| CPC E21B 34/08 (2013.01) | 20 Claims |
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11. A method comprising:
providing a pocket portion on production tubing, the pocket portion defining a volume therewithin, wherein the volume is in fluid communication with an interior of the production tubing;
providing in the pocket portion a valve arrangement that permits unidirectional fluid flow between a tubing-casing annulus and the volume, solely in the presence of a positive pressure differential between the tubing-casing annulus and the volume;
selectively mounting a pressure bleeder within the pocket portion;
wherein, when the pressure bleeder is selectively mounted within the pocket portion:
the valve arrangement directs fluid flow from the tubing-casing annulus to a portion of the volume outside of the pressure bleeder; and
fluid flow is directed, through the pressure bleeder, from the portion of the volume outside of the pressure bleeder to the interior of the production tubing and only above a predetermined threshold pressure,
wherein the pressure bleeder comprises:
an inlet and an outlet;
a diaphragm extending across an entire inner diameter of the pressure bleeder; and
one or more springs extending from the diaphragm,
wherein, in the presence of a pressure differential above the predetermined threshold pressure, the diaphragm and one or more springs displace axially in an uphole direction such that the diaphragm does not impede fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet,
wherein the predetermined threshold pressure is pre-set by pre-stressing the one or more springs, and
the diaphragm prevents fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet when the pressure differential is below the predetermined threshold pressure.
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