US 12,353,228 B2
Flow control device and method
Vidar Mathiesen, Porsgrunn (NO); Haavard Aakre, Skien (NO); and Bjørnar Werswick, Langesund (NO)
Assigned to INFLOWCONTROL AS, Porsgrunn (NO)
Appl. No. 18/037,213
Filed by InflowControl AS, Porsgrunn (NO)
PCT Filed Oct. 25, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/079503
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 16, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/106156, PCT Pub. Date May 27, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 20201249 (NO), filed on Nov. 17, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0019878 A1, Jan. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. E21B 43/12 (2006.01); F16K 31/126 (2006.01); G05D 7/01 (2006.01)
CPC G05D 7/0113 (2013.01) [E21B 43/12 (2013.01); F16K 31/1266 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fluid flow control device for establishing a controllable fluid communication of a fluid flow between an external fluid reservoir and a base pipe of a production string, comprising:
a primary flow path arranged inside a main housing, the primary flow path comprising a primary flow path inlet configured to guide a primary fluid flow constituting a major portion of the fluid flow into the main housing during operation and a primary flow path outlet configured to guide the primary fluid flow from the main housing and into the base pipe during operation,
a secondary flow path configured to guide a secondary fluid flow constituting the remaining portion of the fluid flow, the secondary flow path comprising a first fluid flow restrictor configured to generate a pressure decrease from a pressure p1 upstream of the first fluid flow restrictor to a pressure p2 downstream of the first fluid flow restrictor, a second fluid flow restrictor arranged downstream of the first fluid flow restrictor and configured to generate a pressure decrease from the pressure p2 upstream of the second fluid flow restrictor to a pressure p3 downstream of the second fluid flow restrictor and a chamber arranged downstream the first fluid flow restrictor and upstream the second fluid flow restrictor and
a movable valve element arranged inside the main housing and configured to close the primary flow path for fluid flow when exposed to a pressure force from within the chamber exceeding a threshold pressure force,
wherein the fluid flow control device further comprises:
a top housing covering the primary flow path inlet of the main housing, the top housing comprising:
a fluid flow inlet allowing the fluid flow to flow from the external fluid reservoir and at least partly into the primary flow path inlet,
a swirl inducer inducing a swirl of the fluid flow between the fluid flow inlet and the primary flow path inlet, and
a secondary flow path inlet configured to guide a secondary fluid flow into the secondary flow path.