Bidirectional flow control device for facilitating stimulation treatments in a subterranean formation

9,856,720

14/799134

July 14, 2015

Bidirectional flow control device for attachment to a tubular member including a nozzle insert comprising a first sealable surface, the nozzle insert comprising a nozzle passage, and a second sealable surface for mating with the first sealable surface, and a first biasing member seat; a cover plate positioned adjacent the first end of the nozzle insert, the cover plate comprising a production orifice and a plurality of stimulation orifices in fluid communication with a plurality of stimulation passages, the cover plate further comprising a second biasing member seat and a biasing member positioned between the first biasing member seat and the second biasing member seat, the biasing member to exert a biasing force to place first sealable surface and second sealable surface in sealing engagement when internal tubular pressure is below a set-point value.

Grubert, Marcel A. (Montgomery, TX, US)

ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company (Spring, TX, US)

1. A bidirectional flow control device for attachment to a tubular member, the tubular member defining an internal flow passage, comprising: (a) a nozzle insert comprising a first end and a second end, the nozzle insert axially positionable within a bore, the bore in fluid communication with the internal flow passage of the tubular member and comprising a first sealable surface, the nozzle insert comprising a nozzle passage in fluid communication with the bore, and a second sealable surface for mating with the first sealable surface, and a first biasing member seat; (b) a cover plate positioned adjacent the first end of the nozzle insert, the cover plate comprising a production orifice in fluid communication with the nozzle passage of the nozzle insert and a plurality of stimulation orifices, the plurality of stimulation orifices in fluid communication with a plurality of stimulation passages, the stimulation passages in fluid communication with the bore, the cover plate further comprising a second biasing member seat; and (c) a biasing member, the biasing member positioned between the first biasing member seat and the second biasing member seat, the biasing member structured and arranged to exert a biasing force sufficient to place first sealable surface and the second sealable surface in sealing engagement when the internal tubular pressure is below a set-point value.

2. The bidirectional flow control device of claim 1 , wherein increasing the internal tubular pressure of the internal flow passage of the tubular member above the set-point value unseats the second sealable surface of the nozzle insert from the first sealable surface of the bore placing the plurality of stimulation orifices in fluid communication with the internal flow passage of the tubular member.

3. The bidirectional flow control device of claim 2 , wherein the bore is defined by three concentric cylinders, the first concentric cylinder comprising a diameter d 1 , the second concentric circle comprising a diameter d 2 and the third concentric circle comprising a diameter d 3 .

4. The bidirectional flow control device of claim 3 , wherein the first concentric cylinder is adjacent the internal flow passage of the tubular member, and the third concentric cylinder is adjacent the external surface of the tubular member.

5. The bidirectional flow control device of claim 4 , wherein d 1

6. The bidirectional flow control device of claim 5 , wherein the first sealable surface provides an angular transition between d 1 and d 2 of the first concentric cylinder and the second concentric cylinder of the bore.

7. The bidirectional flow control device of claim 6 , wherein the second sealable surface of the nozzle insert is angularly disposed to mate with the angular transition of the first sealable surface.

8. The bidirectional flow control device of claim 7 , wherein the third concentric cylinder is structured and arranged to receive the cover plate.

9. The bidirectional flow control device of claim 8 , wherein the cover plate threadably engages the third concentric cylinder of the bore.

10. The bidirectional flow control device of claim 9 , further comprising a housing, the housing including the bore in fluid communication with the internal flow passage of the tubular member and comprising a first sealable surface.

11. The bidirectional flow control device of claim 10 , wherein the housing is substantially cylindrical and includes an outer surface, at least a portion of the outer surface being threaded for installation into a corresponding threaded bore of the tubular member.

12. A method for facilitating stimulation treatments in completions, the method comprising the steps of: (a) forming a bore at a first distance along a tubular member, the bore in fluid communication with an internal flow passage of the tubular member and comprising a first sealable surface; (b) installing a nozzle insert within the bore, the nozzle insert comprising a first end, a second end and a nozzle passage in fluid communication with the bore, the nozzle insert comprising a first biasing member seat and a second sealable surface for mating with the first sealable surface; and (c) installing a biasing member adjacent the first biasing member seat; (d) installing a cover plate adjacent the first end of the nozzle insert, the cover plate comprising a production orifice in fluid communication with the nozzle passage of the nozzle insert and a plurality of stimulation orifices, the plurality of stimulation orifices in fluid communication with a plurality of stimulation passages, the stimulation passages in fluid communication with the bore, the cover plate further comprising a second biasing member seat; wherein the biasing member is structured and arranged to exert a biasing force sufficient to place first sealable surface and the second sealable surface in sealing engagement when the internal tubular pressure is below a set-point value.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising the steps of: (e) flowing a stimulation fluid within the tubular member and increasing the internal tubular pressure of the internal flow passage of the tubular member above the set-point value to unseat the second sealable surface of the nozzle insert from the first sealable surface of the bore; (f) placing the plurality of stimulation orifices in fluid communication with the internal flow passage of the tubular member; and (g) flowing the stimulation fluid into a subterranean reservoir.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the bore is defined by three concentric cylinders, the first concentric cylinder comprising a diameter d 1 , the second concentric circle comprising a diameter d 2 and the third concentric circle comprising a diameter d 3 .

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first concentric cylinder is adjacent the internal flow passage of the tubular member, and the third concentric cylinder is adjacent the external surface of the tubular member.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein d 1

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first sealable surface provides an angular transition between d 1 and d 2 of the first concentric cylinder and the second concentric cylinder of the bore.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the second sealable surface of the nozzle insert is angularly disposed to mate with the angular transition of the first sealable surface.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the third concentric cylinder is structured and arranged to receive the cover plate.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the step of installing a cover plate includes threadably engaging the third concentric cylinder of the bore.

21. The method of claim 12 , further comprising the step of repeating steps (a)-(d) a plurality of times.

22. A kit of parts for use in facilitating stimulation treatments in completions, comprising: (a) a nozzle insert comprising a first end and a second end, the nozzle insert axially positionable within a bore, the bore in fluid communication with the internal flow passage of a tubular member and comprising a first sealable surface, the nozzle insert comprising a nozzle passage in fluid communication with the bore, and a second sealable surface for mating with the first sealable surface, and a first biasing member seat; (b) a cover plate positioned adjacent the first end of the nozzle insert, the cover plate comprising a production orifice in fluid communication with the nozzle passage of the nozzle insert and a plurality of stimulation orifices, the plurality of stimulation orifices in fluid communication with a plurality of stimulation passages, the stimulation passages in fluid communication with the bore, the cover plate comprising a second biasing member seat; and (c) a biasing member, the biasing member positioned between the first biasing member seat and the second biasing member seat, the biasing member structured and arranged to exert a biasing force sufficient to place first sealable surface and the second sealable surface in sealing engagement when the internal tubular pressure is below a set-point value.

23. The kit of parts of claim 22 , wherein increasing the internal tubular pressure of the internal flow passage of the tubular member above the set-point value unseats the second sealable surface of the nozzle insert from the first sealable surface of the bore placing the plurality of stimulation orifices in fluid communication with the internal flow passage of the tubular member.

24. The kit of parts of claim 23 , wherein the bore is defined by three concentric cylinders, the first concentric cylinder comprising a diameter d 1 , the second concentric circle comprising a diameter d 2 and the third concentric circle comprising a diameter d 3 .

25. The kit of parts of claim 24 , wherein the first concentric cylinder is adjacent the internal flow passage of the tubular member, and the third concentric cylinder is adjacent the external surface of the tubular member.

26. The kit of parts of claim 25 , wherein d 1

27. The kit of parts of claim 26 , wherein the first sealable surface provides an angular transition between d 1 and d 2 of the first concentric cylinder and the second concentric cylinder of the bore.

28. The kit of parts of claim 27 , wherein the second sealable surface of the nozzle insert is angularly disposed to mate with the angular transition of the first sealable surface.

29. The kit of parts of claim 28 , wherein the third concentric cylinder is structured and arranged to receive the cover plate.

30. The kit of parts of claim 29 , wherein the cover plate threadably engages the third concentric cylinder of the bore.

31. The kit of parts of claim 30 , further comprising a housing, the housing including the bore in fluid communication with the internal flow passage of the tubular member and comprising a first sealable surface.

32. The kit of parts of claim 31 , wherein the housing is substantially cylindrical and includes an outer surface, at least a portion of the outer surface being threaded for installation into a corresponding threaded bore of the tubular member.

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