Restrictor and Bridge Valve for Gas Production and Water Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Water influx in gas wells reduces efficiency and productivity, necessitating a solution to autonomously control fluid flow to preferentially produce gas and restrict water production.
Innovation Solution
A flow control device with a movable restrictor and pilot-operated valve system that responds to fluid velocity and composition to selectively enable gas production while attenuating liquid flow, using Bernoulli principles and differential pressures to regulate fluid flow without operator intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a flow control device is designed to preferentially produce gas and restrict water production, then gas productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for autonomous control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control device uses autonomous control mechanisms including a movable restrictor that responds to fluid velocity and a pilot-operated valve system that automatically adjusts flow based on fluid properties. The device self-regulates without external intervention, using the kinetic energy of incoming fluids to drive the control mechanism, thereby improving gas productivity while managing complexity through self-service operation
Solution Approach 2:
The device exploits differences in physical parameters between gas and water (velocity, density, kinetic energy) to achieve selective flow control. The movable restrictor position changes in response to fluid velocity parameters, and the pilot-operated valve responds to pressure differential changes, allowing the system to differentiate and control gas versus water flow based on parameter variations
2Duration of action of stationary object
If autonomous flow control is implemented to slow water production upon breakthrough, then well life is extended, but the mechanism requires complex autonomous control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous control mechanism operates without external intervention by using the kinetic energy of incoming fluids to drive the movable restrictor. When water breakthrough occurs, the system automatically detects the change in fluid properties and adjusts the restrictor position to slow water production, thereby extending well life through self-service operation
Solution Approach 2:
The pilot-operated valve system provides automatic feedback control by monitoring fluid properties and adjusting flow accordingly. The system continuously responds to changes in fluid velocity and pressure, creating a feedback loop that autonomously manages water production rates to extend well life
3Reliability
If a movable restrictor is used to selectively produce gas and restrict water, then flow control effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable restrictor mechanism is driven by the hydraulic principles of fluid pressure and kinetic energy. The system uses the natural energy of flowing fluids to actuate the restrictor without requiring external power sources or complex mechanical actuation systems, thereby improving flow control effectiveness while managing device complexity through pneumatic and hydraulic operation
Solution Approach 2:
The movable restrictor is designed to dynamically adjust its position in response to changing fluid conditions. The restrictor moves automatically based on real-time fluid velocity and pressure changes, providing adaptive flow control that improves reliability while the dynamic nature of the system reduces the need for complex static control mechanisms
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 system effectively increases gas well productivity by autonomously restricting water influx, maintaining efficient gas production by dynamically adjusting to fluid properties.
Implementation Method 1
A flow control device may include a movable restrictor configured to move from a closed position to an open position in response to a liquid at a first velocity from a subsurface formation and from an open position to a closed position in response to a gas at a second velocity
Implementation Method 2
A pilot-operated valve may be fluidically coupled to the movable restrictor and configured to actuate from an open position to a closed position in response to the liquid at a differential pressure and from a closed position to an open position in response to the gas at the differential pressure
Data Source
AI summary
Some implementations include a flow control device positioned in a tubing string within a wellbore formed in a subsurface formation, the flow control device configured to produce a liquid or a gas. The flow control device may comprise a movable restrictor configured to move, in response to the liquid at a first velocity from the subsurface formation, from a closed position to an open position and a pilot-operated valve configured to attenuate a flow of the liquid through the flow control device when the movable restrictor is in the open position.