Inflow Control Device with Particulate Screens for Wellbore Pressure Drop

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for controlling fluid flow in wellbores struggle to manage reservoir heterogeneities and unfavorable mobility ratios, leading to uneven influx and increased water production, which reduces oil and gas extraction efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an inflow control device with particulate control devices and fluid couplings that generate a predetermined pressure drop, ensuring controlled fluid flow and balanced drainage across multiple production zones by serially connecting screens and using annular flow spaces to combine fluid streams before they enter the inflow control device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional flow control systems are used in wellbores, then fluid flow can be managed to some extent, but reservoir heterogeneities and unfavorable mobility ratios cannot be effectively addressed, leading to uneven influx and increased water production

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil and gas extraction efficiencyVSAvoidfluid flow control capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The wellbore is divided into multiple discrete inflow control zones, each equipped with its own control device featuring particulate control screens and fluid couplings. This segmentation allows independent control of fluid influx from different production zones, enabling tailored management of reservoir heterogeneities and mobility ratios in each zone while maintaining overall productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If inflow control devices are installed to manage fluid flow, then water and gas production can be reduced, but the system complexity increases with multiple particulate control devices and fluid couplings

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater cone and gas cone intrusionVSAvoidsystem structure with multiple control devices

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple functional elements are merged into integrated inflow control devices that combine particulate control screens, fluid couplings, and pressure control mechanisms into single modular units. These integrated devices reduce the number of separate components needed while maintaining the capability to control water and gas cones through coordinated action of the merged functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The inflow control devices are designed with multi-functionality, serving simultaneously as particulate filters, fluid flow regulators, and pressure control mechanisms. Each device can handle multiple fluid phases (oil, water, gas) and perform several control functions, reducing the need for specialized separate devices and simplifying the overall system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If particulate control devices are used to filter fluid streams, then fluid quality improves, but the device complexity and manufacturing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid flow control reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity of control devices

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Particulate control screens with controlled porosity are used as the primary filtering mechanism. These porous structures provide reliable particulate separation while maintaining manageable manufacturing complexity through standardized production processes. The porous materials are selected to balance filtration effectiveness with manufacturing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

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

This solution enhances oil and gas production by promoting even influx, reducing water and gas production, and improving overall well performance by controlling fluid flow patterns and pressure differentials within the wellbore.

Implementation Method 1

an inflow control device configured to generate a predetermined pressure drop in the flowing fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure drop: Pressure Drop

Data Source

PatentUS9617836B2Passive in-flow control devices and methods for using same

Publication Date: 2017.04.11 BAKER HUGHES CO

AI summary

An apparatus for controlling a flow of a fluid between a wellbore tubular and a wellbore annulus may include an inflow control device configured to generate a predetermined pressure drop in the flowing fluid; a plurality of particulate control devices conveying the fluid to the inflow control device; and at least one fluid coupling conveying the fluid from at least one of the particulate control devices to the inflow control device.