Production tubing and other equipment can be installed in a wellbore of a well system (e.g., an oil or gas well) for communicating fluid in the wellbore to the well surface. The resulting fluid at the well surface is referred to as production fluid. Production fluid can include a mix of different fluid components, such as oil, water, and gas, and the ratio of the fluid components in the production fluid can change over time. This can make it challenging for a well operator to control which types of fluid components are produced from the wellbore. For example, it can be challenging for a well operator to produce mostly oil from the wellbore, while reducing or eliminating the production of gas or water from the wellbore.
These drawings illustrate certain aspects of some of the embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be used to limit or define the method.
A downhole flow control device is disclosed for controlling the production of formation fluids during operations. Generally, inflow control devices (ICDs) may be utilized to control the flow of fluid from the formation to the inner diameter of a tubing string. Certain ICDs may be electrical in nature and may be referred to as an electrical inflow control device (EICD). An EICD may operate from electricity produced from the flow of fluids from a formation to generate power. However, this limits the ability for an EICD to close fully and be easily reopened remotely. This is because if flow of fluids from the formation has been completely stopped through the EICD, then no more power is generated to operate the EICD, which prevents it from opening and allowing for fluid flow to resume. In examples, an energy storage device may be utilized to store energy onboard in some form. However, this overly complicates the overall system design and limit reliability. Additionally, energy storage devices may fail, and the stored energy may dissipate completely over time.
The methods and system discussed below may utilize an unbalanced actuator that upon being moved near the fully closed position via a drive mechanism, is subsequently pulled onto seat by fluid flow. Both the primary production flow along with the turbine generator flow all flow through the seat that may be blocked by the actuator, closing the EICD and preventing the flow of fluid through the EICD. If the EICD needs to be reopened later, the EICD may be reopened using injection flow to reset each into the open position and reengage them with the drive mechanism.
A tubular string 112 extends from an above ground location (i.e., a surface of the well site) along the wellbore 102, defining an annulus 103 between the tubular string 112 and the wellbore 102 along the open hole portions and with the casing 108 along the cased portions. Tubular string 112 may be included with an upper completion that may provide a conduit for fluid (e.g., production fluid) to travel from the substantially horizontal section 106 to the well's surface. The tubular string 112 can include any number of production tubular sections 116, examples of which are individually indicated at 116a-116d, at various production intervals adjacent to the subterranean formation 110. A corresponding number of packers 118, individually indicated at 118a-118c, can be positioned on opposing sides of production tubular sections to define production intervals (e.g., pipe string 122) and provide fluid seals between the tubular string 112 and the wall of the wellbore 102.
Any number of inflow control devices (ICDs) 120, individually indicated at 120a-120d, may be included for production of formation fluids into the tubular sections 116. The inflow control devices 120 are examples of downhole flow control devices that can be included with the flow control system 140 and which can utilize a turbine as further disclosed below. Generally, inflow control devices are used to control the flow of formation fluid from a production interval into a production tubular section. Generally, an ICD may create a pressure drop, which may be used, for example, to help balance the influx of production fluids from a length of a horizontal section to reduce heel-toc effects, or to slow the flow from a highly permeable zone to delay water or gas breakthrough. Although not required, some ICDs may be autonomous ICDs (i.e., AICDs) that are additionally capable of autonomously restricting undesired fluid or fluid components to a greater extent. ICDs 120 may be used individually to restrict the flow of certain fluid components, thereby collectively increasing a proportion of desired fluid components. For example, the production interval 122 may produce formation fluid having more than one type of fluid component, such as oil, water, carbon dioxide, and natural gas. Each inflow control device 120 uses the properties of different fluid components such as density and/or viscosity to reduce or restrict the flow of fluid of less desirable fluid components (e.g., water and CO2) into the production tubular section 116 while collectively producing a higher proportion of a more desirable fluid components, such as oil. In some examples, the inflow control devices 120 can be autonomous inflow control devices (AICDs) that can allow or restrict fluid flow into the production tubular sections 116 based on fluid properties such as density, viscosity, etc., without requiring signals from the well's surface by the well operator.
For case of illustration,
With continued reference to
Information handling system 130 may include a processing unit 132 (e.g., microprocessor, central processing unit, etc.) that may process data by executing software or instructions obtained from a local non-transitory computer readable media 134 (e.g., optical disks, magnetic disks). The non-transitory computer readable media 134 may store software or instructions of the methods described herein. Non-transitory computer readable media 134 may include any instrumentality or aggregation of instrumentalities that may retain data and/or instructions for a period of time. Non-transitory computer readable media 134 may include, for example, storage media such as a direct access storage device (e.g., a hard disk drive or floppy disk drive), a sequential access storage device (e.g., a tape disk drive), compact disk, CD-ROM, DVD, RAM, ROM, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and/or flash memory; as well as communications media such wires, optical fibers, microwaves, radio waves, and other electromagnetic and/or optical carriers; and/or any combination of the foregoing. Information handling system 130 may also include input device(s) 136 (e.g., keyboard, mouse, touchpad, etc.) and output device(s) 138 (e.g., monitor, printer, etc.). The input device(s) 136 and output device(s) 138 provide a user interface that enables an operator to interact with ICDs 120 and/or software executed by processing unit 132. Generally, information handling system 130 may communicate to ICDs 120 by communication channel 142. Communication channel 142 may be performed by mud pulse telemetry. For example, Surface equipment, controlled by information handling system 130, may be connected to a production valve or choke. Information handling system 130 may tell/control the production valve/choke to open or partially close in a specific pattern which in turn alters the flow rate of fluids with wellbore 102. An EICD's turbine generator senses this flow rate changes as a change in RPM of the turbine. The EICD decodes this sequence of RPM changes to determine if it should open, close, choke, etc. This sequence may be specific to a certain EICD in tubular string 112 or maybe commanding a group of pre-programmed EICDs to respond to the same command.
Additionally, an ICD may also operate autonomously if pre-programmed. The ICD may respond to changes in wellbore 102 based upon things like turbine RPM. ICD may also have sensors onboard such as a water cut sensor that could sense water or gas and could trigger ICD to close or choke. Using the systems and methods described above, information handling system 130 may enable an operator to increase or decrease flow of fluid through ICDs 120, as discussed below.
In other examples, well screens may not be used in conjunction with ICD 120 (e.g., in injection operations) and fluid 200 may flow in an opposite direction through the various elements of well system 100 (e.g., in injection operations). In other examples, a single ICD 120 may be used in conjunction with multiple well screens or multiple ICDs 120 may be used with one or more well screens. Thus, fluid 200 may be received from or discharged into regions of wellbore 102 other than annulus or tubular string 112. Additionally, flow of fluid 200 may flow through ICD 120 prior to flowing through the well screen and any other components may be interconnected upstream or downstream of the well screen and/or any ICD 120. Thus, the principles of this disclosure are not limited at all to the details of the example depicted in the figures and described herein. Further, additional components (such as shrouds, shunt tubes, lines, instrumentation, sensors, inflow control devices, etc.) may also be used in accordance with the present disclosure, if desired.
With continued reference to
As illustrated in
Power generator 208 may additionally or alternatively include other types of power generators, such as a flow induced vibration power generator and/or a piezoelectric generator, to generate power from the fluid received into ICD 120 and/or from other energy sources present downhole (e.g., temperature and/or pressure sources).
Power storage devices 210 may be included within electronics for ICD 120 and may be used to provide stored power. In one embodiment, power storage devices 210 may be able to store power generated by power generator 208 and provide this stored powered for ICD 120. Power storage device 210 may comprise a capacitor (e.g., super capacitor), battery (e.g., rechargeable battery), and/or any other type of power storage device known in the art. In one or more embodiments, devices, components, and/or the like of ICD 120 may require power generated by power generator 208. Additionally, power storage device 210 may be used to store power, and then supplement power generator 208 when running devices, components, and/or the like that may be housed and/or connected to ICD 120.
Actuator 300 may control or adjust an inflow rate of fluid 200 received into ICD 120 through inlet flow path 202. Additionally, actuator 300 may control or adjust the restriction of fluid 200 received into ICD 120 by controlling and/or adjusting a drop in pressure between inlet flow path 202 and outlet flow path 206. For example, actuator 300 may be positioned or included within ICD 120 to extend into and retract from fluid flow path 302 in fluid passageway 204, which may extend and be formed through ICD 120. To increase the inflow rate of fluid 200 or decrease the inflow fluid restriction or pressure drop across ICD 120, actuator 300 may retract to enable more fluid to flow through fluid flow path 302 of ICD 120. To decrease the inflow rate of fluid 200 or increase the inflow fluid restriction or pressure drop across ICD 120, actuator 300 may extend to restrict the fluid flow through fluid flow path 302 of ICD 120. Further, in one or more embodiments, the actuator 300 may be used to fully stop or inhibit the fluid flow through fluid flow path 302 of ICD 120. For example, if ICD 120 is turned or powered off, actuator 300 may fully extend to prevent fluid flow through fluid flow path 302 of ICD 120. Accordingly, actuator 300 may be used as or include an adjustable valve to be in a fully open position, a fully closed position, or an intermediate position to control the flow rate of fluid 200 through ICD 120. Further, in one or more embodiments, the control or adjustment of the inflow rate of fluid, the restriction of fluid inflow, or the pressure drop may all be parameters related to each other. Accordingly, as used herein, when referring to control or adjustment of one parameter, such as the inflow rate of fluid, may also be referring to control or adjustment of another parameter without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
Actuator 300 may comprise a mechanical actuator (e.g., a screw assembly), an electrical actuator (e.g., piezoelectric actuator, electric motor), a hydraulic actuator (e.g., hydraulic cylinder and pump, hydraulic pump), a pneumatic actuator, and/or any other type of actuator known in the art. As illustrated, actuator 300 may comprise a shaft 304, crown 306, and a tip 308 that may at least be partially angled. The angling of tip 308 may allow for the tip to form a fluid tight seal with seat 310. As illustrated, actuator 300 may be disposed within chamber 312. Generally, chamber 312 may be dimensioned to receive shaft 304 of actuator 300 with additional space to allow for fluid 200 to pass by shaft 304 and to fluid passageway 204.
Additionally, a spring 316 may be disposed around actuator 300. As illustrated in
Motor 320 may be an AC, DC (brushed or brushless), or stepper motor. As noted above, actuator 300 may be connected to motor 320 by a detachable connector 314. Detachable connector 314 may be a magnetic coupling, collet connection, or friction connection. During operations, motor 320 may operate and move shaft 304 and tip 308 of actuator 300 toward seat 310, which may decrease flow rate of fluid 200 into tubular string 112. In examples, as actuator 300 gets close to seat 310, the velocity of fluid at tip 308 of actuator 300 will increase. This increase in velocity creates a low-pressure zone. This low-pressure zone will pull on actuator 300 to set it to seat 310. Detachable connector 314 may allow for actuator 300 to detach from motor 320. Using the flow of fluid 200 from inlet flow path 202 through fluid flow path 302 to outlet flow path 206, actuator 300 may be set to seat 310. This may block all flow of fluid 200 through ICD 120. Existing EICDs, once closed, do not have the capability to be opened as they are a one-time cycle. However, fully closed capability that is both closed and reopened remotely may improve the oil/water production ratio for EICD while streamlining field operations. For the methods and systems described herein, an injection flow operation may be performed to reverse the actuation and reset ICD 120. During an injection operation, fluid 200 may be forced down and within pipe string 122 and out to formation 110 through ICDs 120 (e.g., referring to
With continued reference to
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Current wireless, self-power generating EICDs cannot 100% close without some form of stored energy. Stored energy has inherent risks and complexity. Another method for 100% closure is with a mechanically shifted sleeve. However, a mechanically shifted sleeve requires intervention with coil tubing, slickline, and/or the like, which has cost, and time associated with it. The methods and systems discussed above allow for a mechanical means of 100% closure of an EICD while allowing for the EICD to be reopened later without stored energy devices or intervention. The various systems, apparatus, methods, and other constructs may include any suitable combination of the features disclosed herein, including one or more of the following statements.
Statement 1: An inflow control device for a well that may comprise a chamber, wherein the chamber comprises a seat, a fluid passageway fluidly connected to the chamber, an actuator disposed within the chamber, and a motor at least partially disposed in the chamber and detachably connected to the actuator by a detachable connector.
Statement 2: The inflow control device of statement 1, wherein the detachable connector is a magnetic coupling.
Statement 3. The inflow control device of statements 1 or 2, wherein the motor is AC, DC (brush or brushless), or stepper motor.
Statement 4. The inflow control device of any previous statements 1-3, further comprising an information handling system in communication with the motor.
Statement 5. The inflow control device of statement 4, wherein the information handling system is disposed at surface.
Statement 6. The inflow control device of any previous statements 4 or 5, wherein the information handling system is disposed downhole on a tubing string.
Statement 7. The inflow control device of any previous statements 4-6, wherein the information handling system is at least partially disposed downhole on a tubing string and at least partially disposed at surface.
Statement 8. The inflow control device of any previous statements 1-4, wherein the actuator comprises a shaft and an angled tip.
Statement 9. The inflow control device of statement 8, wherein the angled tip is configured to be set within the seat.
Statement 10. The inflow control device of any previous statements 1-4 or 8, further comprising a power generator.
Statement 11. The inflow control device of statement 10, further comprising an information handling system, wherein the information handling system is in communication with the power generator and the motor.
Statement 12. The inflow control device of statement 11, wherein the power generator creates power in which the motor utilizes to operate.
Statement 13. A method may comprise receiving a fluid from a formation with an inflow control device (ICD) disposed on a tubular string within a formation. The ICD may comprise a chamber, wherein the chamber comprises a seat, a fluid passageway connected to the chamber, an actuator disposed within the chamber, and a motor at least partially disposed in the chamber and detachably connected to the actuator by a detachable connector. The method may further comprise stopping flow of the fluid through the ICD by seating the actuator to the seat after the actuator has detached from the motor by the detachable connector.
Statement 14. The method of statement 13, wherein the detachable connector is a magnetic coupling.
Statement 15. The method of statement 14 or 15, wherein the motor is AC, DC (brush or brushless), or stepper motor.
Statement 16. The method of any previous statements 13-15, further comprising an information handling system in communication with the motor, wherein the information handling system is disposed at surface, disposed downhole on a tubing string, or at least partially disposed at surface.
Statement 17. The method of any previous statements 13-16, wherein the actuator comprises a shaft and an angled tip.
Statement 18. The method of statement 17, wherein the angled tip is configured to be set within the seat.
Statement 19. The method of any previous statements 13-17, further comprising a power generator.
Statement 20. The method of statement 19, further comprising an information handling system, wherein the information handling system is in communication with the power generator and the motor.
The preceding description provides various examples of the systems and methods of use disclosed herein which may contain different method steps and alternative combinations of components. It should be understood that, although individual examples may be discussed herein, the present disclosure covers all combinations of the disclosed examples, including, the different component combinations, method step combinations, and properties of the system. It should be understood that the compositions and methods are described in terms of “comprising,” “containing,” or “including” various components or steps, the compositions and methods may also “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the various components and steps. Moreover, the indefinite articles “a” or “an,” as used in the claims, are defined herein to mean one or more than one of the elements that it introduces.
For the sake of brevity, only certain ranges are explicitly disclosed herein. However, ranges from any lower limit may be combined with any upper limit to recite a range not explicitly recited, as well as ranges from any lower limit may be combined with any other lower limit to recite a range not explicitly recited, in the same way, ranges from any upper limit may be combined with any other upper limit to recite a range not explicitly recited. Additionally, whenever a numerical range with a lower limit and an upper limit is disclosed, any number and any included range falling within the range are specifically disclosed. In particular, every range of values (of the form, “from about a to about b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a to b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a-b”) disclosed herein is to be understood to set forth every number and range encompassed within the broader range of values even if not explicitly recited. Thus, every point or individual value may serve as its own lower or upper limit combined with any other point or individual value or any other lower or upper limit, to recite a range not explicitly recited.
Therefore, the present examples are well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those that are inherent therein. The particular examples disclosed above are illustrative only and may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Although individual examples are discussed, the disclosure covers all combinations of all of the examples. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. Also, the terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary meaning unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the patentee. It is therefore evident that the particular illustrative examples disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of those examples. If there is any conflict in the usages of a word or term in this specification and one or more patent(s) or other documents that may be incorporated herein by reference, the definitions that are consistent with this specification should be adopted.