Flow restrictor for use in a service tool
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsAshish Sharma, Stephen D. Hill, Bryan Stamm
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system, apparatus, and method for gravel packing a wellbore. The system includes a service tool extending through a packer that isolates a proximal annulus of the wellbore from a distal annulus thereof. The service tool defines an inner bore and a conduit, with the conduit being in fluid communication with the proximal annulus and the distal annulus. The system also includes a flow restrictor disposed in the conduit. The flow restrictor is configured to induce a first pressure drop in fluid flowing through the conduit in a first direction and to induce a second pressure drop in fluid flowing through the conduit in a second direction, with the second pressure drop being greater than the first pressure drop.
Claims20
A system for gravel packing at least a portion of a wellbore, comprising:
- a service tool extending through a packer that isolates a proximal annulus of the wellbore from a distal annulus thereof, the service tool defining an inner bore and a conduit, the conduit being in fluid communication with the proximal annulus and the distal annulus;
- and
- a flow restrictor disposed in the conduit, wherein the flow restrictor defines:
- one or more primary flowpaths extending therethrough, wherein fluid flow is allowed through the one or more primary flowpaths in a first direction, and fluid flow is substantially blocked through the one or more primary flowpaths in a second direction;
- and
- one or more secondary flowpaths extending therethrough, wherein fluid flow is allowed through the one or more secondary flowpaths in both the first and second directions, and
- wherein the flow restrictor is configured to induce a first pressure drop in fluid flowing through the conduit in the first direction and to induce a second pressure drop in fluid flowing through the conduit in the second direction, wherein the second pressure drop is greater than the first pressure drop.
An apparatus for restricting flow in a conduit of a gravel packing system, comprising:
- an annular disk defining:
- a first opening extending therethrough, wherein the first opening define a primary flowpath;
- a second opening extending therethrough, wherein the second opening defines a secondary flowpath;
- a third opening extending at least partially therethrough;
- and
- a manifold that provides communication between the first opening and the third opening, the second opening and the third opening, or both;
- and
- a valve element disposed in the first opening, the valve element being configured to substantially block fluid from flowing through the primary flowpath in a first direction, and to allow fluid to flow through the primary flowpath in a second direction, wherein the secondary flowpath allows fluid flow therethrough in both the first and second directions.
A method for gravel packing at least a portion of a wellbore, comprising:
- setting a packer to isolate a distal annulus from a proximal annulus;
- gravel packing at least a portion of the distal annulus using a service tool extending through the packer, wherein the service tool includes a conduit in fluid communication with the proximal annulus and the distal annulus, wherein the service tool includes a flow restrictor disposed in the conduit, wherein the flow restrictor includes a primary flowpath extending therethrough and a secondary flowpath extending therethrough, and wherein fluid flows through the primary flowpath and the secondary flowpath in a first direction as the at least a portion of the distal annulus is gravel packed;
- and
- after gravel packing, circulating a cleaning fluid, using the service tool, through at least a portion of the proximal annulus, wherein the cleaning fluid flows through the secondary flowpath in a second, opposing direction, but is substantially blocked from flowing through the primary flowpath in the second, opposing direction, as the cleaning fluid is circulated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.