# US 8,739,886 B2 · Downhole fluid flow control system having a fluidic module with a bridge network and method for use of same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,886 B2 - Document ID: US8739886B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/792,515 - Filed: 2013-03-11 - Published: 2013-07-25 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-25 - Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Applicants: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Inventors: Michael Linley Fripp; Jason D. Dykstra; John Charles Gano; Luke William Holderman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739886B2 ## CPC - E21B 34/08: responsive to flow or pressure of the fluid obtained (E21B34/10 takes precedence) - E21B 43/08: Screens or liners {(expandable screens or liners E21B43/108)} - E21B 43/12: Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells (E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A downhole fluid flow control system includes a fluidic module (150) having a bridge network. The bridge network has first and second branch fluid pathways (163, 164) each including at least one fluid flow resistors (174, 180) and a pressure output terminal (178, 184). In operation, the pressure difference between the pressure output terminals (178, 184) of the first and second branch fluid pathways (163, 164) is operable to control fluid flow through the fluidic module (150). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A downhole fluid flow control system comprising: a fluidic module having a bridge network with first and second branch fluid pathways each including at least two fluid flow resistors and a pressure output terminal; wherein the two fluid flow resistors of each branch fluid pathway have different responses to fluid viscosity; and wherein a pressure difference between the pressure output terminals of the first and second branch fluid pathways is operable to control fluid flow through the fluidic module. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The flow control system as recited in claim 1 wherein the pressure output terminal of each branch fluid pathway is positioned between the two fluid flow resistors. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The flow control system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first and second branch fluid pathways each have a common fluid inlet and a common fluid outlet with a main fluid pathway. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The flow control system as recited in claim 3 wherein a fluid flowrate ratio between the main fluid pathway and the branch fluid pathways is between about 5 to 1 and about 20 to 1. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The flow control system as recited in claim 3 wherein a fluid flowrate ratio between the main fluid pathway and the branch fluid pathways is greater than 10 to 1. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The flow control system as recited in claim 3 wherein the fluidic module further comprises a valve operably positioned in the main fluid pathway and wherein the pressure difference between the pressure output terminals of the first and second branch fluid pathways is operable to shift the valve between first and second positions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The flow control system as recited in claim 6 wherein the fluidic module has an injection mode, wherein the pressure difference between the pressure output terminals of the first and second branch fluid pathways created by an outflow of injection fluid shifts the valve to increase flow through the main fluid pathway, and a production mode, wherein the pressure difference between the pressure output terminals of the first and second branch fluid pathways created by an inflow of production fluid shifts the valve to decrease flow through the main fluid pathway. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The flow control system as recited in claim 6 wherein the fluidic module has a first production mode, wherein the pressure difference between the pressure output terminals of the first and second branch fluid pathways created by an inflow of a desired fluid shifts the valve to increase flow through the main fluid pathway, and a second production mode, wherein the pressure difference between the pressure output terminals of the first and second branch fluid pathways created by an inflow of an undesired fluid shifts the valve to decrease flow through the main fluid pathway. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The flow control system as recited in claim 1 wherein the fluid flow resistors are selected from the group consisting of nozzles, vortex chambers, flow tubes, fluid selectors and matrix chambers. ### Claim 10 A flow control screen comprising: a base pipe with an internal passageway; a filter medium positioned around the base pipe; a housing positioned around the base pipe defining a fluid flow path between the filter medium and the internal passageway; and at least one fluidic module disposed within the fluid flow path, the fluidic module having a bridge network with first and second branch fluid pathways each including at least two fluid flow resistors having different responses to fluid viscosity and a pressure output terminal such that a pressure difference between the pressure output terminals of the first and second branch fluid pathways is operable to control fluid flow through the fluidic module. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The flow control screen as recited in claim 10 wherein the fluid flow resistors are selected from the group consisting of nozzles, vortex chambers, flow tubes, fluid selectors and matrix chambers. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The flow control screen as recited in claim 10 wherein the first and second branch fluid pathways each have a common fluid inlet and a common fluid outlet with a main fluid pathway and wherein the main fluid pathway has a valve disposed therein such that the pressure difference between the pressure output terminals of the first and second branch fluid pathways is operable to shift the valve between first and second positions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The flow control screen as recited in claim 12 wherein the fluidic module has a first production mode, wherein the pressure difference between the pressure output terminals of the first and second branch fluid pathways created by an inflow of a desired fluid shifts the valve to increase flow through the main fluid pathway, and a second production mode, wherein the pressure difference between the pressure output terminals of the first and second branch fluid pathways created by an inflow of an undesired fluid shifts the valve to decrease flow through the main fluid pathway. ### Claim 14 A downhole fluid flow control method comprising: positioning a fluid flow control system at a target location downhole, the fluid flow control system including a fluidic module having a bridge network with first and second branch fluid pathways each including at least one fluid flow resistor and a pressure output terminal; producing a desired fluid through the fluidic module; responsive to the production of the desired fluid, generating a first pressure difference between the pressure output terminals of the first and second branch fluid pathways that increases flow through the fluidic module; producing an undesired fluid through the fluidic module; and responsive to the production of the undesired fluid, generating a second pressure difference between the pressure output terminals of the first and second branch fluid pathways that decreases flow through the fluidic module. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method as recited in claim 14 wherein producing a desired fluid through the fluidic module further comprises producing a formation fluid containing at least a predetermined amount of the desired fluid. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method as recited in claim 14 wherein producing an undesired fluid through the fluidic module further comprises producing a formation fluid containing at least a predetermined amount of the undesired fluid. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method as recited in claim 14 wherein generating a first pressure difference between the pressure output terminals of the first and second branch fluid pathways further comprises shifting a valve disposed in a main fluid pathway to a first position and wherein generating a second pressure difference between the pressure output terminals of the first and second branch fluid pathways further comprises shifting the valve to a second position. ### Claim 18 A downhole fluid flow control system comprising: a fluidic module having a bridge network with first and second branch fluid pathways each including at least two fluid flow resistors and a pressure output terminal; wherein the two fluid flow resistors of each branch fluid pathway have different responses to fluid density; and wherein a pressure difference between the pressure output terminals of the first and second branch fluid pathways is operable to control fluid flow through the fluidic module. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The flow control system as recited in claim 18 wherein the pressure output terminal of each branch fluid pathway is positioned between the two fluid flow resistors. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The flow control system as recited in claim 18 wherein the first and second branch fluid pathways each have a common fluid inlet and a common fluid outlet with a main fluid pathway. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The flow control system as recited in claim 20 wherein a fluid flowrate ratio between the main fluid pathway and the branch fluid pathways is between about 5 to 1 and about 20 to 1. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The flow control system as recited in claim 20 wherein a fluid flowrate ratio between the main fluid pathway and the branch fluid pathways is greater than 10 to 1. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The flow control system as recited in claim 20 wherein the fluidic module further comprises a valve operably positioned in the main fluid pathway and wherein the pressure difference between the pressure output terminals of the first and second branch fluid pathways is operable to shift the valve between first and second positions. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The flow control system as recited in claim 23 wherein the fluidic module has an injection mode, wherein the pressure difference between the pressure output terminals of the first and second branch fluid pathways created by an outflow of injection fluid shifts the valve to increase flow through the main fluid pathway, and a production mode, wherein the pressure difference between the pressure output terminals of the first and second branch fluid pathways created by an inflow of production fluid shifts the valve to decrease flow through the main fluid pathway. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The flow control system as recited in claim 23 wherein the fluidic module has a first production mode, wherein the pressure difference between the pressure output terminals of the first and second branch fluid pathways created by an inflow of a desired fluid shifts the valve to increase flow through the main fluid pathway, and a second production mode, wherein the pressure difference between the pressure output terminals of the first and second branch fluid pathways created by an inflow of an undesired fluid shifts the valve to decrease flow through the main fluid pathway. ### Claim 26 (depends on 18) The flow control system as recited in claim 18 wherein the fluid flow resistors are selected from the group consisting of nozzles, vortex chambers, flow tubes, fluid selectors and matrix chambers. ### Claim 27 A flow control screen comprising: a base pipe with an internal passageway; a filter medium positioned around the base pipe; a housing positioned around the base pipe defining a fluid flow path between the filter medium and the internal passageway; and at least one fluidic module disposed within the fluid flow path, the fluidic module having a bridge network with first and second branch fluid pathways each including at least two fluid flow resistors having different responses to fluid density and a pressure output terminal such that a pressure difference between the pressure output terminals of the first and second branch fluid pathways is operable to control fluid flow through the fluidic module. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The flow control screen as recited in claim 27 wherein the fluid flow resistors are selected from the group consisting of nozzles, vortex chambers, flow tubes, fluid selectors and matrix chambers. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The flow control screen as recited in claim 27 wherein the first and second branch fluid pathways each have a common fluid inlet and a common fluid outlet with a main fluid pathway and wherein the main fluid pathway has a valve disposed therein such that the pressure difference between the pressure output terminals of the first and second branch fluid pathways is operable to shift the valve between first and second positions. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The flow control screen as recited in claim 29 wherein the fluidic module has a first production mode, wherein the pressure difference between the pressure output terminals of the first and second branch fluid pathways created by an inflow of a desired fluid shifts the valve to increase flow through the main fluid pathway, and a second production mode, wherein the pressure difference between the pressure output terminals of the first and second branch fluid pathways created by an inflow of an undesired fluid shifts the valve to decrease flow through the main fluid pathway.