Apparatus for controlling fluid flow in or into a well and method of using same

1. An orientation dependent inflow control apparatus ( 20 ) for controlling fluid flow from an outside to an inside of a pipe (P) in a deviated or horizontal well (W), the inflow control apparatus ( 20 ) comprising:

a first housing ( 22 ) having a longitudinal axis and provided with a first inlet ( 24 ) being in fluid communication with fluid outside of the pipe (P), and a first outlet ( 26 );

a second housing ( 28 ) having a longitudinal axis and provided with a second inlet ( 30 ) and a second outlet ( 32 );

wherein said outlets ( 26 , 32 ) being provided in an end portion of the housings ( 22 , 28 ), the first outlet ( 26 ) being in fluid communication with the second inlet ( 30 ) and the second outlet ( 32 ) being arranged for fluid communicating with an inside of the pipe (P);

a movable blocking member ( 22 b , 28 b ) arranged within each of the housings ( 22 , 28 ) and configured for allowing blockage of the of first and second outlets ( 26 , 32 ) by moving along said longitudinal axis by gravity or buoyancy towards the end portion having the outlet ( 26 , 32 ), the movable blocking member ( 22 b , 28 b ) having a density being higher than a highest density fluid present in the well (W) during at least a period of a lifespan of the well or lower than a lowest density fluid present in the well (W) during at least a period of the lifespan of the well, wherein the first housing ( 22 ) and the second housing ( 28 ) are arranged mutually distant in or at a perimeter of the pipe (P) such that an angle of inclination of the first housing ( 22 ) is different from that of the second housing ( 28 ).

2. The orientation dependent inflow control apparatus ( 20 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the outlet ( 32 ) from the second housing ( 28 ) is arranged for fluid communicating with the inside of the pipe via the apparatus ( 1 ).

3. The orientation dependent inflow control apparatus ( 20 ) according to claim 1 , comprising at least two inflow control apparatuses ( 20 ) distributed around the pipe (P).

4. An apparatus ( 1 ) for controlling fluid flow in or into a well, the apparatus being mounted onto or in a portion of a wellpipe, the apparatus comprising:

at least a first housing and a second housing arranged in series between a main inlet ( 4 ) being in fluid communication with fluid upstream of the apparatus ( 1 ) and a main outlet ( 8 ) being in fluid communication with fluid downstream of the apparatus ( 1 ), each of the housings ( 3 m , 3 g , 3 w ) having a top portion located in an upper elevation of the housing and a bottom portion located in a lower elevation of the housing when the apparatus ( 1 ) is in a position of use, each of the housing ( 3 m , 3 g , 3 w ) further having:

an inlet ( 5 ) for allowing fluid flow into the housing ( 3 m , 3 g , 3 w ); and

at least one outlet ( 7 , 7 ′) for allowing fluid flow out of the housing ( 3 m , 3 g , 3 w ), the outlet ( 7 , 7 ′) being arranged in one or both of the top portion and the bottom portion of the housing ( 3 m , 3 g , 3 w ), where one of the at least one outlet ( 7 , 7 ′) from one housing is in fluid communication with the inlet ( 5 ) of a subsequent housing in the series of housings;

one flow control means ( 9 m , 9 g , 9 w ) disposed movably within each of the housing ( 3 m , 3 g , 3 w ) between said top portion and bottom portion, the flow control means ( 9 m , 9 g , 9 w ) having:

a density being higher or lower than a density of a fluid to be controlled so that a position of the flow control means within the housing ( 3 m , 3 g , 3 w ) depends on the density of the flow control means relative to the density of the fluid only, wherein the flow control means ( 9 m , 9 g , 9 w ) disposed in each of the housings ( 3 m , 3 q , 3 w ) has a density different from the density of the flow control means ( 9 m , 9 a , 9 w ) disposed in other housings; and

a shape adapted to substantially block the outlet ( 7 , 7 ′) of the housing when the flow control means ( 9 m , 9 g , 9 w ) is in a position abutting the outlet ( 7 , 7 ′) in said top portion or the bottom portion; and

a leakage means ( 11 ) configured for allowing leakage of fluid out of at least one of a top portion and a bottom portion of the housing ( 3 m , 3 g , 3 w ) independent of the position of the flow control means ( 9 m , 9 g , 9 w ).

5. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 4 , wherein the leakage means ( 11 ) is an aperture ( 11 ) provided in a portion of the housing ( 3 m , 3 g , 3 w ).

6. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the aperture ( 11 ) is arranged outside of the periphery of the outlet ( 7 , 7 ′).

7. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 4 , wherein the leakage means ( 11 ) is provided by means of a surface of the flow control means ( 9 m , 9 g , 9 w ) being non-compliant with a periphery of the outlet ( 7 , 7 ′) so that a desired leakage is provided therebetween.

8. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 7 , wherein the flow control means ( 9 m , 9 g , 9 w ) has a spherical shape.

9. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 4 , wherein the flow control means ( 9 m , 9 g , 9 w ) is arranged freely within the housing ( 3 m , 3 g , 3 w ).

10. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 4 , wherein a portion of at least one of the housing ( 3 m , 3 g , 3 w ) is provided with a fluid soluble substance ( 40 ) for initially fixing the flow control means ( 9 m , 9 g , 9 w ) in a predetermined position.

11. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 4 , further provided with at least one bypass means ( 50 ) comprising a channel for bypassing at least one housing ( 3 m , 3 g , 3 w ), the bypass means being provided with a fail-safe flow control means ( 9 b ) arranged in a portion of the channel.

12. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 11 , wherein a fluid permeable restriction means is arranged in a portion of the bypass means ( 50 ) for preventing the fail-safe flow control means ( 9 b ) flowing out of the apparatus ( 1 ).

13. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 11 , wherein the fail safe flow control means is fixed in the bypass means ( 50 ) by means of a soluble substance sealing ( 40 , 52 , 62 ) off the bypass means ( 50 ).

14. A method for controlling fluid flow in or into a well (NV), the method comprising the steps of:

mounting an apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 1 as part of a well completion string (CS) prior to inserting the string in the well (W), the apparatus ( 1 ) comprising at least a first housing and a second housing arranged in series between a main inlet ( 4 ) being in fluid communication with fluid upstream of the apparatus ( 1 ) and a main outlet ( 8 ) being in fluid communication with fluid downstream of the apparatus ( 1 ), each of the housings ( 3 m , 3 g , 3 w ) having a top portion located in an upper elevation of the housings and a bottom portion located in a lower elevation of the housings when the apparatus ( 1 ) is in a position of use, each of the housings ( 3 m , 3 g , 3 w ) further having:

an inlet ( 5 ) for allowing fluid flow into the housing ( 3 m , 3 g , 3 w ); and

at least one outlet ( 7 , 7 ′) for allowing fluid flow out of the housing ( 3 m , 3 g , 3 w ), the outlet ( 7 , 7 ′) being arranged in one or both of the top portion and the bottom portion of the housing ( 3 m , 3 g , 3 w ), where one of the at least one outlet ( 7 , 7 ′) from one housing is in fluid communication with the inlet ( 5 ) of a subsequent housing in the series of housings; one flow control means ( 9 m , 9 g , 9 w ) disposed movably within each of the housings ( 3 m , 3 g , 3 w ) between said top portion and bottom portion, the flow control means ( 9 m , 9 g , 9 w ) having:

a density being higher or lower than a density of a fluid to be controlled so that a position of the flow control means within the housing ( 3 m , 3 g , 3 w ) depends on the density of the flow control means relative to the density of the fluid only, wherein the flow control means ( 9 m , 9 g , 9 w ) disposed in each of the housings ( 3 m , 3 q , 3 w ) has a density different from the density of the flow control means ( 9 m , 9 g , 9 w ) disposed in other housings; and

a shape adapted to substantially block the outlet ( 7 , 7 ′) of the housing when the flow control means ( 9 m , 9 g , 9 w ) is in a position abutting the outlet ( 7 , 7 ′) in said top portion or the bottom portion; and

a leakage means ( 11 ) configured for allowing leakage of fluid out of at least one of a top portion and a bottom portion of the housings ( 3 m , 3 g , 3 w ) independent of the position of the flow control means ( 9 m , 9 g , 9 w ); and

bringing the well completion string (CS) into the well.

15. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising orienting the apparatus ( 1 ) during completion of the well.

16. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising mounting an orientation dependent inflow control apparatus ( 20 ) to the well completion string (CS), the inflow control apparatus comprising: a first housing ( 22 ) having a longitudinal axis and provided with a first inlet ( 24 ) being in fluid communication with fluid outside of the pipe (P), and a first outlet ( 26 );

a second housing ( 28 ) having a longitudinal axis and provided with a second inlet ( 30 ) and a second outlet ( 32 );

wherein said outlets ( 26 , 32 ) being provided in an end portion of the housings ( 22 , 28 ), the first outlet ( 26 ) being in fluid communication with the second inlet ( 30 ) and the second outlet ( 32 ) being arranged for fluid communicating with an inside of the pipe (P);

a movable blocking member ( 22 b , 28 b ) arranged within each of the housing ( 22 , 28 ) and configured for allowing blockage of the first and second outlets ( 26 , 32 ) by moving along said longitudinal axis by gravity or buoyancy towards the end portion having the outlet ( 26 , 32 ), the movable blocking member ( 22 b , 28 b ) having a density being higher than the a highest density fluid present in the well (W) during at least a period of a lifespan of the well or lower than a lowest density fluid present in the well (W) during at least a period of the lifespan of the well, wherein the first housing ( 22 ) and the second housing ( 28 ) are arranged mutually distant in or at a perimeter of the pipe (P) such that an angle of inclination of the first housing ( 22 ) is different from that of the second housing ( 28 ),

wherein the outlet ( 32 ) from the second housing ( 28 ) is arranged for fluid communicating with the inside of the pipe via the apparatus ( 1 ).

17. The method according to claim 14 , the method further comprising:

providing the apparatus ( 1 ) with at least bypass means ( 50 ) wherein a fluid permeable restriction means is arranged in a portion of the bypass means ( 50 ) for preventing the fail-safe flow control means ( 9 b ) provided within the at least one bypass means from flowing out of the apparatus ( 1 );

and

retaining the fail safe control means ( 9 b ) within the bypass means ( 50 ) by means of a soluble substance ( 40 , 52 , 62 ) sealing off the bypass means ( 50 ); and if or when desired subjecting the soluble substance ( 40 , 52 , 62 ) to a fluid dissolving the soluble substance and thereby releasing and activating the fail-safe control means ( 9 b ).