Rate limiting device to enhance the performance ratio and longevity of a wellbore inflow control device

Abstract

An apparatus to be positioned in a wellbore formed in a subsurface formation. The apparatus comprises one or more generators disposed in a flow path within a flow control tool and configured to output electrical power to components of the flow control tool in response to flow of a fluid in the flow path, wherein the fluid enters the flow path from the wellbore. The apparatus comprises a flow rate limiting device disposed in the flow path and configured to control a flow rate of the fluid as the fluid flows to the one or more generators.

1 . An apparatus to be positioned in a wellbore formed in a subsurface formation, the apparatus comprising:
 one or more generators disposed in a flow path within a flow control tool and configured to output electrical power to components of the flow control tool in response to flow of a fluid in the flow path, wherein the fluid enters the flow path from the wellbore; and   a flow rate limiting device disposed in the flow path and configured to control a flow rate of the fluid as the fluid flows to the one or more generators.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the flow rate limiting device is proximate an inlet or an outlet of the one or more generators. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more generators includes a turbine generator or a vibration generator. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the components of the flow control tool include electronics, powered by the one or more generators, to control the flow of the fluid into a tubular string. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the electronics of the flow control tool require a minimum electrical power to control the flow of the fluid into the tubular string, and wherein the one or more generators are configured to generate the minimum electrical power based on a flow rate limit of the fluid in the flow path. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the flow rate limiting device is configured to restrict the flow rate of the fluid in the flow path to the one or more generators when the flow rate is greater than the flow rate limit. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the flow rate limiting device is a spring-based device. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the spring-based device includes a mechanical spring or a fluid spring. 
     
     
         9 . A system comprising:
 a tubular string to be positioned in a wellbore formed in a subsurface formation; and   a flow control tool disposed on the tubular string, the flow control tool comprising,
 one or more generators positioned in a flow path within the flow control tool and configured to output electrical power to components the flow control tool in response to flow of a fluid in the flow path, wherein the fluid enters the flow path from the wellbore, and 
 a flow rate limiting device positioned in the flow path and configured to control a flow rate of the fluid as the fluid flows to the one or more generators. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the flow rate limiting device is proximate an inlet or outlet of the one or more generators. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , the one or more generators includes a turbine generator and a vibration generator. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the components of the flow control tool include electronics powered by the one or more generators to control the flow of the fluid into the tubular string. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the electronics of the flow control tool require a minimum electrical power to control the flow of the fluid into the tubular string, and wherein the one or more generators are configured to generate the minimum electrical power based on a flow rate limit. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the flow rate limiting device is configured to restrict the flow rate of the fluid to the one or more generators when the flow rate is greater than the flow rate limit. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the flow rate limiting device is configured to self-regulate the flow rate of the fluid in the flow path. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 controlling, via a flow rate limiting device disposed in a flow path within a flow control tool positioned in a wellbore formed in a subsurface formation, a flow rate of a fluid to one or more generators as the fluid flows through the flow path;   outputting, via the one or more generators disposed in the flow path, electrical power to components of the flow control tool in response to the flow rate of the fluid as the fluid flows through the flow path.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the flow rate limiting device is proximate an inlet or outlet of the one or more generators. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the components of the flow control tool include electronics powered by the one or more generators to control flow of the fluid into a tubular string. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the electronics of the flow control tool require a minimum electrical power to control the flow of the fluid into the tubular string, and wherein the one or more generators are configured to generate the minimum electrical power based on a flow rate limit. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the flow rate limiting device is configured to restrict the flow rate of the fluid to the one or more generators when the flow rate is greater than the flow rate limit.