Water dissolvable released material used as inflow control device

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to systems and methods for selective control of fluid flow into a wellbore.

2. Description of the Related Art

Hydrocarbons such as oil and gas are recovered from a subterranean formation using a wellbore drilled into the formation. Such wells are typically completed by placing a casing along the wellbore length and perforating the casing adjacent each such production zone to extract the formation fluids (such as hydrocarbons) into the wellbore. These production zones are sometimes separated from each other by installing a packer between the production zones. Fluid from each production zone entering the wellbore is drawn into a tubing that runs to the surface. It is desirable to have substantially even drainage along the production zone. Uneven drainage may result in undesirable conditions such as an invasive gas cone or water cone. In the instance of an oil-producing well, for example, a gas cone may cause an inflow of gas into the wellbore that could significantly reduce oil production. In like fashion, a water cone may cause an inflow of water into the oil production flow that reduces the amount and quality of the produced oil. Accordingly, it is desired to provide even drainage across a production zone and/or the ability to selectively close off or reduce inflow within production zones experiencing an undesirable influx of water and/or gas.

The present disclosure addresses these and other needs of the prior art.

In aspects, the present disclosure provides an apparatus for controlling flow of a fluid into a wellbore tubular. The apparatus may include an in-flow control device controlling the flow of the fluid, an element co-acting with the in-flow control device, and a disintegrating medium at least partially surrounding the element. In arrangements, the medium may be configured to release the element upon disintegration of the medium. The disintegrating medium may be configured to disintegrate when exposed to a selected fluid. The element or elements, when released, may at least partially restrict flow across a flow path that conveys the fluid from the formation to a flow bore of the wellbore tubular. The element may be positioned along the flow path or elsewhere. In embodiments, the element may be: a liquid, a solid, a particle and/or particles. In embodiments, the selected fluid may be water, a hydrocarbon, an engineered fluid, and/or a naturally occurring fluid.

In aspects, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling a flow of fluid from a subterranean formation. In embodiments, the method may include suspending an element in a medium that disintegrates when exposed to a selected fluid; positioning the element in a wellbore; and restricting a fluid flow across a flow path by releasing the element. The method may include releasing the element into the flow path when the medium disintegrates.

In aspects, the present disclosure provides a system for controlling flow of a fluid in a well. The system may include a wellbore tubular positioned in the well; an in-flow control device positioned along the wellbore tubular; an element co-acting with the in-flow control device; and a disintegrating medium at least partially surrounding the element, the disintegrating medium being calibrated to disintegrate when exposed to a selected fluid.

It should be understood that examples of the more important features of the disclosure have been summarized rather broadly in order that detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the contributions to the art may be appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto.