Liquid Valve for Flow Control Devices

Abstract

Certain aspects of the present invention are directed to a liquid valve assembly that can be disposed in a wellbore through a fluid-producing formation. The liquid valve assembly can include a housing and a liquid valve. The housing can define an inner chamber and an opening adapted to allow fluid to flow between the inner chamber and a passageway. The liquid valve can be disposed in the inner chamber. The liquid valve can include a yield stress fluid. The yield stress fluid can prevent fluid from flowing between the inner chamber and the passageway.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liquid valve assembly configured for being disposed in a wellbore through a fluid-producing formation, the liquid valve assembly comprising:
 a housing defining an inner chamber and an opening adapted to allow fluid to flow between the inner chamber and a passageway;   a liquid valve disposed in the inner chamber, the liquid valve comprising a yield stress fluid configured for preventing the fluid from flowing between the inner chamber and the passageway, wherein the yield stress fluid comprises a magnetorheological fluid; and   a piston configured to apply a force to the liquid valve such that the liquid valve is positioned over the opening.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the yield stress fluid is further configured for remaining in the inner chamber in response to an application of a second force to the yield stress fluid in a direction of the opening. 
     
     
         3 . The liquid valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the piston is further configured to selectively position the liquid valve over the opening such that the liquid valve prevents the fluid from flowing between the inner chamber and the passageway. 
     
     
         4 . The liquid valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the yield stress fluid comprises a Bingham plastic. 
     
     
         5 . The liquid valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the opening has a diameter adapted to cause the yield stress fluid to prevent the fluid from flowing between the inner chamber and the passageway in response to the fluid exerting the force against the liquid valve in a direction of the opening,
 wherein the housing further defines an additional opening adapted to allow the fluid to flow between the inner chamber and an additional passageway, wherein an additional diameter of the additional opening is adapted to allow the fluid to flow from the inner chamber into the additional passageway in response to the fluid exerting the force against the liquid valve in the direction of the additional opening.   
     
     
         6 . The liquid valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid valve assembly is positionable in an inflow control device housing, the inflow control device housing defining the passageway. 
     
     
         7 . The liquid valve assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a control line to communicate pressure to the piston. 
     
     
         8 . The liquid valve assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second piston, wherein the piston is positioned proximate to the liquid valve to apply a first force in a direction to open the liquid valve and the second piston is positioned proximate to the liquid valve to apply a second force in an opposing direction to close to the liquid valve. 
     
     
         9 . An inflow control device configured for being disposed in a wellbore through a fluid-producing formation, the inflow control device comprising:
 a housing defining a passageway; and   a liquid valve assembly, the liquid valve assembly comprising:
 an additional housing defining an inner chamber and an opening adapted to allow fluid to flow between the inner chamber and the passageway; 
 a liquid valve disposed in the inner chamber, the liquid valve comprising a yield stress fluid configured for preventing the fluid from flowing between the inner chamber and the passageway, wherein the opening has a diameter adapted to cause the yield stress fluid to prevent the fluid from flowing between the inner chamber and the passageway in response to the fluid exerting a force against the liquid valve in a direction of the opening; and 
 a piston configured to apply the force to the liquid valve such that the liquid valve is positioned over the opening, 
   wherein the housing defines an additional passageway;   wherein the additional housing further defines an additional opening adapted to allow the fluid to flow between the inner chamber and the additional passageway, wherein an additional diameter of the additional opening is adapted to allow the fluid to flow from the inner chamber into the additional passageway in response to the fluid exerting the force against the liquid valve in a direction of the additional opening.   
     
     
         10 . The inflow control device of  claim 9 , wherein the piston is configured to selectively position the liquid valve over the opening such that the liquid valve prevents the fluid from flowing between the inner chamber and the passageway. 
     
     
         11 . The inflow control device of  claim 9 , wherein the yield stress fluid is further configured for remaining in the inner chamber in response to an application of a second force to the yield stress fluid in the direction of the opening. 
     
     
         12 . The inflow control device of  claim 9 , wherein the yield stress fluid comprises a Bingham plastic. 
     
     
         13 . The inflow control device of  claim 9 , further comprising a control line to communicate pressure to the piston. 
     
     
         14 . The inflow control device of  claim 9 , further comprising a second piston, wherein the piston is positioned proximate to the liquid valve to apply a first force in a first direction to open the liquid valve and the second piston is positioned proximate to the liquid valve to apply a second force in an opposing direction to close to the liquid valve.