent on a ratio of the fluids in the fluid composition. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fluid discrimination system for use with a subterranean well, the system comprising: a fluid discriminator through which a fluid composition flows in the subterranean well; and the fluid discriminator selects through which of multiple outlet flow paths the fluid composition flows, the selection being based on at least one direction of flow of the fluid composition through the fluid discriminator, and the direction being dependent on a ratio of desired to undesired fluid in the fluid composition, wherein the at least one direction comprises first and second directions, wherein the fluid discriminator selects a first outlet flow path in response to flow of the fluid composition more in the first direction, wherein the fluid discriminator selects a second outlet flow path in response to flow of the fluid composition more in the second direction, and wherein rotational flow of the fluid composition in the first direction impinges on a structure, whereby the structure displaces and the first outlet flow path is selected. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein rotational flow of the fluid composition in the second direction impinges on the structure, whereby the structure displaces and the second outlet flow path is selected. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the structure rotates in response to the impingement of the fluid composition on the structure. ### Claim 4 A fluid discriminator for use with a subterranean well, the fluid discriminator comprising: a structure which displaces in response to a rotational flow of a fluid composition in the subterranean well, whereby an outlet flow path of a majority of the fluid composition changes in response to a change in a ratio of fluids in the fluid composition; and a fluid switch which directs the flow of the fluid composition to at least first and second inlet flow paths, wherein the rotational flow of the fluid composition impinges the structure, wherein the structure is displaced in response to the impingement, and wherein the outlet flow path changes in response to displacement of the structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The fluid discriminator of claim 4, wherein the structure is exposed to the flow of the fluid composition in at least first and second directions, and wherein the outlet flow path changes in response to a change in a proportion of the fluid composition which flows in the first and second directions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The fluid discriminator of claim 4, wherein the structure is more biased in a first direction by the flow of the fluid composition more in the first direction, and wherein the structure is more biased in a second direction by the flow of the fluid composition more in the second direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fluid discriminator of claim 6, wherein the first direction is opposite to the second direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The fluid discriminator of claim 6, wherein the first and second directions comprise at least one of the group including circumferential, axial, longitudinal, lateral, and radial directions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The fluid discriminator of claim 4, wherein the structure is more biased in a first direction by the flow of the fluid composition more through the first inlet flow path, and wherein the structure is more biased in a second direction by the flow of the fluid composition more through the second inlet flow path. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The fluid discriminator of claim 4, wherein the structure pivots, and thereby changes the outlet flow path, in response to a change in a proportion of the fluid composition which flows through the first and second inlet flow paths. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The fluid discriminator of claim 4, wherein the structure rotates, and thereby changes the outlet flow path, in response to a change in a proportion of the fluid composition which flows through the first and second inlet flow paths. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) The fluid discriminator of claim 4, wherein the structure rotates, and thereby changes the outlet flow path, in response to a change in a ratio of desired to undesired fluids. ### Claim 13 (depends on 4) The fluid discriminator of claim 4, wherein the fluid switch comprises a blocking device which at least partially blocks the flow of the fluid composition through at least one of the first and second inlet flow paths. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The fluid discriminator of claim 13, wherein the blocking device increasingly blocks one of the first and second inlet flow paths, in response to the flow of the fluid composition toward the other of the first and second inlet flow paths. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The fluid discriminator of claim 13, wherein the fluid switch directs the flow of the fluid composition toward one of the first and second inlet flow paths in response to the blocking device increasingly blocking the other of the first and second inlet flow paths. ### Claim 16 A method of discriminating between fluids flowed in a subterranean well, the method comprising: providing a fluid discriminator which selects through which of multiple outlet flow paths a fluid composition flows in the well, the selection being based on at least one direction of flow of the fluid composition through the fluid discriminator, and the direction being dependent on a ratio of the fluids in the fluid composition, wherein the at least one direction comprises first and second directions, wherein the fluid discriminator selects a first outlet flow path in response to flow of the fluid composition more in the first direction, wherein the fluid discriminator selects a second outlet flow path in response to flow of the fluid composition more in the second direction, and wherein rotational flow of the fluid composition in the first direction impinges on a structure, whereby the structure displaces and the first outlet flow path is selected. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein rotational flow of the fluid composition in the second direction impinges on the structure, whereby the structure displaces and the second outlet flow path is selected. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the structure rotates in response to the impingement of the fluid composition on the structure.