Patent Grant
10711569
The present disclosure relates, in general, to equipment used in conjunction with operations performed in hydrocarbon bearing subterranean wells and, in particular, to downhole fluid flow control systems that utilize dissolvable members to create temporary configurations for fluid control modules.
During the completion of a well that traverses a hydrocarbon bearing subterranean formation, production tubing and various completion equipment are installed in the well to enable safe and efficient production of the formation fluids. For example, to control the flowrate of production fluids into the production tubing, it is common practice to install a fluid flow control system within the tubing string including one or more inflow control devices such as flow tubes, nozzles, labyrinths or other tortuous path devices. Typically, the production flowrate through these inflow control devices is fixed prior to installation based upon the design thereof.
It has been found, however, that due to changes in formation pressure and changes in formation fluid composition over the life of the well, it may be desirable to adjust the flow control characteristics of the inflow control devices and, in particular, it may be desirable to adjust the flow control characteristics without the requirement for well intervention. In addition, for certain completions, such as long horizontal completions having numerous production intervals, it may be desirable to independently control the inflow of production fluids into each of the production intervals.
Attempts have been made to achieve these results through the use of autonomous inflow control devices. For example, certain autonomous inflow control devices include one or more valve elements that are fully open responsive to the flow of a desired fluid, such as oil, but restrict production responsive to the flow of an undesired fluid, such as water or gas. It has been found, however, that systems incorporating current autonomous inflow control devices suffer from one or more of the following limitations: fatigue failure of biasing devices; failure of intricate components or complex structures; lack of sensitivity to minor fluid property differences, such as light oil viscosity versus water viscosity; and/or the inability to highly restrict or shut off unwanted fluid flow due to requiring substantial flow or requiring flow through a main flow path in order to operate.
Accordingly, a need has arisen for a downhole fluid flow control system that is operable to independently control the inflow of production fluids from multiple production intervals without the requirement for well intervention as the composition of the fluids produced into specific intervals changes over time. A need has also arisen for such a downhole fluid flow control system that does not require the use of biasing devices, intricate components or complex structures. In addition, a need has arisen for such a downhole fluid flow control system that has the sensitivity to operate responsive to minor fluid property differences. Further, a need has arisen for such a downhole fluid flow control system that is operable to highly restrict or shut off the production of unwanted fluid flow though the main flow path.
In a first aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a downhole fluid flow control system that includes a fluid control module having an upstream side, a downstream side and a main fluid pathway in parallel with a secondary fluid pathway each extending between the upstream and downstream sides. A valve element is disposed within the fluid control module. The valve element is operable between an open position wherein fluid flow through the main fluid pathway is allowed and a closed position wherein fluid flow through the main fluid pathway is prevented. A dissolvable prop member is configured to maintain the valve element in the open position. The dissolvable prop member is operable to be dissolved by a dissolution solvent downhole to allow the valve element to operate between the open and closed positions. A viscosity discriminator is disposed within the fluid control module. The viscosity discriminator has a viscosity sensitive channel that forms at least a portion of the secondary fluid pathway. A differential pressure switch is operable to shift the valve element between the open and closed positions. The differential pressure switch includes a first pressure signal from the upstream side, a second pressure signal from the downstream side and a third pressure signal from the secondary fluid pathway. The first and second pressure signals bias the valve element toward the open position while the third pressure signal biases the valve element toward the closed position. The magnitude of the third pressure signal is dependent upon the viscosity of the fluid flowing through the secondary fluid pathway such that the differential pressure switch is operated responsive to changes in the viscosity of the fluid, thereby controlling fluid flow through the main fluid pathway.
In some embodiments, the valve element may have first, second and third areas such that the first pressure signal acts on the first area, the second pressure signal acts on the second area and the third pressure signal acts on the third area. In such embodiments, the differential pressure switch may be operated responsive to a difference between the first pressure signal times the first area plus the second pressure signal times the second area (P1A1+P2A2) and the third pressure signal times the third area (P3A3). In certain embodiments, the magnitude of the third pressure signal increases with decreasing viscosity of the fluid flowing through the secondary fluid pathway. In some embodiments, the dissolution solvent may be an acidic fluid, a caustic fluid, water or a hydrocarbon fluid.
In a second aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a flow control screen including a base pipe with an internal passageway, a filter medium positioned around the base pipe and a fluid flow control system positioned in a fluid flow path between the filter medium and the internal passageway. The fluid flow control system includes a fluid control module having an upstream side, a downstream side and a main fluid pathway in parallel with a secondary fluid pathway each extending between the upstream and downstream sides. A valve element is disposed within the fluid control module. The valve element is operable between an open position wherein fluid flow through the main fluid pathway is allowed and a closed position wherein fluid flow through the main fluid pathway is prevented. A dissolvable prop member is configured to maintain the valve element in the open position. The dissolvable prop member is operable to be dissolved by a dissolution solvent downhole to allow the valve element to operate between the open and closed positions. A viscosity discriminator is disposed within the fluid control module. The viscosity discriminator has a viscosity sensitive channel that forms at least a portion of the secondary fluid pathway. A differential pressure switch is operable to shift the valve element between the open and closed positions. The differential pressure switch includes a first pressure signal from the upstream side, a second pressure signal from the downstream side and a third pressure signal from the secondary fluid pathway. The first and second pressure signals bias the valve element toward the open position while the third pressure signal biases the valve element toward the closed position. The magnitude of the third pressure signal is dependent upon the viscosity of the fluid flowing through the secondary fluid pathway such that the differential pressure switch is operated responsive to changes in the viscosity of the fluid, thereby controlling fluid flow through the main fluid pathway.
In a third aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a downhole fluid flow control method including positioning a fluid flow control system at a target location downhole, the fluid flow control system including a fluid control module having an upstream side, a downstream side and a main fluid pathway in parallel with a secondary fluid pathway each extending between the upstream and downstream sides, a viscosity discriminator and a differential pressure switch, the viscosity discriminator having a viscosity sensitive channel that forms at least a portion of the secondary fluid pathway; maintaining a valve element in an open position with a dissolvable prop member; exposing the dissolvable prop member to a dissolution solvent downhole to allow the valve element to operate between the open position and a closed position; producing a desired fluid from the upstream side to the downstream side through the fluid control module; operating the differential pressure switch to shift the valve element to the open position responsive to producing the desired fluid by applying a first pressure signal from the upstream side to a first area of the valve element, a second pressure signal from the downstream side to a second area of the valve element and a third pressure signal from the secondary fluid pathway to a third area of the valve element; producing an undesired fluid from the upstream side to the downstream side through the fluid control module; and operating the differential pressure switch to shift the valve element to the closed position responsive to producing the undesired fluid by applying the first pressure signal to the first area of the valve element, the second pressure signal to the second area of the valve element and the third pressure signal to the third area of the valve element; wherein, a magnitude of the third pressure signal is dependent upon the viscosity of a fluid flowing through the secondary fluid pathway such that the viscosity of the fluid operates the differential pressure switch, thereby controlling fluid flow through the main fluid pathway.
In a fourth aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a downhole fluid flow control system that includes a fluid control module having an upstream side, a downstream side and a main fluid pathway in parallel with a secondary fluid pathway each extending between the upstream and downstream sides. A valve element is disposed within the fluid control module. The valve element is operable between an open position wherein fluid flow through the main fluid pathway is allowed and a closed position wherein fluid flow through the main fluid pathway is prevented. A plurality of dissolvable plugs are configured to block fluid flow through the main and secondary fluid pathways. The dissolvable plugs are operable to be dissolved by a dissolution solvent downhole to allow fluid flow through the main and secondary fluid pathways. A viscosity discriminator is disposed within the fluid control module. The viscosity discriminator has a viscosity sensitive channel that forms at least a portion of the secondary fluid pathway. A differential pressure switch is operable to shift the valve element between the open and closed positions. The differential pressure switch includes a first pressure signal from the upstream side, a second pressure signal from the downstream side and a third pressure signal from the secondary fluid pathway. The first and second pressure signals bias the valve element toward the open position while the third pressure signal biases the valve element toward the closed position. The magnitude of the third pressure signal is dependent upon the viscosity of the fluid flowing through the secondary fluid pathway such that the differential pressure switch is operated responsive to changes in the viscosity of the fluid, thereby controlling fluid flow through the main fluid pathway.
In a fifth aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a flow control screen including a base pipe with an internal passageway, a filter medium positioned around the base pipe and a fluid flow control system positioned in a fluid flow path between the filter medium and the internal passageway. The fluid flow control system includes a fluid control module having an upstream side, a downstream side and a main fluid pathway in parallel with a secondary fluid pathway each extending between the upstream and downstream sides. A valve element is disposed within the fluid control module. The valve element is operable between an open position wherein fluid flow through the main fluid pathway is allowed and a closed position wherein fluid flow through the main fluid pathway is prevented. A plurality of dissolvable plugs are configured to block fluid flow through the main and secondary fluid pathways. The dissolvable plugs are operable to be dissolved by a dissolution solvent downhole to allow fluid flow through the main and secondary fluid pathways. A viscosity discriminator is disposed within the fluid control module. The viscosity discriminator has a viscosity sensitive channel that forms at least a portion of the secondary fluid pathway. A differential pressure switch is operable to shift the valve element between the open and closed positions. The differential pressure switch includes a first pressure signal from the upstream side, a second pressure signal from the downstream side and a third pressure signal from the secondary fluid pathway. The first and second pressure signals bias the valve element toward the open position while the third pressure signal biases the valve element toward the closed position. The magnitude of the third pressure signal is dependent upon the viscosity of the fluid flowing through the secondary fluid pathway such that the differential pressure switch is operated responsive to changes in the viscosity of the fluid, thereby controlling fluid flow through the main fluid pathway.
In a sixth aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a downhole fluid flow control method including positioning a fluid flow control system at a target location downhole, the fluid flow control system including a fluid control module having an upstream side, a downstream side and a main fluid pathway in parallel with a secondary fluid pathway each extending between the upstream and downstream sides, a viscosity discriminator and a differential pressure switch, the viscosity discriminator having a viscosity sensitive channel that forms at least a portion of the secondary fluid pathway; preventing fluid flow through the main and secondary fluid pathways with a plurality of dissolvable plugs; exposing the dissolvable plugs to a dissolution solvent downhole to allow fluid flow through the main and secondary fluid pathways; producing a desired fluid from the upstream side to the downstream side through the fluid control module; operating the differential pressure switch to shift the valve element to the open position responsive to producing the desired fluid by applying a first pressure signal from the upstream side to a first area of the valve element, a second pressure signal from the downstream side to a second area of the valve element and a third pressure signal from the secondary fluid pathway to a third area of the valve element; producing an undesired fluid from the upstream side to the downstream side through the fluid control module; and operating the differential pressure switch to shift the valve element to the closed position responsive to producing the undesired fluid by applying the first pressure signal to the first area of the valve element, the second pressure signal to the second area of the valve element and the third pressure signal to the third area of the valve element; wherein, a magnitude of the third pressure signal is dependent upon the viscosity of a fluid flowing through the secondary fluid pathway such that the viscosity of the fluid operates the differential pressure switch, thereby controlling fluid flow through the main fluid pathway.
In a seventh aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a downhole fluid flow control system that includes a fluid control module having an upstream side, a downstream side and a main fluid pathway in parallel with a secondary fluid pathway each extending between the upstream and downstream sides. A valve element is disposed within the fluid control module. The valve element is operable between an open position wherein fluid flow through the main fluid pathway is allowed and a closed position wherein fluid flow through the main fluid pathway is prevented. A dissolvable layer is disposed on an interior surface of the fluid control module and is configured to block fluid flow through the main and secondary fluid pathways. The dissolvable layer is operable to be dissolved by a dissolution solvent downhole to allow fluid flow through the main and secondary fluid pathways. A viscosity discriminator is disposed within the fluid control module. The viscosity discriminator has a viscosity sensitive channel that forms at least a portion of the secondary fluid pathway. A differential pressure switch is operable to shift the valve element between the open and closed positions. The differential pressure switch includes a first pressure signal from the upstream side, a second pressure signal from the downstream side and a third pressure signal from the secondary fluid pathway. The first and second pressure signals bias the valve element toward the open position while the third pressure signal biases the valve element toward the closed position. The magnitude of the third pressure signal is dependent upon the viscosity of the fluid flowing through the secondary fluid pathway such that the differential pressure switch is operated responsive to changes in the viscosity of the fluid, thereby controlling fluid flow through the main fluid pathway.
In a eighth aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a flow control screen including a base pipe with an internal passageway, a filter medium positioned around the base pipe and a fluid flow control system positioned in a fluid flow path between the filter medium and the internal passageway. The fluid flow control system includes a fluid control module having an upstream side, a downstream side and a main fluid pathway in parallel with a secondary fluid pathway each extending between the upstream and downstream sides. A valve element is disposed within the fluid control module. The valve element is operable between an open position wherein fluid flow through the main fluid pathway is allowed and a closed position wherein fluid flow through the main fluid pathway is prevented. A dissolvable layer is disposed on an interior surface of the fluid control module and is configured to block fluid flow through the main and secondary fluid pathways. The dissolvable layer is operable to be dissolved by a dissolution solvent downhole to allow fluid flow through the main and secondary fluid pathways. A viscosity discriminator is disposed within the fluid control module. The viscosity discriminator has a viscosity sensitive channel that forms at least a portion of the secondary fluid pathway. A differential pressure switch is operable to shift the valve element between the open and closed positions. The differential pressure switch includes a first pressure signal from the upstream side, a second pressure signal from the downstream side and a third pressure signal from the secondary fluid pathway. The first and second pressure signals bias the valve element toward the open position while the third pressure signal biases the valve element toward the closed position. The magnitude of the third pressure signal is dependent upon the viscosity of the fluid flowing through the secondary fluid pathway such that the differential pressure switch is operated responsive to changes in the viscosity of the fluid, thereby controlling fluid flow through the main fluid pathway.
In a ninth aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a downhole fluid flow control method including positioning a fluid flow control system at a target location downhole, the fluid flow control system including a fluid control module having an upstream side, a downstream side and a main fluid pathway in parallel with a secondary fluid pathway each extending between the upstream and downstream sides, a viscosity discriminator and a differential pressure switch, the viscosity discriminator having a viscosity sensitive channel that forms at least a portion of the secondary fluid pathway; preventing fluid flow through the main and secondary fluid pathways with a dissolvable layer disposed on an interior surface of the fluid control module; exposing the dissolvable layer to a dissolution solvent downhole to allow fluid flow through the main and secondary fluid pathways; producing a desired fluid from the upstream side to the downstream side through the fluid control module; operating the differential pressure switch to shift the valve element to the open position responsive to producing the desired fluid by applying a first pressure signal from the upstream side to a first area of the valve element, a second pressure signal from the downstream side to a second area of the valve element and a third pressure signal from the secondary fluid pathway to a third area of the valve element; producing an undesired fluid from the upstream side to the downstream side through the fluid control module; and operating the differential pressure switch to shift the valve element to the closed position responsive to producing the undesired fluid by applying the first pressure signal to the first area of the valve element, the second pressure signal to the second area of the valve element and the third pressure signal to the third area of the valve element; wherein, a magnitude of the third pressure signal is dependent upon the viscosity of a fluid flowing through the secondary fluid pathway such that the viscosity of the fluid operates the differential pressure switch, thereby controlling fluid flow through the main fluid pathway.
For a more complete understanding of the features and advantages of the present disclosure, reference is now made to the detailed description along with the accompanying figures in which corresponding numerals in the different figures refer to corresponding parts and in which:
While the making and using of various embodiments of the present disclosure are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present disclosure provides many applicable inventive concepts, which can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative and do not delimit the scope of the present disclosure. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation may be described in the present disclosure. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming but would be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
In the specification, reference may be made to the spatial relationships between various components and to the spatial orientation of various aspects of components as the devices are depicted in the attached drawings. However, as will be recognized by those skilled in the art after a complete reading of the present disclosure, the devices, members, apparatuses, and the like described herein may be positioned in any desired orientation. Thus, the use of terms such as “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower” or other like terms to describe a spatial relationship between various components or to describe the spatial orientation of aspects of such components should be understood to describe a relative relationship between the components or a spatial orientation of aspects of such components, respectively, as the device described herein may be oriented in any desired direction. As used herein, the term “coupled” may include direct or indirect coupling by any means, including moving and/or non-moving mechanical connections.
Referring initially to
Positioned within wellbore 12 and extending from the surface is a tubing string 22. Tubing string 22 provides a conduit for formation fluids to travel from formation 20 to the surface and/or for injection fluids to travel from the surface to formation 20. At its lower end, tubing string 22 is coupled to a completion string 24 that has been installed in wellbore 12 and divides the completion interval into various production intervals such as production intervals 26a, 26b that are adjacent to formation 20. Completion string 24 includes a plurality of flow control screens 28a, 28b, each of which is positioned between a pair of annular barriers depicted as packers 30 that provide a fluid seal between completion string 24 and wellbore 12, thereby defining production intervals 26a, 26b. In the illustrated embodiment, flow control screens 28a, 28b serve the function of filtering particulate matter out of the production fluid stream as well as providing autonomous flow control of fluids flowing therethrough utilizing viscosity dependent differential pressure switches.
For example, the flow control sections of flow control screens 28a, 28b may be operable to control the inflow of a production fluid stream during the production phase of well operations. Alternatively or additionally, the flow control sections of flow control screens 28a, 28b may be operable to control the flow of an injection fluid stream during a treatment phase of well operations. As explained in greater detail below, the flow control sections preferably control the inflow of production fluids from each production interval without the requirement for well intervention as the composition of the fluids produced into specific intervals changes over time in order to maximize production of desired fluid and minimize production of undesired fluid. For example, the present flow control screens may be tuned to maximize the production of oil and minimize the production of water. As another example, the present flow control screens may be tuned to maximize the production of gas and minimize the production of water. In yet another example, the present flow control screens may be tuned to maximize the production of oil and minimize the production of gas. Importantly, the flow control sections of the present disclosure have high sensitivity to viscosity changes in a production fluid such that the flow control sections are able, for example, to discriminate between light crude oil and water.
Even though
Referring next to
Fluid produced through filter medium 106 travels toward and enters an annular area between outer housing 108 and base pipe 102. To enter the interior of base pipe 102, the fluid must pass through a fluid control module 110, seen through the cutaway section of outer housing 108, and a perforated section of base pipe 102, not visible, disposed to the interior of fluid control module 110. The flow control system of each flow control screen 100 may include one or more fluid control modules 110. In certain embodiments, fluid control modules 110 may be circumferentially distributed about base pipe 102 such as at 180 degree intervals, 120 degree intervals, 90 degree intervals or other suitable distribution. Alternatively or additionally, fluid control modules 110 may be longitudinally distributed along base pipe 102. Regardless of the exact configuration of fluid control modules 110 on base pipe 102, any desired number of fluid control modules 110 may be incorporated into a flow control screen 100, with the exact configuration depending upon factors that are known to those skilled in the art including the reservoir pressure, the expected composition of the production fluid, the expected production rate and the like. The various connections of the components of flow control screen 100 may be made in any suitable fashion including welding, threading and the like as well as through the use of fasteners such as pins, set screws and the like. Even though fluid control module 110 has been described and depicted as being coupled to the exterior of base pipe 102, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the fluid control modules of the present disclosure may be alternatively positioned such as within openings of the base pipe or to the interior of the base pipe so long as the fluid control modules are positioned between the upstream or formation side and the downstream or base pipe interior side of the formation fluid path.
Fluid control modules 110 may be operable to control the flow of fluid in both the production direction and the injection direction therethrough. For example, during the production phase of well operations, fluid flows from the formation into the production tubing through fluid flow control screen 100. The production fluid, after being filtered by filter medium 106, if present, flows into the annulus between base pipe 102 and outer housing 108. The fluid then enters one or more inlets of fluid control modules 110 where the desired flow operation occurs depending upon the viscosity and/or the density of the produced fluid. For example, if a desired fluid such as oil is produced, flow through a main flow pathway of fluid control module 110 is allowed. If an undesired fluid such as water is produced, flow through the main flow pathway of fluid control module 110 is restricted or prevented. In the case of producing a desired fluid, the fluid is discharged through fluid control modules 110 to the interior flow path of base pipe 102 for production to the surface. As another example, during the treatment phase of well operations, a treatment fluid may be pumped downhole from the surface in the interior flow path of base pipe 102. In this case, the treatment fluid then enters fluid control modules 110 where the desired flow control operation occurs including opening the main flow pathway. The fluid then travels into the annulus between base pipe 102 and outer housing 108 before injection into the surrounding formation.
Referring next to
As best seen in
Fluid control module 110 includes a main fluid pathway extending between an upstream side 135a and a downstream side of 135b of fluid control module 110 illustrated along streamline 136 in
Fluid control module 110 includes a secondary fluid pathway extending between upstream side 135a and downstream side of 135b of fluid control module 110 illustrated as streamline 138 in
Referring additionally to
Viscosity sensitive channel 138b provides a tortuous path for fluids traveling through secondary fluid pathway 138. In addition, viscosity sensitive channel 138b preferably has a characteristic dimension that is small enough to make the effect of the viscosity of the fluid flowing therethrough non-negligible. When a low viscosity fluid such as water is being produced, the flow through viscosity sensitive channel 138b may be turbulent having a Reynolds number in a range of 10,000 to 100,000 or higher. When a high viscosity fluid such as oil is being produced, the flow through viscosity sensitive channel 138b may be less turbulent or even laminar having a Reynolds number in a range of 1,000 to 10,000.
Even through upper viscosity discriminator plate 122a has been depicted and described as having a particular shape with a viscosity sensitive channel having a tortuous path with a particular orientation, it should understood by those having skill in the art that an upper viscosity discriminator plate of the present disclosure could have a variety of shapes and could have a tortuous path with a variety of different orientations. In addition, even though viscosity discriminator 122 has been depicted and described as having upper and lower viscosity discriminator plates, it should understood by those having skill in the art that a viscosity discriminator of the present disclosure may have other numbers of plates both less than and greater than two. Further, even though viscosity sensitive channel 138b has been depicted and described as being on a surface of a viscosity discriminator plate, it should understood by those having skill in the art that a viscosity sensitive channel could alternatively be formed within a viscosity discriminator, such as a viscosity discriminator formed from a signal component.
Referring next to
As can be seen by comparing
As best seen in
According to Bernoulli's principle, the sum of the static pressure PS, the dynamic pressure PD and a gravitation term is a constant and is referred to herein as the total pressure PT. In the present case, the gravitational term is negligible due to low elevation change.
Referring next to
In
Referring next to
In
Referring next to
In
Referring next to
In
In
In
Referring next to
In the illustrated embodiment, fluid control module 510 includes a dissolvable prop member depicted as dissolvable prop ring 512 that is positioned between valve element 128 and viscosity discriminator disk 122. Dissolvable prop ring 512 is designed to temporary maintain valve element 128 in an open configuration during various well operations prior to bringing the well online for hydrocarbon production. In the illustrated embodiment, dissolvable prop ring 512 includes an upper ring member having a plurality of tines extending therefrom that wrap around an interior surface of viscosity discriminator disk 122 such that the ends of the tines are disposed between valve element 128 and viscosity discriminator disk 122 to prop valve element 128 in an open position. In other embodiments, the dissolvable prop member could be formed from a plurality of separate dissolvable prop elements, each positioned between valve element 128 and viscosity discriminator disk 122. Dissolvable prop ring 512 may be attached to the viscosity discriminator disk 122 by any suitable means. Alternatively or additionally, a dissolvable prop member may be attached to valve element 128 by any suitable means.
Dissolvable prop ring 512 may be formed of any dissolvable material that is suitable for service in a downhole environment and that provides adequate strength to enable proper operation of fluid control module 510 during transient operations. For example, dissolvable prop ring 512 may be formed from a material that is dissolvable in a chemical solution of acidic fluid including fiberglass or certain metals such as aluminum. In another example, dissolvable prop ring 512 may be formed from a material that is dissolvable in a chemical solution of caustic fluid including certain epoxy resins. In a further example, dissolvable prop ring 512 may be formed from a material that is dissolvable in water such as an anhydrous boron compound or hydrolytically degradable monomers, oligomers, polymers and/or mixtures, copolymers and blends thereof including suitable fillers and/or select functional groups along the polymer chains to tailor, for example, the dissolution rate of the material. In yet another example, dissolvable prop ring 512 may be formed from a material that is dissolvable in a hydrocarbon fluid such as an oil or gas soluble resin.
The particular material selected to form dissolvable prop ring 512 may be determined based upon factors including the particular pressure range, temperature range, chemical environment, desired solvent to cause dissolution and/or the dissolution rate as well as other factors that are known to those having ordinary skill in the art. For example, the desired service life for dissolvable prop ring 512 of the present disclosure may be on the order of hours, days, weeks or other timeframe determined by the operator. It is noted that the dissolution solvent may be applied to dissolvable prop ring 512 before or after installation within the well. As one example, the dissolution solvent may be applied before, during or after the completion fluid recovery operations. In another example, when dissolvable prop ring 512 is formed from an oil-soluble or gas-soluble resin, valve element 128 will be maintained in the open configuration until the onset of hydrocarbon production.
Referring next to
In the illustrated embodiment, fluid control module 610 includes a dissolvable plug 612 disposed in secondary fluid pathway 138 near outlet 138g and three dissolvable plugs 614, only one being visible in the figure, disposed in main fluid pathway 136 near the three outlets 136f. In other embodiments, dissolvable plug 612 could be disposed at other locations within secondary fluid pathway 138. Likewise, one or more dissolvable plugs 614 could be disposed at other locations within main fluid pathway 136. Dissolvable plug 612 is designed to temporary prevent fluid flow through secondary fluid pathway 138 while dissolvable plugs 614 are designed to temporary prevent fluid flow through main fluid pathway 136 prior to bringing the well online for hydrocarbon production.
Dissolvable plugs 612, 614 may be formed of any dissolvable material that is suitable for service in a downhole environment and that provides adequate strength to enable proper operation of fluid control module 610 during transient operations. For example, dissolvable plugs 612, 614 may be formed from any of the materials discussed herein such as materials dissolvable in an acidic fluid, in a caustic fluid, in water and/or in a hydrocarbon fluid such as oil or gas. The particular material selected to form dissolvable plugs 612, 614 may be determined based upon factors including the particular pressure range, temperature range, chemical environment, desired solvent to cause dissolution and/or the dissolution rate as well as other factors that are known to those having ordinary skill in the art. It is noted that the solvent used to dissolve dissolvable plug 612 may be the same as or different from the solvent used to dissolve dissolvable plugs 614.
Referring next to
In the illustrated embodiment, fluid control module 710 includes a dissolvable layer 712 disposed on the inner surface of housing member 112 that covers outlet 138g of secondary fluid pathway 138 and outlets 136f of main fluid pathway 136. Dissolvable layer 712 is designed to temporary prevent fluid flow through secondary fluid pathway 138 and main fluid pathway 136 prior to bringing the well online for hydrocarbon production. Dissolvable layer 712 may be formed of any dissolvable material that is suitable for service in a downhole environment and that provides adequate strength to enable proper operation of fluid control module 710 during transient operations. For example, dissolvable layer 712 may be formed from any of the materials discussed herein such as materials dissolvable in an acidic fluid, in a caustic fluid, in water and/or in a hydrocarbon fluid such as oil or gas. The particular material selected to form dissolvable layer 712 may be determined based upon factors including the particular pressure range, temperature range, chemical environment, desired solvent to cause dissolution and/or the dissolution rate as well as other factors that are known to those having ordinary skill in the art.
The foregoing description of embodiments of the disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the disclosure. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principals of the disclosure and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the disclosure in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Such modifications and combinations of the illustrative embodiments as well as other embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description. It is, therefore, intended that the appended claims encompass any such modifications or embodiments.
The present application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 16/206,512 filed Nov. 30, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,364,646, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 16/048,328 filed Jul. 29, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,174,588, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 15/855,747 filed Dec. 27, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,060,221.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2579334 | Norris | Dec 1951 | A |
| 5234025 | Skoglund et al. | Aug 1993 | A |
| 6786285 | Johnson et al. | Sep 2004 | B2 |
| 7823645 | Henriksen et al. | Nov 2010 | B2 |
| 7870906 | Ali | Jan 2011 | B2 |
| 8235128 | Dykstra et al. | Aug 2012 | B2 |
| 8291976 | Schultz et al. | Oct 2012 | B2 |
| 8356668 | Dykstra et al. | Jan 2013 | B2 |
| 8584762 | Fripp et al. | Nov 2013 | B2 |
| 8752629 | Moen | Jun 2014 | B2 |
| 8820413 | Mathiesen et al. | Sep 2014 | B2 |
| 8875797 | Aakre et al. | Nov 2014 | B2 |
| 9187991 | Fripp et al. | Nov 2015 | B2 |
| 9556706 | Zhao | Jan 2017 | B1 |
| 9683429 | Mathiesen et al. | Jun 2017 | B2 |
| 9759042 | Zhao | Sep 2017 | B2 |
| 9759043 | Zhao | Sep 2017 | B2 |
| 10060221 | Rong et al. | Aug 2018 | B1 |
| 10174588 | Rong et al. | Jan 2019 | B1 |
| 20110067878 | Aadnoy | Mar 2011 | A1 |
| 20110198097 | Moen | Aug 2011 | A1 |
| 20130112423 | Dykstra et al. | May 2013 | A1 |
| 20130186634 | Fripp et al. | Jul 2013 | A1 |
| 20140110128 | Dykstra et al. | Apr 2014 | A1 |
| 20140216733 | Mathiesen et al. | Aug 2014 | A1 |
| 20150040990 | Mathiesen et al. | Feb 2015 | A1 |
| 20150060084 | Moen et al. | Mar 2015 | A1 |
| 20160061004 | Tunkiel et al. | Mar 2016 | A1 |
| 20170234106 | Mathiesen et al. | Aug 2017 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20190345793 A1 | Nov 2019 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16048328 | Jul 2018 | US |
| Child | 16206512 | US | |
| Parent | 15855747 | Dec 2017 | US |
| Child | 16048328 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16206512 | Nov 2018 | US |
| Child | 16520596 | US |
