Water Sensing Devices and Methods Utilizing Same to Control Flow of Subsurface Fluids

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling fluid flow in a wellbore includes a reactive element that reacts when exposed to a fluid and a flow control device configured to control a flow of the fluid. The flow control device may be actuated by a reaction of the reactive element to the fluid. In embodiments, the reactive element reacts by exhibiting a change in a material property. The reaction of the reactive element may be reversible. In embodiments, the reactive element may be a shape memory polymer. The flow control device may include an actuating element operably coupled to the reactive element. The reaction of the reactive element to a given fluid releases the actuating element to actuate the flow control device.

1 . An apparatus for controlling fluid flow between a wellbore tubular and a formation, comprising:
 (a) a reactive element configured to react when exposed to a fluid; and   (b) a flow control device configured to control a flow of the fluid and being actuated by a reaction of the reactive element to the fluid.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the fluid includes one of: (i) water, (ii) a hydrocarbon, (iii) an engineered fluid, and (iv) a naturally occurring fluid. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the reaction of the reactive element is one of a change in: (i) a mechanical material property, (ii) a modulus, (iii) a storage modulus, (iv) shear strength, (v) glass transition temperature, (vi) ductility, (vii) hardness (vi) density; (vii) a chemical resistance; and (viii) resistance to corrosion. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the reaction of the reactive element is one of: (i) a deformation, (ii) a bending, (iii) an expansion, (iv) a contraction, and (v) a twisting. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the reactive element is configured to have one of: (i) a chemical reaction to the fluid, and (ii) a molecular reaction to the fluid. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the reaction is reversible. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the flow control device is one of: (i) a valve, (ii) an orifice, and (iii) a tortuous path. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the flow control device is actuated by of: (i) a compression applied by the reactive element, (ii) a tension applied by the reactive element; and (iii) a torsion applied by the reactive element. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the flow control device includes an actuating element operably coupled to the reactive element, wherein the reaction releases the actuating element to actuate the flow control device. 
   
   
       10 . A method for producing fluid from a subterranean formation, comprising:
 (a) positioning a reactive element downhole in a wellbore;   (b) actuating a flow control device in response to a reaction of the reactive element to a fluid.   
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the fluid is one of: (i) water, (ii) a hydrocarbon, (iii) an engineered fluid, and (iv) a naturally occurring fluid. 
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the reaction of the reactive element is one of a change in: (i) a mechanical material property, (ii) a modulus, (iii) a storage modulus, (iv) shear strength, (v) glass transition temperature, (vi) ductility, (vii) hardness and (viii) density. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the reaction of the reactive element is one of: (i) a deformation, (ii) a bending, (iii) an expansion, (iv) a contraction, and (v) a twisting. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the reactive element is configured to have one of (i) a chemical reaction to the fluid, and (ii) a molecular reaction to the fluid. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 10  the reaction is reversible. 
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the flow control device is one of: (i) a valve, and (ii) an orifice; and (iii) a tortuous path. 
   
   
       17 . A system for controlling flow of one or more fluids into a wellbore intersecting a subterranean formation, comprising:
 (a) a wellbore tubular conveying the one or more fluids to a surface location;   (b) a plurality of flow control devices distributed along a section of the wellbore tubular, each flow control device including a reactive element configured to react when exposed to a fluid, each flow control device being actuated by a reaction of the reactive element to the fluid to control a flow of the fluid into the wellbore tubular.   
   
   
       18 . The system according to  claim 17  wherein the reactive element is a shape memory polymer. 
   
   
       19 . The system according to  claim 18  wherein the reaction is one of: (i) an applied compression, and (ii) an applied tension. 
   
   
       20 . The system according to  claim 18  wherein the flow control device includes an actuating element operably coupled to the reactive element, wherein the reaction releases the actuating element.