US 12,486,739 B2
Fluid flow control system employing a fluidic diode for control pressure
Ibrahim El Mallawany, Al-Khobar (SA); Michael Linley Fripp, Singapore (SG); and Stephen Michael Greci, Carrollton, TX (US)
Assigned to Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Sep. 5, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/460,925.
Prior Publication US 2025/0075598 A1, Mar. 6, 2025
Int. Cl. E21B 43/12 (2006.01); F15C 1/16 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 43/12 (2013.01) [F15C 1/16 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fluid flow control system, comprising:
a flow restrictor operable to receive production fluid having a pressure (P3) and discharge control fluid having a control pressure (P2);
a fluidic diode placed between the flow restrictor and a tubing the fluid flow control system is configured to couple to, wherein the fluidic diode is configured to change the control pressure (P2) to a higher control pressure (P2++) when the fluidic diode encounters lower viscosity fluids and is configured to change the control pressure (P2) to a lower control pressure (P2+) when the fluidic diode encounters higher viscosity fluids;
an inflow control device having a production fluid inlet operable to receive the production fluid having the pressure (P3), a control inlet operable to receive control fluid having the higher control pressure (P2++) or the lower control pressure (P2+), and a production fluid outlet operable to pass the production fluid having a pressure (P1) to tubing it is configured to couple to, the inflow control device configured to close or open the production fluid outlet based upon pressure values (P3, P2++, P1) or (P3, P2+, P1); and
a pressure relief valve positioned between the flow restrictor and the control inlet, the pressure relief valve configured to eliminate a range of pressures between the higher control pressure (P2++) or the lower control pressure (P2+) that would only partially close the inflow control device.