Viscosity-Sensitive Flow Valve for Blocking Gas and Water
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Solution Overview
Problem
In well applications, existing technologies fail to effectively control the flow of fluids based on viscosity, leading to unwanted gas and water entering sand screen completions, which affects production efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A flow control device comprising a production circuit with arrays of fluid nozzles and viscosity switches, and a metering circuit with a filter, viscosity pressure loss device, and check valve, which differentiates fluid viscosity to automatically allow higher viscosity fluids to flow while blocking lower viscosity fluids, such as gas and water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional flow control devices are used in sand screen completions, then fluid flow can be controlled, but they cannot differentiate between different fluid viscosities leading to unwanted gas and water entering the completion
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes changes in fluid viscosity as the key parameter to differentiate between desired production fluids (oil) and unwanted fluids (gas and water). The system incorporates viscosity-sensitive components including orifices of different sizes, capillary tubes, and elastomeric elements that respond differently to fluids of varying viscosities, enabling automatic flow control based on fluid type
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces intermediary components such as elastomeric balloons or diaphragms that are positioned within the flow path and respond to viscosity changes. These intermediaries deform or expand based on the viscosity of the passing fluid, thereby modulating the flow path and restricting unwanted low-viscosity fluids while allowing high-viscosity production fluids to pass
2Productivity
If sand screen completion is deployed for fluid production, then hydrocarbon recovery is enabled, but unwanted fluids enter the completion affecting production efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control device operates autonomously without requiring external control systems or intervention. The viscosity-sensitive components automatically detect the type of fluid passing through the sand screen completion and adjust the flow path accordingly, enabling self-regulating production that maintains reliability while maximizing hydrocarbon recovery
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 reduces or shuts down flow of unwanted fluids by utilizing differential pressure responses based on viscosity differences, enhancing production efficiency by selectively allowing or blocking fluid flow based on viscosity, thereby improving hydrocarbon recovery.
Implementation Method 1
a viscosity pressure loss device, a metering orifice
Implementation Method 2
utilizing differential pressure responses based on viscosity differences
Implementation Method 3
a check valve
Data Source
AI summary
A technique facilitates control over flow of fluid in a variety of well applications and other applications. A flow control device is used to automatically control flow of fluids based on viscosity of the fluids. For example, the flow control device may be used to automatically allow flow of oil while blocking flow of gas and/or water. According to an embodiment, the flow control device comprises a production circuit and a metering circuit. The production circuit and the metering circuit cooperate to allow flow of a well fluid with a first viscosity and to block flow of well fluid when the well fluid has a different viscosity, e.g. relatively lower viscosity.