Secondary slurry flow path member with shut-off valve activated by dissolvable flow tubes

Abstract

A downhole secondary flow path member includes a tubular having a first end portion, a second end portion, and an intermediate portion having a flow passage extending therebetween. The tubular includes a first opening arranged adjacent the first end portion and a second opening arranged adjacent the second end portion. A valve assembly is provided on the tubular at the first opening. The valve assembly includes a valve member. A flow tube runs along at least a portion of the tubular. The flow tube has a dissolvable end section mechanically linked to the valve assembly. The dissolvable end segment selectively shields the valve member from exposure to downhole fluids. The valve member changes from an open position to a closed position following dissolution of the dissolvable end segment.

1 . A downhole secondary flow path member comprising:
 a tubular including a first end portion, a second end portion, and an intermediate portion having a flow passage extending therebetween, the tubular including a first opening arranged adjacent the first end portion and a second opening arranged adjacent the second end portion;   a valve assembly provided on the tubular at the first opening, the valve assembly including a valve member; and   a flow tube running along at least a portion of the tubular, the flow tube having a dissolvable end section mechanically linked to the valve assembly, the dissolvable end segment selectively shielding the valve member from exposure to downhole fluids, wherein the valve member changes from an open position to a closed position following dissolution of the dissolvable end segment.   
     
     
         2 . The downhole secondary flow member according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly includes a comingling flow chamber fluidically connected with the first opening. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole secondary flow member according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve member comprises a swellable valve member that expands upon exposure to downhole fluids. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole secondary flow member according to  claim 1 , wherein the dissolvable end segment is formed from a material distinct from a remaining portion of the flow tube. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole secondary flow member according to  claim 4 , wherein the dissolvable end segment is formed from a controlled electrolytic metal (CEM) material. 
     
     
         6 . The downhole secondary flow member according to  claim 1 , further comprising: another a valve assembly provided on the first tubular at the second opening, the another valve assembly including another valve member activatable upon exposure to downhole fluids. 
     
     
         7 . The downhole secondary flow member according to  claim 6 , further comprising: another flow tube running along at least a portion of the second tubular downhole relative to the flow tube, the another flow tube having a dissolvable end section mechanically linked to the another valve assembly, the dissolvable end segment selectively shielding the another valve member from exposure to downhole fluids. 
     
     
         8 . The downhole secondary flow member according to  claim 7 , wherein the another flow tube is fluidically connected to the flow tube through the tubular. 
     
     
         9 . The downhole secondary flow member according to  claim 7 , wherein the another valve assembly includes another comingling flow chamber fluidically connected with the comingling low chamber through the tubular. 
     
     
         10 . The downhole secondary flow member according to  claim 9 , wherein the another comingling flow chamber is fluidically isolated from the comingling flow chamber following dissolution of the dissolvable flow segment. 
     
     
         11 . The downhole secondary flow member according to  claim 9 , further comprising: another tubular arranged within the tubular, the another tubular having an outer wall spaced from the inner wall of the tubular to form a portion of the flow passage. 
     
     
         12 . The downhole secondary flow member according to  claim 11 , wherein the another comingling flow chamber is fluidically connected to the flow comingling flow chamber through the flow passage. 
     
     
         13 . The downhole secondary flow member according to  claim 1 , further comprising: an uphole system one or more pumps a fluid storage system fluidically connected to the tubular through a downhole string. 
     
     
         14 . A downhole flow member as in  claim 1 , wherein the flow tube includes a first plurality of flow tubes fluidically connected to the first opening and running along the portion of the tubular uphole and a second plurality of flow tubes fluidically connected to the second opening and running along another portion of the tubular downhole, the first and second pluralities of flow tubes fluidically connecting the first and second end portions. 
     
     
         15 . A method of controlling fluid flow through a secondary flow member comprising:
 directing fluid into a flow tube having a dissolvable end portion exposed to a downhole fluid;   passing the fluid into a valve assembly having a selectively closeable valve member;   guiding the fluid from the valve assembly into an opening formed in a tubular; and   closing the valve member in response to a dissolution of the dissolvable end portion resulting from exposure to the downhole fluid.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein closing the valve member includes expanding the valve member in response to exposure to the downhole fluid. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein guiding the fluid from the valve member includes passing the along the tubular bypassing a formation zone. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein passing the fluid from the comingling chamber includes passing the fluid into a fluid passage defined between a first tubular and a second tubular. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising: passing the fluid from the tubular into another valve assembly arranged downhole of the valve assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising: exposing another valve member of the another valve assembly to downhole fluid following dissolution of another dissolvable end portion of another flow tube coupled to the another valve assembly. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein passing the fluid into the flow tube includes pumping the fluid from an uphole system along a downhole string through the flow tube. 
     
     
         22 . A downhole secondary flow path member comprising:
 a first valve assembly;   a second valve assembly, at least one of the first and second valve assemblies including a selectively swellable valve member including a material that expands when exposed to a downhole fluid; and   one or more flow tubes fluidically connecting the first valve member and the second valve member, the one or more flow tubes having at least one dissolvable end segment mechanically linked to the one of the first and second valve assemblies including the selectively swellable valve member, the at least one dissolvable end segment selectively shielding the selectively swellable valve member from exposure to downhole fluids, wherein the valve member changes from an open position to a closed position following dissolution of the dissolvable end segment.