Floway, Inc.

Innomist LLC

Floway Innovations Inc.

Xinqi Rong

Liang Zhao

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.

Autonomous flow control devices for viscosity dominant flow

A multi-mode fluid nozzle includes a generally-cylindrical mixing chamber with a stream mode fluid inlet connected to one side of the chamber, a fluid outlet connected to the opposite side of the chamber and a mist mode fluid inlet connected to the periphery of the chamber. The discharge pattern of the multi-mode fluid nozzle is dependent upon the inlets from which fluid enters the mixing chamber such that when the fluid enters the mixing chamber through the stream mode fluid inlet, the fluid exits the fluid outlet in a stream flow discharge pattern, when the fluid enters the mixing chamber through the mist mode fluid inlet, the fluid exits the fluid outlet in a mist flow discharge pattern and when the fluid enters the mixing chamber through the stream mode and the mist mode fluid inlet, the fluid exits the fluid outlet in a droplet flow discharge pattern.

Multi-mode fluid nozzles

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

A multi-mode fluid nozzle includes a generally-cylindrical mixing chamber with a stream mode fluid inlet connected to one side of the chamber, a fluid outlet connected to the opposite side of the chamber and a plurality of mist mode fluid inlets connected to the periphery of the chamber. The discharge pattern of the multi-mode fluid nozzle is dependent upon the inlets from which fluid enters the mixing chamber such that when the fluid enters the mixing chamber through the stream mode fluid inlet, the fluid exits the fluid outlet in a stream flow discharge pattern, when the fluid enters the mixing chamber through the mist mode fluid inlets, the fluid exits the fluid outlet in a mist flow discharge pattern and when the fluid enters the mixing chamber through the stream mode and the mist mode fluid inlets, the fluid exits the fluid outlet in a droplet flow discharge pattern.

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 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.

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