Patent ID: 7419002

Claim:
A flow control device for controlling inflow of reservoir fluids into a production tubing of a well that penetrates at least one underground reservoir, said flow control device comprising: a flow channel positioned along the production tubing and including (a) at least one through-going pipe wall opening in a base pipe of the production tubing, (b) an external annular cavity having a downstream end hydraulically connected to the through-going pipe wall opening in the base pipe, and having an upstream end hydraulically connected to an inlet for the reservoir fluids, and (c) at least one flow restriction for restricting the inflow of reservoir fluids; wherein said external annular cavity is defined between said upstream and downstream ends and between the base pipe and an external housing connected to the base pipe; wherein at least one position along the production tubing is provided with said flow restriction; wherein the flow restriction comprises a removable and replaceable insert, wherein the insert is placed in a mating formation in the pipe wall opening; and wherein said flow restriction comprises at least one of a nozzle and an orifice formed in the insert and arranged to convert the pressure energy of the inflow of reservoir fluids into velocity energy and thereby facilitate impact energy loss via fluid particle collision downstream of the flow restriction; wherein the insert is externally circular, and wherein the pipe wall opening is a complementary insert bore; and wherein the insert bore is positioned immediately inside of a corresponding, through-going access bore in said external housing, whereby access to the insert bore in the base pipe is provided via the access bore.