Wellbore device for selective transfer of fluid

Abstract

A wellbore device is provided which includes a fluid passage for transferring fluid between an earth formation and a surface facility, and a body transferable from a first mode to a second mode upon contact of the body with a selected fluid. The body is arranged so as to substantially close the fluid passage upon transfer of the body from the first mode to the second mode due to contact of the body with the selected fluid.

1 . A wellbore device comprising 
 a fluid passage for transferring fluid between an earth formation and a surface facility, and    a body of swelleable material which swells upon contact of the body with a selected fluid, said body of swelleable material being formed as a sleeve, wherein the fluid passage passes through the wall of the sleeve so that the fluid passage substantially closes upon swelling of the body due to contact of the body with the selected fluid, the wellbore device further including a filter layer for preventing flow of solid particles from the earth formation to the surface facility so as to form a sandscreen, wherein the sleeve of swelleable material extends around the filter layer.    
   
   
       2 . The wellbore device of  claim 1 , wherein the wellbore device is adapted to be arranged in a wellbore formed in the earth formation.  
   
   
       3 . The wellbore device of  claim 1 , comprising a first said fluid passage formed in a first part of said body and a second said fluid passage formed in a second part of said body, wherein the first fluid passage is closed due to contact of the first body part with the selected fluid, and wherein the second fluid passage is open.  
   
   
       4 . The wellbore device of  claim 3 , wherein the first body part comprises a plurality of said first fluid passages, and the second body part comprises a plurality of said second fluid passages.  
   
   
       5 . The wellbore device of claims  1 - 4 , wherein said body of swelleable material is formed as a tube, and wherein the, or each, fluid passage passes through the wall of the tube.  
   
   
       6 . The wellbore device of  claim 5 , further including a perforated tubular conduit, and wherein the body of swelleable material extends around the perforated tubular conduit.  
   
   
       7 . The wellbore device of  claim 6 , wherein the filter layer is arranged between the perforated tubular conduit and the sleeve of swelleable material.  
   
   
       8 . The wellbore device of  claim 6 , wherein the perforated tubular conduit is radially expandable.  
   
   
       9 . The wellbore device of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is one of the group of a permeable sleeve, a perforated sleeve, and a sleeve having an open weave structure.  
   
   
       10 . The wellbore device of  claim 8 , wherein the wellbore device is arranged in the wellbore and wherein the sandscreen has been radially expanded so that the sleeve is substantially in contact with the wellbore wall.  
   
   
       11 . The wellbore device of  claim 1 , wherein the selected fluid is earth formation water.  
   
   
       12 . The wellbore device of  claim 1 , wherein said body comprises a water swelleable material selected from the group of starch-polyacrylate acid graft copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol cyclic acid anhydride graft copolymer, isobutylene maleic anhydride, acrylic acid type polymers, vinylacetate-acrylate copolymer, polyethylene oxide polymers, carboxymethyl cellulose type polymers, starch-polyacrylonitrile graft copolymers and the like, highly swelling clay minerals, Sodium Bentonite, and Sodium Bentonite having as main ingredient montmorillonite.  
   
   
       13 . (canceled)