Flow Control System for Use in a Subterranean Well

Abstract

A flow control system for use in controlling flow of a fluid composition in a subterranean well is disclosed. The flow control system includes a flow chamber that includes an inlet and an outlet oriented such that the fluid composition flows circuitously through the chamber, forming a vortex at least at the outlet. The flow control system further comprises at least one flow control structure shaped and positioned in the flow chamber such that a velocity of the circuitous flow is reduced and the vortex is eliminated or substantially reduced.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flow control system for use in controlling flow of a fluid composition in a subterranean well, the flow control system comprising:
 a flow chamber comprising an inlet and an outlet oriented such that the fluid composition flows circuitously through the flow chamber; and   at least one flow control structure shaped and positioned in the flow chamber such that a velocity of the circuitous flow is reduced and a formation of a vortex at the outlet is eliminated or substantially reduced,   wherein an inside end of the at least one flow control structure oriented toward the outlet is rounded, chamfered, filleted, or flat.   
     
     
         2 . The flow control system of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the at least one flow control structure is located adjacent to or flush with the outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The flow control system of  claim 1 , wherein an outside end of the at least one flow control structure oriented toward an interior sidewall of the flow chamber is rounded, chamfered, filleted, or flat. 
     
     
         4 . The flow control system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flow control structure comprises at least one of curved edges, rounded edges, bends, joints, or a wavy profile. 
     
     
         5 . The flow control system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flow control structure comprises either a one piece structure or a discontinuous structure. 
     
     
         6 . The flow control system of  claim 1 , the at least one flow control structure is oriented perpendicular to the inlet such that the fluid composition is directed toward the outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The flow control system of  claim 1  wherein the flow chamber further comprises an interior sidewall around the flow chamber with a bottom wall and a top wall extending across the flow chamber and wherein:
 the flow control structure extends from either the bottom wall or the top wall toward but not all the way to the other of either the top wall or the bottom wall; or 
 the flow control structure extends completely between the top wall and the bottom wall. 
 
     
     
         8 . The flow control system of  claim 1 , wherein the flow control system is installable in or to interconnect with well screens of a tubular string downhole in the subterranean well and is configured to control the flow of the fluid composition into the tubular string. 
     
     
         9 . A method of controlling flow of a fluid composition in a subterranean well through a subterranean formation, comprising:
 locating a tubular string downhole in the subterranean well, the tubular string comprising a flow control system;   flowing the fluid composition from the subterranean formation into a flow chamber of the flow control system through an inlet so as to induce circuitous flow within the flow chamber;   flowing the fluid composition out of the flow control system and into the tubular string through an outlet of the flow control system; and   disrupting the circuitous flow with at least one flow control structure in the flow chamber to reduce a velocity of the circuitous flow and eliminate or substantially reduce a formation of a vortex at the outlet, wherein an inside end of the at least one flow control structure oriented toward the outlet is rounded, chamfered, filleted or flat.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a portion of the at least one flow control structure is located adjacent to or flush with the outlet. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein an outside end of the at least one flow control structure oriented toward an interior sidewall of the flow chamber is rounded, chamfered, filleted or flat. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one flow control structure comprises at least one of curved edges, rounded edges, bends, joints, or a wavy profile. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one flow control structure comprises either a one piece structure or a discontinuous structure. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one flow control structure is oriented perpendicular to the inlet such that the fluid composition is directed toward the outlet. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the tubular string further comprises multiple flow control systems spaced along the tubular string, the method further comprising:
 sealing off, with adjacent pairs of packers of the tubular string, an annulus formed radially between the tubular string and the subterranean formation; and   filtering, with well screens interconnected to the flow control systems, the fluid composition before the fluid composition enters the inlet of the flow control system.   
     
     
         16 . A production system for producing at least a portion of a fluid composition from a subterranean formation, the production system locatable in a subterranean well extending through the subterranean formation, the production system comprising:
 a tubular string locatable downhole in the subterranean well and comprising a flow control system functional to control flow of the fluid composition into the tubular string,   wherein the flow control system comprises:
 a flow chamber comprising an inlet and an outlet oriented such that the fluid composition flows circuitously through the flow chamber; and 
 at least one flow control structure shaped and positioned in the flow chamber such that a velocity of the circuitous flow is reduced and a formation of a vortex at the outlet is eliminated or substantially reduced, wherein an inside end of the at least one flow control structure oriented toward the outlet is rounded, chamfered, filleted or flat. 
   
     
     
         17 . The production system of  claim 16 , wherein a portion of the at least one flow control structure is located adjacent to or flush with the outlet. 
     
     
         18 . The production system of  claim 16 , wherein an outside end of the at least one flow control structure oriented toward an interior sidewall of the flow chamber is rounded, chamfered, filleted or flat. 
     
     
         19 . The production system of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one flow control structure is oriented perpendicular to the inlet such that the fluid composition is directed toward the outlet. 
     
     
         20 . The production system of  claim 16 , wherein the tubular string comprises multiple flow control systems spaced along the tubular string and interconnected with well screens positioned between adjacent pairs of packers of the tubular string.