Abstract:
A production system includes, a tubular having a plurality of sets of ports therethrough spaced longitudinally therealong positionable within a structure, at least one screen radial of the tubular defining an annulus between the structure and the at least one screen, at least one solids control mechanism configured to fill the annulus, and a plurality of flow restrictors. At least one of the flow restrictors is in operable communication with each of the plurality of sets of ports and is configured to generate different restrictions to a same flow rate through each of the plurality of sets of ports

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Tubular flow restrictors have been successfully employed to generate restrictions to flow for years. Torturous path flow restrictors employ passageways through helical or labyrinth shaped channels, for example, to generate restrictions to flow. Although such restrictors serve the function intended, the restriction is defined by channel geometry and as such is not adjustable once constructed. Operators are always receptive to new devices and methods to provide increased adjustability and control of the restriction generated in response to a particular flow rate. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
       [0002]    Disclosed herein is a production system. The system includes, a tubular having a plurality of sets of ports therethrough spaced longitudinally therealong positionable within a structure, at least one screen radial of the tubular defining an annulus between the structure and the at least one screen, at least one solids control mechanism configured to fill the annulus, and a plurality of flow restrictors. At least one of the flow restrictors is in operable communication with each of the plurality of sets of ports and is configured to generate different restrictions to a same flow rate through each of the plurality of sets of ports. 
         [0003]    Further disclosed herein is a method of varying restrictions to flow along a production system. The method includes, filling an annulus defined between a structure and a screened tubular with at least one solids control mechanism, flowing substantially a same flow through the at least one solids control mechanism and through each of a plurality of sets of ports, wherein each set of ports is longitudinally distributed along a tubular from each other of the plurality of sets of ports, and adjusting one or more flow restrictors in operable communication with each of the plurality of sets of ports to generate a selected restriction level therewith in response to a selected flow therethrough. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of a portion of production system disclosed herein; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  depicts a cross sectional view of a portion of the production system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  depicts a partially sectioned perspective view of the production system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  depicts a cross sectional view of the production system of  FIG. 1  taken at arrows  4 - 4  with the flow restrictors in nonrestrictive positions; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  depicts a cross sectional view of the production system of  FIG. 1  taken at arrows  4 - 4  with the flow restrictors in restrictive positions; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  depicts a perspective view of a portion of an alternate production system disclosed herein; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  depicts a cross sectional view of a portion of the production system of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  depicts a partially sectioned perspective view of the and production system of  FIG. 6 ; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  depicts a cross sectional view of the production system of  FIG. 6  taken at arrows  9 - 9  with the flow restrictors in nonrestrictive positions. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures. 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , a portion of a production system disclosed herein is illustrated at  10 . The system  10  includes, a tubular  14  having a plurality of sets of ports  18 , at least one solids control mechanism  22 , a plurality of screens  26  and a plurality of flow restrictors  30 . The foregoing are distributed longitudinally along the tubular  14  in sets such that each set includes at least one of the sets of ports  18 , the solids control mechanisms  22 , the screens  26  and the flow restrictors  30 .  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  each show a portion of a single set. Although fluid can flow through each set in either direction, an example of flow through the set in the Figures is described herein as flowing radially inwardly through the solids control mechanism(s)  22 . After flowing through the solids control mechanism(s)  22  the fluid flows radially inwardly through the screens  26 , longitudinally in an annular space  34  defined between the screens  26  and the tubular  14 , longitudinally through the flow restrictor(s)  30  and then radially through the set of ports  18  as indicated by the dashed line arrow  38 . The flow restrictor(s)  30  of each set along the longitudinal length of the tubular  14  can be adjusted independently to create a selected restriction to a same flow through each set. Doing so allows an operator to establish a greater restriction at a position along the tubular that is, in this embodiment for example, further downstream than at a position further upstream to balance, or equalize, flow through each set with the flow through the other sets. 
         [0016]    The solids control mechanism(s)  22  in this embodiment is expandable such that once it is placed within a structure  40 , illustrated herein as a wellbore in an earth formation  41 , it can expand to make contact with walls  44  of the wellbore  40  thereby filling an annulus defined between the screen  26  and the walls  44 . The solids control mechanism(s)  22  may be a gravel pack, a permeable polymer that solidifies after filling the annulus, or foam, such as foam made of a shape memory material, for example, that upon increases in temperature expands to a larger volume. In an embodiment employing foam, contact with the walls  44  prior to the foam reaching its maximum expanded volume can result in the foam applying pressure to the walls  44 . Such pressure eliminates any annular fluid passageway between the foam and the walls  44  that, if present, could allow fluid to flow longitudinally therethrough causing erosion and damage to the walls  44  in the process. 
         [0017]    Although the embodiment illustrated shows the screen  26  as being a perforated sleeve, alternate embodiment are contemplated wherein the screen  26  is any structurally supportive member that allows fluid flow therethrough. Wire mesh that has wire wound into a tubular shape while leaving clearance between individual wire strands, for example, could be employed as the screen  26   
         [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , each set of the embodiment illustrated also includes a collar  42  with longitudinal bores  46  (also visible in  FIG. 2 ). The flow restrictors  30  interface with the bores  42  to restrict flow therethrough. Specifically, in this embodiment, a traveler  50  is threadably engaged with a threaded locator  54  that is maintained positionally in the collar  42  by a plug  58 . Rotation of the threaded locator  54  causes the traveler  50  to move along the threads  62  of the threaded locator  54  within the collar  42 . The traveler  50  intersects with the bore  46  such that it fully occludes the bore  46  when the traveler  50  is positioned furthest from a head  66  of the threaded locator  54  and does not occlude the bore  46  at all when the traveler  50  is at a position closest to the head  66 . Positioning the traveler  50  at positions between these two extremes can cause a variable amount of restriction to flow through the bore  46 . Although this embodiment has four flow restrictors  30 , any practical number that can fit within the collar  42  are contemplated. 
         [0019]    It should be noted that although multiple solids control mechanisms  22  are illustrated in the embodiment herein as being individual pieces separated from one another by the collar  42  (among other things), a longitudinally continuous solids control mechanism  22  that perimetrically surrounds the collar (not shown) is also contemplated. 
         [0020]    Referring again to  FIG. 2 , a seal  70  sealingly engages the collar  42  to the tubular  14  thereby preventing fluid from flow therebetween, consequently the fluid is forced to flow through the bores  46  and the flow restrictors  30  before it can flow through the set of ports  18 . Additional seals  70  prevent fluid from flowing anywhere other than through the set of ports  18 . Spacers  74 , positioned between adjacent sets, are fixedly positioned along the tubular  14  with threaded members  78  that frictionally engage with the tubular  14 . 
         [0021]      FIGS. 6-9  are similar views to  FIGS. 1-4  illustrating an alternate embodiment of a production system  110  disclosed herein. Like elements in this embodiment are identified with the same reference characters used above to describe the production system  10 . As such, only differences between the two embodiments will be described in detail hereunder. The device  110  primarily differs from the device  10  in the flow path between the annular space  34  and the set of ports  18 , which is depicted by dashed line arrow  112 . An internal recess  116  in the inner radial surface  120  of the collar  124  allows for one less seal  70  to be employed in comparison to the device  10 . However, plugs  128  are used to block a portion of the bores  132  that would otherwise allow fluid to flow back out through the solids control mechanism(s)  22 . 
         [0022]    Additionally, the device  110  employs three flow restrictors  136  instead of four as used in the device  10 . Each of the flow restrictors  136  employs two travelers  140  that interact with the bores  132  to restrict flow therethrough. The travelers  140  are similar to set screws that threadably engage directly into threaded holes  144  in the collar  124 . 
         [0023]    While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.