U.S. patent application number 15/102113 was filed with the patent office on 2016-10-20 for fluidic adjustable choke.
The applicant listed for this patent is Michael Linley Fripp, Christopher Michael McMillan, Gregory Thomas Werkheiser. Invention is credited to Michael Linley Fripp, Christopher Michael McMillan, Gregory Thomas Werkheiser.
Application Number | 20160305216 15/102113 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53493783 |
Filed Date | 2016-10-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160305216 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fripp; Michael Linley ; et
al. |
October 20, 2016 |
FLUIDIC ADJUSTABLE CHOKE
Abstract
A surface well choke system has a flow chamber and a fluid
switch. The flow chamber has a first flow chamber inlet with more
resistance to flow to an outlet than a second flow chamber inlet
has to flow to the outlet. The fluid switch has a first flow path
from a fluid switch inlet to the first flow chamber inlet, a second
flow path from the fluid switch inlet to the second flow chamber
inlet, and a movable flow deflector upstream of the first and
second flow paths. The movable flow deflector is actuable to
deflect flow from the fluid switch inlet to the first flow path or
the second flow path.
Inventors: |
Fripp; Michael Linley;
(Carrollton, TX) ; McMillan; Christopher Michael;
(Wylie, TX) ; Werkheiser; Gregory Thomas; (Dallas,
TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Fripp; Michael Linley
McMillan; Christopher Michael
Werkheiser; Gregory Thomas |
Carrollton
Wylie
Dallas |
TX
TX
TX |
US
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
53493783 |
Appl. No.: |
15/102113 |
Filed: |
December 30, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
December 30, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2013/078288 |
371 Date: |
June 6, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 34/08 20130101;
E21B 33/03 20130101; E21B 34/02 20130101; E21B 43/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E21B 34/02 20060101
E21B034/02; E21B 33/03 20060101 E21B033/03 |
Claims
1. A surface well choke system, comprising: a flow chamber
comprising a first flow chamber inlet that has more resistance to
flow to an outlet than a second flow chamber inlet has to flow to
the outlet; and a fluid switch comprising: a first flow path from a
fluid switch inlet to the first flow chamber inlet; and a second
flow path from the fluid switch inlet to the second flow chamber
inlet; a movable flow deflector actuable to deflect flow from the
fluid switch inlet to the first flow path or the second flow
path.
2. The surface well choke system of claim 1, where the movable flow
deflector is between a retracted position and an extended position
and continuously adjustable therebetween.
3. The surface well choke system of claim 1, comprising a
controller communicably coupled to an actuator of the movable flow
deflector, the controller to operate the actuator at a specified
duty cycle.
4. The surface well choke system of claim 3, where the controller
is to operate the actuator at a specified duty cycle of 0.001 to 1
Hertz.
5. The surface well choke system of claim 3, where the movable flow
deflector resides in an inlet flow path of the fluid switch, and
the actuator stroke is 30% or less of the diameter of the inlet
flow path.
6. The surface well choke system of claim 1, comprising: a sensor
to sense a characteristic of fluid that flows through the surface
well choke system; and a controller communicably coupled to an
actuator of the moveable flow deflector, the controller to operate
the actuator.
7. The surface well choke system of claim 1, where the fluid switch
comprises a wellhead attachment flange.
8. The surface well choke system of claim 1, where the first inlet
comprises an indirect flow inlet and the second inlet comprises a
direct flow inlet that is oriented to direct incoming flow more
directly to the outlet than the indirect flow inlet.
9. The surface well choke system of claim 8, where the flow chamber
comprises a curved sidewall apart from the outlet; and where the
indirect inlet is oriented to direct incoming flow substantially
parallel to a tangent of the curved sidewall and the direct inlet
is oriented to direct incoming flow at the outlet.
10. The surface well choke system of claim 1, comprising a bypass
flow path to bypass flow around the flow chamber and the fluid
switch, comprising an inlet about the inlet to the fluid switch and
an outlet about the outlet of the flow chamber.
11. The surface well choke system of claim 1, comprising a second
flow chamber and a second fluid switch in fluidic parallel to the
first mentioned flow chamber and first mentioned fluid switch.
12. A method, comprising: directing a fluid flow from a wellhead
through a first flow path of a surface well choke to an outlet of
the surface well choke with a first flow resistance; moving a fluid
deflector in the fluid flow; and directing the fluid flow, with the
fluid deflector, through a second, different flow path of the
surface well choke to the outlet with a second, different flow
resistance.
13. The method of claim 12, comprising moving the fluid deflector
in the fluid flow to an initial position and directing the fluid
flow through the first flow path.
14. The method of claim 13, comprising cycling the fluid deflector
between the initial position and another position at a rate of
0.001 to 1 Hertz.
15. The method of claim 12, where directing the fluid flow through
the second flow path comprises directing the fluid flow through an
indirect path to the outlet and directing the fluid flow through
the first flow path comprises directing the fluid flow through a
more direct path to the outlet.
16. The method of claim 12, comprising directing a portion of the
fluid flow through a bypass concurrently while directing another
portion of the fluid flow through the first flow path and the
second flow path.
17. A surface well choke system, comprising: a flow chamber
comprising a first flow chamber inlet that has more resistance to
flow to an outlet than a second flow chamber inlet has to flow to
the outlet; a fluid switch comprising: a first flow path from a
fluid switch inlet to the first flow chamber inlet; a second flow
path from the fluid switch inlet to the second flow chamber inlet;
and a movable flow deflector actuable to deflect flow from the
fluid switch inlet to the first flow path or the second flow path;
and a controller communicably coupled to an actuator of the movable
flow deflector, the controller to operate the actuator upon user
input.
18. The surface well choke system of claim 17, comprising at least
one sensor communicably coupled to the controller to sense a
characteristic of fluid that flows through the well choke
system.
19. The surface well choke system of claim 18, comprising: a first
sensor upstream of the flow chamber to sense a first characteristic
of fluid; and a second sensor downstream of the flow chamber to
sense a second characteristic of fluid.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a U.S. National Phase Application under
35 U.S.C. .sctn.371 and claims the benefit of priority to
International Application Serial No. PCT/US2013/078288, filed on
Dec. 30, 2013, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure relates to surface well choke systems
and methods for controlling the flow of fluid to and from a
well.
[0003] Surface well choke systems used on production wells
typically restrict fluid flow from an inlet to an outlet by a
manually adjustable hand wheel or power actuator that moves a
tapered stem into and out of a choke seat. These types of choke
mechanisms are imprecise and slow to respond to change the fluid
restriction. Additionally, the interface between the tapered stem
and seat is subject to debris contamination and erosion over
time.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of an
example well system with a surface well choke system.
[0005] FIGS. 2A and 2B are a schematic cross-sectional front view
(FIG. 2A) and a side view (FIG. 2B) of an example well choke that
can be used in the surface well choke system of FIG. 1.
[0006] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example
well choke system incorporating an example bypass.
[0007] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example
well choke system incorporating parallel well chokes.
[0008] Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like
elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] Referring first to FIG. 1, an example well system 10
includes a substantially cylindrical wellbore 12 that extends from
a wellhead 14 at the surface 16 downward into the Earth into one or
more subterranean zones of interest 18 (one shown). In certain
instances, the formations of the subterranean zone are hydrocarbon
bearing, such as oil and/or gas deposits, and the well system 10
will be used in producing the hydrocarbons and/or used in aiding
production of the hydrocarbons from another well (e.g., as an
injection or observation well). Notably, the example well system 10
is described herein for convenience of reference only, and the
concepts herein are applicable to virtually any type of well. The
wellhead 14 has a flange 22 for attaching equipment to the wellhead
14. A well choke system 24 is shown attached to the wellhead 14,
for example, by a corresponding wellhead attachment flange 23 of
the choke system 24 being bolted and/or otherwise affixed to the
flange 22. The well choke system 24 is further shown coupled to
pipeline 26, for example, a production or injection pipe. Fluids
travel between the wellbore 12 and the pipeline, through the
wellhead 14 and well choke system 24.
[0010] Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, an example well choke 100 that
can be used in a well choke system 24 is shown in a detail
cross-sectional front view and a side view, respectively, to show
the working aspects of the choke. The well choke 100 controls the
flow of fluid from its inlet to its outlet, or in the context of
the well system 10 of FIG. 1, the flow between the wellhead 14 and
pipeline 26. In certain instances, the well choke 100 is full bore,
where the smallest flow area through the choke 100, including an
inlet and outlet of the choke 100, is the same (precisely or
substantially) or larger than the flow area through the wellhead
14. In certain instances, the smallest diameters through the inlet
and the outlet of the choke 100 are the same as or larger than the
bore diameter of the wellhead 14. In other instances, the well
choke 100 can have other, different flow areas or inner
diameters.
[0011] The well choke 100 has a main body 101 that internally
defines a fluid switch 102 and a variable flow resistance flow
chamber 104. The inlet to the fluid switch 102 functions as an
inlet of the well choke 100. The fluid switch 102, as discussed in
more detail below, determines the path of the fluid flow through
the well choke 100. The outlet from flow chamber 104 functions as
an outlet of the well choke 100 and houses pathways of high and low
flow rate reduction.
[0012] The flow chamber 104 has an indirect flow chamber inlet 106
and a direct flow chamber inlet 108, where the indirect flow
chamber inlet 106 presents a flow path with more resistance to flow
to an exit outlet 110 than the direct flow chamber inlet 108. The
exit outlet 110 supplies fluid to the outlet of the well choke 100.
The flow chamber 104 has a sidewall 105 apart from the exit outlet
110 and that defines the flow chamber inlets 106 and 108. FIGS. 2A
and 2B show a generally disk shaped chamber, where the sidewall 105
is curved to form a circular shape and the chamber has a low height
to diameter aspect ratio. The exit outlet 110 is shown as circular
opening in an end wall, near the center of the flow chamber 104,
and in certain instances, with a center on the center axis of the
flow chamber 104. In other instances, the shape of the chamber,
shape of the sidewalls, exit location, exit orientation and/or exit
shape could be different. For example, the chamber need not be disk
shaped, but rather could be rectangular, spherical, and/or other
shape.
[0013] The indirect flow chamber inlet 106 opens an indirect flow
path 114 to the flow chamber 104 and directs incoming flow in a
trajectory that is not directly toward the exit outlet 110. This
indirect trajectory provides a higher reduction in flow rate
towards the exit outlet 110 than a more direct trajectory would,
because instead of flowing directly toward the outlet 110, the flow
tends to circle the outlet 110 in sequentially smaller circles
until it reaches the outlet 110. In instances having a curved
sidewall 105, the curvature of the sidewall 105 facilitates this
circling by redirecting impinging and nearby flow to circle around
the outlet 110. In certain instances, the inlet 106 directs flow in
a trajectory parallel to the tangent of the curved sidewall 105.
The indirect flow chamber inlet 106 results in restriction in net
fluid flow rate while substantially maintaining flow velocity from
the indirect flow chamber inlet 106 to the exit outlet 110, because
the restriction is produced by the longer flow path and not a
reduction in flow area. This rapidly reduces fluid flow rate while
maintaining a large pressure drop.
[0014] The direct flow chamber inlet 108 opens a direct flow path
116 to the flow chamber 104 and directs incoming flow more directly
to the exit outlet 110 than the indirect flow inlet 106. In certain
instances, the direct flow chamber inlet directs incoming flow
directly to the outlet 110, for example, radially in an embodiment
having a circular exit outlet 110. This more direct flow provides
lower reduction in fluid flow rate towards the exit outlet 110 than
the fluid flow from the indirect inlet 106, because the flow tends
to flow in a substantially straight and direct path from the direct
flow chamber inlet 108 to the exit outlet 110. In certain
instances, the direct flow chamber inlet 108 additionally has an
island along the centerline of the direct flow chamber inlet 108
that straightens fluid flow as it passes through the direct flow
chamber inlet 108 toward the exit outlet 110.
[0015] The fluid switch 102 controls the path, and thus the
resistance to flow rate, of the fluid flow through the well choke
100. The fluid switch 102 has a fluid switch inlet 112, the
indirect flow path 114 directed towards the indirect flow chamber
inlet 106, the direct flow path 116 directed towards the direct
flow chamber inlet 108, and a movable flow deflector 118.
[0016] The fluid switch 102 is upstream relative to the flow
chamber 104. The fluid switch inlet 112 receives flow from the
inlet to the choke 100. In certain instances, the fluid switch
inlet 112 has the same flow area (e.g., same diameter) as the exit
outlet 110 of the flow chamber 104. In other instances, the flow
area of the exit outlet 110 and fluid switch inlet 112 can be
different. In certain instances, the direct flow path 116 is linear
(substantially or precisely) from the fluid switch inlet 112 to the
direct flow chamber inlet 108, tracking along a sidewall of the
fluid switch 102. The fluid switch 102 also has an angled offset
pathway that defines the indirect flow path 114. As shown, the
indirect flow path 114 tracks a curved sidewall leading to the
indirect flow chamber inlet 106, but could be shaped
differently.
[0017] The movable flow deflector 118 is located upstream of the
indirect flow path 114 and direct flow path 116. The deflector 118
is moved in the flow by an actuator 119. The flow deflector 118 is
shown residing opposite the indirect flow path 114. Thus, movement
of the flow deflector 118 into the flow, toward the indirect flow
path 114 deflects the fluid flow down the indirect flow path 114,
or movement of the deflector 118 out of the flow, away from the
indirect flow path 114, allows the fluid to flow down the direct
flow path 116. The fluid deflector 118 need not fully close off the
direct flow path 116 to direct flow down the indirect flow path
114, but rather creates a perturbation to the flow that tends to
deflect the flow to the indirect flow path 114. Displacing the
deflector 118 from flush with the wall of the inlet 112 to 20%-30%
of the transverse dimension of the flow area (e.g., diameter) is
enough to deflect the fluid flow to flow (substantially or wholly)
along the indirect flow path 114. In other applications, depending
on flow rate and shape of the deflection, displacing the deflection
118 from flush with the wall of the inlet to 10% of the transverse
dimension of the flow area is enough to deflect the flow while in
other applications, displacements in excess of 50% are needed. No
displacement of the movable flow deflector 118 into the inlet flow
path of the fluid switch 102 allows the fluid to flow along the
direct flow path 116. Notably, the moveable flow deflector 118 need
not be moved to its full extent into the flow. For example, the
flow deflector 118 can be continuously adjustable between a
retracted position (e.g., flush with the wall of the inlet 112 or
other) and its full extent. Each intermediate position provides a
different degree of perturbation to the flow, and thus, deflects
different amounts of flow along the direct flow path 116 and the
indirect flow path 114. Also, although only one flow deflector 118
is shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, in other instances, more than one
could be provided. In certain instances, multiple flow deflectors
118 are provided on the same side of the flow, on opposite sides of
the flow or otherwise arranged.
[0018] The actuator 119 of the movable flow deflector 118 can take
many forms. In certain instances, the actuator 119 is a solenoid,
locking solenoid, piezoceramic, voice coil, motor, magnetostrictor,
ferroelectric, relaxor ferroelectric, pump, bellow, blower, a
combination thereof, and/or others.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 3, another configuration of well choke
100' that can be used in a well choke system 24 is shown in front
cross-sectional view. The well choke 100' is like the choke 100 of
FIGS. 2A and 2B, including a fluid switch 102, moveable flow
deflector 118, indirect flow path 114, direct flow path 116,
variable flow resistance flow chamber 104, and exit outlet 110. The
well choke 100' additionally has a parallel bypass flow path 200
that allows a portion of the flow through the choke 100' to bypass
(and thus not flow through) the fluid switch 102 and flow chamber
104. The bypass 200 lessens the effect of the flow chamber 104 in
changing the total flow through the choke 100'.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 4, another configuration of well choke
100'' that can be used in a well choke system 24 is shown in front
cross-sectional view. The well choke 100'' has two parallel paths,
each with its own fluid switch 102, moveable flow deflector 118,
indirect flow path 114, direct flow path 116, variable flow
resistance flow chamber 104, and exit outlet 110. In other
instances, additional parallel paths, with or without a switch,
deflector and chamber, can be provided. The moveable flow
deflectors 118 can be actuated independently, allowing none, one or
both of the flow chambers 104 to provide resistance at a given
time. Therefore, instead of providing binary changes in flow
resistance, the two parallel paths can provide at least three
different degrees of flow resistance. Additional parallel paths can
enable providing additional degrees of flow resistance.
Arrangements like FIG. 4 can also include a bypass path, like
bypass path 200.
[0021] Referring back to FIG. 1, in certain instances, the well
choke system 24 has a controller 120 communicably coupled to the
actuator or actuators (e.g., actuator 119) of the choke (e.g.,
choke 100, 100' or 100'') to control flow through the choke. The
controller 120 can respond to a user input and/or an input from
another controller, computer or other. The controller 120 can
operate the actuator to a steady state position and/or operate the
actuator at a specified duty cycle. Because the flow deflector need
not move across the entire flow area and need not be configured to
seal the entire flow area, it can be lightweight and moved quickly.
In certain instances, the flow deflector can be moved at a duty
cycle of between 0.001 Hertz and 1 Hertz, and in certain instances,
up to 100 Hertz or higher. The controller 120 and the actuator of
the flow deflector can be coupled by wire (electrical, optical
and/or other) or wireless connection.
[0022] In certain instances, the well choke system 24 includes or
accesses one or more sensors 122 to sense a characteristic of fluid
that flows through the well choke and/or other characteristics
apart from the fluid that flows through the well choke. The one or
more sensors 122 measure pressure, velocity, mass flow rate,
volumetric flow rate, viscosity, and/or other characteristics. For
example, in certain instances, a sensor 122 is in the flow path
upstream or downstream of the flow deflector, in the choke, in the
wellbore (as shown) or elsewhere. The one or more sensors 122 are
communicably coupled to the controller 120, allowing the controller
120 to operate the choke based on the output of the one or more
sensors 122. The sensor 122 and the controller 120 can be coupled
by wire or wireless connection. In certain instances, the
controller 120 can operate in a closed loop feedback loop based on
the output of the one or more sensors 122.
[0023] Certain aspects encompass, a surface well choke system
includes a flow chamber and a fluid switch. The flow chamber
includes a first flow chamber inlet that has more resistance to
flow to an outlet than a second flow chamber inlet has to flow to
the outlet. The fluid switch includes a first flow path from a
fluid switch inlet to the first flow chamber inlet, a second flow
path from the fluid switch inlet to the second flow chamber inlet,
and a movable flow deflector upstream of the first and second flow
paths that is actuable to deflect flow from the fluid switch inlet
to the first flow path or the second flow path.
[0024] Certain aspects encompass, a fluid flow is directed from a
wellhead through a first flow path of a surface well choke to an
outlet of the surface well choke with a first flow resistance. A
fluid deflector moves into the fluid flow and directs the fluid
flow through a second, different flow path of the surface well
choke to the outlet with a second, different flow resistance.
[0025] Certain aspects encompass, a surface well choke system
includes a flow chamber and a fluid switch. The flow chamber
includes a first flow chamber inlet that has more resistance to
flow to an outlet than a second flow chamber inlet has to flow to
the outlet. The fluid switch includes a first flow path from a
fluid switch inlet to the first flow chamber inlet, a second flow
path from the fluid switch inlet to the second flow chamber inlet,
and a movable flow deflector upstream of the first and second flow
paths that is actuable to deflect flow from the fluid switch inlet
to the first flow path or the second flow path. A controller
communicably coupled to an actuator of the movable flow deflector
operates the actuator upon user input.
[0026] Implementations can include some, none, or all of the
following features. The surface well choke system includes a
controller communicably coupled to an actuator of the moveable flow
deflector. The controller operates the actuator in encoding
information as pressure pulses into fluid flowing through the
surface well choke system. The controller operates the actuator at
a specified duty cycle. The duty cycle includes rates of 0.001 to 1
Hertz. The movable flow deflector resides in an inlet flow path of
the fluid switch, and the actuator stroke is 30% or less of the
diameter of the inlet flow path. The surface well choke system
includes a sensor to sense a characteristic of fluid that flows
through the surface well choke system. The fluid switch includes a
wellhead attachment flange. The first flow chamber inlet is an
indirect flow inlet and the second flow chamber inlet is a direct
flow inlet that is oriented to direct incoming flow more directly
to the outlet than the indirect flow inlet. The flow chamber
includes a curved sidewall apart from the outlet, where the
indirect flow inlet is oriented to direct incoming flow
substantially parallel to a tangent of the curved sidewall and the
direct inlet is oriented to direct incoming flow at the outlet. The
surface well choke system includes a bypass flow path to bypass
flow around the flow chamber and the fluid switch, including an
inlet about the inlet to the fluid switch and an outlet about the
outlet of the flow chamber. The surface well choke system includes
a second flow chamber and a second fluid switch in fluidic parallel
to the first mentioned flow chamber and first mentioned fluid
switch. Directing a fluid flow includes moving the fluid deflector
in the fluid flow to an initial position and directing the fluid
flow through the first flow path. The fluid deflector is cycled
between an initial position and another position at a rate of 0.001
to 1 Hertz. Directing the fluid flow through the second flow path
includes directing the fluid flow through an indirect path to the
outlet and directing the fluid flow through the first flow path
includes directing the fluid flow through a more direct path to the
outlet. A portion of the fluid flow is directed through a bypass
while another portion of the fluid flow is concurrently directed
through the first flow path or the second flow path. The surface
well choke system includes at least one sensor communicably coupled
to the controller to sense a characteristic of fluid that flows
through the well choke system. The surface well choke system
includes a first sensor upstream of the flow chamber to sense a
first characteristic of fluid, and a second sensor downstream of
the flow chamber to sense a second characteristic of fluid.
[0027] A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless,
it will be understood that various modifications may be.
Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the
following claims.
* * * * *