Inflow control device

Abstract

An inflow control device for use in a well or pipeline, the inflow control device configured to reversibly switch between an open state and a closed state or between a closed state and an open state, the inflow control device comprising: a housing; the gate can move between a closed state and an open state in the shell; the housing defines a first valve seat for receiving the gate in a closed state and a second valve seat for receiving the gate in an open state, where the first valve seat and the second valve seat comprise one or more permanent magnets, or where the gate comprises one or more permanent magnets.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to hydrocarbon production systems, and more particularly to an inflow control device for a drilling system, intelligent drilling system or advanced drilling system. Background Art

[0002] In order to increase the production rate and recovery of oil and gas reservoirs, well completion methods and systems have become increasingly complex in recent years. Conventional vertical drilling is being replaced by horizontal drilling and / or multilateral wells that have more contact with the reservoir. While such configurations can increase production efficiency, their drilling and installation costs are higher and more complex. After installation, changes in reservoir pressure and / or the well-known "heel-toe" effect can result in non-uniform inflow along the wellbore, which can cause early gas and / or water breakthrough. Therefore, these complex wellbore configurations cannot be effectively controlled by surface wellhead chokes. Instead, inflow is controlled downhole.

[0003] Many different inflow restriction systems have been proposed in the background art. These systems can be broadly classified into three categories: passive, active, and reactive.

[0004] In passive systems, an inflow control device (ICD) is used to limit the inflow to different degrees along the producing interval in the wellbore. The ICD includes nozzles or channels that are used to restrict the flow of fluid. The degree of restriction is sometimes referred to as the ICD "strength". There are various different types of ICDs, including nozzle type, orifice type, helical type, and labyrinth type. The basic working principle is to vary the strength of each ICD along the base string in such a way that a more uniform inflow is produced. The strength of the ICD is set by the geometry and size of the fluid channels and is thus fixed after installation. The resulting system is passive and cannot adapt to dynamic changes. These fluid channels cannot be closed, so the ICD cannot be shut off.

[0005] In reactive systems, autonomous inflow control devices (AICDs) or autonomous inflow control valves (AICVs) are used, which can self-regulate based on the viscosity and density of the reservoir fluid to restrict unwanted fluid flow. Systems based on AICD / AICV can be designed to reduce / prevent the flow of water and / or gas, and increase / allow the flow of oil.

[0006] In an active system, a packer is used to divide the drilling and completion structure into several zones, and an inflow control valve (ICV) located inside the sand screen or perforated liner is used to control the inflow of each zone.

[0007] US9376892 discloses an actuating device that includes a housing having one or more ports, a magnetic valve member, and a central flow hole. The central flow hole is configured to receive a disposable member configured to emit a magnetic field, and the magnetic valve member is configured to radially shift from a first position to a second position in response to an interaction with the magnetic field.

[0008] In any of the foregoing types of inflow restriction systems, there may be isolation packers that divide the reservoir into sections. Summary of the Invention

[0009] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inflow control device for use in a well or pipeline, the inflow control device being configured to reversibly switch between an open state and a closed state or between a closed state and an open state, the inflow control device comprising: a housing; a gate that is movable within the housing between a closed state and an open state; the housing defining a first valve seat for receiving the gate in the closed state and a second valve seat for receiving the gate in the open state, wherein the first valve seat and the second valve seat include one or more permanent magnets, or wherein the gate includes one or more permanent magnets.

[0010] The inflow control device may further include one or more electromagnets disposed within the housing, wherein the magnetic field generated by the one or more electromagnets has a first polarity that can be controlled by a current in the electromagnets, wherein the one or more permanent magnets have a second polarity, and wherein the first polarity and the second polarity have the same direction in a first current direction and opposite directions in a second current direction. A resonant circuit may be provided that is arranged to receive electromagnetic energy transmitted by a mobile controller and energize the one or more electromagnets.

[0011] The gate may define a central opening, and in the open state, the central opening may be part of a fluid communication channel. The gate may have sidewalls that block the fluid communication channel in the closed state.

[0012] The gate may define side openings that may selectively align with side openings in an insert that extends into the gate within the housing.

[0013] The inflow control device may further include a landing mechanism configured to spatially separate the one or more permanent magnets from their respective valve seats.

[0014] The gate can define two opposite (or opposing) faces that have substantially equal surface areas when projected onto a transverse plane of the inflow device.

[0015] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cable (or wired) mobile controller arranged to open or close an inflow control device installed in a wellbore. The mobile controller includes: a first connector for electrically connecting the mobile controller to a wireline, and a second connector for mechanically connecting the mobile controller to the wireline; electrical components arranged to electromagnetically couple to the inflow control device when energized and remotely open or close the inflow control device.

[0016] The electrical components may include two electromagnets arranged substantially coaxially around a core and arranged in use to generate two corresponding magnetic fields with opposite polarities. The two electromagnets may be arranged along a longitudinal axis, and the longitudinal axis may substantially coincide with the main axis of the casing (wellbore or borehole) of the wellbore in use.

[0017] A centraliser may be provided to centralise the mobile controller within the wellbore.

[0018] The electrical components may include an electromagnetic transmitter arranged to emit electromagnetic pulses and an electronic circuit for sending an electronic signal to the transmitter to emit the electromagnetic pulses.

[0019] The electromagnetic transmitter and the electronic circuit are arranged to generate at least two electromagnetic pulses, where a first electromagnetic pulse has a different frequency from a second electromagnetic pulse.

[0020] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling the flow into a wellbore, the method comprising: providing an inflow control device for a hydrocarbon production well, the inflow control device being configured to reversibly switch between an open state and a closed state or between a closed state and an open state, the inflow control device comprising: a housing; a gate comprising one or more permanent magnets and being movable within the housing between a closed state and an open state; the housing defining a first valve seat for receiving the gate in the closed state and a second valve seat for receiving the gate in the open state, wherein the first valve seat and the second valve seat comprise one or more magnetizable portions for moving a movement controller through the wellbore, wherein the movement controller comprises: a first connector for electrically connecting the movement controller to a cable, and a second connector for mechanically connecting the movement controller to the cable; electrical components arranged to be electromagnetically coupled to the inflow control device when energized and to open or close the inflow control device by energizing the movement controller to remotely open or close the inflow control device.

[0021] Energizing the movement controller can generate one or more electromagnetic pulses emitted by the movement controller, wherein the electromagnetic pulses are received by a resonant circuit provided at the inflow control device, wherein the resonant circuit energizes an electromagnet provided within the inflow control device to attract or repel the gate comprising one or more permanent magnets.

[0022] The method may further comprise receiving a signal from a measuring device provided on the cable and controlling the current in response to the signal.

[0023] The measuring device may measure one or more of the following: the inflow rate of the inflowing fluid, the fluid phase, the temperature or the conductivity.

[0024] Measuring the fluid phase may comprise measuring the inflow of water or gas into the wellbore and closing the inflow control device in response to the measurement of the water or gas. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0026] Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section of a schematic view of the inflow control device;

[0027] Figure 2 is a vertical cross-section of a schematic view of the inflow control device;

[0028] Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section of a schematic view of the inflow control device;

[0029] Figure 4is a vertical cross-section of a schematic diagram of an inflow control device;

[0030] Figure 5 is a vertical cross-section of a schematic diagram of a movement controller;

[0031] Figure 6 is a vertical cross-section of a schematic diagram of a movement controller within a pipe section;

[0032] Figure 7 is a vertical cross-section of a schematic diagram of a drilling system having a sand screen, a movement controller, and an inflow control device;

[0033] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of various aspects of a valve coupled to a movement controller using a resonant circuit;

[0034] Figure 9 schematically shows an alternative design of the inflow control device;

[0035] Figure 10 schematically shows an alternative design of the inflow control device;

[0036] Figure 11 is a method flow chart. Detailed Description

[0037] The inflow control device (ICD) described herein is magnetically opened or closed. The device is stable in both the closed position and the open position and will remain in the open or closed position unless an electromagnetic force is activated for the purpose of switching between the open state and the closed state. The gate of the inflow control device is pressure balanced by having substantially the same area of the gate exposed to fluid pressure in the open position, the closed position, and between the open position and the closed position.

[0038] The device can be used in hydrocarbon production wells or injection wells. Fluid flow can enter the wellbore from the reservoir or vice versa. Thus, the terms "inflow" or "outflow" or "inlet" and "outlet" can be used interchangeably herein.

[0039] The device includes a gate that is capable of moving between an open position and a closed position. A first valve seat is provided for receiving the gate in the closed position, and a second valve seat is provided for receiving the gate in the open position. When received in the first valve seat or the second valve seat, a biasing (or biasing) device is provided to fix (or hold) the gate in a stable position.

[0040] The biasing device can be mechanical. A first example of a mechanical biasing device is the tapered inner diameter portion of the valve seat. As the gate moves towards the narrow end of the tapered inner diameter portion, the gate will be "caught" by a friction fit. The friction fit can be overcome by an electromagnetic force, which will be described below. A second example of a mechanical biasing device is an elastically deformable O-ring disposed within the inner wall of the valve seat. There are many known examples of suitable O-rings made of PTFE, neoprene, EPDM rubber, etc. When the gate is received within the O-ring, the deformable material holds the gate in place (or holds it in position). The electromagnetic force is large enough to move the gate out of the valve seat using the elastically deformable O-ring.

[0041] The biasing device can be magnetic. A permanent magnet is disposed within the gate, and a ferromagnetic material is disposed within the valve seat. The electromagnetic force applied to the permanent magnet by an external controller will be large enough to overcome the magnetic force. Due to the presence of two valve seats, various arrangements of the magnets and / or mechanical biasing devices are possible.

[0042] The electromagnetic force for switching between the open state and the closed state is provided by an electromagnet disposed within an external mobile controller, which acts on a permanent magnet disposed within the gate. The electromagnet includes one or more windings made of a conductive material, which provide a magnetic field when current travels through the conductive material. The direction of the magnetic field can be switched by switching the direction of the current.

[0043] The central axis of the magnetic field of the permanent magnet is aligned with a portion of the magnetic field of the electromagnet that has relatively uniform and strong magnetic field lines, but the polarity of the electromagnet can be switched between opposite or the same directions to cause the switching. The permanent magnet within the gate has a fixed direction, so when the direction of the current is switched, the gate can be switched between the open position and the closed position.

[0044] The housing is designed such that in the open position, the gate provides an open passage between the inlet and the outlet of the device, while in the closed position, the gate blocks the path between the inlet and the outlet, thus closing the device. Although various arrangements can achieve the same effect, specific embodiments will now be described.

[0045] Figure 1Shows a vertical cross-section of a schematic diagram of an inflow control device. A housing 1 is provided, which is preferably made of a non-magnetic material. An inlet 2 (or nozzle) is provided within the housing. The inlet is made of a non-magnetic material and is preferably removably attached to the housing. For example, the inlet can be fixed by a threaded fit. Due to the inflow of sand, debris, or other hard materials, the inlet will undergo a lot of wear. By providing a replaceable inlet, the life of the device can be increased. If the inlet is accessible during or after use, the inlet can be replaced. However, during typical use, the inlet is not easily accessible after completion of the well. In this case, the life of the device can be increased by using a different material for the inlet than for the other parts of the device, which is preferably a wear-resistant material; examples are known to those skilled in the art.

[0046] A gate 3 is provided within the housing. In the illustrated arrangement, the body of the gate 3 is made of a non-magnetic material. The housing defines a generally tubular inner cavity and receives a generally cylindrical (barrel-shaped) gate that can move between a closed position and an open position within the tubular inner cavity. The gate includes a permanent magnet 4 at the top of the gate, and the direction of the (magnetic) field is north up and south down in the orientation of the device shown in the figure. This polarity should not be considered restrictive, but merely exemplary; those skilled in the art will understand that the inflow control device can alternatively utilize permanent magnets with opposite polarities (south up and north down in the figure) to operate in substantially the same manner.

[0047] Figure 1 Shows the gate in the open position. The gate defines a central passage that is aligned with the opening of the inlet 2. The fluid path defined by the inlet and the central passage of the gate continues below the gate in the open position and then continues to an outlet 7 provided in the circumferential direction of the housing. The outlet can be continuous around the circumferential direction, but is preferably interrupted by one or more connections between the main part of the housing and the bottom part of the housing.

[0048] A ferromagnetic insert 8 is provided within the inner cavity of the housing at the top, adjacent to the permanent magnet 4 of the gate, to bias the gate in the open position. A second ferromagnetic insert 9 is provided within the bottom part of the housing and is adjacent to another permanent magnet 10 provided within the gate at the bottom part of the gate in the closed position.

[0049] In the open position, due to the attraction between the permanent magnet 4 and the ferromagnetic material 8, the gate will be stable and no external magnetic field is required until the device needs to be opened.

[0050] A landing mechanism 11 is provided between the permanent magnet 4 and the ferromagnetic insert 8 to improve the seal and avoid vacuum sealing between the flat surfaces of the permanent magnet 4 and the ferromagnetic insert 8, and to avoid the magnetic force between components 4 and 8 being too large to overcome. Another technical effect of the landing mechanism is that it allows pressure communication through a small fluid layer between the gate and the adjacent valve seat. Since the areas exposed to fluid pressure in the open position, the closed position, and between them are the same, the pressure communication enables the gate to be pressure balanced.

[0051] Figure 1 The figure shows the device in the open state, and Figure 2 shows the same device in the closed state. The fluid path leading to the outlet 7 is now blocked by the gate. The gate is received in the valve seat provided by the landing mechanism 12 and is in a stable position due to the attractive force between the permanent magnet 10 and the ferromagnetic insert 9.

[0052] The top 13 of the housing has a frustoconical shape to improve the smooth fluid flow towards the inlet. The top is also slightly wider than the main part of the housing, and the overhang 14 improves the seal and connection when it is set within an opening in a sieve or a pipe. The overhang 14 can engage with the corresponding shoulder of the opening.

[0053] The directions in this description of the figures use the words "up", "down", "top" and "bottom", but it should be understood that these directions are only related to the orientation shown in the figures. Compared with the way shown in the figures, the device can have any orientation during use, including the opposite "inverted" orientation.

[0054] Figure 3 A device is shown that generally corresponds to Figure 1 and Figure 2 the device shown, but the outlet has a slightly different shape. Figure A shows the open position, while Figure B shows the closed position. The outlet channel 31 has a diagonal direction, while Figure 1 and Figure 2 the outlets in

[0055] Figure 4 Another device in the open configuration and the closed configuration is shown. The difference from the device in the previous figures is that the gap between the gate and the generally tubular inner cavity of the housing is slightly larger. This gap is sealed by a plurality of seals 41. The provision of the seals requires additional components, but on the other hand, the tolerances for manufacturing the housing and the gate can be slightly larger. The seals can be made of an elastically deformable material known to those skilled in the art and suitable for use in drilling.

[0056] Although in the example shown, a set of two magnets is used for the gate, the gate may also include a single magnet, multiple distributed magnets, or the gate itself may be the magnet without other components to the gate. The size of the magnet may also be different than shown.

[0057] Figure 5 A movement control for opening and closing the device is shown. The movement control comprises an electromagnet 51. Position, power and control signals are supplied to the electromagnet by a cable 52. The electromagnet comprises a soft magnetic core 53 surrounded by two sets of coils 54, 55. The current through one of the two coils is opposite to the current through the other of the two coils, and the two coils thus generate magnetic fields with opposite polarities. Thus, one set of poles overlaps, regardless of whether Figure 5 The two north poles shown in A are still the same Figure 5 The two south poles shown in B. Figure 5 C shows the Figure 5 A is a vertical cross section of the dotted line L (cutaway). The cross section of the core is shown as circular, but other shapes such as square or rectangular can also be used. The magnetic field lines extend radially outward uniformly at all angles, such as Figure 5 C. Therefore, the mobile controller can be used in any rotational orientation. By reversing the direction of the current in the two coils, Figure 5 A and Figure 5 Switch between fields of B.

[0058] The technical effect of using two opposing magnetic fields is twofold: the density of magnetic field lines across line L is significantly higher than if a single magnet were used, and the density in the center is significantly higher than the density of opposite poles at the ends of the mobile controller. Figure 5 In the diagram of A, the density of field lines at the central north pole is much higher than the density of field lines at the south poles at the two ends of the device. Figure 5 The same is true for the diagram of B, but in reverse, with strong south pole field lines in the center and weaker north pole field lines on the outside. When used to switch a magnetic valve, the magnetic field strength threshold according to which the second body of the permanent magnet switches positions is selected so that the central magnetic field lines are above the switching threshold, while the magnetic field density of the opposite pole is below the switching threshold. This avoids the switching performed by the central field with field reversals of the opposite pole.

[0059] The strength of the central magnetic field relative to the end poles can be further increased by increasing the overall length of the electromagnet, or by decreasing the diameter of the electromagnet towards the ends.

[0060] If using a threshold is too difficult in some practical scenarios, for example, if the distance between the mobile controller and the inflow control device cannot be easily controlled due to strong fluid flow, an odd number of poles can be used, resulting in an efficient overall switch: Figure 5Two south poles and one north pole of A (or Figure 5 two north poles and one south pole of B) will result in an odd number of switch sequences – “up-down-up” or “down-up-down” – as the mobile controller passes through the ICD, causing an overall change.

[0061] In use, the mobile controller traverses the wellbore using a cable. The mobile controller can remain powered on and can be pulled past a series of ICDs, switching each ICD from open to closed as it passes. In this usage scenario, the mobile controller does not need to “know” the exact location of the ICD. If location determination is required, for example, the ICD can be provided with an RFID tag and the mobile controller can be provided with a corresponding detector circuit, or other positioning devices can be provided. Alternatively or additionally, a casing collar locator, CCL, can be used. Such a CCL is a known tool for locating the position of collars. When the distance from the collar to the ICD is known, the CCL can be used to locate the ICD. The CCL typically operates as a standard depth-related tool for cable line operations, but can also be used to find the exact location of the ICD.

[0062] The presence and direction of the current can be directly controlled by the cable by passing current into a coil through one of the cables of the cable. Alternatively, a local microprocessor is provided at the mobile controller for controlling the current, and the microprocessor is arranged to receive signals from the surface through the cable.

[0063] Figure 6 Shows the Figure 5 mobile controller when passing through a set of inflow control devices (ICDs) 61 provided within a sand screen joint 62. Magnetic field lines pass through the ICD to switch the position from open to closed, or vice versa. The housing of the ICD and its position within the joint 62 are designed to avoid shielding the magnetic field from the mobile controller by positioning and / or selecting magnetic materials. The magnetic field can be blocked by a Faraday cage or a thick layer of magnetic material, and such structures are avoided between the ICD and the mobile controller. The mobile controller is preferably centered within the wellbore or pipeline, and a standard centering device can be used for this purpose.

[0064] Figure 7 shows an inflow device 70 installed within a screen section. Figure 7A Shows the open position, where the arrow indicates inflow. Figure 7B Shows the device in the closed position. A tubing 71 is shown, but only one side of the tubing is shown with the device in place. A screen 73 is attached to the outside of the tubing and can be a sand screen. The sand screen keeps sand or larger debris out while allowing fluid to pass through. A channel is provided between the sand screen and the tubing to allow fluid flow 74 towards the inlet device. The frustoconical shape at the top of the housing of the device provides a smooth inflow path.

[0065] The cable 75 is used to pull the measurement tool 76 and the movement controller 77 through the wellbore and past the inflow control device 70. The measurement tool is used to measure the inflow and composition of the drilling fluid, and the measurement results can be sent to a processor to determine control signals for the movement controller 77. The measurements can also be evaluated by a human operator before deciding on the desired state of the ICD. For example, if an inflow of water is detected, the movement controller can close the inflow control device. Alternatively, the movement controller remains open and toggles all the inflow control devices it passes, without the need to detect the inflow or the exact position of the inflow control device. The presence of the inflow control device can also be determined using RFID technology or using the CCL mentioned earlier.

[0066] A possible use scenario is to first perform a full (complete) run of the cable-based movement controller through the entire reservoir to collect functional data of the drilling system. Subsequently, without pulling the tool out of the well in between, another run through the ICDs is performed to open or close individual ICDs to optimize production.

[0067] The diameter of the main housing of the small inflow control device can be about 33 millimeters (mm), and the thickness can be 14 mm. The inflow opening can be between 2.5 and 9 mm. However, larger and smaller sizes are feasible. The typical size of the autonomous inflow control device is 45 mm deep and 14 mm high.

[0068] As detailed above, a landing mechanism is provided between the permanent magnets of the gate and their respective ferromagnetic inserts to improve the seal and avoid magnetic forces that are too large to overcome. As the landing mechanism spatially separates the permanent magnets from the ferromagnetic inserts, they allow fluid to pass through two opposite faces of the gate (when in the closed and open positions), such that the fluid pressure acts on the two opposite faces of the gate. Preferably, but not necessarily, the projected surface area of each opposite face of the gate in the lateral plane of the inflow control device is substantially equal, such that the net force acting on the gate between the closed and open positions and pushing the gate is substantially zero. To avoid doubt, the surface normal of the lateral plane is collinear with the direction of travel of the gate between the closed and open positions. This reduces the force required to switch the position of the gate.

[0069] In some examples, the fluid pressure acting on each opposite face of the gate can be different (but this is only expected to be a small amount), and in those examples, the gate is considered "close" to pressure balance. The force required to switch the position of the gate is still reduced.

[0070] Figure 8An alternative arrangement for an ICD is shown, whereby a mobile controller sends short pulses of EM energy to the ICD. The mobile controller has an EM transmitter for this purpose, which is arranged to emit RF pulses. Examples of transmitters are loop antennas, coil antennas, dipole antennas. The pulses have a first frequency for turning on the ICD and a second frequency for turning off the ICD. Although purely for illustrative purposes, the frequency of the first pulse can be about 300 MHz, and the frequency of the second pulse can be 350 MHz or higher to avoid overlapping with the first resonance. GHz frequencies can also be used, although preferably frequencies within the absorption band of water are avoided. The first frequency resonates with a first pick-up coil located at the ICD, while the second frequency resonates with a second pick-up coil located at the ICD.

[0071] Figure 8 A shows a first circuit for picking up the first frequency f 1 and includes an inductor L 1 (usually a coil) and a capacitor C 1 . The signal is rectified, for example, by an ac to dc converter D 1 , and the signal is then coupled to the coil L 3， to drive the magnet M. Similarly, the inductor L 2 is arranged to pick up the second frequency f 2 in a circuit having a capacitor C 2 and a rectifier D 2 to drive a second coil L 4 for pulling the magnet M. Pulling and pushing are obtained by generating opposite magnetic fields.

[0072] Figure 8 C shows an eICD including inductors L 1 and L 2 at the lower part of the eICD such that when the mobile controller passes by the eICD, it is close to the mobile controller. The inductors L 3 and L 4 are arranged close to the magnet M such that they can apply a force to the magnet. The eICD is shown in an open configuration, where the arrows show the fluid path through the eICD.

[0073] When the same inductors L 3 and L 4 receive power and signals (instead of signals or power from the mobile controller) from a cable or other device that is a permanent feature of the drilling assembly, they can be used for non-emergency operations.

[0074] In addition to Figure 8Except for the inductor shown in C, the ICD has a slightly different layout. The inflow channel is still at the top in the direction shown in the figure, but the outflow channel is at the sidewall, at about one-third of the distance from the top, rather than at the bottom. This variant can also be used in the inflow device shown previously. The ICD is still pressure-balanced because the area of the gate exposed to fluid pressure in the open position, closed position, or between them is substantially the same.

[0075] Figure 8 D schematically shows a mobile controller having an electronic circuit 81 and an antenna 82 for generating and transmitting RF pulses. The electronic circuit 81 is arranged to receive power and signals from a cable.

[0076] Figure 8 A variant of the ICD shown in C is a variant in which one or more permanent magnets are provided in the housing (instead of the gate). The magnets are provided in the gate seat, which is adjacent to the gate in the open position and further adjacent to the gate in the seat in the closed position. The gate itself includes magnetic material. The magnetic material can be attracted by the magnets (whether permanent magnets or electromagnets), but not repelled by the magnets. Therefore, electromagnets are provided on the sides of each seat so as to attract the gate to the open position by the electromagnet in the "open seat" and attract the gate to the closed position by the electromagnet in the "closed seat".

[0077] A cable tractor can also be attached to the cable assembly, especially for moving the assembly upstream into the well when drilling a well having a substantially horizontal section.

[0078] In all the examples described, the inflow control device is remotely controlled by a mobile controller without the need to supply power or signals through a cable or other device extending to the inflow device. This technical effect avoids the challenges associated with supplying signals and power to the inflow control device through a cable or through a pipeline.

[0079] The same general concept presented above can be implemented in different arrangements, such as an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 9. Many details are omitted in FIG. 9 because it is intended to show a different general design of the housing and the gate. The gate 91 has a central opening that extends straight from the top of the gate to the bottom of the gate. As Figure 9A shown, in the open configuration, the opening is aligned with the central opening in the housing 92. A central housing portion 95 is provided, which blocks the central opening of the gate in the closed configuration, as Figure 9BAs shown. The fluid flow 93 is shown by arrows, which surrounds the central housing portion 95, passes through the central opening in the gate and finally through the central opening in the housing. In embodiments where a pick-up coil is used to convert EM energy from a pulse, an electromagnet is provided, for example, in the central housing portion 95 and / or the lower part of the housing (not shown). In embodiments where switching is performed magnetically, the gate has a permanent magnet, and the housing portions that contact the gate in the open and closed configurations include ferromagnetic or magnetizable portions, which are combined with spacers or landing mechanisms, as previously described.

[0080] Figure 10A and Figure 10B Another design of the housing and gate is shown. It differs from the design of FIG. 9 in that the gate does not have a central opening, but is an uninterrupted disk or other shape that matches the inner bore of the housing. This provides a simpler gate design. Instead of a central outlet, a side outlet 103 is defined by the housing, whereby the side outlet is located below the gate in the closed configuration.

[0081] An advantage over existing autonomous control valves is that opening or closing can be complete, as opposed to being partially open or closed. For example, when a large amount of water production occurs in a section of a well during drilling, it may be preferable to completely close all corresponding inflow control devices to cut off the water.

[0082] Figure 11 A method diagram for controlling fluid inflow into a well is shown. The method includes the following steps: (S1) providing an inflow control device for a hydrocarbon production (drilling) well, the inflow control device being configured to reversibly switch between an open state and a closed state or between a closed state and an open state. The inflow control device can be any of the devices previously described herein. There can be an array of many devices distributed throughout the well system. In a subsequent step (S2), a mobile controller is moved through the borehole (wellbore) of the well. The mobile controller can be one of the controllers previously described, whether providing a magnetic field or emitting an EM pulse. In the next step (S3), the inflow control device is reversibly opened or closed by the mobile controller. The mobile controller can then be continued to be moved to the next device. The mobile controller can be stationary when opening or closing the inflow control device, or can remain moving, closing or opening the device while passing by.

[0083] Although the present invention has been described in accordance with the preferred embodiments as described above, it should be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative, and the claims are not limited to these embodiments. Those skilled in the art will be able to make modifications and substitutions in view of the present disclosure, and these modifications and substitutions are considered to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each feature disclosed or shown in this specification can be incorporated into the present invention individually or in any suitable combination with any other feature disclosed or shown herein.

Claims

1. An inflow control device for use in a wellbore or a pipeline, the inflow control device being configured to reversibly switch between an open state and a closed state or between a closed state and an open state, the inflow control device comprising: a housing; a gate that is movable within the housing between a closed state and an open state; the housing defining a first valve seat for receiving the gate in the closed state and a second valve seat for receiving the gate in the open state, wherein the first valve seat and the second valve seat include one or more permanent magnets, or wherein the gate includes one or more permanent magnets.

2. The inflow control device according to claim 1, further comprising one or more electromagnets disposed within the housing, wherein, a magnetic field generated by the one or more electromagnets has a first polarity that can be controlled by a current in the electromagnets, wherein the one or more permanent magnets have a second polarity, and wherein the first polarity and the second polarity have the same direction in a first current direction and opposite directions in a second current direction.

3. The inflow control device according to claim 2, further comprising a resonant circuit arranged to receive electromagnetic energy transmitted by a mobile controller and to energize the one or more electromagnets.

4. The inflow control device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, the gate defines a central opening, and wherein in the open state, the central opening is part of a fluid communication passage.

5. The inflow control device according to claim 4, wherein, the gate has sidewalls that block the fluid communication passage in the closed state.

6. The inflow control device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, the gate defines side openings that can selectively align with side openings in an insert that extends into the gate within the housing.

7. The inflow device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a landing mechanism configured to spatially separate the one or more permanent magnets from their respective valve seats.

8. The inflow device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, the gate defines two opposite faces that have substantially equal surface areas when projected onto a transverse plane of the inflow device.

9. A cable-operated mobile controller arranged to open or close an inflow control device installed in a wellbore, PM / wy-HCP21542 the mobile controller comprising: a first connector for electrically connecting the mobile controller to a cable and a second connector for mechanically connecting the mobile controller to the cable; electrical components arranged to electromagnetically couple to the inflow control device when energized and to remotely open or close the inflow control device.

10. The mobile controller according to claim 9, wherein, the electrical components include two electromagnets arranged substantially coaxially around a core and arranged in use to generate two corresponding magnetic fields having opposite polarities.

11. The mobile controller according to claim 10, wherein, the two electromagnets are arranged along a longitudinal axis, and wherein the longitudinal axis substantially coincides with the main axis of the casing of the well being drilled in use.

12. The mobile controller according to any one of claims 9 to 11, further comprising an aligner for aligning the mobile controller within the well being drilled.

13. The mobile controller according to claim 9, wherein, the electrical components include an electromagnetic emitter arranged to emit electromagnetic pulses, and an electronic circuit for sending an electronic signal to the emitter for emitting the electromagnetic pulses.

14. The mobile controller according to claim 13, wherein, the electromagnetic emitter and the electronic circuit are arranged to generate at least two electromagnetic pulses, wherein the first electromagnetic pulse has a different frequency from the second electromagnetic pulse.

15. A method of controlling the inflow into a well being drilled, the method comprising: providing an inflow control device for a hydrocarbon production well, the inflow control device being configured to reversibly switch between an open state and a closed state or between a closed state and an open state, the inflow control device comprising: a housing; a gate, the gate including one or more permanent magnets and being movable within the housing between a closed state and an open state; the housing defining a first valve seat for receiving the gate in the closed state and a second valve seat for receiving the gate in the open state, wherein the first valve seat and the second valve seat include one or more magnetizable portions, moving a mobile controller through the casing of the well being drilled, wherein the mobile controller includes a first connector for electrically connecting the mobile controller to a cable and a second connector for mechanically connecting the mobile controller to the cable; PM / wy-HCP21542 electrical components arranged to electromagnetically couple to the inflow control device when energized and to remotely open or close the inflow control device, opening or closing the inflow control device by energizing the mobile controller.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein, energizing the mobile controller generates one or more electromagnetic pulses emitted by the mobile controller, wherein the electromagnetic pulses are received by a resonant circuit provided at the inflow control device, wherein the resonant circuit energizes an electromagnet provided within the inflow control device to attract or repel the gate including one or more permanent magnets.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, further comprising receiving a signal from a measuring device provided on the cable and controlling the current in response to the signal.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein, the measuring device measures one or more of the following: the inflow rate of the inflowing fluid, the fluid phase, the temperature, or the conductivity.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein, measuring the fluid phase includes measuring the inflow of water or gas into the well being drilled and closing the inflow control device in response to the measurement of the water or gas.

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