Frangible Flow Control Member for Wellbore Solids Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of hydrocarbon reservoirs is complicated by the presence of naturally occurring solids debris and intentionally injected proppant, which can hinder fluid flow and require effective control mechanisms to manage flow communication between the wellbore and subterranean formation.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a housing, flow communicator, and frangible interlocking members is deployed in the wellbore, allowing for controlled release of a flow control member to open or close the flow communicator, preventing or allowing fluid communication based on applied forces, utilizing a hard stop to limit displacement and prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flow control member is releasably retained to the housing using frangible interlocking members, then the flow communicator can be securely closed to prevent fluid flow, but the mechanism becomes complex and requires additional components for controlled release
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control member is segmented into multiple discrete frangible interlocking members (shear pins) that can be individually fractured. This segmentation allows the retention mechanism to be released through fracture of individual pins rather than requiring complex actuation systems, achieving reliable controlled release while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The frangible interlocking members are pre-installed in a retained condition during apparatus deployment. This preliminary action ensures the flow communicator is securely closed before deployment, and the pre-positioned frangible members are ready to be fractured by predetermined forces (such as downhole tension or compression) to enable controlled release without requiring additional activation mechanisms.
2Productivity
If the flow control member is made displaceable relative to the flow communicator, then the flow communicator can be opened to allow fluid flow, but the flow control member may become damaged due to uncontrolled displacement
Solution Approach 1:
A hard stop is provided within the housing that engages the flow control member to limit its downhole displacement. This hard stop acts as a cushioning element that prevents the flow control member from traveling too far downhole where it could become damaged or lost. The hard stop is positioned beforehand to ensure the flow control member is stopped before any damage can occur, while still allowing sufficient uphole displacement to open the flow communicator for productive fluid flow.
3Productivity
If the flow communicator has a large dimension along the central longitudinal axis, then solids debris can be effectively managed and fluid flow can be maintained, but the apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow communicator is designed with a large dimension along the central longitudinal axis (vertical dimension) rather than increasing the radial dimensions. This dimensional orientation allows the flow communicator to accommodate solids debris management while maintaining a compact radial profile that fits within standard wellbore constraints. The extended longitudinal dimension provides sufficient flow capacity and solids handling capability without significantly increasing the overall apparatus volume.
Data Source
AI summary
A wellbore apparatus to control the flow of fluids into the wellbore, comprising: a housing; a passage disposed within the housing; a flow communicator for allowing communication into the passage; a flow control member; and frangible members releasably retaining the flow control member to the housing in a retained position, and configured, while the apparatus is disposed in an operative orientation, for becoming fractured in response to application of a force in a downhole direction to release the flow control member from the housing such that the flow control member becomes displaceable relative to the flow communicator; wherein: the flow communicator and the flow control member are configured such that, while the apparatus is disposed in the operative orientation within the wellbore, the flow control member is disposed uphole relative to the retained position while the flow communicator is disposed in the open condition.