Baker Hughes, a Ge Compnay, LLC

Christopher Harper

Kousha Gohari

Heikki Armas Jutila

Carlos Mascagnini

Peter J Kidd

Atul H Kshirsagar

Tarik Abdelfattah

Roy Woudwijk

Atul Kshirsagar

A flow balancing device facilitates polymer injection in a horizontal formation in a manner that minimizes shear effects on the injected polymer. Features of the device reduce velocity using a broad circumferentially oriented inlet plenum that leads to a circumferentially oriented path having zig-zag fluid movement characterized by broad passages that define the zig-zag pattern so as to reduce velocity at such transition locations. Because the path is circumferentially oriented there is room for broad transition passages independent of the housing diameter. The broad crescent shaped inlet plenum also reduces inlet velocity, and therefore shear, to preserve the viscosity of the injected polymer. Other materials can be injected or the device can be employed in production service as well as injection. A related method employs the described device for injection.

Inflow control device for polymer injection in horizontal wells

The flow control device comprises one or more stacked spiral paths where the shape of an inlet to an end of a spiral has a taper on one or more sides to gradually increase the polymer velocity to eliminate rapid acceleration points as the flow enters the spiral path. The entrance with its taper can be curved to get into the spiral. The spiral can be entered tangentially or radially or axially.

Alternative helical flow control device for polymer injection in horizontal wells

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Aberdeen, United Kingdom

Christopher Harper