Controlling production

Details Controlling production Controlling production

2000-01-28

2003-01-14

Dang, Hoang (Department: 3672)

Wells

Processes

With indicating, testing, measuring or locating

C166S053000, C166S386000, C166S066000, C166S369000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06505682

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND
The invention relates to controlling production.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, a subterranean well might have a lateral wellbore that is lined by a monobore casing
12
. Besides supporting the lateral wellbore, the monobore casing
12
serves as a conduit to carry well fluids out of the lateral wellbore. The lateral wellbore extends through several regions called production zones where a producing formation has been pierced by explosive charges to form fractures
14
in the formation. Near the fractures
14
, the monobore casing
12
has perforations
16
which allow well fluid from the formation to flow into a central passageway of the monobore casing
12
. The well fluid flows though the monobore casing
12
into a production tubing
11
which carries the well fluid to the surface of the well. The well fluid typically contains a mixture of fluids, such as water, gas, and oil.
To aid the well fluid in reaching the surface, a pump
10
is typically located in the production tubing
11
near the union of the production tubing
11
and the casing
12
. The pump
10
typically receives power through power cables
2
which extend downhole to the pump
10
from the surface. Annular packers
2
are typically used to form a seal between the pump
10
and the interior of the production tubing
11
.
SUMMARY
The invention provides a tubing that has radial ports for controlling the flow of well fluid into a passageway of the tubing. Each port detects a composition of the well fluid and based on the detected composition, the port controls the flow of the well fluid into the passageway. As a result, production zones of a wellbore may be isolated, and the failure of one production zone does not require a complete shut-down of the wellbore.
In one embodiment, the invention features a tubing for use in a well bore capable of furnishing a well fluid. The tubing has an annular member having a passageway. The tubing has at least one port that is connected to detect a composition of the well fluid and control flow of the well fluid into the passageway based on the composition.
In another embodiment, the invention features a method for use in a well bore capable of furnishing a well fluid. The method includes detecting a composition of the well fluid. The flow of the well fluid into a passageway of a tubing is automatically controlled based on the composition.
Other advantages and features will become apparent from the description and from the claims.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3739845 (1973-06-01), Berry et al.
patent: 3951338 (1976-04-01), Genna
patent: 4936386 (1990-06-01), Colangelo
patent: 5609204 (1997-03-01), Rebardi et al.
patent: 5662165 (1997-09-01), Tubel et al.
patent: 6119780 (2000-09-01), Christmas
patent: 6138754 (2000-10-01), Veneruso et al.
patent: 6176312 (2001-01-01), Tubel et al.

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