Downhole autonomous inflow control device
A downhole autonomous inflow control device (D-AICD) disposed in a tubing string within a wellbore and method. The D-AICD includes a chamber in fluid communication with a reservoir to receive produced well fluids and a galvanic inflow control valve (GICV) including a housing. The GICV regulates flow of well fluids entering the tubing string via disengaged and engaged positions. The housing includes a fluid inlet hydraulically connecting a cavity inside the housing to the chamber, at least two outlets hydraulically connecting the cavity to the tubing string, and at least two copper spheres inside the housing on a seat on a steel base in a central axis inside the housing when disengaged. The GICV further includes the two copper spheres moving inside the two outlets based on a reaction between the two copper spheres, the seat, and the steel base due to saltwater exposure when engaged.
1 . A downhole autonomous inflow control device (D-AICD) disposed in a tubing string within a wellbore, the D-AICD comprising:
a chamber in fluid communication with a reservoir and configured to receive well fluids produced from the reservoir;
a galvanic inflow control valve (GICV) comprising a housing, a disengaged position, and an engaged position, the GICV configured to regulate flow of well fluids entering the tubing string via the disengaged position and the engaged position, the housing comprising:
a fluid inlet hydraulically connecting a cavity disposed inside the housing to the chamber;
at least two outlets hydraulically connecting the cavity to the tubing string;
in the disengaged position of the GICV, at least two copper spheres are disposed inside the housing, wherein each of the at least two copper spheres is disposed on a distinct seat on a steel base disposed on a central axis inside the housing; and
in the engaged position of the GICV, the at least two copper spheres are configured to move inside the at least two outlets based on a reaction between the at least two copper spheres, the distinct seats, and the steel base due to saltwater exposure,
wherein the distinct seats comprise spot tin solder bonds, and
wherein a diameter of the at least two copper spheres is larger than a diameter of the at least two outlets; and
a dielectric sensor coupled to the GICV configured to measure a water content and a water arrival within the chamber.
2 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a turbine generator comprising a blade spinner disposed in the chamber configured to generate a voltage to adjust the GICV into the engaged position.
3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the turbine generator comprises a 12 volts direct current (VDC) bidirectional generator.
4 . The device of claim 2 , further comprising:
a control system in communication with a dielectric sensor and the turbine generator configured to receive a measured water content and water arrival, via the dielectric sensor, and create commands to adjust the voltage, via a voltage regulator, wherein the control system comprises a circuit board.
5 . The device of claim 4 ,
wherein the turbine generator is configured to power the control system and the dielectric sensor.
6 . The device of claim 4 , further comprising:
a battery coupled to the voltage regulator to power the control system, the turbine generator, and the voltage regulator,
wherein the battery comprises a sodium nickel chloride material or a sodium sulfur material.
7 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the voltage regulator is isolated from a downhole environment and is an electromechanical 12 volts direct current (VDC).
8 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of ports fluidly connecting the chamber with the reservoir; and
a sand screen configured to filter sand from the reservoir.
9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric sensor comprises a permittivity-based water content sensor.
10 . A method for a downhole autonomous inflow control device (D-AICD) disposed in a tubing string within a wellbore, the D-AICD comprising:
a chamber in fluid communication with a reservoir;
a galvanic inflow control valve (GICV) comprising a housing, a disengaged position, and an engaged position, the GICV configured to regulate a flow of well fluids entering the tubing string via the disengaged position and the engaged position, the housing comprising:
a fluid inlet hydraulically connecting a cavity disposed inside the housing to the chamber;
at least two outlets hydraulically connecting the cavity to the tubing string;
in the disengaged position of the GICV, at least two copper spheres are disposed inside the housing, wherein each of the at least two copper spheres is disposed on a distinct seat on a steel base disposed on a central axis inside the housing; and
in the engaged position of the GICV, the at least two copper spheres are configured to move inside the at least two outlets based on a reaction between the at least two copper spheres, the distinct seats, and the steel base due to saltwater exposure,
wherein the distinct seats comprise spot tin solder bonds, and
wherein a diameter of the at least two copper spheres is larger than a diameter of the at least two outlets,
the method comprising:
receiving well fluids produced from the reservoir into the chamber disposed in the D-AICD and into the cavity in the housing via the fluid inlet;
measuring a water content and a water arrival within the chamber via a dielectric sensor coupled to the GICV; and
regulating flow of the received well fluids entering the tubing string, via the at least two outlets in the housing, through the disengaged position and the engaged position of the GICV
engaging the GICV into the engaged position by moving the at least two copper spheres to sit inside the at least two outlets based on the reaction between the at least two copper spheres, the seat, and the steel base due to saltwater exposure.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
generating a voltage to adjust the GICV into the engaged position via a turbine generator comprising a blade spinner disposed in the chamber.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the turbine generator comprises a 12 volts direct current (VDC) bidirectional generator.
13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
receiving, via a control system, a water content and a water arrival measured by a dielectric sensor;
automatically adjusting, via a controller coupled to the control system, the voltage using a voltage regulator, based on the received water content and the received water arrival.
14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
powering the control system and the dielectric sensor via the turbine generator.
15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
powering the control system, the turbine generator, and the voltage regulator, via a battery coupled to the voltage regulator,
wherein the battery comprises a sodium nickel chloride material or a sodium sulfur material.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the voltage regulator is isolated from a downhole environment and is an electromechanical 12 volts direct current (VDC).
17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein receiving well fluids comprises receiving well fluids via a plurality of ports connecting the chamber with the reservoir and filtering sand from the reservoir via a sand screen.
18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the dielectric sensor comprises a permittivity-based water content sensor.