Flow management systems and related methods for oil and gas applications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022011790-A1
Application number	US-202016923771-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 8, 2020
Priority date	Jul 8, 2020
Publication date	Jan 13, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A flow management system includes an adjustable compactor configured for attachment to a wall surface of a conduit and being adjustable between an extended configuration and a reference configuration, an electric actuator in fluid communication with the adjustable compactor, and a control module. The control module is configured to control the electric actuator to flow a current to the adjustable compactor to generate an electric field that causes extension of the adjustable compactor for compacting a flow blockage within the conduit to create a channel adjacent the flow blockage and to terminate a flow of the current to remove the electric field at the adjustable compactor to cause the adjustable compactor to return to the reference configuration for opening the channel to a fluid flow within the conduit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A flow management system, comprising:
an adjustable compactor configured for attachment to a wall surface of a conduit and being adjustable between an extended configuration and a reference configuration; an electric actuator in fluid communication with the adjustable compactor; and a control module configured to control the electric actuator to:
flow a current to the adjustable compactor to generate an electric field that causes extension of the adjustable compactor for compacting a flow blockage within the conduit to create a channel adjacent the flow blockage, and
terminate a flow of the current to remove the electric field at the adjustable compactor to cause the adjustable compactor to return to the reference configuration for opening the channel to a fluid flow within the conduit.

2 . The flow management system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable compactor comprises a shape-adjustable device.

3 . The flow management system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable compactor comprises an electrosensitive device configured to deform under a force of the electric field.

4 . The flow management system of claim 3 , wherein the adjustable compactor comprises a core layer and an outer protective layer that surrounds the core layer.

5 . The flow management system of claim 4 , wherein the core layer comprises one or more electroactive polymer materials.

6 . The flow management system of claim 4 , wherein the outer protective layer comprises a corrosion-resistant material.

7 . The flow management system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable compactor is an elongate structure.

8 . The flow management system of claim 7 , wherein the adjustable compactor is configured to deform radially inward with respect to the conduit to compact the flow blockage and to deform radially outward with respect to the conduit to expose the channel.

9 . The flow management system of claim 1 , wherein the electric actuator is disposed at a surface above a formation in which the conduit is disposed.

10 . The flow management system of claim 1 , wherein the electric actuator is disposed at a seabed in which the conduit is disposed.

11 . The flow management system of claim 1 , wherein the electric actuator is disposed in an autonomous vehicle or is fixedly installed to a generator.

12 . The flow management system of claim 1 , further comprising an actuation line that extends from the electric actuator to an electrical connector at the adjustable compactor.

13 . The flow management system of claim 12 , further comprising an electrical cable that extends from the electrical connector along a length of the adjustable compactor.

14 . The flow management system of claim 12 , wherein the actuation line comprises an electrical cable.

15 . The flow management system of claim 1 , further comprising a flow rate sensor for determining a flow rate of fluid flowing within the conduit.

16 . The flow management system of claim 15 , wherein the controller is operable to control the electric actuator based on data acquired by the flow rate sensor.

17 . The flow management system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of straps for securing the adjustable compactor to the conduit.

18 . The flow management system of claim 17 , wherein each strap of the plurality of straps is adjustable in diameter.

19 . The flow management system of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of straps is distributed along an entire length of the adjustable compactor.

20 . The flow management system of claim 17 , further comprising a protective cover arranged along an outer side of the adjustable compactor.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Shariff Maher Maqbool
• Makogon Taras Yurievich

Classifications

• G05D7/0629 Primary

  characterised by the type of regulator means · CPC title

• F16L55/24 Primary

  Preventing accumulation of dirt or other matter in pipes, e.g. by traps, by strainers · CPC title

• E21B41/0007

  for underwater installations (E21B41/005, E21B41/04, E21B41/06, E21B41/08, E21B41/10 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B23/00

  Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells (setting of casings, screens or liners E21B43/10) · CPC title

• F16L55/00

  Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems (F16L1/00 - F16L53/00, F16L57/00, F16L59/00 take precedence; repairing or joining pipes on or under water F16L1/26; cleaning of pipes B08B9/02, e.g. removal of blockages B08B9/027; devices for preventing bursting of water pipes by freezing E03B7/10) · CPC title