Patent ID: 8302684

Claim:
A method for controlling the flow of a multiphase fluid from a well, wherein the well is connected to a subsurface formation and comprises at least one adjustable-aperture valve located at a downstream position, the method comprising: selecting a flow parameter of the multiphase fluid, wherein the flow parameter is responsive to changes in a gas/liquid ratio of the multiphase fluid at an upstream position in the well, wherein the upstream position is near the subsurface formation; determining a desired baseline for the flow parameter; flowing the multiphase fluid at a selected aperture of the valve; estimating a current flow parameter as a function of a pressure difference over a flow restriction; comparing the estimated current flow parameter to the desired baseline of the flow parameter; and causing the estimated current flow parameter to move towards the desired baseline of the flow parameter by only adjusting the aperture of the adjustable valve, wherein the time between the comparison of the flow parameters and the adjustment of the aperture is shorter than a time needed for the multiphase fluid to travel 25% of a distance between the upstream position and the downstream position.