Temporary Barrier for Inflow Control Device

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling fluid flow in a borehole includes a basepipe and a flow device. The basepipe has a through-bore and defines at least one perforation. The throughbore conveys the fluid flow, and the at least one perforation communicates the through-bore outside the basepipe. The flow device comprises a barrier disposed at the at least one perforation. The barrier at least temporarily prevents fluid communication through the at least one perforation. The barrier is resistant to a pressure differential thereacross and is dissolvable over time. The barrier can include at least two elements composed of different materials, and an increase in the pressure differential across can further increase how the barrier prevents the fluid communication through the perforation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for controlling fluid flow in a borehole, the apparatus comprising:
 a basepipe having a throughbore and defining at least one perforation, the throughbore conveying the fluid flow, the at least one perforation communicating the throughbore outside the basepipe; and   a flow device comprising a barrier disposed at the at least one perforation, the barrier at least temporarily preventing fluid communication through the at least one perforation and being dissolvable over time, the barrier being resistant to a pressure differential thereacross and increasing the at least temporary prevention of the fluid communication through the at least one perforation in response to an increase in the pressure differential thereacross.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the flow device comprises at least one nozzle disposed relative to the at least one perforation, the at least one nozzle creating a pressure drop in fluid communication therethrough. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the flow device comprises a fixture affixed at the at least one perforation and defining an orifice therethrough, the fixture holding the barrier captive in the at least one perforation. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the orifice of the fixture comprises a nozzle disposed thereon, the nozzle creating a pressure drop in fluid communication therethrough. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the nozzle comprises an erosion-resistant material. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the fixture threads into a threaded counterbore of the at least one perforation. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the barrier comprises at least two elements composed of different materials, the at least two elements held captive in the at least one perforation with the fixture, the at least two elements at least temporarily preventing fluid communication between the at least one perforation of the basepipe and the orifice of the fixture. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the at least two elements comprise an inner layer of a first dissolvable material encapsulated in an outer layer of a second dissolvable material different from the first dissolvable material. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the at least two elements comprise an intermediate layer of a first dissolvable material sandwiched between first and second outer layers of a second dissolvable material different from the first dissolvable material. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the fixture comprises a steel material. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first dissolvable material comprises a dissolvable metallic material, and wherein the second dissolvable material comprises a dissolvable gasket material. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier comprises at least two elements of different material increasing the at least temporary prevention of the fluid communication through the at least one perforation in response to an increase in the pressure differential thereacross. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein a first of the different materials of the at least two elements comprises a dissolvable metallic material, and wherein a second of the different materials of the at least two elements comprise a dissolvable gasket material. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a filter disposed on the basepipe adjacent the flow device and filtering the fluid flow from the borehole to the at least one perforation. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the filter and the basepipe define a gap therebetween communicating the fluid flow with the flow device. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the flow device comprises a housing in fluid communication with the gap and communicating the gap with the at least one perforation. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the housing comprises at least one nozzle creating a pressure drop in the fluid flow from the gap to the at least one perforation. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the flow device comprises at least one inflow valve permitting communication of the fluid flow in an inflow direction from the gap to the at least one perforation and preventing communication of the fluid flow in an outflow direction from the at least one perforation to the gap. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one barrier comprises:
 a sleeve disposed on the basepipe adjacent the at least one perforation; and   at least one seal sealing between the sleeve and the basepipe on both sides of the at least one perforation.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the sleeve comprises an dissolvable metallic material; and wherein the at least one seal comprises a dissolvable gasket material. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one seal comprises a plurality of ridges defined on an exterior of the sleeve and engaging an inside surface of the through-bore. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein a nozzle is affixed at least partially in the at least one perforation. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus for controlling fluid flow in a borehole, the apparatus comprising:
 a basepipe having a through-bore and defining at least one perforation, the throughbore conveying the fluid flow, the at least one perforation communicating the throughbore outside the basepipe; and   a flow device comprising a barrier disposed at the at least one perforation, the barrier at least temporarily preventing fluid communication through the at least one perforation and comprising at least two elements composed of different materials, the barrier being resistant to a pressure differential thereacross and being dissolvable over time.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein a first of the at least two elements comprises a plug composed of a dissolvable metal as one of the different materials, the plug affixed at the at least one perforation; and wherein a second of the at least two elements comprises a washer composed of a dissolvable material as another of the different materials, the washer held captive in between the plug and the perforation. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein a first of the at least two elements comprises a plug composed of a dissolvable metal as one of the different materials, the plug affixed at the at least one perforation; and wherein a second of the at least two elements comprises a coating composed of a dissolvable material as another of the different materials and coating the plug. 
     
     
         26 . A method of controlling fluid flow from a borehole, the comprising:
 running a basepipe into the borehole, the basepipe having a throughbore and defining at least one perforation, the throughbore conveying the fluid flow, the at least one perforation communicating the through-bore with the borehole;   at least temporarily preventing fluid communication through the at least one perforation with at least one barrier disposed at the at least one perforation, the at least one barrier being resistant to pressure and being dissolvable over time; and   allowing fluid communication through at least one nozzle disposed at the at least one perforation after dissolution of the at least one barrier.