Downhole flow control assemblies and erosion mitigation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10358899-B2
Application number	US-201615505065-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 17, 2016
Priority date	Mar 17, 2016
Publication date	Jul 23, 2019
Grant date	Jul 23, 2019

Abstract

A flow control assembly having a body defining a central flow passage and one or more lateral flow openings that facilitate fluid communication between the central flow passage and an exterior of the body, and a flow trim positioned within the central flow passage and defining one or more flow orifices aligned with the lateral flow openings. A flow closure member is positioned within the central flow passage and movable between a closed position, where the lateral flow openings and the flow orifices are occluded to prevent fluid flow through the lateral flow openings, and an open position, where the lateral flow openings and the flow orifices are at least partially exposed to facilitate fluid flow through the lateral flow openings. A sacrificial nose radially interposes the flow closure member and the flow trim to mitigate erosion of the flow closure member.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A flow control assembly, comprising:
a body defining a central flow passage and one or more lateral flow openings for fluid communication between the central flow passage and an exterior of the body;
a flow trim positioned within the central flow passage and defining one or more flow orifices aligned with the one or more lateral flow openings and wherein the one or more flow orifices extend helically about a circumference of the flow trim;
a flow closure member positioned within the central flow passage and movable between a closed position, where the one or more lateral flow openings and the one or more flow orifices are occluded to prevent fluid flow through the one or more lateral flow openings, and an open position, where the one or more lateral flow openings and the one or more flow orifices are at least partially exposed to facilitate fluid flow through the one or more lateral flow openings; and
a sacrificial nose radially interposing the flow closure member and the flow trim to mitigate erosion of the flow closure member.

2. The flow control assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sacrificial nose comprises an erosion-resistant material selected from the group consisting of a carbide grade, a carbide embedded in a matrix of cobalt or nickel, a ceramic, a surface hardened metal, a surface coated metal, a cermet-based material, a metal matrix composite, a nanocrystalline metallic alloy, an amorphous alloy, a hard metallic alloy, diamond, and any combination thereof.

3. The flow control assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
an annular channel defined on an outer surface of the flow closure member and providing a first axial end and a second axial end opposite the first axial end; and
a radial projection extending radially inward from the sacrificial nose and received within the annular channel, the radial projection providing a first shoulder and a second shoulder opposite the first shoulder.

4. The flow control assembly of claim 3 , wherein the radial projection exhibits a first axial length and the annular channel exhibits a second axial length greater than the first axial length such that an axial gap is formed between the first axial end and the first shoulder when the second axial end and the second shoulder are axially engaged, and such that the axial gap is alternatively formed between the second axial end and the second shoulder when the first axial end and the first shoulder are axially engaged.

5. The flow control assembly of claim 3 , wherein the flow closure member is axially displaceable with respect to the sacrificial nose to axially displace the radial projection within the annular channel between the first and second axial ends.

6. The flow control assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flow closure member is selected from the group consisting of a sliding sleeve, a rotating sleeve, a sliding plug, a rotating ball, an oscillating vane, an opening pocket, an opening window, a valve, and any combination thereof.

7. The flow control assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flow trim comprises an annular wall and each flow orifice is defined through the annular wall at an angle offset from a longitudinal axis of the flow trim.

8. The flow control assembly of claim 1 , wherein a width of at least one of the one or more flow orifices varies along an angular length of the at least one of the one or more flow orifices.

9. A well system, comprising:
a tubing string extendable within a wellbore,
at least one flow control assembly coupled to the tubing string and including:
a body defining a central flow passage and one or more lateral flow openings for fluid communication between the central flow passage and an exterior of the body, wherein the central flow passage is in fluid communication with the tubing string;
a flow trim positioned within the central flow passage and defining one or more flow orifices aligned with the one or more lateral flow openings, wherein the one or more flow orifices extend helically about a circumference of the flow trim;
a flow closure member positioned within the central flow passage and movable between a closed position, where the one or more lateral flow openings and the one or more flow orifices are occluded to prevent fluid flow through the one or more lateral flow openings, and an open position, where the one or more lateral flow openings and the one or more flow orifices are at least partially exposed to facilitate fluid flow through the one or more lateral flow openings; and
a sacrificial nose radially interposing the flow closure member and the flow trim to mitigate erosion of the flow closure member.

10. The well system of claim 9 , wherein the sacrificial nose comprises an erosion-resistant material selected from the group consisting of a carbide grade, a carbide embedded in a matrix of cobalt or nickel, a ceramic, a surface hardened metal, a surface coated metal, a cermet-based material, a metal matrix composite, a nanocrystalline metallic alloy, an amorphous alloy, a hard metallic alloy, diamond, and any combination thereof.

11. The well system of claim 9 , further comprising:
an annular channel defined on an outer surface of the flow closure member and providing a first axial end and a second axial end opposite the first axial end; and
a radial projection extending radially inward from the sacrificial nose and received within the annular channel, the radial projection providing a first shoulder and a second shoulder opposite the first shoulder.

12. The well system of claim 11 , wherein the radial projection exhibits a first axial length and the annular channel exhibits a second axial length greater than the first axial length such that an axial gap is formed between the first axial end and the first shoulder when the second axial end and the second shoulder are axially engaged, and such that the axial gap is alternatively formed between the second axial end and the second shoulder when the first axial end and the first shoulder are axially engaged.

13. The well system of claim 9 , wherein the flow trim comprises an annular wall and each flow orifice is defined through the annular wall at an angle offset from a longitudinal axis of the flow trim.

14. A method, comprising:
introducing a tubing string into a wellbore, the tubing string having at least one flow control assembly coupled thereto and the at least one flow control assembly including:
a body defining one or more lateral flow openings for fluid communication between a central flow passage of the body and the wellbore, wherein the central flow passage is in fluid communication with the tubing string;
a flow trim positioned within the central flow passage and defining one or more flow orifices aligned with the one or more lateral flow openings, wherein the one or more flow orifices extend helically about a circumference of the flow trim;
a flow closure member movably positioned within the body; and
a sacrificial nose radially interposing the flow closure member and the flow trim;

actuating the flow closure member to regulate a flow of a fluid through the one or more lateral flow openings; and

mitigating erosion of the flow closure member caused by the fluid with the sacrificial nose.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein an annular channel is defined on an outer surface of the flow closure member and provides a first axial end and a second axial end opposite the first axial end, a radial projection extends radially inward from the sacrificial nose and is received within the annular channel and provides a first shoulder and a second shoulder opposite the first shoulder, and wherein a

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• El Mallawany Ibrahim
• Asthana Pranay

Classifications

• E21B43/12 Primary

  Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells (E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00) · CPC title

• E21B34/06 Primary

  in wells · CPC title

• E21B43/38

  in the well · CPC title

• E21B43/14

  Obtaining from a multiple-zone well · CPC title

• E21B34/14

  operated by movement of tools, e.g. sleeve valves operated by pistons or wire line tools {(E21B34/066 takes precedence)} · CPC title