Passive Inflow Control Device for Selective Fluid Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow control devices in wellbores struggle to maintain even fluid flow from subterranean formations, particularly failing to restrict the flow of undesired viscosities or densities, leading to issues like gas and water cones that reduce oil production efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A passive inflow control device with a flow-through region designed to increase pressure drop for fluids with low viscosities and maintain a constant pressure drop for fluids with higher viscosities, utilizing a structural flow area with tortuous paths and specific geometry to control fluid flow, and a computer-readable medium for optimizing geometry based on fluid properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a passive inflow control device is used to restrict flow of undesired fluids, then water and gas flow is reduced, but the device must differentiate between fluids of different viscosities and densities
Solution Approach 1:
The flow-through region incorporates segments with different flow resistance characteristics tailored to specific fluid types. By creating local variations in tortuosity, cross-sectional area, and path length within the flow-through region, the device provides differentiated resistance to water, gas, and oil flows, allowing selective restriction of undesired fluids while maintaining desired fluid flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The device exploits differences in fluid physical parameters (viscosity and density) to achieve selective flow control. The flow-through region is designed with geometric parameters (tortuosity, cross-sectional area, path length) that create pressure drops varying with fluid properties, enabling the device to respond differently to water, gas, and oil based on their inherent physical characteristics.
2Ease of operation
If active flow control devices with moving parts are used, then fluid flow can be actively controlled, but device complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The passive inflow control device performs flow control functions automatically based on fluid properties without requiring external control systems or moving parts. The flow-through region's geometric design inherently creates different pressure drops for different fluids, enabling self-regulating flow control that eliminates the need for motors, valves, or other active components requiring maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces active mechanical control systems with a passive geometric structure. Instead of using motors, valves, or movable components to control flow, the device uses a carefully designed flow-through region with specific tortuosity, cross-sectional area variations, and path lengths that passively differentiate fluid flow based on physical properties.
3Ease of manufacture
If uniform flow channels are used in the flow control device, then manufacturing is simplified, but flow differentiation between fluids of different viscosities is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flow-through region is divided into multiple segments or zones with progressively varying geometric characteristics. Each segment contributes to the overall tortuosity and flow resistance, with variations in cross-sectional area and path length that collectively create the desired differential flow control. This segmented approach allows manufacturing using standard techniques while achieving complex flow differentiation.
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 effectively restricts the flow of water and gas while allowing a consistent flow of oil, enhancing oil production by creating a desired pressure drop behavior across the flow control device, thereby improving the overall efficiency of fluid extraction.
Implementation Method 1
the flow-through region is configured to substantially increase pressure drop when viscosity or density of the fluid is in a first range and maintain a substantially constant pressure drop when the viscosity or density of the fluid is in a second range
Implementation Method 2
the structural flow area, a fluid flow path in the structural flow area, tortuosity of the fluid flow path and size of the outflow opening are selected so that values of pressure loss coefficient ("K") are substantially higher for fluids having Reynolds number ("Re") in a first range
Implementation Method 3
the flow-through region is configured to substantially increase pressure drop when viscosity or density of the fluid is in a first range and maintain a substantially constant pressure drop when the viscosity or density of the fluid is in a second range
Implementation Method 4
the flow-through region is configured to substantially increase pressure drop when viscosity or density of the fluid is in a first range and maintain a substantially constant pressure drop when the viscosity or density of the fluid is in a second range
Implementation Method 5
values of pressure loss coefficient ("K") are substantially higher for fluids having Reynolds number ("Re") in a first range compared to fluids having Re in a second range
Data Source
AI summary
A method of providing a flow control device is disclosed, which one aspect may include: defining a flow rate; defining a desired relationship between a parameter of the flow control device that exhibits a substantial change when a selected property of the fluid changes in a first range and remains substantially constant when the selected property is in the second range; determining using a computer and a simulation program the relationship between the performance parameter and the selected property over the first range and the second range for the defined flow rate for a geometry of a flow through area of a flow control device; comparing the determined relationship of the performance parameter with the desired relationship; altering the geometry to a new geometry when the difference between the desired performance and the determined performance is outside a desired range; determining using the computer and the simulation program the relationship between the performance parameter and the selected property over the first range and the second range for the defined flow rate for the new geometry of the flow through area of the flow control device; repeating the process of altering the geometry and determining the performance until the difference between the desired performance and the determined performance for a geometry is acceptable; and storing the geometry of the flow through device on a suitable storage medium for which the difference between the determined performance and the desired performance is acceptable.