US 12,031,409 B2
Autonomous flow control devices for viscosity dominant flow
Xinqi Rong, Dallas, TX (US); and Liang Zhao, Allen, TX (US)
Assigned to Floway Innovations Inc., Plano, TX (US)
Filed by Floway Innovations Inc., Plano, TX (US)
Filed on Dec. 1, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/526,975.
Application 18/526,975 is a continuation of application No. 17/982,795, filed on Nov. 8, 2022, granted, now 11,846,140.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/290,419, filed on Dec. 16, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0093574 A1, Mar. 21, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E21B 34/08 (2006.01); E21B 43/08 (2006.01); E21B 43/12 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 34/08 (2013.01) [E21B 43/086 (2013.01); E21B 2200/02 (2020.05)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An autonomous flow control device for regulating a production rate of a fluid having a viscosity, the autonomous flow control device comprising:
a valve plate having a surface; and
a valve element at least partially formed on the surface of the valve plate, the valve element having at least one inlet and at least one outlet with a fluid flow path extending therebetween, the fluid flow path including a viscosity dominant flow path configured to provide a first flow resistance and an inertia dominant flow path configured to provide a second flow resistance that is greater than the first flow resistance;
wherein, when the viscosity of the fluid is greater than a first predetermined level, the fluid follows the viscosity dominant flow path with the first flow resistance;
wherein, when the viscosity of the fluid is less than a second predetermined level, the fluid follows the inertia dominant flow path with the second flow resistance, thereby regulating the production rate of the fluid responsive to changes in the viscosity of the fluid; and
wherein, the viscosity dominant flow path has a larger effective flow area than the inertia dominant flow path.