Method and apparatus for remotely changing flow profile in conduit and drilling bit

Abstract

The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for remotely adjusting the drill bit hydraulic horse power per square inch (HSI). Varying the nozzle geometry remotely without the need to pull the drill string outside the hole has obvious advantage. Changing the nozzle flow geometry results in changing the nozzle HSI, which is beneficial to optimize drilling a well having different rock formations. The drill bit nozzle geometry of the present invention can be varied by causing a change of at least one physical property of the environment. The variable geometry nozzle is not limited to drill bit, it can be placed within the inner flow passage or between the inner flow passage and annular flow passage for controlling flow profile within a wellbore, a tubular string or a flow conduit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A remotely controlled variable geometry nozzle comprising:
 a body configured to be disposed within the tubular string, the body having an inlet port and an outlet orifice;   a fluid passage having a plurality of predetermined geometries and extending through the body, the fluid passage is in fluid communication with the inlet port and the outlet orifice; and   a means for changing the geometry of the fluid passage having a movable element disposed within the body, the movable element is configured to be movable to a plurality of predetermined positions in response to a change in a physical property of the environment, and wherein the geometry of the fluid passage is responsive to the position of the movable element within the body.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is adapted and configured for use in a drill bit. 
     
     
         3 . The nozzle of  claim 1 , further comprising a means for controlling the movable element movement between the predetermined positions. 
     
     
         4 . The nozzle of  claim 1 , further comprising a means for restraining the movement of the movable element. 
     
     
         5 . The nozzle of  claim 4 , wherein the means for restraining the movement of the movable element comprises a resilient element configured and arranged for restraining undesired movement of the movable element. 
     
     
         6 . The nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of predetermined geometries comprises an initial geometry having an initial cross section area and having an initial cross section shape at a particular position within the fluid passage, and at least one predetermined geometry at a particular position within the fluid passage selected from the set of geometries including: a larger geometry having a larger cross section area, a smaller geometry having a smaller cross section area, and another geometry having a different cross section shape. 
     
     
         7 . The nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the movable element is movable to a predetermined position in response to fluid flow through the tubular string in one direction, and the movable element is movable to another predetermined position in response to fluid flow through the tubular string in another direction. 
     
     
         8 . The nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the change of a physical property of the environment comprises a change of a physical property selected form the set of: fluid flow rate, fluid flow direction, fluid flow pattern, fluid chemical composition, fluid viscosity, fluid electric property, fluid magnetic property, fluid pressure, fluid temperature, fluid density, fluid color, movement of the tubular string, movement of a part of the tubular string, introducing an object into the wellbore, and introducing an object into the inner passage of the tubular string; or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A remotely controlled variable geometry nozzle comprising:
 a body configured to be disposed within the tubular string, the body having an inlet port and an outlet orifice;   a fluid passage having a plurality of predetermined geometries and extending through the body wherein the fluid passage is in fluid communication with the inlet port and the outlet orifice;   a means for changing the geometry of the fluid passage having a movable element disposed within the body, the movable element is configured to be movable to a plurality of predetermined positions in response to a change in a physical property of the environment, and the geometry of the fluid passage is responsive to the movement of the movable element;   a means for detecting the change in a physical property of the environment generating a detectable signal; and   a means for actuating the means for changing the geometry of the fluid passage positioned and arranged within the body and configured to move the movable element in response to the detectable signal.   
     
     
         10 . The nozzle of  claim 9 , wherein the means for detecting comprises a sensor positioned and arranged in the wellbore environment and configured to sense at least one physical property of the environment. 
     
     
         11 . The nozzle of  claim 9 , wherein the means for actuating comprises an actuator selected from the a set of actuators that includes: an electric actuator, a mechanical actuator, a hydraulic actuator, an electric motor, a solenoid, a rack—being mechanically engaged with the movable element, a cam-type actuator, an energy harvester actuator set to receive an energy from a fluid pressure difference between two points within the well bore, and an energy harvester actuator set to receive an energy from a change of fluid flow property within the well bore. 
     
     
         12 . The nozzle of  claim 9 , further comprising a means for restraining the movement of the movable element responsive to the change of a physical property of the environment. 
     
     
         13 . A method for remotely changing the geometry of a fluid passage in a wellbore having a fluid comprising:
 disposing in the wellbore a tubular string including a variable geometry nozzle comprising:   a body configured to be disposed within the tubular string, the body having an inlet port and an outlet orifice;   a fluid passage having a plurality of predetermined geometries and extending through the body, the fluid passage is in fluid communication with the inlet port and the outlet orifice; and   a means for changing the geometry of the fluid passage having a movable element disposed within the body, the movable element is configured to be movable to a plurality of predetermined positions in response to a change in a physical property of the environment, and the geometry of the fluid passage is responsive to the position of the movable element within the body.   Changing a physical property of the environment;   moving the movable element from an initial predetermined position to another predetermined position in response to the change in the physical property of the environment; and   changing the geometry of the fluid passage from an initial predetermined geometry to another predetermined geometry in response to the movement of the movable element from an initial predetermined position to another predetermined position   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of predetermined geometries comprises an initial geometry having an initial cross section area and having an initial cross section shape at a particular position within the fluid passage, and at least one predetermined geometry at a particular position within the fluid passage selected from the set of geometries including: a larger geometry having a larger cross section area, a smaller geometry having a smaller cross section area, and another geometry having a different cross section shape. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the change of a physical property of the environment comprising a change of a physical property selected form the set of: fluid flow rate, fluid flow direction, fluid flow pattern, fluid chemical composition, fluid viscosity, fluid electric property, fluid magnetic property, fluid pressure, fluid temperature, fluid density, fluid color, movement of the tubular string, movement of a part of the tubular string, introducing an object into the wellbore, and introducing an object into the inner passage of the tubular string; or any combination thereof.