Water Dissolvable Released Material Used as Inflow Control Device

Abstract

Methods and devices for controlling fluid flow into a wellbore tubular includes an in-flow control device, an element co-acting with the in-flow control device, and a disintegrating medium at least partially surrounding the element. The medium may be configured to release the element upon disintegration of the medium. The disintegrating medium may be configured to disintegrate when exposed to a selected fluid. The element may be configured to at least partially restrict flow across a flow path associated with the in-flow control device when released. The flow path may convey the fluid from the formation to a flow bore of the wellbore tubular and the element may be positioned along the flow path. The element may be: a liquid, a solid, a particle and/or particles. The selected fluid may be water, a hydrocarbon, an engineered fluid, and/or a naturally occurring fluid.

1 . A method for controlling a flow of fluid from a subterranean formation, comprising:
 positioning a housing in a wellbore, the housing having a flow path formed therein;   suspending an element in a medium that disintegrates when exposed to a selected fluid;   positioning the element in housing; and   restricting a fluid flow across the flow path by releasing the element.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the selected fluid is water. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising releasing the element into the flow path when the medium disintegrates. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising configuring the flow path to convey fluid from the formation into a bore of a wellbore tubular; forming a passage in the housing and that communicates with the bore of the wellbore tubular; and at least partially blocking the passage with the element by releasing the element. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising forming the flow path to convey the fluid from the formation to a flow bore of a wellbore tubular; and reducing an amount of particles in the fluid entering the flow path by using a particulate control device. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising positioning the element along the flow path and maintaining the element substantially stationary in the flow path while the element is suspended in the medium. 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the element is one of: (i) a liquid, (ii) a solid, (iii) a particle, and (iv) particles. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the selected fluid is one of: (i) water, (ii) a hydrocarbon, (iii) an engineered fluid, and (iv) a naturally occurring fluid. 
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for controlling flow of a fluid into a wellbore tubular, comprising:
 an in-flow control device having a housing;   an element positioned in the housing; and   a disintegrating medium at least partially surrounding the element, the disintegrating medium being configured to disintegrate when exposed to a selected fluid.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the disintegrating medium disintegrates upon exposure to water in the fluid. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the element is configured to at least partially restrict flow across a flow path associated with the in-flow control device. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the medium is configured to release the element after the medium at least partially disintegrates. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to  claim 9  further comprising a flow path to convey the fluid from the formation to a flow bore of the wellbore tubular. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein the element is positioned along the flow path. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the element is one of: (i) a liquid, (ii) a solid, (iii) a particle, and (iv) particles. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the selected fluid is one of: (i) water, (ii) a hydrocarbon, (iii) an engineered fluid, and (iv) a naturally occurring fluid. 
   
   
       17 . A system for controlling flow of a fluid in a well, comprising:
 a wellbore tubular positioned in the well;
 an in-flow control device having a housing and positioned along the wellbore tubular; 
 an element positioned in the housing; and 
 a disintegrating medium at least partially surrounding the element, the disintegrating medium being calibrated to disintegrate when exposed to a selected fluid. 
   
   
   
       18 . The system according to  claim 17  wherein the disintegrating medium disintegrates upon exposure to water in the fluid. 
   
   
       19 . The system according to  claim 17  wherein the element is configured to at least partially restrict flow across a flow path associated with the in-flow control device. 
   
   
       20 . The system according to  claim 17  wherein the medium is configured to release the element upon disintegration of the medium. 
   
   
       21 . A method for controlling a flow of fluid from a subterranean formation, comprising:
 flowing a fluid from an annulus of a wellbore into a flow bore of a wellbore tubular;   reducing one of (i) a size and (ii) an amount of particles in the fluid flowing into the flow bore;   suspending in a flow path of the fluid an element in a medium that disintegrates when exposed to a selected fluid; and   restricting a fluid flow across the flow path by releasing the element when the flowing fluid includes the selected fluid.   
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 21  further comprising:
 forming a passage along the flow path, the passage communicating with the flow bore of the wellbore tubular; and   at least partially blocking the passage with the released element.