FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an inflow control device tube. It generally
relates to devices for controlling fluid flow in a wellbore in a subterranean
5 formation and, more particularly but not limited to inflow control devices
controlling the flow rate of formation fluids in producing wells.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
10 Inflow control devices can include equipment for controlling the rate
of fluid flow from a well, such as an oil or gas well for extracting fluids that
can include petroleum oil hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation.
An inflow control device can be used to balance inflow throughout the
length of a tubing string of a well system by balancing or equalizing
15 pressure from a wellbore of horizontal well. For example, several inflow
control devices disposed at different points along a tubing string of a well
can be used to regulate the pressure at different locations in the tubing
string. An inflow control device can also be used to stimulate production
of fluid from a well. For example, an inflow control device can be used to
20 inject fluid into the wellbore to stimulate the flow of production fluids, such
as petroleum oil hydrocarbons, from a subterranean formation.
An inflow control device can include one or more inflow control
device tubes through which fluid can flow in a production direction from
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the subterranean formation to the surface or be injected in an injection
direction from a rig at the surface to the subterranean formation. An
inflow control device tube can have a diameter sufficiently small to create
a pressure differential from an inlet to an outlet of the inflow control device
5 tube. The smaller diameter of an inflow control device tube can create a
risk of blockage. For example, defects in production equipment can
cause debris to be injected into the well during the injection process.
Such debris can be sufficiently large to block or otherwise obstruct an
injection inlet of an inflow control device tube.
10 It is desirable for an inflow control device to allow fluid to bypass an
inlet blocked by debris during the injection process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
15 In some embodiments, an inflow control device tube is provided
that can be disposed in a wellbore through a fluid-producing formation.
The inflow control device tube can include a body, such as a tubular body,
and an inlet portion at a first end of the body. The inlet portion can be
integrally formed with the body. The inlet portion can be adapted to
20 provide a fluid bypass for a fluid flowing from the inlet portion to an outlet
portion at a second end of the body. The fluid bypass can be shaped to
3-
allow the fluid to bypass one or more objects causing a blockage at an
opening of the inlet portion.
These illustrative aspects and features are mentioned not to limit or
define the invention, but to provide examples to aid understanding of the
5 inventive concepts disclosed in this application. Other aspects,
advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent
after review of the entire application.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
10
Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a well system having inflow
control devices according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of an inflow control device having
inflow control device tubes according to one embodiment of the present
15 invention.
Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of an inflow control device tube
having a ported fluid bypass according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of an inflow control device tube
20 having a vertical ported fluid bypass according to one embodiment of the
present invention.
-4
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of an inflow control device tube
having a horizontal ported fluid bypass according to one embodiment of
the present invention.
Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of an inflow control device tube
5 having a slotted fluid bypass according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of an inflow control device tube
having a slotted fluid bypass according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
10
DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION w.r.t. DRAWINGS
Certain aspects and embodiments of the present invention are
directed to an inflow control device tube that can be disposed in a
15 wellbore through a fluid-producing formation. The inflow control device
tube can include a fluid bypass at an inlet portion, such as an injection
inlet, of the inflow control device tube. The fluid bypass can allow fluid to
enter an inflow control device tube having a blockage or other obstruction
at an opening of the inflow control device tube, such as the injection inlet.
20 The fluid bypass can thus provide an alternate flow path for fluids, thereby
preventing or reducing an undesired decrease in the rate of fluid flow
through the inflow control device tube.
An inflow control device can be installed with a tubing string of a
well system. An inflow control device can include a device or system
deployed as part of a well completion. During a production process, the
inflow control device can control the rate at which fluids are produced
5 from a subterranean formation in a well system. The inflow control device
can be used to balance or equalize wellbore pressure as fluids are
produced from a horizontal well. During an injection process, the inflow
control device can be used to stimulate the flow of production fluids from a
subterranean formation by injecting fluid into the subterranean formation
10 via the inflow control device.
The inflow control device can include a housing circumferentially
surrounding a section of a tubing string, forming an annular chamber, and
one or more inflow control device tubes. The housing can be coupled to
the section of the tubing string by, for example, welding the housing to the
15 section of the tubing string. Each inflow control device tube can have a
length and a diameter sufficient to create a pressure differential from an
inlet to an outlet of the inflow control device tube. For example, a inflow
control device tube can have a length of 4.5 inches and a diameter of
0.100. In additional or alternative embodiments, an inflow control device
20 tube can be shaped to form a nozzle, thereby creating a pressure
differential as fluid flows through the inflow control device tube.
6-
In Sonne ennbodiments, an inflow control device tube can include a
body, such as a tubular body, and an inlet portion at a first end of the
body. An inlet portion can be, for example, an injection inlet for injection
fluid during an injection process. A production outlet for fluid produced
5 during a production process can be used as the injection inlet during an
injection process. The inlet portion can be integrally formed with the
body. The inlet portion can be adapted to provide a fluid bypass for a fluid
flowing from the inlet portion to an outlet portion at a second end of the
body. The fluid bypass can be shaped to allow the fluid to bypass one or
10 more objects blocking or othenA/ise obstructing an opening of the inlet
portion. Integrally forming an inlet portion with a fluid bypass can
minimize the components required for operation of the inflow control
device.
In additional or alternative embodiments, a fluid bypass of an inflow
15 control device tube can be a ported fluid bypass. The ported fluid bypass
can include a series of ports or other openings along a side of the inflow
control device tube. The ports can be adjacent and perpendicular to the
opening of the inlet portion. For example, a fluid bypass of an Inflow
control device tube can include a series of ports along the side of the
20 body. Fluid can bypass a blockage of the opening at the inlet portion of
the inflow control device and enter the inflow control device tube via the
ports.
In additional or alternative embodiments, a fluid bypass of an inflow
control device tube can be a slotted fluid bypass. The slotted fluid bypass
5 can include slots in the inlet portion of the inflow control device tube. The
slots can be of equal width or of varying widths. The slots can be formed
by protrusions located at the inlet portion on the first end of the body.
Each of the protrusions can extend from an inner surface of the body to
an edge of the opening of the inlet portion. The protrusions can be placed
10 at intervals along the perimeter of the opening. The slots can be formed
by the space intervals between the protrusions along the perimeter of the
opening of the inlet portion. For example, fluid can bypass a blocked or
otherwise obstructed opening of the inlet portion and enter the body via a
slot between protrusions.
15 These illustrative examples are given to introduce the reader to the
general subject matter discussed here and are not intended to limit the
scope of the disclosed concepts. The following sections describe various
additional embodiments and examples with reference to the drawings in
which like numerals indicate like elements, and directional descriptions
20 are used to describe the illustrative embodiments but, like the illustrative
embodiments, should not be used to limit the present invention.
Figure 1 schematically depicts a well system 100 having inflow
control devices 114a-c according to certain embodiments of the present
invention. The well system 100 includes a bore that is a wellbore 102
extending through various earth strata. The wellbore 102 has a
5 substantially vertical section 104 and a substantially horizontal section
106. The substantially vertical section 104 and the substantially
horizontal section 106 may include a casing string 108 cemented at an
upper portion of the substantially vertical section 104. The substantially
horizontal section 106 extends through a hydrocarbon bearing
10 subterranean formation 110.
A tubing string 112 extends from the surface within wellbore 102.
The tubing string 112 can provide a conduit for formation fluids, such as
production fluids produced from the subterranean formation 110, to travel
from the substantially horizontal section 106 to the surface. Pressure
15 from a bore in a subterranean formation can cause formation fluids, such
as gas or petroleum, to flow to the surface. The rate of fluid flow can be
controlled using one or more inflow control devices.
Each of the inflow control devices 114a-c, depicted as a functional
block in Figure 1, is positioned in the tubing string 112 at a horizontal
20 section 106. The inflow control devices 114a-c can be coupled to the
9-
tubing string 112. The inflow control devices 114a-c can regulate the flow
rate from the subterranean formation 110.
Although Figure 1 depicts the inflow control devices 114a-c
positioned in the substantially horizontal section 106, an inflow control
5 device can be located, additionally or alternatively, in the substantially
vertical section 104. In some embodiments, inflow control devices can be
disposed in simpler wellbores, such as wellbores having only a
substantially vertical section. Inflow control devices can be disposed in
openhole environments, such as is depicted in Figure 1, or in cased wells.
10 Although Figure 1 depicts three inflow control devices 114a-c
positioned in the tubing string 112, any number of inflow control devices
can be used.
Figure 2 depicts a perspective view of an inflow control device 114
having a body 202 and inflow control device tubes 204a, 204b.
15 The body 202 of the inflow control device 114 circumferentially
surrounds a tubular section of the tubing string 112 to form an annular
chamber 206. Injection fluid can flow through the inflow control device
114 device in an injection direction 208, as depicted by the rightward
arrow. Production fluid can flow through the inflow control device 114
20 device in a production direction 210, as depicted by the leftward arrow.
Fluid can be injected into or otherwise flow into the annular chamber 206.
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The fluid in the annular chamber 206 can flow into the inflow control
device tubes 204a, 204b. In some embodiments, the annular chamber
can be shaped to direct fluid to flow into the inflow control device tubes
204a, 204b. Each of the inflow control device tubes 204a, 204b can have
5 a relatively small diameter, allowing the inflow control device 114 to
regulate fluid flow. The lengths and inner diameters of the inflow control
device tubes 204a, 204b can be selected to cause a pressure differential
between the inlet and the outlet of each of the inflow control device tubes
204a, 204b as fluid flows through the inflow control device tubes 204a,
10 204b.
The pressure differential of inflow control device tubes 204a, 204b
can be used to regulate the flow rate of fluid flowing through the tubing
string 112. Pressure differentials of inflow control devices can be
obtained using different lengths and diameters for inflow control device
15 tubes. For example, one or more inflow control devices positioned at
different locations along the tubing string 112 can modify the pressure of
fluid flowing from a first section of the tubing string 112 through the inflow
control device 114 to another section of the tubing string 112, thereby
causing the fluid to flow through the tubing string 112 at a controlled rate.
20 In some embodiments, the inflow control device 114 may be
remotely controlled via a downhole controller. A downhole controller may
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include a communication subsystem for communicating with the surface
or another remote location.
Although Figure 2 depicts an inflow control device 114 having two
inflow control device tubes, an inflow control device 114 can include any
5 number of inflow control device tubes.
Figures 3-5 depict an inflow control device tube 204 having a
ported fluid bypass 306 according to one embodiment.
Figure 3 schematically depicts an inflow control device tube 204.
The inflow control device tube 204 can include an inlet portion 302, a
10 body 312, and an outlet portion 314. Fluid can enter the inflow control
device tube 204 at the inlet portion 302. Fluid can flow from the inlet
portion 302 through the body 312. Fluid can exit the body 312 via the
outlet portion 314. The inlet portion 302 and the outlet portion 314 can be
integrally formed with the body 312.
15 Although Figure 3 is described as having fluid entering the inflow
control device tube 204 via the inlet portion 302 and exiting the inflow
control device tube 204 via the outlet portion 314, fluid can flow through in
the inflow control device tube 204 in various directions. The direction of
fluid flow can be determined by the process for which the inflow control
20 device tube 204 is used. For example, during an injection process,
injection fluid can enter the inflow control device tube 204 at an injection
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inlet that is depicted as the inlet portion 302 in Figure 3. During the
production process, production fluid can enter the inflow control device
tube 204 at a production inlet that is depicted as the outlet portion 314 in
Figure 3.
5 Inlet portion 302 can include an opening 304 and a ported fluid
bypass 306. Fluid can enter the inflow control device tube 204 via the
opening 304 and/or via the ported fluid bypass 306. The ported fluid
bypass 306 can include the ports 308a-f. The ports 308a-c can provide a
vertical ported fluid bypass, as depicted in the cross-sectional view of
10 Figure 4 taken along the line 4-4'. The ports 308d-f can provide a
horizontal ported fluid bypass, as depicted in the cross-sectional view of
Figure 5 taken along the line 5-5'. The ports 308a-f can be openings
along the side of the inflow control device tube 204 in the channel. As
depicted in Figures 3-5, the ports 308a-f are adjacent and perpendicular
15 to the opening 304.
A blockage at the opening 304 can cause fluid to flow into one or
more of the ports 308a-f along the outer surface of the inflow control device
tube 204. The ported fluid bypass 306 can thus allow fluid to bypass a
blockage of the opening 304 that prevents or otherwise obstructs fluid
20 from entering the inflow control device tube 204 via the opening 304.
13
Figures 6-7 depict an inflow control device tube 204' having a
slotted fluid bypass 402 according to one embodiment.
Figure 6 schematically depicts an inflow control device tube 204'
having a slotted fluid bypass 402. The slotted fluid bypass 402 is located
5 in the inlet portion 302 of the inflow control device tube 204'.
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the inflow control device tube
204', taken along the line taken along the line 7-7'. The slotted fluid
bypass 402 can include a series of slots 404a-d in the opening 304 of the
inlet portion 302 of the inflow control device tube 204. The slots 404a-d
10 can be formed by including protrusions 406a-d extending from an inner
surface 408 of the body 312 to an edge of the opening 304. The
protrusions 406a-d can be located at intervals along the perimeter of the
opening. The gaps between the protrusions 406a-d formed by placing the
protrusions 406a-d at the intervals along the perimeter of the opening 304
15 can provide the slots 404a-d through which fluid can flow into the inflow
control device tube 204. Varying the intervals can vary the width of the
slots 404a-d. In some embodiments, the slots 404a-d can be of equal
width. In other embodiments, the slots 404a-d can be of different widths.
A blockage at the opening 304 can cause fluid to flow into the body
20 312 via one or more of the slots 404a-d along the inner surface 408 of the
inflow control device tube 204. The slotted fluid bypass 402 can thus allow
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10
fluid to bypass a blockage of the opening 304 that prevents or otherwise
obstructs fluid from entering the inflow control device tube 204 via the
opening 304.
The foregoing description of the embodiments, including illustrated
embodiments, of the Invention has been presented only for the purpose of
illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit
the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Numerous modifications,
adaptations, and uses thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art
without departing from the scope of this invention.
15

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WE CLAIM:
1. An inflow control device tube comprising:
a body; and
an inlet portion at a first end of the body, wherein the inlet portion is
5 adapted to provide a fluid bypass for a fluid flowing from the inlet portion
to an outlet portion at a second end of the body, wherein the fluid bypass
is shaped to allow the fluid to bypass one or more objects causing a
blockage at an opening of the inlet portion.
10 2. An inflow control device tube as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
inlet portion is integrally formed with the body.
3. An inflow control device tube as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
body is a tubular body having a diameter and a length sufficient to create
15 a pressure differential in the fluid flowing from the inlet portion to the outlet
portion.
4. An inflow control device tube as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
fluid bypass comprises a ported fluid bypass, the ported fluid bypass
20 comprising one or more openings in the body adjacent and perpendicular
to the opening of the inlet portion.
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5. An inflow control device tube as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
one or more openings in the body are located closer to the opening of the
inlet portion than a midpoint of the body.
5
6. An inflow control device tube as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
fluid bypass comprises a slotted fluid bypass, the slotted fluid bypass
comprising a plurality of protrusions at the first end of the body, wherein
each of the plurality of protrusions extends an inner surface of the body to
10 an edge of the opening of the inlet portion, wherein the plurality of
protrusions are located at a plurality of intervals to allow the fluid to
bypass the opening and enter the body via a gap between two of the
plurality of protrusions.
15 7. An inflow control device tube as claimed in claim 6, wherein a first
interval of the plurality of intervals is wider than a second interval of the
plurality of intervals.
8. An inflow control device tube as claimed in claim 6, wherein a first
20 interval of the plurality of intervals is equal in width to a second interval of
the plurality of intervals.
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9. An inflow control device tube as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
inflow control device tube is configured to be coupled to a housing of an
inflow control device.
5
10. An inflow control device comprising:
a housing circumferentially surrounding a section of a tubing string;
an inflow control device tube configured to be coupled to the
housing, wherein the inflow control device tube comprises:
10 a body; and
an inlet portion at a first end of the body, wherein the inlet
portion is adapted to provide a fluid bypass for a fluid flowing from the
inlet portion to an outlet portion at a second end of the body, wherein the
fluid bypass is shaped to allow the fluid to bypass one or more objects
15 causing a blockage at an opening of the inlet portion.
11. An inflow control device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the
housing is shaped to form an annular chamber causing the fluid to flow
into the inlet portion of the inflow control device tube.
20
- 18-
c '\52:n8i»I»'
12. An inflow control device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the inlet
portion of the inflow control device tube is integrally formed with the body.
13. An inflow control device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the fluid
5 bypass comprises a ported fluid bypass, the ported fluid bypass
comprising one or more openings in the body adjacent and perpendicular
to the opening of the inlet portion.
14. An inflow control device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the one or
10 more openings in the body are located closer to the opening of the inlet
portion than a midpoint of the body.
15. An inflow control device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the fluid
bypass comprises a slotted fluid bypass, the slotted fluid bypass
15 comprising a plurality of protrusions at the first end of the body, wherein
each of the plurality of protrusions extends an inner surface of the body to
an edge of the opening of the inlet portion, wherein the plurality of
protrusions are located at a plurality of intervals to allow the fluid to
bypass the opening and enter the body via a gap between two of the
20 plurality of protrusions.
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16. An inflow control device as claimed in claim 15, wherein a first
interval of the plurality of intervals is wider than a second interval of the
plurality of intervals.
5 17. An inflow control device as claimed in claim 15, wherein a first
interval of the plurality of intervals is equal in width to a second interval of
the plurality of intervals.
18. An inflow control device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the body of
10 the inflow control device tube is a tubular body having a diameter and a
length sufficient to create a pressure differential in the fluid flowing from
the inlet portion to the outlet portion.