Autonomous valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9534470-B2
Application number	US-201113979351-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2011
Priority date	Jan 14, 2011
Publication date	Jan 3, 2017
Grant date	Jan 3, 2017

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for of controlling the flow of a fluid. The fluid comprises a liquid phase and a dissolved gas phase. The fluid passes through a valve, the valve comprising a fluid inlet and a movable body located in a flow path through the valve, the movable body being arranged to move freely relative to the opening of the inlet to vary the flow-through area through which the fluid flows by means of the Bernoulli effect. The dimensions of the valve are such that flow of the fluid past the movable body causes a drop in pressure to below the bubble point of the gas phase in the liquid phase, thereby increasing flow of the fluid through the valve.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A self-adjustable (autonomous) valve or flow control device for controlling the flow of fluid from a reservoir and into a production pipe of a well in an oil and/or gas reservoir where the production pipe includes a drainage pipe comprising at least two sections including one or more inflow control devices, between an inlet port on an inlet side to at least one outlet port on an outlet side of the flow control device, the self-adjustable valve comprising:
a freely movable valve body arranged to move by exploiting the Bernoulli effect and located in a recess in the flow control device, said valve body having a first surface directly facing the inlet port and a second surface located remote from the inlet port;
the inlet port is connected to the recess by a central aperture (opening);
the valve is arranged to guide fluid to flow into the recess through the central aperture; and
the valve is arranged to guide fluid to flow out of the recess radially across a first surface of the valve body, said first surface facing the central aperture, and past an outer peripheral surface of said valve body towards at least one outlet port,
wherein the outlet port comprises multiple apertures connected to the recess and facing the outer peripheral surface of the valve body, the outlet port being arranged to guide fluid out of the recess radially,
wherein the multiple apertures are at a location at or radially outside the outer peripheral surface of the valve body, and
wherein the multiple apertures are each connected to the recess in the radial direction of the flow control device.

2. The self-adjustable valve according to claim 1 , wherein a major portion of the outlet port is connected to the recess in a position located remote from the central aperture relative to a plane through the second surface.

3. The self-adjustable valve according to claim 1 , wherein each aperture faces the outer peripheral (circumferential) surface of the valve body.

4. The self-adjustable valve according to claim 1 , wherein the centre axis of each aperture is arranged in a plane located remote from the central aperture relative to a plane through the second surface.

5. The self-adjustable valve according to claim 1 , wherein the valve body is supported by at least three projections extending into the recess towards the second surface of the valve body.

6. The self-adjustable valve according to claim 1 , wherein the valve body comprises a circular disc.

7. The self-adjustable valve according to claim 1 , wherein the valve body has a conical shape with the apex facing the inlet port.

8. A production pipe for use in a hydrocarbon reservoir, the production pipe comprising a drainage pipe, the drainage pipe comprising at least one valve according to claim 1 , wherein the valve is arranged to control a flow of hydrocarbon fluids from the reservoir to an interior of the drainage pipe.

9. A valve for controlling the flow of a fluid into a production pipe of a well in a reservoir, wherein the reservoir is at least one of an oil reservoir and a gas reservoir, the fluid comprising a liquid phase and a dissolved gas phase, the valve comprising:
a fluid inlet;
a movable body located in a flow path from the fluid inlet through the valve, the movable body located in a recess of the valve, the movable body having a first surface directly facing the inlet port, the movable body being arranged to move freely relative to an opening of the inlet to vary the flow-through area through which the fluid flows by means of the Bernoulli effect; and
an outlet port having multiple apertures connected to the recess and facing an outer peripheral surface of the movable body, the outlet port being arranged to guide fluid out of the recess radially,
wherein the dimensions of the valve are such that flow of the fluid past the movable body causes a drop in pressure to below the bubble point of the gas phase in the liquid phase, thereby increasing flow of the fluid through the valve,
wherein each aperture of the multiple apertures is connected to the recess at a location at or radially outside the outer peripheral surface of the movable body, and
wherein each aperture is connected to the recess in the radial direction of the valve.

10. The valve according to claim 9 , wherein the movable body has a second surface located remote from the inlet port;
wherein the inlet port is connected to the recess by a central aperture such that the fluid is arranged to flow into the recess through the central aperture; and
the fluid is arranged to flow out of the recess radially across the first surface of the movable body, and past the outer peripheral surface of said movable body towards the outlet port.

11. The valve according to claim 10 , wherein a major portion of the outlet port is connected to the recess in a position located remote from the central aperture relative to a plane through the second surface.

12. The valve according to claim 10 , wherein the movable body is supported by at least three projections extending into the recess towards the second surface of the movable body.

13. The valve according to claim 9 , wherein each aperture faces the outer peripheral (circumferential) surface of the movable body.

14. The valve according to claim 9 , wherein the centre axis of each aperture is arranged in a plane located remote from the central aperture relative to a plane through the second surface.

15. The valve according to claim 9 , wherein the movable body comprises one of a circular disc, and a conical shape with the apex facing the inlet port.

16. A production pipe for use in a hydrocarbon reservoir, the production pipe comprising a drainage pipe, the drainage pipe comprising at least one valve according to claim 9 , wherein the valve is arranged to control a flow of hydrocarbon fluids from the reservoir to an interior of the drainage pipe.

17. A method of controlling the flow of a fluid into a production pipe of a well in a reservoir, wherein the reservoir is at least one of an oil reservoir and a gas reservoir, the fluid comprising a liquid phase and a dissolved gas phase, the method comprising allowing the fluid to pass through a valve, the valve comprising a fluid inlet, a movable body located in a flow path through the valve, the movable body located in a recess of the valve, the movable body having a first surface directly facing the inlet port, the movable body being arranged to move freely relative to the opening of the inlet to vary the flow-through area through which the fluid flows by means of the Bernoulli effect, and an outlet port having multiple apertures connected to the recess and facing an outer peripheral surface of the valve body, the outlet port being arranged to guide fluid out of the recess radially,
wherein the dimensions of the valve are such that flow of the fluid past the movable body causes a drop in pressure to below the bubble point of the gas phase in the liquid phase, thereby increasing flow of the fluid through the valve,
wherein the multiple apertures are at a location at or radially outside the outer peripheral surface of the valve body, and
wherein the multiple apertures are each connected to the recess in the radial direction of the flow control device.

Assignees

• Aakre Haavard
• Mathiesen Vidar
• Werswick Bjørnar
• Statoil Petroleum As

Inventors

• Aakre Haavard
• Mathiesen Vidar
• Werswick Bjørnar

Classifications

• E21B34/08 Primary

  responsive to flow or pressure of the fluid obtained (E21B34/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B43/12

  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

• E21B2200/02

  Down-hole chokes or valves for variably regulating fluid flow · CPC title