Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Floway, Inc.

Floway Innovations Inc.

Liang Zhao

Michael Linley Fripp

Jean-Marc Lopez

Xinqi Rong

Luke William Holderman

Jason Daniel Dykstra

Stephen Michael Greci

Zachary R Murphree

Thomas Jules Frosell

Jean Marc Lopez

Aaron James Bonner

Neil Bifulco

James Jun Kang

Hoan Huynh

Frederic Nicolas Felten

Matthew Franklin

Brendan Chen

Janelle Comita-Prevoir

Shanta Bist

Satenig Guler

Hui Xiong

Helen Maureen Mcguire

Daemian David Dussault

Bolin Geng

Ye Wu

Thomas Durand-Reville

An adaptive fluid switch for regulating the production rate of a fluid. The adaptive fluid switch includes a fluid control valve having a self-impinging valve element with at least one dissolvable plug configured to initially block fluid flow therethrough. After dissolution of the dissolvable plug and when the fluid produced through the adaptive fluid switch has a viscosity greater than a first predetermined level, the fluid follows a low resistance flow path in the self-impinging valve element but when the fluid has a viscosity less than a second predetermined level, the fluid follows a high resistance flow path in the self-impinging valve element, thereby regulating the production rate of the fluid responsive to changes in the viscosity of the fluid.

Adaptive fluid switches having a temporary configuration

An autonomous flow control device includes a valve plate having a surface and a valve element at least partially formed on the surface. The valve element has an inlet and an outlet with a fluid flow path extending therebetween. The fluid flow path included a viscosity dominant flow path configured to provide a first flow resistance and an inertia dominant flow path configured to provide a second flow resistance that is greater than the first flow resistance such that when the viscosity of the fluid flowing therethrough is greater than a first predetermined level, the fluid follows the viscosity dominant flow path with the first flow resistance and when the viscosity of the fluid flowing therethrough is less than a second predetermined level, the fluid follows the inertia dominant flow path with the second flow resistance, thereby regulating the production rate of the fluid responsive to changes in fluid viscosity.

Autonomous flow control devices for viscosity dominant flow

An autonomous flow control device includes a valve assembly having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A valve element is disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The valve element has a viscosity dominant flow path configured to provide a first flow resistance and an inertia dominant flow path configured to provide a second flow resistance that is greater than the first flow resistance such that when the viscosity of the fluid flowing therethrough is greater than a first predetermined level, the fluid follows the viscosity dominant flow path with the first flow resistance and when the viscosity of the fluid flowing therethrough is less than a second predetermined level, the fluid follows the inertia dominant flow path with the second flow resistance, thereby regulating the production rate of the fluid responsive to changes in the viscosity of the fluid.

An adaptive fluid switch for regulating the production rate of a fluid. The adaptive fluid switch includes a fluid control valve having a fluid selector, a swirl chamber and a self-impinging valve element. When the fluid produced through the adaptive fluid switch has a viscosity greater than a first predetermined level, the fluid selector determines the fluid to be a selected fluid such that the fluid swirls in one direction in the swirl chamber and follows a low resistance flow path in the valve element. When the fluid has a viscosity less than a second predetermined level, the fluid selector determines the fluid to be a non-selected fluid such that the fluid swirls in the opposite direction in the swirl chamber and follows a high resistance flow path in the valve element, thereby regulating the production rate of the fluid responsive to changes in the viscosity of the fluid.

Adaptive fluid switches for autonomous flow control

An adaptive fluid switch for regulating the production rate of a fluid. The adaptive fluid switch includes a fluid control module having a fluid selector, a swirl chamber and a self-impinging valve element. When the fluid produced through the adaptive fluid switch has a viscosity greater than a first predetermined level, the fluid selector determines the fluid to be a selected fluid such that the fluid swirls in one direction in the swirl chamber and follows a low resistance flow path in the valve element. When the fluid has a viscosity less than a second predetermined level, the fluid selector determines the fluid to be a non-selected fluid such that the fluid swirls in the opposite direction in the swirl chamber and follows a high resistance flow path in the valve element, thereby regulating the production rate of the fluid responsive to changes in the viscosity of the fluid.

A well screen assembly residing in a well bore has a base pipe and a filtration screen carried on the base pipe. The screen is radially extended with force from fluid while maintaining the base pipe radially unextended.

Well screen assembly with extending screen

A downhole 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 disposed within the main fluid pathway has open and closed positions. A viscosity discriminator including a viscosity sensitive channel forms at least a portion of the secondary fluid pathway. A differential pressure switch operable to open and close the valve element 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 fluid control module includes a dissolvable member operable to temporarily lockout the valve element in the open position or temporarily prevent fluid flow through the main and secondary fluid pathways. The dissolvable member is dissolvable by a dissolution solvent downhole.

Downhole fluid flow control system having a temporary configuration

A downhole 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 disposed within the main fluid pathway has open and closed positions. A viscosity discriminator including a viscosity sensitive channel forms at least a portion of the secondary fluid pathway. A differential pressure switch operable to open and close the valve element 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 magnitude of the third signal is dependent upon the viscosity of the 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.

Differential pressure switch operated downhole fluid flow control system

Comparative image analysis is utilized to determine the flow rate of fluids, such as, for example, drilling fluid, completion fluid or hydrocarbons. As fluid flows through a conduit or open trough, a flow rate measurement device illuminates the surface of the fluid. Images of common surface features are then acquired at some time interval. Thereafter, the displacement of the common surface features in the images is analyzed to determine the flow rate of the fluid. Thus, non-contact flow rate measurements of opaque and non-opaque fluids are obtained.

Non-contact flow rate measurement of fluid using surface feature image analysis

A wellbore subassembly includes a device having a production flow path toward a production tubing. The production flow path can include a superhydrophobic coating for restricting the production of an unwanted fluid towards the production tubing.

Superhydrophic flow control device

A well screen assembly includes a valve configured to control flow between the interior and exterior of the well screen assembly, and in certain instances control flow through a flow control device (e.g., inflow control device and/or other). The valve can be operated in response to a signal detected by an in-well sensor.

Well fluid exchange flow control

A downhole fluid flow control system and method includes a fluid control module having a main fluid pathway, a valve element and a pressure sensing module. The valve element has open and closed positions relative to the main fluid pathway to allow and prevent fluid flow therethrough. The pressure sensing module includes a secondary fluid pathway in parallel with the main fluid pathway having an upstream pressure sensing location and a downstream pressure sensing location with a cross sectional area transition region therebetween. In operation, the valve element moves between open and closed positions responsive to a pressure difference between pressure signals from the upstream and downstream pressure sensing locations. The pressure difference is dependent upon the change in cross sectional area and the viscosity of a fluid flowing through the secondary fluid pathway such that the viscosity is operable to control fluid flow through the main fluid pathway.

Downhole fluid flow control system and method having a pressure sensing module for autonomous flow control

A downhole fluid flow control system and method includes a fluid control module having a main fluid pathway, a valve element and a pressure sensing module. The valve element has open and closed positions relative to the main fluid pathway to allow and prevent fluid flow therethrough. The pressure sensing module includes a secondary fluid pathway in parallel with the main fluid pathway having an upstream pressure sensing location and a downstream pressure sensing location. In operation, the valve element moves between open and closed positions responsive to a pressure difference between pressure signals from the upstream and downstream pressure sensing locations. The pressure difference is dependent upon the viscosity of a fluid flowing through the secondary fluid pathway such that the viscosity is operable to control fluid flow through the main fluid pathway.

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Plano, TX, United States of America

Liang Zhao