A flow control apparatus (800) includes a tubular member (818) having a plurality of openings (820, 822, 824, 826) that allow fluid flow between an exterior and an interior flow path (828) of the tubular member (818) and a multi-stage flow restricting section (804) operably positioned in a fluid flow path between a fluid source disposed exteriorly of the tubular member (818) and the interior flow path (828). The flow restricting section (804) including a plurality of flow restricting devices (838, 844, 850) each operable to create a pressure drop. Actuatable devices (830, 832, 834, 836) operably associated with the openings (820, 822, 824, 826) are sequentially actuatable to allow fluid flow through the associated openings (820, 822, 824, 826), thereby sequentially reducing the pressure drop experienced by fluids flowing from the fluid source to the interior flow path (828).

Apparatus for adjustably controlling the inflow of production fluids from a subterranean well

Inflow control devices for sand control screens. A well screen includes a filter portion and at least two flow restrictors configured in series, so that fluid which flows through the filter portion must flow through each of the flow restrictors. At least two tubular flow restrictors may be configured in series, with the flow restrictors being positioned so that fluid which flows through the filter portion must reverse direction twice to flow between the flow restrictors. A method of installing a well screen includes the step of accessing a flow restrictor by removing a portion of an inflow control device of the screen.

Inflow control devices for sand control screens

Controlling flow of formation fluids with respect to one or more selected parameter relating to the wellbore fluid. In one embodiment, a flow control device for controlling fluid flow into the production tubular uses a flow restriction member that is actuated by a character change of the formation fluid, such as a change of phase like liquid to gas or oil to water. The flow restriction member can be sensitive to a change in density of the formation fluid. The flow restriction member is passive, self-regulating and does not need any power source or control signal to control fluid flow. In one embodiment, the flow control device automatically rotates into a predetermined orientation upon being positioned in the wellbore. A seal disposed on the flow control devices expands into sealing engagement with an enclosure after the flow control device assumed the desired predetermined position.

Inflow control device with passive shut-off feature

An apparatus for controlling fluid flow into a wellbore tubular includes a flow control member that selectively aligns a port with an opening in communication with a flow bore of the well bore tubular The flow control member may have an open position wherein the port is aligned with the opening and a closed position wherein the port is misaligned with the opening The flow control member moves between the open position and closed position in response to a change in drag force applied by a flowing fluid A biasing element urges the flow control member to the open or the closed position The apparatus may include a housing receiving the flow control member The flow control member and the housing may define a flow space that generates a Couette flow that causes the drag force The flow space may include a hydrophilic and/or water swellable material

Water sensitive adaptive inflow control using couette flow to actuate a valve

A method, system and apparatus associated with the production of hydrocarbons are described. The system includes a wellbore that accesses a subsurface reservoir; a production tubing string disposed within the wellbore; and one or more sand control devices coupled to the production tubing string and disposed within the wellbore. At least one of the sand control devices includes a first tubular member having a permeable section and a non permeable section; a second tubular member disposed within the first tubular member. The second tubular member has a plurality of openings and an inflow control device that each provide a flow path to the interior of the second tubular member. Also, the at least one of the sand control devices includes a sealing mechanism disposed between the first tubular member and the second tubular member. The sealing mechanism is configured to provide a pressure loss during gravel packing operations that is less than the pressure loss during at least some of the production operations.

Wellbore method and apparatus for sand and inflow control during well operations

The present invention provides a flow control device for controlling fluid flow into a turbine, said turbine comprising: a stator comprising a plurality of vanes extending radially inwards from a casing and arranged to define therebetween a plurality of nozzles extending radially inwards from casing; a rotor located in a fluid flow direction downstream of said stator and comprising a plurality of blades extending radially from said turbine shaft, wherein said fluid is arranged to be admitted to said turbine upstream of said stator and to flow around said plurality of vanes through said plurality of nozzles for impingement upon said plurality of blades of said rotor; and flow control means arranged to control a nozzle area open for fluid flow by altering the radial length of at least one of said plurality of nozzles, said flow control means comprising: an actuating means comprising a plurality of arcuate plates located within a peripheral cavity in a housing of said turbine such that a longer curved edge of each of said arcuate plates is outermost within said housing of said turbine and a shorter curved edge is innermost; and a baffle arrangement comprising a plurality of baffle plates connected at first ends thereof to a periphery of said turbine and at second ends thereof to said actuating plates, each baffle plate extending through a corresponding nozzle from an upstream side of said stator to a downstream side of said stator, wherein said actuating means is arranged to selectively move said baffle arrangement between a retracted position and an extended position where at least one of said baffle plates extends into a flow channel of a corresponding nozzle, and to maintain said baffle arrangement at either said retracted or extended positions, or at any selected position therebetween, thereby effectively controlling the radial length of at least one of said plurality of nozzles.

Flow control device

The invention relates to a process for the desalination of salt water and to plant suitable for operating such a process. The process comprises: providing a brine heater; providing at least one desalination zone comprising a condenser and means for collecting condensate from the condenser; providing a heat exchanger; supplying a feed stream comprising salt water as a coolant to the condenser to pre-heat the feed stream; supplying the pre-heated feed stream to the brine heater; supplying a first heating stream comprising steam to the brine heater further to heat the pre-heated feed stream; supplying the heated feed stream from the brine heater to the at least one desalination zone, evaporating at least a portion of the heated feed stream in the desalination zone to provide a evaporate comprising water vapor and condensing the evaporate in the desalination zone.

Process and plant for multi-stage flash desalination of water

The present invention provides process and plant for power generation comprising: providing a steam generator; first, second and third steam turbines; a reheater; a gas turbine; and at least one heat exchanger; supplying a first stream comprising steam from the steam generator to the first steam turbine to generate power in the first steam turbine; recovering from the first steam turbine a recovered stream comprising steam and supplying at least a part of the recovered stream to the reheater; supplying a second stream comprising steam from the steam generator to a first zone of the heat exchanger and heating the second stream therein by supplying at least one hot exhaust gas from the gas turbine to the first zone of the heat exchanger; supplying the heated second stream to the second steam turbine to generate power therein; supplying a third stream comprising steam from the steam generator to the reheater to heat the recovered stream from the first steam turbine; recovering from the reheater a heated recovered stream from the first turbine; and supplying at least part of the heated recovered stream from the first turbine to the third steam turbine to generate power therein.

Process and plant for power generation

In a multi-stage desalination process, the pre-heated recirculated feed stream is heated in brine heater 1 and then released to flash in first desalination stage via valve 3. The feed stream is flashed through a series of desalination zones 4, the steam condensing on tubes 5 cooled by the recirculated feed stream. Product water is collected in water trough 6, and flashes down between stages to heat rejection stage(s) 7. Feed stream is recirculated by pumps 8 through desalination and heat rejection zones. Non-condensible gases are extracted by ejectors 9. Condensing sections of heat exchange rejection stages are cooled by sea water 11. Warm sea water is recycled via deaerator 12 and make up pump 13. The thermal recycle stream may be a portion of the product stream, a portion of the depleted feed stream or the feed stream before it is supplied to the first heat exchange zone.

Process and plant for desalination of salt water

The present invention provides process and plant for power generation comprising: providing a steam generator (100, 200, 500, 600), first (103, 203), second(226,426,526,626) and third (111, 211, 311, 411, 511, 611) steam turbines; a reheater(105,205,305,405,505); a gas turbine (250, 350, 450, 550, 650); and at least one heat exchanger (252, 352,452, 552, 652); supplying a first stream comprising steam from the steam generator (100,200, 500, 600) to the first steam turbine (103, 203) to generate power in the first steam turbine (103, 203); recovering from the first steam turbine (103, 203) a recovered stream comprising steam and supplying at least a part of the recovered stream to the reheater (105, 205, 305, 405, 505); supplying a second stream comprising steam from the steam generator (100, 200, 500, 600) to a first zone (253,453, 553, 653) of the heat exchanger (252, 352, 452, 552, 652) and heating the second stream therein by supplying at least one hot exhaust gas from the gas turbine(250,350,450,550,650) to the first zone (253, 453, 553, 653) of the heat exchanger (252, 352, 452, 552, 652),- supplying the heated second stream to the second steam turbine (226,426, 526, 626) to generate power therein; supplying a third stream comprising steam from the steam generator (100, 200, 500, 600) to the reheater (105, 205, 305,405, 505) to heat the recovered stream from the first steam turbine (103, 203); recovering from the reheater (105, 205,305,405, 505) a heated recovered stream from the first steam turbine (103, 203); and supplying at least part of the heated recovered stream from the first turbine (103, 203) to the third steam turbine (111, 211, 311,411, 511, 611) to generate power therein.

George Andrew Atkinson

Papers

Flow control device

Process and plant for multi-stage flash desalination of water

Process and plant for power generation

Process and plant for desalination of salt water

Nuclear and gas turbine combined cycle process and plant for power generation