Fluid intake system

Abstract

A fluid intake system is disclosed for use with a flow control device which controls fluid flow into a tubular. The fluid intake system comprises a manifold configured to circumscribe a tubular which includes a flow control device, the manifold comprising a plurality of circumferentially arranged inlet ports for receiving a fluid into the manifold. The system includes a fluid outlet to be arranged in communication with the flow control device to, in use, communicate fluid from the manifold to the flow control device.

1 . A fluid intake system for use with a flow control device which controls fluid flow into a tubular, the fluid intake system comprising:
 a manifold configured to circumscribe a tubular which includes a flow control device, the manifold comprising a plurality of circumferentially arranged inlet ports for receiving a fluid into the manifold; and   a fluid outlet to be arranged in communication with the flow control device to, in use, communicate fluid from the manifold to the flow control device.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid intake system according to  claim 1 , wherein the inlet ports are evenly circumferentially distributed on or about the manifold. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid intake system according to  claim 1 , wherein the inlet ports each have substantially the same flow area. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid intake system according to  claim 1 , wherein the manifold is formed of a conduit. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid intake system according to  claim 1 , wherein the manifold fully or partially circumscribes the tubular. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid intake system according to  claim 1 , wherein the manifold defines a manifold flow path therein, the plurality of inlet ports opening into said manifold flow path. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid intake system according to  claim 6 , wherein the manifold flow path extends between closed ends. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid intake system according to  claim 7 , wherein the fluid outlet is in communication with the manifold at a midpoint between the closed ends. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid intake system according to  claim 1 , configured to be immersed in a wellbore fluid within a wellbore annulus. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid intake system according to  claim 1 , comprising an outlet arrangement fluidly connected to the manifold and defining the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid intake system according to  claim 10 , wherein the outlet arrangement comprises a flow cap. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid intake system according to  claim 10 , wherein the outlet arrangement comprises an extended flow conduit. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid intake system according to  claim 12 , wherein the extended flow conduit at least partially circumscribes the tubular. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid intake system according to  claim 12 , wherein the extended flow conduit is provided in at least one of a coiled or serpentine form. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid intake system according to  claim 12 , wherein the extended flow conduit is configured to manipulate a characteristic of the fluid flowing from the manifold to the outlet. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid intake system according to  claim 15 , wherein the characteristic includes at least one of fluid pressure and fluid velocity. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid intake system according to  claim 15 , wherein the extended flow conduit is configured to manipulate a characteristic of the fluid flowing from the manifold to the outlet as a function of one or more of the length of the extended flow conduit, the diameter or flow area of the extended flow conduit, the surface roughness of the extended flow conduit, the relative roughness of the extended flow conduit, the density of the fluid and the viscosity of the of the fluid. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid intake system according to  claim 1 , comprising a pressure controller configured to manipulate the pressure of the fluid to be communicated to the flow control device. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid intake system according to  claim 18 , wherein the outlet arrangement comprises an extended flow conduit, and wherein the pressure controller is in communication with the extended flow conduit. 
     
     
         20 . The fluid intake system according to  claim 18 , wherein the pressure controller comprises at least one flow restrictor, wherein, during use, at least a portion of the fluid received into the fluid intake system flows through the flow restrictor. 
     
     
         21 . The fluid intake system according to  claim 20 , wherein the flow restrictor generates a back pressure within the fluid, wherein the back pressure is communicated to the flow control device. 
     
     
         22 . The fluid intake system according to  claim 1 , comprising a coating for interacting with the fluid flowing through the fluid intake system. 
     
     
         23 . The fluid intake system according to  claim 22 , wherein the coating comprises a foam control coating. 
     
     
         24 . The fluid intake system according to  claim 22 , wherein the coating is capable of breaking or promoting breaking of emulsions or multiple-phase compositions within the fluid. 
     
     
         25 . The fluid intake system according to  claim 22 , wherein the coating is provided on at least one of the manifold and an extended flow conduit connected to the manifold. 
     
     
         26 . The fluid intake system according to  claim 22 , wherein the coating comprises a polysiloxane coating. 
     
     
         27 . The fluid intake system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid intake system comprises a temporary barrier to prevent or minimise flow into the fluid intake system while the barrier is in place. 
     
     
         28 . A flow control system, comprising:
 a flow control device locatable within a wall of a tubular for controlling fluid flow into the tubular; and   a fluid intake system comprising:   a manifold configured to circumscribe the tubular and comprising a plurality of circumferentially arranged inlet ports for receiving a downhole fluid into the manifold; and   a fluid outlet in communication with the flow control device to, in use, communicate downhole fluid from the manifold to the flow control device.   
     
     
         29 . The flow control system according to  claim 28 , wherein the flow control device comprises an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path extending between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the fluid intake system is in fluid communication with the inlet of the flow path. 
     
     
         30 . The flow control system according to  claim 29 , wherein the flow control device comprises a valve member disposed within the fluid flow path, the valve member being moveable in first and second reverse directions to selectively vary a flow area of the flow path. 
     
     
         31 . The flow control system according to  claim 28 , wherein the flow control device comprises a control arrangement for controlling flow through the flow control device, wherein the fluid intake system is in fluid and/or pressure communication with the control arrangement. 
     
     
         32 . The flow control system according to  claim 31 , wherein the control arrangement comprises a sealed pilot chamber, in fluid and or pressure communication with the outlet of the fluid intake system. 
     
     
         33 . The flow control system according to  claim 28 , wherein the flow control device comprises an inlet, an outlet and a flow path therebetween, and a control arrangement. 
     
     
         34 . The flow control system according to  claim 33 , wherein the fluid intake system is in communication with both the inlet and the control arrangement of the flow control device. 
     
     
         35 . The flow control system according to  claim 33 , wherein the fluid intake system is a first fluid intake system in fluid communication with the inlet of the flow control device, and the flow control system comprises a second fluid intake system in fluid and/or pressure communication with the control arrangement. 
     
     
         36 . The flow control system according to  claim 28 , comprising a pressure controller configured to manipulate the pressure of the fluid to be communicated to the flow control device. 
     
     
         37 . The flow control system according to  claim 28 , comprising a coating for interacting with the fluid flowing through the fluid intake system. 
     
     
         38 . The flow control system according to  claim 37 , wherein coating comprises a foam control coating. 
     
     
         39 .- 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . An inflow control system, comprising:
 a flow control device locatable within the wall of a tubular for controlling flow of fluid into the tubular, the flow control device comprising a flow path therethrough and a control arrangement; and   a first fluid intake system and a second fluid intake system, the first and second fluid intake systems each comprising:   a manifold, the manifold configured to circumscribe the tubular, and comprising a plurality of circumferentially arranged inlet ports for receiving a fluid into the manifold; and,   a fluid outlet in communication with the flow control device to, in use, communicate fluid from the manifold to the flow control device,
 wherein the outlet of the first fluid intake system is in fluid communication with the flow path of the inflow control device; and 
 wherein the outlet of the second fluid intake system is in fluid communication with the control arrangement of the flow control device. 
   
     
     
         42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A flow control system for delivering a fluid to a flow control device which controls fluid flow into a tubular, the flow control system comprising:
 a fluid intake system comprising a manifold configured to circumscribe the tubular and comprising a plurality of circumferentially arranged inlet ports for receiving a fluid into the manifold, and a system outlet in communication with the manifold; and   a pressure controller comprising:   an inlet configured to receive the fluid;   a first outlet, the first outlet configured to be in fluid communication with the interior of the tubular;   a flow path defined between the inlet and the first outlet, the flow path comprising a flow restriction; and   a second outlet in pressure communication with the inlet of the flow path, the second outlet configured to be connected in pressure communication with the flow control device to communicate pressure at the inlet to the flow control device.   
     
     
         44 .- 49 . (canceled)