Apparatus for autonomously controlling the inflow of production fluids from a subterranean well

Abstract

A flow control apparatus ( 100 ) for controlling the inflow of production fluids ( 134, 140 ) from a subterranean well includes a tubular member ( 118 ) having at least one opening ( 138 ) that allows fluid flow between an exterior of the tubular member ( 118 ) and an interior flow path of the tubular member ( 118 ) and a flow restricting device ( 120 ) operably positioned in a fluid flow path between a fluid source and the at least one opening ( 138 ). The flow restricting device ( 120 ) includes a valve ( 128, 130 ) and an actuator ( 126 ). The actuator ( 126 ) includes a material that swells in response to contact with an undesired fluid ( 140 ), such as water or gas. The flow restricting device ( 120 ) is operable to autonomously reduce the fluid flow through the flow control apparatus ( 100 ) in response to contact between the material and the undesired fluid ( 140 ).

1 . A sand control screen positionable within a wellbore, the sand control screen comprising:
 a base pipe having at least one opening that allows fluid flow between an exterior of the base pipe and an interior flow path of the base pipe;   a filter medium positioned exteriorly of the base pipe, the filter medium selectively allowing fluid flow therethrough and preventing particulate flow of a predetermined size therethrough; and   a flow restricting device operably positioned in a fluid flow path between the filter medium and the at least one opening, the flow restricting device including a valve and an actuator, the actuator including a material that swells in response to contact with an undesired fluid such that the flow restricting device is operable to autonomously reduce the fluid flow through the screen in response to contact between the material and the undesired fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The sand control screen as recited in  claim 1  wherein the fluid flow through the screen is increasingly restricted in response to contact between the material and the undesired fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The sand control screen as recited in  claim 1  wherein the fluid flow through the screen is substantially completely restricted in response to contact between the material and the undesired fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The sand control screen as recited in  claim 1  wherein the undesired fluid is water. 
     
     
         5 . The sand control screen as recited in  claim 1  wherein the undesired fluid is gas. 
     
     
         6 . The sand control screen as recited in  claim 1  wherein the valve further comprises a sliding sleeve. 
     
     
         7 . The sand control screen as recited in  claim 1  wherein the valve further comprises a longitudinally shiftable valve element. 
     
     
         8 . The sand control screen as recited in  claim 1  wherein the valve further comprises a valve element having a fluid flow passageway with a cross sectional area that is reduced in response to contact between the material and the undesired fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The sand control screen as recited in  claim 1  wherein the actuator further comprises a biasing member that biases a valve element in a first direction and wherein the material prevents movement of the valve element in the first direction until the material is contacted by the undesired fluid. 
     
     
         10 . The sand control screen as recited in  claim 1  wherein the material remains in a swelled state as long as the material stays in contact with the undesired fluid and returns to an unswelled state when contact with the undesired fluid ceases. 
     
     
         11 . A flow control apparatus for controlling the inflow of production fluids from a subterranean well, the flow control apparatus comprising:
 a tubular member having at least one opening that allows fluid flow between an exterior of the tubular member and an interior flow path of the tubular member; and   a flow restricting device operably positioned in a fluid flow path between a fluid source and the at least one opening, the flow restricting device including a valve and an actuator, the actuator including a material that swells in response to contact with an undesired fluid such that the flow restricting device is operable to autonomously reduce the fluid flow through the flow control apparatus in response to contact between the material and the undesired fluid.   
     
     
         12 . The flow control apparatus as recited in  claim 11  wherein the fluid flow through the flow control apparatus is increasingly restricted in response to contact between the material and the undesired fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The flow control apparatus as recited in  claim 11  wherein the fluid flow through the flow control apparatus is substantially completely restricted in response to contact between the material and the undesired fluid. 
     
     
         14 . The flow control apparatus as recited in  claim 11  wherein the undesired fluid is water. 
     
     
         15 . The flow control apparatus as recited in  claim 11  wherein the undesired fluid is gas. 
     
     
         16 . The flow control apparatus as recited in  claim 11  wherein the valve further comprises a sliding sleeve. 
     
     
         17 . The flow control apparatus as recited in  claim 11  wherein the valve further comprises a longitudinally shiftable valve element. 
     
     
         18 . The flow control apparatus as recited in  claim 11  wherein the valve further comprises a valve element having a fluid flow passageway with a cross sectional area that is reduced in response to contact between the material and the undesired fluid. 
     
     
         19 . The flow control apparatus as recited in  claim 11  wherein the actuator further comprises a biasing member that biases a valve element in a first direction and wherein the material prevents movement of the valve element in the first direction until the material is contacted by the undesired fluid. 
     
     
         20 . The flow control apparatus as recited in  claim 11  wherein the material remains in a swelled state as long as the material stays in contact with the undesired fluid and returns to an unswelled state if contact with the undesired fluid ceases. 
     
     
         21 . A sand control completion for installation in a wellbore, the completion comprising:
 first and second seal assemblies that define a production zone in the wellbore; and   a sand control screen operably positioned between the first and second seal assemblies, the sand control screen comprising a base pipe having at least one opening that allows fluid flow between an exterior of the base pipe and an interior flow path of the base pipe, a filter medium positioned exteriorly of the base pipe, the filter medium selectively allowing fluid flow therethrough and preventing particulate flow of a predetermined size therethrough and a flow restricting device operably positioned in a fluid flow path between the filter medium and the at least one opening, the flow restricting device including a valve and an actuator, the actuator including a material that swells in response to contact with an undesired fluid such that the flow restricting device is operable to autonomously reduce the fluid flow through from the production zone in response to contact between the material and the undesired fluid.   
     
     
         22 . A multizone sand control completion for installation in a wellbore, the completion comprising:
 at least two sets of first and second seal assemblies that define at least two production zones in the wellbore; and   a sand control screen positioned between each of the first and second seal assemblies, each of the sand control screens comprising a base pipe having at least one opening that allows fluid flow between an exterior of the base pipe and an interior flow path of the base pipe, a filter medium positioned exteriorly of the base pipe, the filter medium selectively allowing fluid flow therethrough and preventing particulate flow of a predetermined size therethrough and a flow restricting device operably positioned in a fluid flow path between the filter medium and the at least one opening, the flow restricting device including a valve and an actuator, the actuator including a material that swells in response to contact with an undesired fluid such that each of the flow restricting devices is operable to autonomously reduce the fluid flow from a respective production zone in response to contact between the material and the undesired fluid.