Apparatus and method for controlling gas lift assemblies

Abstract

A production fluid control apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a gas lift assembly in fluid communication with a borehole production conduit, the gas lift assembly configured to control a flow of pressurized gas between an annular region of a borehole and the production conduit; and at least one plug disposed in operable communication with the gas lift assembly, the at least one plug configured to prevent fluid flow through the gas lift assembly and configured to be actuated to allow fluid flow through the gas lift assembly in response to exposure to a downhole fluid.

1 . A production fluid control apparatus comprising:
 a gas lift assembly in fluid communication with a borehole production conduit, the gas lift assembly configured to control a flow of pressurized gas between an annular region of a borehole and the production conduit; and   at least one plug disposed in operable communication with the gas lift assembly, the at least one plug configured to prevent fluid flow through the gas lift assembly and configured to be actuated to allow fluid flow through the gas lift assembly in response to exposure to a downhole fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one plug is made from a material configured to dissolve or corrode in the presence of the downhole fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the downhole fluid is selected from at least one of water, salinated water and hydrocarbon fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one plug is disposed in a fluid path between the production conduit and the gas lift assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gas lift assembly further includes a support component disposed in a fixed position relative to the production conduit, and a flow control device configured to control the flow of pressurized gas through the gas lift assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one plug is located within the flow control device 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one plug is located in a fluid path between the flow control device and the production conduit. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the material includes:
 a substantially-continuous, cellular nanomatrix comprising a nanomatrix material;   a plurality of dispersed particles comprising a particle core material that comprises Mg, Al, Zn or Mn, or a combination thereof, dispersed in the cellular nanomatrix; and   a solid state bond layer extending throughout the cellular nanomatrix between the dispersed particles.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the material includes a plurality of dispersed second particles, wherein the dispersed second particles are also dispersed within the cellular nanomatrix and with respect to the dispersed particles. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one plug is formed from a sintered powder comprising a plurality of powder particles, each powder particle having a particle core that upon sintering comprises a dispersed particle and a single metallic coating layer disposed thereon, and wherein the cellular nanomatrix between adjacent ones of the plurality of dispersed particles comprises the single metallic coating layer of one powder particle, the bond layer and the single metallic coating layer of another of the powder particles. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one plug is formed from a sintered powder comprising a plurality of powder particles, each powder particle having a particle core that upon sintering comprises a dispersed particle and a plurality of metallic coating layers disposed thereon, and wherein the cellular nanomatrix between adjacent ones of the plurality of dispersed particles comprises the plurality of metallic coating layers of one powder particle, the bond layer and plurality of metallic coating layers of another of the powder particles, and wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of metallic coating layers have different chemical compositions. 
     
     
         12 . A method of producing hydrocarbon fluid from a borehole, comprising:
 disposing a production assembly in the borehole, the production assembly including a production conduit and a gas lift assembly in fluid communication with the production conduit, the gas lift assembly configured to control a flow of pressurized gas between an annular region of the borehole and the production conduit, the gas lift assembly including at least one plug disposed in operable communication therewith and configured to prevent fluid flow through the gas lift assembly;   exposing the at least one plug to a downhole fluid; and   actuating the at least one plug by dissolving at least a portion of the at least one plug in response to exposure to the downhole fluid to allow fluid to flow through the gas lift assembly.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising injecting the pressurized gas into the annular region, and directing the annular gas to the production conduit via the gas lift assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the downhole fluid is a production fluid flowing through the production conduit. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one plug is made from a material configured to dissolve or corrode in the presence of the downhole fluid. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the downhole fluid is selected from at least one of water, salinated water and hydrocarbon fluid. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein actuating the at least one plug includes contacting the at least one plug with downhole fluid flowing through the production conduit, and dissolving or corroding the at least one plug over a pre-selected time period. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the gas lift assembly further includes a support component disposed in a fixed position relative to the production conduit, and a flow control device configured to control the flow of pressurized gas through the gas lift assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one plug is located within the flow control device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one plug is located in a fluid path between the flow control device and the production conduit.