Inflow control device

Abstract

An inflow control device for use in a well or pipeline, the inflow control device being configured to switch reversibly between an open state and a closed state, or between a closed state and an open state, the inflow control device including: a housing; a gate moveable within the housing between a closed state and an open state; the housing defining a first valve seat for receiving the gate in a closed state, and a second valve seat for receiving the gate in an open state, wherein the first valve seat and the second valve seat include one or more permanent magnets, or wherein the gate includes one or more permanent magnets.

1 . An inflow control device for use in a well or pipeline, the inflow control device being configured to switch reversibly between an open state and a closed state, or between a closed state and an open state, the inflow control device comprising:
 a housing;   a gate moveable within the housing between a closed state and an open state;   the housing defining a first valve seat for receiving the gate in a closed state, and a second valve seat for receiving the gate in an open state,   wherein the first valve seat and the second valve seat comprise one or more permanent magnets, or wherein the gate comprises one or more permanent magnets.   
     
     
         2 . The inflow control device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more electromagnets arranged within the housing, wherein a magnetic field generated by the one or more electromagnets has a first polarity controllable by an electric current in the electromagnets, wherein the one or more permanent magnets have a second polarity, and wherein the first polarity and second polarity have the same direction in a first direction of the electric current, and have an opposite direction in a second direction of the electric current. 
     
     
         3 . The inflow control device of  claim 2 , further comprising a resonant circuit, arranged to receive electromagnetic energy emitted by a mobile controller, and to electrically energise the one or more electromagnets. 
     
     
         4 . The inflow control device of  claim 1 , wherein the gate defines a central opening, and wherein the central opening is part of a fluid communication channel in the open state. 
     
     
         5 . The inflow control device of  claim 4 , wherein the gate has sidewalls which block the fluid communication channel in the closed state. 
     
     
         6 . The inflow control device of  claim 1 , wherein the gate defines side openings which can be selectively aligned with side openings in an insert of the housing extending into the gate. 
     
     
         7 . The inflow device of  claim 1 , further comprising a landing arrangement configured to spatially separate the one or more permanent magnets from their respective valve seats. 
     
     
         8 . The inflow device of  claim 1 , wherein the gate defines two opposing faces with substantially equal surface area, when projected onto a transverse plane of the inflow device. 
     
     
         9 . A wireline mobile controller, arranged to open or close an inflow control device installed in a well, the mobile controller comprising:
 a first connector for electrically connecting the mobile controller to a wireline, and a second connector for mechanically connecting the mobile controller to the wireline;   an electrical component, arranged to couple electromagnetically to the inflow control device when the electrical component is electrically energised, and to open or close the inflow control device remotely.   
     
     
         10 . The mobile controller of  claim 9 , wherein the electrical component comprises two electromagnets, arranged substantially co-axially around a core, and, in use, arranged to generate two corresponding magnetic fields with opposite polarities. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile controller of  claim 10 , wherein the two electromagnets are arranged along a longitudinal axis, and wherein the longitudinal axis substantially coincides with the main axis of a bore of the well in use. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile controller of  claim 9 , further comprising centralisers for centralising the mobile controller within the well. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile controller of  claim 9 , wherein the electrical component comprises an electromagnetic transmitter, arranged to emit an electromagnetic pulse, and an electronic circuit to send an electronic signal to the transmitter for emitting the electromagnetic pulse. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile controller of  claim 13 , wherein the electromagnetic transmitter and the electronic circuit are arranged to generate at least two electromagnetic pulses, wherein a first electromagnetic pulse has a different frequency than a second electromagnetic pulse. 
     
     
         15 . A method of controlling inflow into a well, the method comprising,
 providing an inflow control device for use in a hydrocarbon producing well, the inflow control device being configured to switch reversibly between an open state and a closed state, or between a closed state and an open state, the inflow control device comprising:   a housing;   a gate comprising one or more permanent magnets and moveable within the housing between a closed state and an open state;   the housing defining a first valve seat for receiving the gate in a closed state, and a second valve seat for receiving the gate in an open state, wherein the first valve seat and the second valve seat comprise one or more magnetisable portions,   moving a mobile controller through a bore of the well, wherein the mobile controller comprises a first connector for electrically connecting the mobile controller to a wireline, and a second connector for mechanically connecting the mobile controller to the wireline;
 an electrical component, arranged to couple electromagnetically to the inflow control device when the electrical component is electrically energised, and to open or close the inflow control device remotely, 
   opening or closing the inflow control device by electrically energising the mobile controller.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said energising the mobile controller generates one or more electromagnetic pulses emitted by the mobile controller,
 wherein said electromagnetic pulses are received by a resonant circuit provided at the inflow control device,   wherein the resonant circuit energises an electromagnet provided within the inflow control device to attract or repel said gate comprising one or more permanent magnets.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising receiving a signal from a measurement device provided on the wireline, and controlling the electric current in response to said signal. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said measurement device measures one or more of: inflow rate, fluid phase, temperature or conductivity of inflow fluid. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein measuring the fluid phase comprises measuring an inflow of water or gas into a well, and closing the inflow control device in response to said measuring of the water or the gas.