# US 9,038,741 B2 · Adjustable flow control device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,038,741 B2 - Document ID: US9038741B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/443,859 - Filed: 2012-04-10 - Published: 2013-10-10 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-10 - Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Applicants: Jean Marc Lopez; Stephen Michael Greci; Luke William Holderman - Inventors: Jean Marc Lopez; Stephen Michael Greci; Luke William Holderman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038741B2 ## CPC - E21B 34/085: {with time-delay systems, e.g. hydraulic impedance mechanisms} - E21B 43/08: Screens or liners {(expandable screens or liners E21B43/108)} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A flow control device comprises a fluid pathway configured to provide fluid communication between an exterior of a wellbore tubular and an interior of the wellbore tubular, a flow restriction disposed in the fluid pathway, wherein the flow restriction is disposed in a radial alignment with respect to the wellbore tubular, and a flow blockage disposed in the fluid pathway, wherein the flow blockage substantially prevents a fluid flow through the fluid pathway. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flow control device comprising: a housing comprising a shape to fit around a wellbore tubular; a fluid pathway disposed through the housing in a generally longitudinal direction with respect to the wellbore tubular and configured to provide fluid communication between an exterior of the wellbore tubular and an interior of the wellbore tubular; a flow restriction disposed along the fluid pathway, wherein the flow restriction is disposed within the housing such that an opening of the flow restriction is oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wellbore tubular; and a flow blockage disposed in the fluid pathway, wherein the flow blockage substantially prevents a fluid flow through the fluid pathway. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The flow control device of claim 1, wherein the flow restriction comprises a nozzle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The flow control device of claim 1, wherein the flow blockage is disposed between the exterior of the wellbore tubular and the flow restriction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The flow control device of claim 1, further comprising a second flow restriction disposed in the fluid pathway in series with the flow restriction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The flow control device of claim 1, further comprising a retaining member removably engaged with an end of the housing in the longitudinal direction and configured to retain the flow blockage within the fluid pathway and allow access to the flow blockage within the fluid pathway. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The flow control device of claim 1, further comprising an access port in alignment with the flow restriction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The flow control device of claim 1, wherein the fluid pathway comprises a narrowed portion configured to retain the flow blockage within the fluid pathway. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The flow control device of claim 1, wherein the flow blockage comprises at least one of a rod configured to be removably disposed within the fluid pathway, a rod comprising a tapered end section that is configured to sealingly engage a narrowed portion within the fluid pathway, a ball configured to engage one or more openings within the fluid pathway to substantially prevent the fluid flow through the fluid pathway, a plug configured to be removably disposed within the fluid pathway, a plug comprising a thinned section that is configured to be punctured to establish fluid communication through the plug, or a deformable plug configured to be disposed within the fluid pathway. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The flow control device of claim 1, wherein the flow blockage comprises a rod removably disposed in the fluid pathway, wherein the rod is elongated to substantially fill the fluid pathway in the generally longitudinal direction to substantially prevent a fluid flow through the fluid pathway. ### Claim 10 A flow control device comprising: a housing comprising a shape to fit around a wellbore tubular; a fluid pathway disposed through the housing in a generally longitudinal direction with respect to the wellbore tubular and configured to provide fluid communication between an exterior of the wellbore tubular and an interior of the wellbore tubular; a plurality of flow restrictions disposed in series in the fluid pathway; a flow blockage comprising a rod that is removably disposed in the fluid pathway, wherein the rod is elongated to substantially fill the fluid pathway in the generally longitudinal direction to substantially prevent a fluid flow through the fluid pathway; and a retaining member configured to maintain the flow blockage within the fluid pathway and allow access to the flow blockage within the fluid pathway. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The flow control device of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of flow restrictions is disposed within the housing such that an opening of the flow restriction is oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wellbore tubular. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The flow control device of claim 10, wherein the plurality of flow restrictions comprise at least one square edged restriction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The flow control device of claim 10, wherein the plurality of flow restrictions comprise at least one restriction type selected from the group consisting of a nozzle, a restrictor tube, a narrow flow tube, an annular passage, a bent tube flow restrictor, and a helical tube. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The flow control device of claim 10, wherein the plurality of flow restrictions are configured to provide a different resistance to the flow of water than the flow of a hydrocarbon. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The flow control device of claim 10, wherein the flow blockage is disposed between at least two of the plurality of flow restrictions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The flow control device of claim 10, wherein the retaining member is removably engaged with an end of the housing in the longitudinal direction and configured to retain the flow blockage within the fluid pathway and allow access to the flow blockage within the fluid pathway. ### Claim 17 A method comprising: providing a flow control device comprising: a housing comprising a shape to fit around a wellbore tubular; a plurality of fluid pathways disposed through the housing, each of the plurality of fluid pathways being disposed in a generally longitudinal direction with respect to the wellbore tubular and fluidly connecting an exterior of the wellbore tubular and an interior of the wellbore tubular, and a plurality of flow restrictions disposed along the plurality of fluid pathways, wherein at least one of the plurality of flow restrictions is disposed within the housing such that an opening of the flow restriction is oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wellbore tubular; and selectively installing or removing one or more flow blockages from the plurality of fluid pathways. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein one or more of the plurality of fluid pathways comprise two or more of the plurality of flow restrictions disposed in series. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of flow restrictions are configured to provide a different resistance to the flow of water than the flow of a hydrocarbon. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising selectively removing one or more of a plurality of retaining members from the housing to allow access to a corresponding one or more of the plurality of fluid pathways for installing or removing one or more of the plurality of flow blockages.