Remote-open inflow control device with swellable actuator

#This application relates generally to methods and apparatus for controlling fluid flow in a wellbore, and more particularly to an improved inflow control device (ICD).

#Without limiting the scope of the present inventions, their background is described with reference to Inflow Control Devices (ICDs) and design improvements thereto. Inflow Control Devices are designed to improve completion performance and efficiency by balancing inflow throughout the length of a completion. Differences in influx from the reservoir can result in premature water/gas breakthrough, leaving valuable resources in the ground. Typical applications include wells experiencing “heel-toe” effects, breakthrough of water/gas, permeability differences, and water challenges in high viscous oil reservoirs. Another benefit of this technology is that it can balance the fluid injected into the formation in injection wells. U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,469,743 and 7,802,621, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, disclose ICDs for sand control screens.

#An example of an inflow control device is commercially available from Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. under the trade mark EquiFlow® Inflow Control Device. The EquiFlow® ICD consists of an annular chamber on a standard oilfield tubular. If screen is required, the reservoir fluid is produced from the formation, through the sand screen and into the flow chamber. The flow continues through a set of tubes, which creates a pressure drop, and then into the pipe through a set of ports. Tube length and ID are designed to give the pressure drop needed for optimum completion efficiency. EquiFlow® Adjustable ICDs are pre-configured with a set of tubes that may be re-configured on the rig to change the pressure drop. A slidable housing provides flow tube access. Typically, multiple tubes per ICD are used. Disclosure regarding the EquiFlow® ICD is available on-line.

#For a more complete understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention, reference is now made to the detailed description of the invention along with the accompanying figures in which corresponding numerals in the different figures refer to corresponding parts and in which:

#FIG. 1 is a schematic partially cross-sectional view of an exemplary generic well system including multiple well screens;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an exemplary sand screen and ICD positioned in a wellbore which may be used in a system such as that of FIG. 1;

#It is to be understood that the various embodiments of the present invention described herein may be utilized in various orientations, such as inclined, inverted, horizontal, vertical, etc., and in various configurations, without departing from the principles of the present invention. The embodiments are described merely as examples of useful applications of the principles of the invention, which is not limited to any specific details of these embodiments.

#In the following description of the representative embodiments of the invention, directional terms, such as “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” etc., are used for convenience in referring to the accompanying drawings. In general, “above,” “upper,” “upward” and similar terms refer to a direction toward the earth's surface along a wellbore, and “below,” “lower,” “downward” and similar terms refer to a direction away from the earth's surface along the wellbore.

#FIG. 1 shows an exemplary generic well system 10. A production tubing string 12 is installed in a wellbore 14 of a well. The tubing string 12 includes multiple well screens 16 positioned in an uncased generally horizontal portion of the wellbore 14.