Movable Body Inflow Control Device for Sand and Fluid Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current well completion systems face challenges in efficiently controlling the production of sand and other undesirable fluids, leading to premature breakthrough of gas or water, which results in reduced oil recovery and increased burden on surface separators, ultimately affecting well profitability.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a movable body within an inflow control device (ICD) that adjusts fluid flow based on fluid properties such as viscosity and density, enhancing the flow of higher viscosity fluids like crude oil while choking lower viscosity fluids like gas and water, thereby regulating the mixture of fluids entering the production tubing string.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If screens and completion assemblies are installed to control sand production, then sand production is regulated, but gas or water breakthrough occurs prematurely, reducing oil recovery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a movable body within the inflow control device that dynamically adjusts the flow path based on fluid properties. The body can shift position to optimize flow distribution, allowing the system to adapt to changing reservoir conditions and prevent premature gas or water breakthrough while maintaining sand control effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the flow control parameter by using a movable body that responds to fluid properties such as viscosity, density, and phase composition. By adjusting the flow path geometry based on these parameters, the system optimizes oil recovery while controlling sand production, resolving the contradiction between sand control and maintaining oil productivity
2Productivity
If inflow control devices with movable bodies are used to regulate fluid flow, then fluid production is optimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable body in the inflow control device is designed to self-regulate flow based on fluid properties without requiring external control systems. The body automatically adjusts its position in response to fluid viscosity, density, and phase composition, simplifying the control mechanism while maintaining effective flow regulation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the flow control function from complex mechanical systems and implements it through a simple movable body that responds to fluid properties. By removing unnecessary control mechanisms and relying on the natural response of the body to fluid characteristics, the design achieves effective flow regulation with minimal device complexity
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 effectively controls the production of undesirable fluids, optimizing oil recovery by reducing gas and water breakthrough, and minimizing the burden on surface processing systems, thereby enhancing well profitability and uniform reservoir depletion.
Implementation Method 1
communicating a fluid flow to a flow control device that contains a movable body to cause a first force to be exerted on the body
Implementation Method 2
diverting at least part of the fluid flow through an opening of the body to a laminar flow channel to cause a second force that opposes the first force to be exerted on the body
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus that is usable with a well includes a housing and a body. The housing includes an inlet and an outlet, and a fluid flow is communicated between the inlet and outlet. The body disposed inside the housing to form a fluid restriction for the fluid flow. The body includes an opening therethrough to divert a first portion of the fluid flow into a first fluid flow path; and a first surface to at least partially define the first fluid flow path. The body is adapted to move to control fluid communication through the first flow path based at least in part on at least one fluid property of the flow.