Abstract: A downhole flow control configuration including a housing, a converging-diverging flow path in the housing. The flow path includes a first portion including an inlet, a converging section, and a throat section. The first portion preferentially passes a portion of a fluid having a greater subcool. The converging-diverging flow path further includes a second portion comprising a diverging section that recovers fluid pressure lost in the converging section and the throat section, and an outlet and an elongated helical flow path connected to the outlet of the converging-diverging flow path, the helical flow path producing a pressure drop in a fluid flowing therein during use.

Abstract: A downhole flow control configuration including a housing, a converging-diverging flow path in the housing, the flow path including a first portion including an inlet, a converging section, and a throat section, the first portion preferentially passing a portion of a fluid having a greater subcool, and the converging-diverging flow path further including a second portion comprising a diverging section that recovers fluid pressure lost in the converging section and the throat section, and an outlet and an elongated helical flow path connected to the outlet of the converging-diverging flow path, the helical flow path producing a pressure drop in a fluid flowing therein during use.

Abstract: A flow balancing device facilitates polymer injection in a horizontal formation in a manner that minimizes shear effects on the injected polymer. Features of the device reduce velocity using a broad circumferentially oriented inlet plenum that leads to a circumferentially oriented path having zig-zag fluid movement characterized by broad passages that define the zig-zag pattern so as to reduce velocity at such transition locations. Because the path is circumferentially oriented there is room for broad transition passages independent of the housing diameter. The broad crescent shaped inlet plenum also reduces inlet velocity, and therefore shear, to preserve the viscosity of the injected polymer. Other materials can be injected or the device can be employed in production service as well as injection. A related method employs the described device for injection.

Abstract: The flow control device comprises one or more stacked spiral paths where the shape of an inlet to an end of a spiral has a taper on one or more sides to gradually increase the polymer velocity to eliminate rapid acceleration points as the flow enters the spiral path. The entrance with its taper can be curved to get into the spiral. The spiral can be entered tangentially or radially or axially.

Abstract: A method of performing measurements of an earth formation includes disposing at least a first receiver and a second receiver in one or more monitoring boreholes in a formation, and injecting fluid into the formation from an injection borehole, wherein injecting includes operating a fluid control device to generate seismic and/or acoustic noise having an identifiable characteristic. The method also includes detecting seismic and/or acoustic signals at the first receiver and detecting seismic and/or acoustic signals at a second receiver, the seismic and/or acoustic signals corresponding to the seismic and/or acoustic noise, calculating an estimate of a Green's function between the first receiver and the second receiver by processing seismic and/or acoustic waves detected by the first receiver and the second receiver to at least partially reconstruct the Green's function, and estimating variations in a velocity of a region of the formation by determining variations in the reconstructed Green's function.

Abstract: A flow balancing device facilitates polymer injection in a horizontal formation in a manner that minimizes shear effects on the injected polymer. Features of the device reduce velocity using a broad circumferentially oriented inlet plenum that leads to a circumferentially oriented path having zig-zag fluid movement characterized by broad passages that define the zig-zag pattern so as to reduce velocity at such transition locations. Because the path is circumferentially oriented there is room for broad transition passages independent of the housing diameter. The broad crescent shaped inlet plenum also reduces inlet velocity, and therefore shear, to preserve the viscosity of the injected polymer. Other materials can be injected or the device can be employed in production service as well as injection. A related method employs the described device for injection.

Abstract: The flow control device comprises one or more stacked spiral paths where the shape of an inlet to an end of a spiral has a taper on one or more sides to gradually increase the polymer velocity to eliminate rapid acceleration points as the flow enters the spiral path. The entrance with its taper can be curved to get into the spiral. The spiral can be entered tangentially or radially or axially.

Abstract: A method of performing measurements of an earth formation includes disposing at least a first receiver and a second receiver in one or more monitoring boreholes in a formation, and injecting fluid into the formation from an injection borehole, wherein injecting includes operating a fluid control device to generate seismic and/or acoustic noise having an identifiable characteristic. The method also includes detecting seismic and/or acoustic signals at the first receiver and detecting seismic and/or acoustic signals at a second receiver, the seismic and/or acoustic signals corresponding to the seismic and/or acoustic noise, calculating an estimate of a Green's function between the first receiver and the second receiver by processing seismic and/or acoustic waves detected by the first receiver and the second receiver to at least partially reconstruct the Green's function, and estimating variations in a velocity of a region of the formation by determining variations in the reconstructed Green's function.