WO2015060728A1

WO2015060728A1 - Apparatus and method for control of flow through a tubular body

Info

Publication number: WO2015060728A1
Application number: PCT/NO2014/050199
Authority: WO
Inventors: Helge LØKEN
Original assignee: Inwell As
Priority date: 2013-10-22
Filing date: 2014-10-21
Publication date: 2015-04-30
Also published as: NO20131396A1

Abstract

An apparatus (1 ) for regulating flow in a subterranean well is described, where the apparatus (1 ) comprises: -a tube body (3) designed with one or more radial perforations (31 ); -a sleeve (5) also designed with one or more radial perforations, and that the sleeve (5) is rotatably mounted relative to the tubular body (3) so that said one or more perforations (51 ) in the sleeve (5) may rotate relative to said one or more perforations (31) in the tubular body (3), and so that either will no perforations (31,51 ) in the sleeve (5) and tube body (3) coincide, or at least one perforation (51 ) in the sleeve (5) will coincide with at least one perforation (31) in the tube body (3), and that simultaneously at least one perforation (51 ) in the sleeve (5) that do not coincide with at least one perforation (31 ) in the tube body (3), whereby the flow of a fluid through an apparatus (1 ) radially in or out of a subterranean well will be regulated by means of a positioning mechanism. The positioning mechanism comprises one or several spring loaded shear pins disposed between the tube body (3) and the sleeve (5) and biased to engage to one or several recesses (33) on the tube body (3) or the sleeve (5) when said one or several shear pins coincides with the said one or several recesses (33). A method for use of an apparatus (1 ) according to the present invention is also described.

Description

TITLE: Apparatus and method for control of flow through a tubular body

Field of the invention

The invention relates to an apparatus for regulating flow in a subterranean well. More specifically, the invention relates to an apparatus that comprises a tubular body designed with one or more radial perforations and a sleeve also designed with one or more radial perforations. The invention comprises also a method of use of an apparatus according to the invention.

Background of the invention

In connection with recovery of hydrocarbons from a subterranean well,

hydrocarbonaceous fluids are likely to flow from a formation and into the

subterranean well through non-adjustable perforated casing and sand screens. In Patent US2010/0108323 A1 there is disclosed an adjustable casing with perforated portions, wherein the perforations in these feeding tubes may be covered and opened by means of a sleeve sliding axially relative to the perforations. Sleeves in an upper portion of a well can be pushed by pressure of a hydraulic fluid, while the sleeves longer within a well is pushed mechanically by means of a well tractor by insofar known type.

A disadvantage of the non-adjustable methods is that the flow volume cannot be regulated during production, and that one is thereby at the mercy of the natural pressure surrounding a well, possibly accommodated by a nearby injection well. If one gets a water breakthrough, a so called watercut, in a production zone, one will not be able to quickly shut down locally for the unwanted water. One will then need to first shut down the well, after which a thin walled pipe, known as a straddle, may be positioned towards the zone that is to be isolated. The thin walled pipe must then be pressed radially outward by means of a hydraulic and/or mechanical tool so that it closes for current perforations. This can be a difficult operation since the thin-walled pipe has a relatively small clearance to the casing when it is run into the well. Furthermore, the radial expansion of the thin walled pipe is an irreversible operation. That is, if it appears that one has not met with the location of the thin-walled pipe after expansion, there is no option but to try again with a new thin-walled pipe. Moreover, such a thin-walled pipe is not used to insulate a branch well. If there is a water cut the entirely sidetrack must be plugged. Alternative solutions for the sealing of the perforated casing at the water cut, for example, swellable gaskets or sealing elements which are activated by heating, is also irreversible and thus has also one or more of the disadvantages mentioned above.

A disadvantage of the above perforated casing with axial movable sleeve is the fact that the movable sleeve will occupy part of the casing tube length when not covering perforations, that is, the whole casing tube length cannot be used for production or injection. Furthermore, the sleeve may be designed with recessions in order for a pushing tool to be able to grasp the sleeve and push it in an axial direction. The recessions make up the unwanted flow restrictions in the production pipeline, as the flow restrictions will be able to reduce the production. Another disadvantage of the axial movable sleeve is that an unwanted axial displacement of the sleeve might occur during well service which is carried out by means of a well tractor. A well tractor is typically provided with a plurality of toothed wheels that pushes out against the casing, to get a grip to push the well tractor and different device axially inwards into the well, while the well is producing. It can therefore occur that the well tractor, unwanted, pushes on the axial movable sleeve such that it closes for production, without this being detected. Moreover, the solution with the axial movable sleeve is relatively inflexible, as it does not enable the regulation of the flow between the extremes; completely opened or completely closed.

In EP 2607616 A1 , an apparatus for extraction of hydrocarbons from a

subterranean well is described. The apparatus comprises an outer sleeve with radial perforations and an inner sleeve with radial perforations, and wherein one sleeve is rotatably mounted to the other sleeve and will be rotated so that one or more perforations in the two sleeves coincides, whereby flow of a fluid through the apparatus will be regulated. It is not described how the positioning of the sleeves relative to each other is performed, and in many cases the perforations in the outer sleeve will be reused in a new position even though it could be densified.

Over time, it is known of the formation of deposits, so called scale, on the tube body and equipment in subterranean wells. After a time of production, like after several years, the tube body can be so clogged with deposits that the production in the well is significantly reduced. There is then a need to clean the well of the said deposits. Even if the well paths are being rectified, it will still leave deposits in the radial perforations in the tube bodies in the well.

Summary of the invention

The purpose of the invention is to remedy or reduce at least one of the

disadvantages of the prior art, or at least to provide a useful alternative to the prior art.

This object is achieved by features specified in the following description and in the subsequent claims. In a first aspect, the invention relates to an apparatus for regulating a flow in a subterranean well, wherein the apparatus comprises:

-a tube body designed with one or more radial perforations;

-a sleeve also designed with one or more radial perforations, characterized in that the sleeve is rotatably mounted relative to the tubular body, so that said one or more perforations in the sleeve may rotate relative to said one or more perforations in the tubular body, and so that either will no perforations in the sleeve and tube body coincide, or at least one perforation in the sleeve will coincide with at least one perforation in the tube body, and that simultaneously at least one perforation in the sleeve that do not coincide with at least one perforation in the tube body, whereby the flow of a fluid through an apparatus radially inn or out of a

subterranean well will be regulated by means of a positioning mechanism. The positioning mechanism comprises one or more spring loaded shear pins disposed between the tube body and the sleeve and biased to engage to one or more recesses on the tube body or the sleeve, when said one or more shear pins coincides with the said one or more recesses.

The subterranean well can be, and not limited to, a well for production of hydrocarbons or an injection well positioned close to a well for production of hydrocarbons. The tube body can be, but not limited to, a casing of insofar known type. The sleeve can at least partially be constructed in steel. A person skilled in the art will be familiar with the fact that different quality of steel is required in different well environments. In the following, an activated perforation is to be understood as a perforation on the first of the sleeve or tubular body that coincides with a perforation in the other of the sleeve and the tubular body. Similarly, a deactivated perforation is to be understood as a perforation which does not coincide with another perforation. In one embodiment, the sleeve can be rotatably mounted within the tubular body. In an alternative embodiment, the sleeve can be rotatably mounted outside the tubular body.

In one embodiment, both the sleeve and the tubular body being designed with a plurality of perforations distributed with angle distance therebetween. Rotation of the sleeve relative to the tubular body will thus activate or deactivate different perforations at various angles of rotation.

As an alternative or in addition, both the sleeve and the tubular body can be designed with a plurality of perforations distributed with axial distance

therebetween. This enables the use of a length of the apparatus for production or injection. In one embodiment, the perforations in a first axial position can be angularly displaced relative to the perforations in a second axial position. This allows the activation and deactivation of perforations in different axial positions along the apparatus length by rotation of the sleeve relative to the tubular body.

Furthermore, the perforations of the sleeve and/or the tubular body in at least one axial position can be distributed with irregularly angular distance. This allows for activation of different numbers of perforations at different angular positions of the sleeve relative to the tubular body, and thus changed flow as a function of angular position.

Additionally or alternatively, the sleeve and the tubular body in at least one axial position can be designed with a different number of perforations. This will also enable activation of a different number of perforations in one and same axial position in different angular positions.

In one embodiment, the sleeve and/or tubular body can be designed with a plurality of perforations with different opening areas, for example, by the fact that perforations are designed with different diameters. By rotating the sleeve relative to the tubular body, the perforations with different diameters will be activated at different angular positions.

The embodiments above allow that the total radial flow area through an apparatus according to the invention might be regulated by rotating the sleeve relative to the tubular body. A person skilled in the art will be aware of that the various form of embodiments might be combined, and that other geometric distributions of the perforations will enable the same effect.

The perforations, that can be designed before the sleeve and tubular body is inserted down into the well, might have an arbitrary shaped geometric cross- section. In one embodiment, the mentioned cross-section is circular.

The sleeve may in one embodiment be rotated relative to the tubular body by a rotary tool that is lowered down into the well, for example on a well tractor or on a coil-tubing. A wellbore anchor attached to the rotary tool is set in position inside a casing in the well in a section without sleeve, such that the wellbore anchor will not start rotating. Thereafter, a plurality of clamping devices ("dies") is set on the rotation tool in engagement with the sleeve. The rotation tool may then be set in rotation by means of a drive apparatus of known type, for example via a gear, as known by a person skilled in the art. It also describes an embodiment in which a pipe string composed of single tubular lengths is used to rotate the sleeve. It may for example be a so-called "slick pipe", which may be a drill pipe. The tube is inserted into the well through a lubricator in a wellhead, e.g. a Christmas tree. Furthermore, each pipe length is at its end provided with a valve that is closed, when the pipe is not screwed together with another pipe. As another pipe is screwed into said pipe end, the valve is opened. The pipe can be screwed together with normal box-pi-connections where the valve is placed in the end of the box. This causes that simple pipe lengths may be fed into the well via a lubricator without causing a mess. When the last pipe length is inserted into the well, a control unit comprising a swivel may be attached to the last end of the pipe such that the assembled pipe length may be rotated.

In one embodiment, the apparatus may comprise a positioning mechanism with one or more spring loaded shear pins disposed between the tubular body and the sleeve and biased to be engaged with one or more recesses on the tubular body or the sleeve when said one or more shear pins coincides with said one or more recesses. The shear pins will thus be able to lock the sleeve in predetermined angular positions relative to the tubular body. The shear pins may further be configured to break when a predetermined torque is applied to the sleeve such that it is rotated relative to the tubular body. Other shear pins, which until rotation have been biased between the sleeve and the tubular body, will then be able to engage with new openings such that the sleeve is locked in a new predetermined angular position relative to the tubular body.This embodiment will typically enable three to four rotations of the sleeve over the lifetime of an apparatus according to the present invention. In another embodiment, which does not possess the above limitation according to the number of rotations, one will be able to provide the sleeve with a plurality of spring loaded pistons adapted to be engaged with said recesses. Further, the apparatus may be provided with local seals such that, when applied local hydraulic pressure, might get the chosen few pistons to withdraw from engagement with said recesses. One can then rotate the sleeve relative to the tubular body without breaking the pistons. This alternate embodiment, where the sleeve may be rotated an arbitrary number of times relative to the tubular body, will not be described in further detail here.

In one embodiment, at least one of the perforations in the sleeve or tubular body can be provided with a filter. The filter may prevent fluids in one specific phase to pass through the filter. For example, it will allow one to avoid unwanted gas production in a well. A person skilled in the art will be familiar with the fact that a variety of different filters may be used, but in one embodiment the filter may be a gas stop valve. The gas stop valve can be of a known type. This will enable the production of oil without gas in a first period in the lifetime of a production well, if all activated perforations in the apparatus are provided with such a gas stop valve. Towards the end of the lifetime, the sleeve may be rotated such that the perforations with gas stop valve are deactivated and other perforations without gas stop valve are activated. Thus, one can go over to produce gas in a later phase of the lifetime of petroleum well.

In one embodiment, the sleeve may be provided with an Elastomer coating substantially over the whole entire surface facing the tubular body. The Elastomer coating, which may include rubber, may be extruded for fitting to the sleeve. The perforations in the sleeve, which now also includes an Elastomer coating, may be formed by perforating after extrusion. The Elastomer coating may prevent axially flow between the sleeve and the tubular body, and it will ensure that it is sufficiently sealed with non-activated perforations.

In one embodiment, the sleeve may extend over substantially the whole entire pipe body length. This will, together with the various embodiments mentioned above, result in that substantially the whole apparatus length may be used for production or injection, as opposed to through the use of axial movable sleeves, as mentioned initially.

In a second aspect, the invention comprises a method for regulating a flow out of or into a subterranean well by means of an apparatus according to the above description, wherein the method is characterized by comprising the step:

-to regulate flow out of or into a subterranean well by rotating the sleeve relative to the tubular body, and position the sleeve relative to the tube body by means of a positioning mechanism.

In one embodiment, the method further includes the step of:

- when one or more of the perforations in the sleeve coincides with one or more of the perforations in the tubular body, to rotate the sleeve relative to the tubular body so that none of the perforations in the sleeve, after rotation, coincides with the perforations in the tubular body. For example, this could be useful if one wants a relatively quick closure of a zone in a well. It can for example be to prevent water flow in a production well in a zone where there has occurred a water cut, or it may be to prevent water flow in an injection well in a zone adjacent to a zone of a production well where there has been a water cut.

In one embodiment, the method further includes the step of:

- if none of the perforations in the sleeve coincides with the perforations in the tubular body, to rotate the sleeve relative to the tubular body such that one or more perforations in the sleeve, after turning, coincides with one or more of the perforations in the tubular body. In this way, one may open a zone for production. For example, this may be by opening of a zone close to a wellhead in a production well, which was been kept closed in an early production phase to prevent early water cut because of significant injector effect at the wellhead. It may also be reopening of a zone which has been closed for a period due to a water cut, but where the oil has now migrated past the water cut again.

In one embodiment, the method further includes the step of:

-when a first set of perforations in the sleeve coincides with a first set of

perforations in the tube body, to rotate the sleeve relative to the tube body so that a second set of perforations in the sleeve after rotation, coincides with a second set of perforations in the tube body. This can be done by changing the flow area into or out of the well through an apparatus according to the invention. As described above, it could happen that the perforations that have been in use over time could be partially clogged by deposits (scale), and because of this therefore want to open other, until now unused perforations. This will typically be done in conjunction with that the actual production string has been cleansed of deposits. Further, the rotation can be done with desire to increase or reduce flow into or out of the well to regulate the stream pattern. More apparatus according to the invention could be disposed on different axial positions in a subterranean well. The apparatus could be arranged immediately after each other in the well, or with distance there between.

A method is also described using an apparatus according to the invention in conjunction with injection of gas and water from different zones in an injection well. It may be desirable to cut the water injection, and only continue with gas injection, close to a zone where it has encountered a water cut. The method can be realized in that in a portion of an injection well it is inserted a tube in the well path inside an already inserted casing. Thus there is formed an annular space between the inserted tube and the already disposed casing. The annular space between the inserted tube and the casing, at the inserted tube end, down in the well, is sealed by means of a sealing element. The annular space between the inserted tube and the casing is isolated thus from the rest of the well. From the well holes surface, water and gas can be filled in the center of the inserted tube, which is open at its end down in the well, so that both water and gas is injected from a lower/inner part of the well. Equivalent, gas can be filled in said annular space so that it is only injecting gas from an upper/outer part of the well. In an alternative embodiment the liquid and gas is injected at top of the well and only gas innermost in the well. In a third aspect the invention relates to the use of an apparatus according to the invention to regulate flow of a fluid from a subterranean well and out to a surrounding formation in conjunction with fracturing of the surrounding formation. Today, fracturing of a well is likely done by first to perforate a casing locally with subsequent setting a plug under the perforations, whereupon the production tube is pressed up with water, sand and chemicals escaping out to the surrounding formation through the perforations. After fracturing the process is repeated, which is very time consuming; a number of times until the whole reservoir are fractured. By using an apparatus according to the present invention, the individual zones could simply be fractured by perforations in one apparatus being activated, while perforations in other apparatus at other zones are deactivated. After fracturing of one zone, the perforations in the ready fractured zone are deactivated, and perforations in another zone are activated.

In a forth aspect, the invention relates to the use of an apparatus according to the present invention to regulate flow, through the apparatus, out of an injection well.

In a fifth aspect, the invention relates to the use of an apparatus according to the present invention to regulate flow, through the apparatus, into an injection well.

In the following, an example is described of a preferred embodiment are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Fig. 1 shows, viewed from the side, an exploded section of an apparatus according to the present invention. Fig.2 shows, viewed from the side, a section of an apparatus according to the present invention with the different components from figure 1 put together.

Fig.3 shows, viewed from the side, an enlarged section of an apparatus according to the present invention in a first position;

Fig.4 shows, viewed from the side, an enlarged section of an apparatus according to the present invention in a second position;

Fig.5 shows, viewed from the side, a section of an apparatus according to the present invention in same scale as figure 1 ; and

Fig. 6-7 shows, viewed from above, an enlarged section of different embodiments of an apparatus according to the present invention. In the following the reference number 1 indicates an apparatus according to the present invention. The figures are indicated simplified and schematic, and equally reference numbers indicates equally or equivalent elements. Figure 1 shows an exploded view of an apparatus 1 for regulating flow in a subterranean well according to the present invention. The apparatus 1 comprises a tubular body 3, here shown in the form of a casing, and a sleeve 5 adapted to be positioned rotatable inside the casing. The figure also shows a coupling sleeve 7 for coupling of several apparatus 1 according to the invention. In an alternative embodiment several sleeves 3 can be coupled together by standard threaded connections, so called box pin connections, as known to the skilled person in the art. A section of the apparatus 1 according to the invention put together by a coupling sleeve 7 in each axial end is shown in figure 2. Both the sleeve 5 and the casing 3 are designed with a plurality of perforation 51 , respectively 31 . By rotating the sleeve 5 relative to the casing 3, the amount of coinciding perforations 31 , 51 , thus, also the total flow volume radially into the well can be changed. This will be further explained with reference to the following figures. The casing 3 and the sleeve 5 are in the shown embodiment designed with perforations 31 , 51 in different axial positions, exemplified by P1 and P2 with axial distance A

therebetween in figure 1 . The perforations 31 , 51 , in the axial positions P1 , P2 are also angularly displaced relative to each other. By assembling of the apparatus 1 as shown in figure 1 , the perforations 31 , 51 in the first axial position P1 could be deactivated, ie not coincide, while perforations in a second axial position P2 could be activated, ie coincide. Rotating of the sleeve 5 inside the casing 3 will thus activate perforations in the first axial position P1 and deactivate perforations 31 , 51 in the second axial position P2. Figure 2 shows the different components of the apparatus 1 from figure 1 assembled as will be during use.

The figure 3 shows an enlarged view of a section of an apparatus 1 according to the present invention. The inside sleeve 5 is rotated so that several perforations 51 in the sleeve 5 coincides with the perforations 31 in the casing 3, whereby fluid can flow radially out or into the well trough the apparatus 1 . An example of coinciding perforations 31 , 51 on the casing 3 and sleeve 5 are shown with reference number 31 ', respectively 51 '. The figure also shows the coupling sleeve 7 more in details. The coupling sleeve 7 is in each axial end designed with a first inside parapet 71 and a second inside parapet 75. During assembling of several apparatus 1 according to the invention, the outer casing 3 will be inserted into the coupling sleeve 7 and come to strike against the first parapet 71 . Equivalent, the inner sleeve 5, which extends inside the casing 3, will come to strike against the second inside parapet 75. The coupling sleeve 7 has from its axial end positions and into the first parapet 71 an inside, gently sloping, conical surface suitable complementary to a corresponding sloping, conical outer surface on the casing 3, which will facilitate centering of casing 3 against coupling sleeve 7. A plurality of recesses 33, here shown in form of smaller perforations, is provided in the casing 3. The smaller perforations 33 are arranged to coinside, not shown, biased shear pins placed between the casing 3 and the sleeve 5 by rotating the sleeve 5 as described in the general part of the application. A set of shear pins can stand in engagement with the smaller perforations 33 in one angle position. By rotating the sleeve 5 the mentioned set of shear pins will break, and shear pins that until now has been biased between the sleeve 5 and the casing 3 could engage with other, smaller perforations 33 on the casing 3. The shear pins could contribute to holding the sleeve 5 in a determined angle position, both before and during rotation.

Figure 4 shows an example of an apparatus 1 according to the present invention where the sleeve 5 has been rotated relatively to the casing 3 so that non perforations 31 on the casing 3 coincides with the perforations 51 on the sleeve 5, whereby no flow can exists radially through the apparatus between the well and the surrounding formation. This may by example be done to bloc a watercut, as described in the general part of the application. The seal between the sleeve 5 and the casing 3 can be attended by various sealing elements, and in an embodiment the surface of the sleeve 5, here the outer, be coated by an Elastomer coating as described in the general part of the application. Figure 5 shows an apparatus 1 according to the present invention as used together with a sand screen 9 according to prior art. Figure 6 shows a schematic section through an apparatus 1 according to the present invention at an axial position P3. Perforations 31 , 51 respectively in the casing 3 and sleeve 5 are indicated by character + on the figure. The casing 3 is designed with four perforations 31 and are distributed uniformly at an angular distance V1 with 90°. The sleeve 5 is designed with six perforations 51 unevenly distributed with angle distances V1 of 90°, V2 of 60° and V3 of 30°. In the shown position only two of the perforations 31 in the outer casing 3 coincides with the perforations 51 in the sleeve 5. By rotating the sleeve 30° with the sun, all the perforations in the casing 3 will coincide with the perforations in the sleeve 5. Figure 7 shows a schematic section through an apparatus 1 according to the present invention at an axial position P4. In the shown example the casing 3 is designed with four perforations 31 distributed uniformly at an angular distance V1 with 90°. The sleeve 5 is also designed with four perforations 51 , but here unevenly distributed with a first angle distance V4 at 45° and a second angle distance V5 at 135°. In the shown position two of the perforations 31 in the casing 3 coincide with the perforations 51 in the sleeve 5. By rotation of the sleeve 5 45° with the sun, two other perforations 31 in the casing 3 will coincide with two other perforations 51 in the sleeve 5. This operation may be relevant to perform in a case where

perforations 31 , 51 over time becomes clogged with deposits, and one needs to open other, "fresh" perforations 31 , 51 to improve the through flow.

Claims

Apparatus (1) for regulating flow in a subterranean well, where the apparatus (1) comprises:

-a tube body (3) designed with one or more radial perforations (31);

-a sleeve (5) also designed with one or more radial perforations, and that the sleeve (5) is rotatably mounted relative to the tubular body (3) so that said one or more perforations (51 ) in the sleeve (5) may rotate relative to said one or more perforations (31 ) in the tubular body (3), and so that either will no perforations (31 ,51 ) in the sleeve (5) and tube body (3) coincide, or at least one perforation (51) in the sleeve (5) will coincide with at least one

perforation (31 ) in the tube body (3), and that simultaneously at least one perforation (51 ) in the sleeve (5) that do not coincide with at least one perforation (31 ) in the tube body (3), whereby the flow of a fluid through an apparatus (1 ) radially in or out of a subterranean well will be regulated by means of a positioning mechanism,

characterized in that the positioning mechanism comprises one or more spring loaded shear pins disposed between the tube body (3) and the sleeve (5) and biasedd to engage to one or more recesses (33) on the tube body (3) or the sleeve (5) when said one or more shear pins coincide with the said one or more recesses (33).

Apparatus (1) according to claim 1 , wherein the sleeve (5) is rotatably mounted inside the tube body (3) and wherein the positioning comprises spring loaded shear pins disposed axial or radial between the tube body (3) and the sleeve (5).

Apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein both the sleeve (5) and the tube body (3) is designed with several perforations (31 , 51) distributed with angle distance (V1 , V2, V3, V4, V5) there between.

Apparatus (1) according to claim 1 , 2 or 3, wherein both the sleeve (5) and the tube body (3) is designed with several perforations (31 , 51) distributed with axial distance (A1) there between.

Apparatus (1) according to claim 3 and 4, wherein perforations (31 , 51 ) in the sleeve (5) and/or the tube body (3) in a first axial position (P1 ) is angularly offset relative to perforations (31 , 51 ) in the sleeve (5) and/or tube body (3) in a second axial position (P2).

6. Apparatus (1) according to any of the claims 3-5, wherein perforations (31 , 51) in the sleeve (5) and/or tube body (3) in at least one axial position (P3, P4) is distributed with irregularly angular distance (V1 , V2, V3, V4, V5). 7. Apparatus (1) according to any of the claims 3-6, wherein the sleeve (5) and the tube body (3) in at least one axial position (P3) are designed with a different number of perforations (31 , 51).

8. Apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sleeve (5) and/or tube body (3) are designed with a plurality perforations (31 , 51 ) with irregularly opening areas.

9. Apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the perforations (31 , 51) in the sleeve (5) or in the tube body (3) is provided with a filter.

10. Apparatus (1) according to claim 9, wherein the filter is a gas stop valve or a water stop valve. 1 1 .Apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sleeve

(5) is provided with an Elastomer coating across substantially the whole surface facing the tube body (3).

12. Apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sleeve (5) extends substantially across the whole tube body (3) length.

13. A method for regulating flow out of or into a subterranean well by means of an apparatus (1 ) according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that the method comprises the step:

- to regulate flow out of or into a subterranean well by rotating the sleeve

(5) relative to the tube body (3), and position the sleeve (5) relative to the tube body (3) by means of a positioning mechanism.

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein the method further comprises the step:

when one or several perforations (51 ) in the sleeve (5) coincide with one or several perforations (31) in the tube body (3), to rotate the sleeve (5) relative to the tube body (3) so that non of the perforations (51 ) in the sleeve (5), after rotating, coincide with the perforations (31 ) in the tube body (3), wherein the flow into or out of the subterranean well, through the apparatus (1), is prevented.

15. Method according to claim 13, wherein the method further comprises the step:

when none of the perforations (51) in the sleeve (5) coincide with the perforations (31) in the tube body (3), to rotate the sleeve (5) relative to the tube body (3) so that one or several perforations (51) in the sleeve (5), after rotating, coincide with one or several perforations (31 ) in the tube body (3), wherein the flow into or out of the subterranean well, through the apparatus, is allowed.

16. Method according to claim 13, wherein the method further comprises the step:

When a first set of perforations (51) in the sleeve (5) coincides with a first set of perforations (31 ) in the tube body (3), to rotate the sleeve (5) relative to the tube body (3) so that a second set of perforations (51) in the sleeve (5), after rotating, coincides with a second set of perforations (31) in the tube body (3).

17. The use of an apparatus (1) according to claim 1 for regulating flow of a fluid from a subterranean and out to a surrounding formation by fracturing of the surrounding formation.

18. The use of an apparatus (1) according to claim 1 for regulating flow out of an injection well.

19. The use of an apparatus (1) according to claim 1 for regulating flow into a production well.