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EP-4735731-A1 - METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DIFFERENTIATING DIFFERENT TYPES OF FLUIDS IN A FLUID STREAM

EP4735731A1EP 4735731 A1EP4735731 A1EP 4735731A1EP-4735731-A1

Abstract

An autonomous inflow control device (200) includes a body (201, 202) defining a cavity (206). An inlet (205) is in fluid communication with the cavity (206). The inlet (205) receives well fluids (S). A deflection surface (208) within the cavity (206) deflects the well fluids at an angle (A) based on a predetermined fluid property range of the well fluids. An influx outlet (210) is in fluid communication with the cavity (206). An actuation device (209) is disposed in the cavity (206) and based on the angle (A) the well fluids deflect off the deflection surface (208), the actuation device (209) moves between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the actuation device covers the influx outlet (210). In the open position, the actuation device (209) exposes the influx outlet (210) to direct a volume of water from the well fluids out of the cavity (206). An outlet (211) is in fluid communication with the cavity (206) to direct the well fluids out of the cavity (206).

Inventors

  • YOUNGER, RAE, ANDREW
  • BUKHAMSEEN, Ahmed, Yasin

Assignees

  • Saudi Arabian Oil Company

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240621

Claims (18)

  1. 1. A method for fluid production in a wellbore (13) having an autonomous inflow control device (200) in a tubular string (17) therein, the method comprising: directing (702) well fluids (F), containing water and hydrocarbons, as a fluid stream (S) into the autonomous inflow control device (200); deflecting (703) the fluid stream (S) off a deflection surface (208) in a cavity (206) of the autonomous inflow control device (200) based on a predetermined fluid property range; closing or opening, with the deflected fluid stream (S’), an actuation device (209, 409, 509) in the cavity (206) to cover or expose an influx outlet (210) in fluid communication with the cavity (206); and exiting the fluid stream (S”) out of the cavity (206) via an outlet (211) in fluid communication with the tubular string (17).
  2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the deflected fluid stream (S’) deflects at a first angle (A) when a volume of water in the fluid stream (S) is below a predetermined threshold, the method further comprising: closing (705) the actuation device (209, 409, 509) with a first pressure from the deflected fluid stream (S’) to cover the influx outlet (210), wherein the deflected fluid stream (S’) is within the predetermined fluid property range.
  3. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the deflected fluid stream (S’”) deflects at a second angle (A’) when the volume of water in the fluid stream (S) is above a predetermined threshold, the method further comprising: opening (708) the actuation device (209, 409, 509) with a second pressure from the deflected fluid stream (S’”) to expose the influx outlet (210), wherein the deflected fluid stream (S’”) is not within the predetermined fluid property range.
  4. 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: directing (709) a portion (WI) of the fluid stream into the influx outlet (210), wherein the portion of the fluid stream (S) is not within the predetermined fluid property range; and exiting (710) a remaining portion (S””) of the fluid stream out of the outlet (211), wherein the remaining portion (S””) of the fluid stream is within the predetermined fluid property range.
  5. 5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising transporting the fluid stream (S”, S””) to a surface (14) via the tubular string (17).
  6. 6. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein directing the well fluids (F) into the autonomous inflow control device (200) further comprises: directing the well fluids (F) from an annulus (19) between the wellbore (13) and the tubular string (17) and into an autonomous inflow control downhole tool (100) of the tubular string (17); filtering the well fluids with a screen (105) of the autonomous inflow control downhole tool (100); and directing the well fluids into a chamber (109) of the autonomous inflow control downhole tool (100), wherein the autonomous inflow control device (200) is disposed in the chamber (109).
  7. 7. The method of any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: restricting flow of the fluid stream before the cavity (206) with an orifice (205) of the autonomous inflow control device (200) in fluid communication with the chamber (109); and mixing the fluid stream (S) in the orifice (205).
  8. 8. An autonomous inflow control device (200), comprising: a body (201, 202) defining a cavity (206); an inlet (205) in fluid communication with the cavity (206), wherein the inlet (205) receives well fluids (F); a deflection surface (208) within the cavity (206), wherein the well fluids deflect off the deflection surface (208) at an angle based on a predetermined fluid property range of the well fluids (F); an influx outlet (210) in fluid communication with the cavity (206); an actuation device (209, 409, 509) disposed in the cavity (206), wherein based on the angle the well fluids deflect off the deflection surface (208), the actuation device (209, 409, 509) moves between an open position and a closed position, wherein when the actuation device (209, 409, 509) is in the closed position, the actuation device covers the influx outlet (210), wherein when the actuation device (209, 409, 509) is in the open position, the actuation device exposes the influx outlet (210) to direct a volume of water from the well fluids out of the cavity (206); and an outlet (211) in fluid communication with the cavity (206), wherein the outlet (211) directs the well fluids out of the cavity (206).
  9. 9. The autonomous inflow control device of claim 8, wherein the inlet (205) is an orifice to restrict flow and provide a nominally steady fluid velocity to the well fluids (F) entering the cavity (206).
  10. 10. The autonomous inflow control device of claim 8 or 9, wherein the deflection surface (208) has a curved profile.
  11. 11. The autonomous inflow control device of any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the deflection surface (208) further comprises one or more dimples (213), or one or more ribs (214), one or more corrugations (215), one or more ports (216) or a combination thereof.
  12. 12. The autonomous inflow control device of any one of claims 8 to 11, further comprising a bleed hole (212) configured to meter or throttle the well fluids before the deflection surface (208).
  13. 13. The autonomous inflow control device of any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the actuation device (209, 409, 509) is a valve (209), a lever (409), a linkage (409), a switch (409), a piston (509), or a plunger (509) configured to move between the open position and the closed position.
  14. 14. A system, comprising: a tubing string (17) disposed within a wellbore (13) to be in fluid communication with a reservoir (11); one or more autonomous inflow control tools (100) providing the tubing string (17) to receive well fluids (F) produced from the reservoir (11), wherein the one or more autonomous inflow control tools (100) comprise a chamber (109) in fluid communion with the tubing string (17); an autonomous inflow control device (200) disposed in the chamber (109) of the one or more autonomous inflow control tools (100), wherein the autonomous inflow control device (200) is configured to regulate a flow of the well fluids (F) entering the tubing string (17) based on a ratio of hydrocarbons to water, the autonomous inflow control device (200) comprising: a body (201, 202) defining a cavity (206); an inlet (205) in fluid communication with the cavity (206) to receive the well fluid (F) from the chamber (109); a deflection surface (208) within the cavity (206), wherein the well fluids deflect off the deflection surface (208) at an angle based on the ratio of hydrocarbons to water; an actuation device (209, 409, 509) disposed in the cavity (206), wherein based on the angle the well fluids deflect off the deflection surface, the actuation device (209, 409, 509) moves between an open position and a closed position, wherein when the actuation device (209, 409, 509) is in the open position, the actuation device (209, 409, 509) exposes the influx outlet (210) to direct a volume of water from the well fluids out of the cavity (206) and back into the chamber (109), and wherein when the actuation device (209, 409, 509) is in the closed position, the actuation device (209, 409, 509) covers the influx outlet (210); and an outlet (211) in fluid communication with the cavity (206), wherein the outlet (211) directs the well fluids into a bore (102) of the one or more autonomous inflow control tools (100).
  15. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more autonomous inflow control tools (100) comprises a screen (105) to filter the received well fluids (F).
  16. 16. The system of claim 14 or 15, wherein a top portion (201) of the autonomous inflow control device (200) lands on a body (101) of the one or more autonomous inflow control tools (100) in the chamber (109).
  17. 17. The system of claim 16, wherein a bottom portion (202) of the autonomous inflow control device (200) is coupled to an opening in the body (101).
  18. 18. The system of any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the one or more autonomous inflow control tools (100) comprises a screen (105) to filter the received well fluids (F).

Description

METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DIFFERENTIATING DIFFERENT TYPES OF FLUIDS IN A FLUID STREAM BACKGROUND [0001] In the oil and gas industry, operations may be performed in a well at various depths below the surface with downhole tools. For example, fluids are typically produced from a reservoir in a formation by drilling a wellbore into the formation, establishing a flow path between the reservoir and the wellbore, and conveying the fluids from the reservoir to the surface through the wellbore. Typically, a production tubing is disposed in the wellbore to carry the fluids to the surface. The produced fluids may include hydrocarbons (e.g., oil and/or gas) and water. As the produced fluids may contain water, a ratio of hydrocarbons (e.g., oil and/or gas) to water may vary throughout the lifetime of the well. Therefore, it is advantageous to restrict or otherwise limit an influx of fluid flow into the wellbore when the water fraction is high and resume a higher or unrestricted flow when the water fraction reduces. As such, various conventional methods may be used to detect fluid types in the fluids produced from the reservoir. [0002] In some embodiments, one or more density devices in the production tubing may be used to detect the fluid types. For example, a float of the one or more density devices may change in position based on the density of the fluids. However, the float has many drawbacks. For example, a position of the float changes with tool inclination and/or with respect to gravity, and thus, it may be necessary to orientate the one or more density devices on deployment or to modify and tailor the design to each application. Additionally, the sensitivity to differentiate fluids becomes difficult when hydrocarbon and water densities are almost identical. Further, resulting buoyancy forces on the float may be small, particularly when hydrocarbon and water densities are almost identical (therefore, generating low forces to operate linkages). Furthermore, the detection response may be sudden and binary such that the float either floats or sinks. In some embodiments, instead of the float, the one or more density devices includes a flapper that may change in position based on a viscosity of the fluids. However, the flapper has increasingly difficult differentiating fluids as the fluid properties become similar. [0003] Other conventional methods may include centrifugally rotating a float chamber of the one or more density devices to introduce a radial acceleration vector that is larger than the gravity vector on the float. Additionally, a rotation mechanism is required to operate this centrifugal design, which must continuously run. However, the rotation mechanism provides many disadvantages such as long-term durability and wear, debris intolerance and sensitivity to grit, and increased complexity and cost. [0004] Additionally, a choke valve may be used to control flow rates and pressure drops of the produced fluids. A choke size of the choke valve is changeable to allow for the operator to adjust the amount of pressure dropped across the choke valve to maintain a downstream pressure in the production flow line at the desirable value which will lead to achieving the desirable rate. However, an influx of water in the produced fluids may still be considerable. Further, accurately sizing an orifice to the choke valve discriminately becomes increasingly difficult as fluid properties become similar. SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE [0005] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter. [0006] In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method for fluid production in a wellbore having an autonomous inflow control device in a tubular string therein. The method may include directing well fluids, containing water and hydrocarbons, as a fluid stream into the autonomous inflow control device; deflecting the fluid stream off a deflection surface in a cavity of the autonomous inflow control device based on a predetermined fluid property range; closing or opening, with the deflected fluid stream, an actuation device in the cavity to cover or expose an influx outlet in fluid communication with the cavity; and exiting the fluid stream out of the cavity via an outlet in fluid communication with the tubular string. [0007] In another aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to an autonomous inflow control device that may include a body defining a cavity; an inlet in fluid communication with the cavity, the inlet receives well fluids; a deflection surface within the cavity, the well fluids deflect off the deflection surface at an angle based on a predetermined fluid property range of the well fluids; an influx outlet in fluid communication with the cavity; an actuat