Flow restriction apparatus and methods

Abstract

In some embodiments, apparatus for restricting the flow of fluid from an earthen formation into at least one interior space of a tubular member includes a passageway fluidly connecting the earthen formation and the at least one interior space of the tubular member. At least one swellable member is expandable into the passageway between the interior space of the tubular member and the earthen formation.

1 . Apparatus for shutting off the recovery of fluid from an earthen formation through a tubular member, the tubular member including at least one interior space and at least one port that allows fluid flow into the at least one interior space from the earthen formation, the apparatus comprising:
 a fluid flow passageway fluidly connecting the earthen formation and the at least one interior space of the tubular member; and   at least one swellable member expandable into said fluid flow passageway, said at least one swellable member being disposed between the at least one port of the tubular member and the earthen formation.   whereby upon swelling of said at least one swellable member, said at least one swellable member shuts off the flow of fluid into the at least one interior space of the tubular member from the earthen formation.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the tubular member is part of a long span of production pipe disposed in a well, wherein said at least one swellable member is capable of stopping the recovery of fluid from the earthen formation into the production pipe at the location of the tubular member. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said fluid flow passageway has a tortuous flow path. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said at least one swellable member is at least partially constructed of at least one swelling elastomer. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein at least one said swelling elastomer is capable of increasing in volume size in reaction to at least one activating agent. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said at least one activating agent includes water. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further including at least one side member associated with said at least one swellable member, said at least one side member capable of assisting in maintaining the location said at least one swellable member in an inactivate and an activated state. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said at least one swellable member includes at least one curing agent. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including a housing disposed around the at least one port of the tubular member, wherein said fluid flow passageway is an annulus formed between said housing and said tubular member. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said at least one swellable member swells based upon at least one among the influence of temperature and pressure. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein at least one said swellable member is engaged with said housing sufficient to allow its desired expansion into said fluid flow passageway. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the tubular member is used in connection with a flapper valve. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the tubular member is an inflow control device. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further including a screen assembly associated with the tubular member, said screen assembly fluidly connecting said fluid flow passageway and the earthen formation. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  furthering including at least first and second screens fluidly connecting the at least one interior space of the tubular member and the earthen formation, wherein said first screen is disposed between said fluid flow passageway and the earthen formation and said second screen is disposed between said at least one swellable member and the at least one port of the tubular member, whereby said at least one swellable member is capable of stopping the flow of fluid between said first and second screens. 
   
   
       16 . An inflow control device for use in a production pipe for producing oil or gas from an oil and/or gas reservoir, the inflow control device comprising:
 a base pipe having a bore and at least one port into said bore;   an outer pipe extending around said at least one port and forming an annulus around said base pipe said annulus being in fluid communication with said at least one port of said base pipe and the reservoir, wherein fluid from the reservoir must flow through said annulus to enter said bore of said base pipe; and   at least one swellable member expandable into said annulus, said at least one swellable member being disposed between said at least one port of said base pipe and the reservoir, whereby upon swelling of said at least one swellable member, said at least one swellable member at least partially restricts the flow of fluid into said bore of said base pipe from the reservoir.   
   
   
       17 . The inflow control device of  claim 16  further including at least one screen associated with said outer pipe and disposed between the reservoir and said at least one swellable member. 
   
   
       18 . The inflow control device of  claim 17  wherein said annulus includes a tortuous flow path. 
   
   
       19 . The inflow control device of  claim 18  further including a sliding valve member associated with said tortuous flow path. 
   
   
       20 . The inflow control device of  claim 17  further including at least first and second screens, wherein said at least one swellable member is disposed between said first and second screens. 
   
   
       21 . The inflow control device of  claim 16  wherein said at least one swellable member is capable of stopping the flow of fluid into said bore of said base pipe from the reservoir. 
   
   
       22 . The inflow control device of  claim 16  wherein a first said swellable member is activated by water and is capable of entirely blocking the flow of fluid into said at least one port of said base pipe. 
   
   
       23 . The inflow control device of  claim 22  wherein a second said swellable member is activated by hydrocarbons and is capable of restricting the flow of fluid into said at least one port. 
   
   
       24 . The inflow control device of  claim 16  wherein said at least one swellable member expands into said annulus upon activation by at least one activating agent. 
   
   
       25 . The inflow control device of  claim 24  wherein a first said swellable member is reactive to at least two activating agents whereby said first swellable member swells to restrict the flow of fluid into said base pipe upon contact with a first said activating agent and stops the flow of fluid into said base pipe upon contact with a second said activating agent. 
   
   
       26 . The inflow control device of  claim 25  wherein the inflow control device is useful in connection with a hydrocarbon completion or production piping system that includes a long span of production pipe disposed in a well, wherein said at least one swellable member is capable of choking back the inflow of fluids from the reservoir into said base pipe to assist in promoting even distribution of formation fluid recovery across the long span of production pipe. 
   
   
       27 . An apparatus for restricting the flow of fluid into or out of an interior space of a base pipe useful in a hydrocarbon production or completion system, the base pipe having at least one port that allows fluid flow into or out of the interior space, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing disposed around the at least one port of the base pipe;   at least one passageway disposed within said housing, said at least one passageway fluidly connecting the interior space of the base pipe and the exterior of the base pipe, wherein fluid flow between the interior space and exterior of the base pipe must pass through said at least one passageway: and   at least one swellable member expandable into said at least one passageway and disposed between the at least one port of the base pipe and the exterior of the base pipe said at least one swellable member including at least one swelling elastomer and, whereby upon activation of the swellable member by at least one activating agent provided into said at least one passageway, the swellable member at least partially restricts the flow of fluid through said at least one passageway.   
   
   
       28 . A method of restricting the flow of fluid from an earthen formation into an interior space of a tubular member, the tubular member including at least one port into the interior space to allow fluid flow into the interior space, the method comprising;
 forming a fluid flow passageway around the tubular member;   fluidly connecting the fluid flow passageway with the earthen formation and the interior space of the tubular member, wherein fluid entering the interior space of the tubular member from the earthen formation must flow through the fluid flow passageway;   positioning at least one swellable member in the fluid flow passageway between the at least one port and the earthen formation,   allowing fluid to flow into the fluid flow passageway from the earthen formation; and   the at least one swellable member expanding into the fluid flow passageway upon contact with at least one activating agent to at least partially restrict the flow of fluid through the passageway and into the at least one interior space of the tubular member from the earthen formation.   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  further including a first swellable member expanding into and blocking the flow of fluid through the fluid flow passageway upon contact with water and a second swellable member expanding into and restricting the flow of fluid through the fluid flow passageway upon contact with hydrocarbons. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the at least one activating agent is water, further including the at least one swellable member expanding into the fluid flow passageway upon contact with a desired quantity of water to stop the flow of fluid through the passageway and into the at least one interior space of the tubular member from the earthen formation.