Inflow control device

Abstract

An inflow control device for a well screen comprising: a body having an internal bore, said body mountable in line with a base pipe of said well screen; a plurality of body apertures in a wall of said body, said apertures spaced longitudinally and circumferentially from each other, about said wall; a slide member in sliding engagement with an inner surface of said body, said slide member having a plurality of slide apertures; wherein the inflow control device is arranged to selectively and progressively increase the aperture area through the body through sliding the slide member, so as to align at least one of the body apertures with at least one of the slide apertures.

1 . An inflow control device for a well screen comprising:
 a body having an internal bore, said body mountable in line with a base pipe of said well screen;   a plurality of body apertures in a wall of said body, said apertures spaced longitudinally and circumferentially from each other, about said wall;   a slide member in sliding engagement with an inner surface of said body, said slide member having a plurality of slide apertures   wherein the inflow control device is arranged to selectively and progressively increase the aperture area through the body through sliding the slide member, so as to align at least one of the body apertures with at least one of the slide apertures.   
     
     
         2 . The inflow control device according to  claim 1  wherein said device is arranged to receive an interruption tool for engaging and sliding said slide member. 
     
     
         3 . The inflow control device according to  claim 1  wherein positions associated with the slide member correspond to the placement of said apertures. 
     
     
         4 . The inflow control device according to  claim 1  wherein an external diameter of the body is arranged to equal that of the well screen such that on connection to the well screen a flush connection is achieved. 
     
     
         5 . The inflow control device according to  claim 1  further including a screen connected to the inflow control device and positioned over said apertures. 
     
     
         6 . The inflow control device according to  claim 1  wherein the slide member is arranged to slide longitudinally parallel to an axis of said well screen. 
     
     
         7 . The inflow control device according to  claim 1  wherein the slide member is arranged to slide rotationally about the axis of the well screen. 
     
     
         8 . The inflow control device according to  claim 1  wherein the slide apertures are arranged into groups, said slide member arranged to slide to a plurality of positions, each position aligning one of said slide aperture groups with at least one of said body apertures. 
     
     
         9 . The inflow control device according to  claim 8  wherein said groups correspond to varying percentages of a total body aperture area such that the slide member is arranged to increase or decrease the available percentage of body aperture opening on moving from one position to another. 
     
     
         10 . The inflow control device according to  claim 1  wherein said slide member includes an engagement portion, said engagement portion arranged to receive an engagement portion of an interruption tool for biasing the slide member from one position to another.