Flow device and methods of creating different pressure drops based on a direction of flow

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9909399-B2
Application number	US-201414474861-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 2, 2014
Priority date	Sep 2, 2014
Publication date	Mar 6, 2018
Grant date	Mar 6, 2018

Abstract

A flow device, includes a flow-through region comprising at least one stage and configured to create a first pressure drop across the flow-through region in response to flow through the flow-through region in a first direction and a second pressure drop in response to flow through the flow-through region in a second direction. The first pressure drop being less than the second pressure drop under the same flow rates. The flow device having no moving parts to create the difference in pressure drop between the first direction and the second direction. A method of creating different pressure drops based on a direction of flow.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wellbore flow device, comprising:
a flow-through region comprising at least one stage and configured to create a first pressure drop across the flow-through region in response to flow through the flow-through region in a first direction and a second pressure drop in response to flow through the flow-through region in a second direction, the first pressure drop being less than the second pressure drop under the same flow rates, the device including at least two pockets each having a defined area that is fluidly accessible through only a first opening, and a second opening offset from the first opening on opposing walls of the pocket and requiring all fluid flow through the at least two pockets to travel in a zig-zag pattern in both the first and second flow directions, each pocket having a baffle configured and positioned to be nearer the first opening than the second opening within the respective pocket and at least partially aligned with the first opening and misaligned with the second opening such that flow in the first direction impinges the baffle and splits, and the flow in the second direction bypasses the baffle and does not split.

2. The flow device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one stage includes a pocket having a larger cross sectional flow area than a first opening and a second opening fluidically connected to the pocket.

3. The flow device of claim 2 , wherein the first opening and the second opening serve as inlets and outlets to the pocket.

4. The flow device of claim 2 , wherein a baffle is positioned nearer to the first opening than the second opening.

5. The flow device of claim 4 , wherein the baffle has a shape from the group consisting of “U” shaped, round, oval, polyhedral, zigzagged shaped, or combinations of two or more of the foregoing.

6. The flow device of claim 4 , wherein the baffle splits the flow through the pocket into multiple flows.

7. The flow device of claim 4 , wherein the flow device is configured such that pressure drop through the pocket is less in the first direction than in a second direction when flow in the first direction is defined as being into the pocket through which ever of the first opening and the second opening is nearer to the baffle and the second direction is opposite the first direction.

8. The flow device of claim 2 , wherein walls defining at least one of the first opening and the second opening are tapered relative to a direction of flow through the at least one of the first opening and the second opening.

9. The flow device of claim 8 , wherein walls defining both the first opening and the second opening are tapered in a same direction relative to a direction of flow through both the first opening and the second opening.

10. The flow device of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first opening and the second opening has a wall that is common with the pocket.

11. The flow device of claim 1 , wherein the first pressure drop is in a range of about 40 to 60 percent of the second pressure drop with all other things being equal.

12. The flow device of claim 1 , wherein flow in the first direction is for treating an earth formation and flow in the second direction is for production from the earth formation.

13. The flow device of claim 1 , wherein a pad is positioned nearer to the first opening than the second opening such that flow through the flow device is altered more by the pad when flow is into the flow device through the second opening than when flow is into the flow device through the first opening.

14. The flow device of claim 1 , wherein, the flow device includes no moving parts to create the difference in pressure drop between the first direction and the second direction.

15. A method of creating different pressure drops based on a direction of flow through a wellbore flow device having at least two pockets, comprising:
flowing fluid at a set flow rate through a flow-through region of a flow device in a first direction through a first opening into a pocket having a defined area that is fluidly accessible through only the first opening and a second opening, the first opening and second opening being on opposing walls of the pocket, each pocket having a baffle therein configured and positioned to be nearer the first opening than the second opening within the respective pocket and at least partially aligned with the first opening and impinged by the flow in the first direction, splitting the flow, and out of the pocket through a second opening offset from the first opening, the structure requiring the flow to occur in a zig-zag pattern and creating a first pressure drop in the process; and
flowing fluid at the set flow rate through the flow-through region of the flow device in a second direction through the second opening into the pocket, the flow in the second direction bypassing the baffle, and not splitting the flow, and out of the pocket through the first opening, the structure requiring the flow to occur in a zig-zag pattern and creating a second pressure drop in the process, the first pressure drop being less than the second pressure drop.

16. The method of creating different pressure drops based on a direction of flow of claim 15 , further comprising impinging a baffle nearer to the first opening than to the second opening with fluid entering the pocket.

17. The method of creating different pressure drops based on a direction of flow of claim 16 , further comprising splitting fluid flowing through the first opening into two flow paths with the baffle.

18. The method of creating different pressure drops based on a direction of flow of claim 16 , further comprising impinging a flat surface of the baffle with fluid flowing through the first opening.

19. The method of creating different pressure drops based on a direction of flow of claim 16 , further comprising impinging a curved surface of the baffle with fluid flowing through the first opening.

20. The method of creating different pressure drops based on a direction of flow of claim 16 , further comprising impinging a concave surface of the baffle with fluid flowing through the first opening.

21. The method of creating different pressure drops based on a direction of flow of claim 16 , further comprising impinging a convex surface of the baffle with fluid flowing through the first opening.

22. The method of creating different pressure drops based on a direction of flow of claim 15 , further comprising altering flow in the second direction greater than in the first direction with a pad positioned nearer to the first opening than to the second opening.

23. The method of creating different pressure drops based on a direction of flow of claim 15 , further comprising creating the first pressure drop that is less than the second pressure drop without moving parts within the first opening, the second opening or the pocket to create the difference in pressure drop.

Assignees

• Russell Ronnie D
• Peterson Elmer Richard
• Baker Hughes A Ge Co Llc

Inventors

• Russell Ronnie D
• Peterson Elmer Richard

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