Alternating flow resistance increases and decreases for propagating pressure pulses in a subterranean well

摘要

A method of propagating pressure pulses in a well can include flowing a fluid composition through a variable flow resistance system which includes a vortex chamber having at least one inlet and an outlet, a vortex being created when the fluid composition spirals about the outlet, and a resistance to flow of the fluid composition alternately increasing and decreasing. The vortex can be alternately created and dissipated in response to flowing the fluid composition through the system. A well system can include a variable flow resistance system which propagates pressure pulses into a formation in response to flow of a fluid composition from the formation.

主权项

1. A method of propagating pressure pulses in a subterranean well, the method comprising:
flowing a fluid composition through at least one variable flow resistance system which includes:
at least one inlet;a vortex chamber downstream of the at least one inlet and in fluid communication with the at least one inlet via at least a first and a second flow passages; andan outlet in fluid communication with the vortex chamber, wherein a vortex is created when the fluid composition flows spirally about the outlet when a vortex proportion of flow through the first flow passage relative to the second flow passage exists, wherein the vortex is dissipated when a dissipation proportion of flow through the second flow passage relative to the first passage exists; and wherein flowing the fluid composition through the at least one variable flow resistance system includes allowing the fluid composition to flow through at least the first and the second flow passages to alternatingly create and dissipate the vortex such that the vortex chamber alternatingly increases and decreases a resistance to flow of the fluid composition through the vortex chamber.