US4512187A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flow rate controller
Assignee: Getty Oil Co
•
Filing: 1981-11-19
•
Granted: 1985-04-23
•
Expires: 2001-11-19
Abstract
Abstract Flow control of a shear-sensitive, i.e. pressure gradient degradable, liquid from a high pressure source to a lower pressure discharge is achieved by controlling the liquid's exposure to a degradation pressure gradient. Two displacement chambers are provided and connected by a control conduit. First and second movable barriers in the first and second chambers respectively contain a separate controlling liquid. A pressure and flow control valve is included in the control conduit. Incoming pressurized controlled shear-sensitive liquid flows into the first displacement chamber to displace the first barrier which displaces controlling liquid through the flow control valve. Shear-sensitive liquid is dispensed at relatively lower pressure from the second chamber in response to movement of the second barrier driven by the controlling fluid coming from the control conduit into the second chamber. The flow of controlled liquid to and from the chambers is selectively reversed to provide for continuous pumping from the high pressure source to the low pressure discharge. Indication of total flow and rate of flow of the controlled liquid through the discharge conduit may also be indicated. The flow control valve is adjusted to establish the pressure drop imposed on the controlling liquid and thereby the pressure drop in the controlled liquid without subjecting the controlled fluid to a degradation pressure gradient.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter L. Sigwardt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:16
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F11/00; G01F11/02; G01F11/04; G01F11/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
In a system having a high pressure pumping means for injecting a viscous shear-sensitive liquid into a subsurface earth formation, an adjustable flow controller for establishing such injection at a preselected flow rate against a variable rock pressure in said formation, said flow controller comprising first chamber means having first and second ports and a displacement liquid therebetween, first barrier means responsive to said pumping means and disposed in said first chamber means for isolating said displacement liquid from said first port therein, second chamber means having third and fourth ports and a displacement liquid therebetween, second barrier means responsive to said pumping means and disposed in said second chamber means for isolating said displacement liquid from said fourth port therein, first adjustable valve means interconnecting said chamber means for selectively constricting the flow of said displacement liquid between said second and third ports therein as a function of said rock pressure in said formation, and second adjustable valve means interconnected with said pumping means and said formation for delivering said viscous liquid into said first chamber through said first port and from said second chamber through said fourth port and for alternately delivering said viscous liquid into said second chamber through said fourth port and from said first chamber through said first port.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
In a system having a high pressure pumping means for injecting a viscous shear-sensitive liquid into a subsurface earth formation, an adjustable flow controller for establishing such injection at a preselected flow rate against a variable rock pressure in said formation, said flow controller comprising first chamber means having first and second ports and a displacement liquid therebetween, first barrier means responsive to said pumping means and disposed in said first chamber means for isolating said displacement liquid from said first port therein, second chamber means having third and fourth ports and a displacement liquid therebetween, second barrier means responsive to said pumping means and disposed in said second chamber means for isolating said displacement liquid from said fourth port therein, first adjustable valve means interconnecting said chamber means for selectively constricting the flow of said displacement liquid between said second and third ports therein as a function of said rock pressure in said formation, and second adjustable valve means interconnected with said pumping means and said formation for delivering said viscous liquid into said first chamber through said first port and from said second chamber through said fourth port and for alternately delivering said viscous liquid into said second chamber through said fourth port and from said first chamber through said first port.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said barrier means comprises a plurality of spheroids.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said barrier means comprises a plurality of bellows.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said barrier means comprises a plurality of bladders.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said barrier means comprises a plurality of pistons.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of any one of claims 1 and 2 through 5, wherein said first valve means comprises an adjustable constant flow rate control valve.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of any one of claims 1 and 2 through 5, wherein said first valve means comprises a throttle valve.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of any of claims 2, 3, or 5, having in combination therewith sensing means adapted to detect a predetermined limit of displacement of the barrier means toward said first valve means and operative means connected to said sensing means to change automatically the flow from one said chamber means to the other when the predetermined limit of said displacement has been reached.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the volume of shear-sensitive liquid entering said formation is determined for each displacement move of each said barrier means and counter means is connected to said sensing means to count the times each said barrier means reaches the sensing means as a result of displacement movement toward said first valve means to measure thereby the flow of shear-sensitive liquid through said apparatus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising timing means for recording the number of counted movements in a predetermined period to thereby provide the rate of flow of shear-sensitive liquid from the flow controller.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
145 words
The apparatus of any one of claims 2, 3, or 5, having in combination therewith adjusting means for maintaining a constant volume of displacement liquid in said chambers and first valve means, said adjusting means including: first sensing means to detect a predetermined full travel position of said first barrier means in said first chamber, second sensing means to detect a corresponding full travel position of said second barrier means in said second chamber means, means for introducing displacement liquid into said chambers for so long as said second barrier means does not reach its full travel position at the same time the first barrier means reaches its full travel position, and means for discharging displacement liquid from said chambers for so long as said second barrier means has reached its full travel position before the first barrier means has reached its full travel position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising sensing means adapted to detect a predetermined limit of displacement of the barrier means by movement thereof away from said first valve means and operative means connected to said sensing means to change the flow of displacement liquid from one said chamber means to the other when the predetermined limit of said displacement has been reached.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the volume of displacement liquid passing between said chambers is determined for each displacement move of each said barrier means and counter means is connected to said sensing means to count the number of times each said barrier means reaches the sensing means as a result of displacement movement away from said first valve means to measure the flow of fluid through said apparatus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 13, having in combination therewith timing means for recording the number of sensed movements in a predetermined period to thereby record the rate of flow of shear-sensitive liquid through the apparatus.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of any one of claims 2, 3, 4, or 5, having in combination therewith heat dissipating fins on said chamber means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
108 words
A flow control method for a shear-sensitive polymeric liquid having a viscosity degradable in response to a pressure gradient above a predetermined value, said method comprising establishing and conducting said polymeric liquid along a first path, establishing and conducting a liquid along a second path isolated from and in response to said polymeric liquid in said first path, imposing a pressure gradient above said predetermined minimum value onto said liquid in said second path, and establishing and conducting said polymeric liquid along a third path isolated from and in response to said liquid in said second path at a flow rate functionally related to said imposed pressure gradient.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
108 words
A flow control method for a shear-sensitive polymeric liquid having a viscosity degradable in response to a pressure gradient above a predetermined value, said method comprising establishing and conducting said polymeric liquid along a first path, establishing and conducting a liquid along a second path isolated from and in response to said polymeric liquid in said first path, imposing a pressure gradient above said predetermined minimum value onto said liquid in said second path, and establishing and conducting said polymeric liquid along a third path isolated from and in response to said liquid in said second path at a flow rate functionally related to said imposed pressure gradient.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2006181A
Cited
US26820A
Cited
US71865A
Cited
US245310A
Cited
US17654A
Cited
US1377654A
Cited
US1777293A
Cited
GB369209A
Cited
US2525295A
Cited
US2690715A
Cited
US2819679A
Cited
US3216627A
Cited
GB1034763A
Cited
US3223291A
Cited
US3362618A
Cited
GB1228776A
Cited
US3477380A
Cited
USRE26820E
Cited
GB1305729A
Cited
US3913787A
Cited
US3778193A
Cited
US4065230A
Cited
US4103490A
Cited
US4269569A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-04-22 | 1988-10-22 | 1989-04-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-04-22 | 1992-10-22 | 1993-04-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-04-22 | 1996-10-22 | 1997-04-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |