A fluid flow control device includes a rotatable component for rotating about an axis in response to fluid flow from an inlet port of the fluid flow control device. A float component is positioned within the rotatable component and connected to the rotatable component by a hinge. The hinge provides for movement of the float component relative to the rotatable component between (i) an open position that enables fluid flow from the inlet port to an outlet port of the rotatable component, and (ii) a closed position that restricts fluid flow through a flow passage from the inlet port to the outlet port.

Described is a flow control device comprising a body locatable with a tubular and a flow regulator, housed within the body. The flow regulator defines a flow path through the body to accommodate flow between internal and external locations of a tubular in use. The flow regulator comprises a valve arrangement forming part of the flow path, and a biasing mechanism configured to urge the valve arrangement towards an open configuration from a restricted configuration in which fluid flow though the flow path is restricted. The biasing mechanism and the flow path through the flow control device are configured such that a differential pressure acting across the flow regulator, in excess of a particular threshold, moves the valve arrangement from the open configuration towards the restricted configuration in order to limit flow through the flow control device.

Described is a flow control device comprising a body locatable with a tubular and a flow regulator, housed within the body. The flow regulator defines a flow path through the body to accommodate flow between internal and external locations of a tubular in use. The flow regulator comprises a valve arrangement forming part of the flow path, and a biasing mechanism configured to urge the valve arrangement towards an open configuration from a restricted configuration in which fluid flow though the flow path is restricted. The biasing mechanism and the flow path through the flow control device are configured such that a differential pressure acting across the flow regulator, in excess of a particular threshold, moves the valve arrangement from the open configuration towards the restricted configuration in order to limit flow through the flow control device.

Provided, in one aspect, is a float for use with a fluid flow control device. The float, in at least one aspect, includes a fluid impermeable exterior, and a base material having one or more cavities positioned within the fluid impermeable exterior, the base material formed using an additive manufacturing process.

A flow control system selectively regulates production of a fluid from a well. The flow control system includes a plurality of flow control devices, each flow control device rotatable by a portion of the fluid and selectively directing the portion of the fluid through an outlet of the flow control device based on the density of the fluid. The system further includes a regulator valve controlled at least in part by the portion of fluid exiting the outlet of the flow control device. The regulating valve regulates production of a remaining portion of the fluid from the well.

A flow control system selectively regulates production of a fluid from a well. The flow control system includes a plurality of flow control devices, each flow control device rotatable by a portion of the fluid and selectively directing the portion of the fluid through an outlet of the flow control device based on the density of the fluid. The system further includes a regulator valve controlled at least in part by the portion of fluid exiting the outlet of the flow control device. The regulating valve regulates production of a remaining portion of the fluid from the well.

A method, system and apparatus of optimizing operation of one or more tubing strings in a hydrocarbon well are provided. Each tubing string is located in a hydrocarbon well and has a plurality of valves. Each valve is actuatable between a fully open position and a fully closed position and is in communication with a respective zone of a formation defining a reservoir containing hydrocarbon material. The method includes characterizing an injectivity of one or more zones of the formation and determining an optimal operating schedule in accordance with the characterization. The optimal operating schedule comprises one or more valve configurations and an operating duration for each of the one or more valve configurations.

A method, system and apparatus of optimizing operation of one or more tubing strings in a hydrocarbon well are provided. Each tubing string is located in a hydrocarbon well and has a plurality of valves. Each valve is actuatable between a fully open position and a fully closed position and is in communication with a respective zone of a formation defining a reservoir containing hydrocarbon material. The method includes characterizing an injectivity of one or more zones of the formation and determining an optimal operating schedule in accordance with the characterization. The optimal operating schedule comprises one or more valve configurations and an operating duration for each of the one or more valve configurations.

A method of probabilistically estimating a velocity of a plunger of a beam pump may comprise continuously monitoring well acoustics using a plurality of passive acoustic sensors attached to external structures of the beam pump; digitizing outputs of the plurality of passive acoustic sensors and sending the digitized outputs to a computing device for storage and processing; and using the digitized outputs of the plurality of passive acoustic sensors, estimating a probability of the velocity of the plunger using a hidden Markov model (HMM) to represent a probability of a position and the probability of the velocity of the plunger, the HMM comprising a state space model and an observational model.

A method of probabilistically estimating a velocity of a plunger of a beam pump may comprise continuously monitoring well acoustics using a plurality of passive acoustic sensors attached to external structures of the beam pump; digitizing outputs of the plurality of passive acoustic sensors and sending the digitized outputs to a computing device for storage and processing; and using the digitized outputs of the plurality of passive acoustic sensors, estimating a probability of the velocity of the plunger using a hidden Markov model (HMM) to represent a probability of a position and the probability of the velocity of the plunger, the HMM comprising a state space model and an observational model.