IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,523,115
Granted Patent B2
US 12,523,115 · App. 18/536,509 · Granted Jan 13, 2026

Using an internal hydraulic control system to function an electric inflow valve

Inventors: Ryan W. McChesney (Carrollton, TX); Gordon McLeary (Carrollton, TX); Stephen Michael Greci (Carrollton, TX)
Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
E21B34/066
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,523,115
App. No.
18/536,509
Granted
Jan 13, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An inflow control device for a well that may include a chamber, a cavity fluidly connected to the chamber, wherein the cavity comprises a seat, a fluid passageway fluidly connected to the cavity, and an actuator at least partially disposed within the chamber and at least partially disposed in the cavity. The inflow control device may further include a hydraulic passageway fluidly connected to the chamber, a fluid pressure storage fluidly connected to both the hydraulic passageway, and a solenoid disposed on the hydraulic passageway and configured to control a flow of a hydraulic fluid from the fluid pressure storage to the chamber. The method may include receiving a fluid from a formation with an inflow control device (ICD) disposed on a tubular string within a formation and adjusting the actuator within the chamber and the cavity using the solenoid.

Claims (39)

1 . An inflow control device for a well, comprising:

a tubular string having an inner diameter;

a chamber;

a cavity defining a seat;

a fluid passageway fluidly connected to the cavity;

an actuator at least partially disposed within the chamber and at least partially disposed in the cavity, wherein fluid from the well is allowed to flow through the seat and into the inner diameter of the tubular string when the actuator is in an open position;

a hydraulic passageway fluidly connected to the chamber;

a fluid pressure storage fluidly connected to the hydraulic passageway; and

a solenoid disposed on the hydraulic passageway and configured to control a flow of a hydraulic fluid from the fluid pressure storage to the chamber;

a relief solenoid disposed on the hydraulic passageway between the chamber and the solenoid, wherein the relief solenoid directs the hydraulic fluid from a location external to the inner diameter of the tubular string into the inner diameter of the tubular string:

at least one power generator, disposed in the inflow control device, the at least one power generator being responsive to the flow of fluid to generate power; and

at least one power storage device to store power generated by the at least one power generator.

2 . The inflow control device of claim 1 , further comprising a spring at least partially connected to a crown of the actuator and at least partially touching a chamber floor of the chamber.

3 . The inflow control device of claim 1 , an information handling system communicatively connected to the solenoid and the relief solenoid.

4 . The inflow control device of claim 3 , wherein the information handling system is disposed at surface.

5 . The inflow control device of claim 3 , wherein the information handling system is disposed downhole on a tubing string or the inflow control device.

6 . The inflow control device of claim 3 , wherein the information handling system is at least partially disposed downhole on a tubing string or inflow control device, and at least partially disposed at surface.

7 . The inflow control device of claim 1 , wherein an angled tip of the actuator is configured to be set within the seat.

8 . The inflow control device of claim 1 , wherein a crown of the actuator is disposed in the chamber.

9 . The inflow control device of claim 1 , wherein a shaft of the actuator is at least partially disposed in the chamber and at least partially disposed in the cavity.

10 . A method, comprising:

receiving a fluid from a formation with an inflow control device (ICD) disposed on a tubular string within a formation, wherein the ICD comprises:

a chamber; a cavity defining a seat;

a fluid passageway fluidly connected to the cavity;

an actuator at least partially disposed within the chamber and at least partially disposed in the cavity;

a hydraulic passageway fluidly connected to the chamber;

a fluid pressure storage fluidly connected to the hydraulic passageway; and

a solenoid disposed on the hydraulic passageway and configured to control a flow of a hydraulic fluid from the fluid pressure storage to the chamber;

a relief solenoid disposed on the hydraulic passageway between the chamber and the solenoid, wherein the relief solenoid is configured to direct the hydraulic fluid from a location external to an inner diameter of the tubular string into the inner diameter of the tubular string:

at least one power generator disposed in the inflow control device; and

at least one power storage device;

adjusting the actuator within the chamber and the cavity using the solenoid wherein the at least one power generator is responsive to the flow of fluid through the fluid passageway to generate power; and

wherein the at least one power storage device is configured to store power generated by the at least one power generator.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising a spring at least partially connected to a crown of the actuator and at least partially touching a chamber floor of the chamber.

12 . The method of claim 10 , an information handling system communicatively connected to the solenoid and the relief solenoid.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the information handling system is disposed at surface or downhole on a tubing string.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the information handling system is at least partially disposed downhole on a tubing string and at least partially disposed at surface.

15 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising seating the actuator to the seat by adjusting the solenoid.

16 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising un-seating the actuator to the seat by adjusting the solenoid.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 29, 2023
From: MCCHESNEY, RYAN W.; MCLEARY, GORDON; GRECI, STEPHEN MICHAEL
To: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 065985/0110 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250188814A1 · Jun 12, 2025
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