Autonomous Inflow Valve Using Dual Restrictors for Water and Gas Breakthrough
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current inflow control devices for hydrocarbon production struggle to efficiently prevent gas and water breakthrough while maintaining optimal oil production, often leading to initial production losses and limited autonomous control mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A fluid flow control device with a housing featuring a first fluid flow restrictor for laminar flow and a second for turbulent flow, utilizing pressure changes from fluid property changes to actuate a valve, effectively choking unwanted fluids like water and gas while allowing oil to flow, and is fully autonomous and reversible.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If traditional ICDs with fixed flow area are used, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to autonomously control fluid flow based on fluid properties is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flow restrictors with different flow characteristics (laminar vs turbulent) that respond to changes in fluid properties such as viscosity and density. When fluid properties change (e.g., from oil to water), the pressure distribution across the restrictors changes, automatically actuating the valve to close. This enables autonomous control without complex external systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses fluid pressure itself as the actuating mechanism. The pressure differential created by fluids with different properties flowing through the two restrictors directly moves the valve element, eliminating the need for external actuators, power sources, or complex control systems.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If ICDs choke flow to prevent gas and water breakthrough, then harmful fluid ingress is reduced, but initial oil production is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The valve element can dynamically transition between open and closed positions based on real-time fluid properties. During initial production when oil flows, the valve remains open maximizing productivity. When gas or water breakthrough occurs and fluid properties change, the valve automatically closes to prevent harmful ingress, providing dynamic adaptation rather than static choking.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses the changing fluid properties themselves as the trigger mechanism. The fluid's own characteristics (viscosity, density) create the pressure differential that actuates the valve, making the system self-regulating without external intervention or pre-programmed choke positions.
3Measurement precision
If external control systems are used to manage fluid flow, then control precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex electronic or mechanical control systems with a passive hydraulic actuation mechanism. The valve responds to fluid property changes through pressure differential across the restrictors, eliminating sensors, controllers, power sources, and complex mechanics while achieving precise response to fluid property variations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly increases oil production and recovery by efficiently preventing unwanted fluid ingress, achieving at least a 10% increase in production and reducing initial production losses, with a cost-effective design.
Implementation Method 1
a first fluid flow restrictor serving as an inflow port to a chamber in the housing, and a second fluid flow restrictor serving as an outflow port from the chamber, and wherein the first fluid flow restrictor and the second fluid flow restrictor are configured to generate different fluid flow characteristics
Implementation Method 2
a first fluid flow restrictor serving as an inflow port to a chamber in the housing, and a second fluid flow restrictor serving as an outflow port from the chamber, and wherein the first fluid flow restrictor and the second fluid flow restrictor are configured to generate different fluid flow characteristics
Implementation Method 3
utilizing pressure changes from fluid property changes to actuate a valve, effectively choking unwanted fluids like water and gas while allowing oil to flow
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid flow control system serving as an inflow port from a fluid reservoir (R) to the interior of a production pipe (S) is in the form of a housing (3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g, 3h, 3i, 3j, 3k, 3l). The housing has a primary flow path (18) and a secondary flow path (19). The secondary flow path is in fluid communication with a chamber (B) in which is arranged an actuator (5) for a valve device (4), the valve device arranged to open and close the primary flow path. At least one flow restrictor (1,2) is arranged in the secondary flow path, the flow restrictor arranged to provide a pressure to chamber (B) sufficient to actuate the valve to an open position when the fluid flowing through the secondary flow path is oil, and a pressure sufficient to actuate the valve to a closed position when the fluid has a viscosity and/or density less than oil.