METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING SHUNT TUBES TO SAND SCREEN ASSEMBLIES

• US 20090008084A1
• Filed: 06/16/2008
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Moen, Terje, Nesland, Knut, Dybevik, Arthur
• Granted Patent: US 7,828,056 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/228
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/08 Screens or liners expandable screens or liners E21B43/108
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Method and apparatus are disclosed for connecting internal shunt tubes to tubular end components of a sand screen assembly by coupling each end of each shunt tube to ports formed in the tubular end components in an annular space between a base pipe and a filter media using a tubular coupler.

Claims

1. A sand screen assembly for use downhole in a wellbore, comprising:

a base pipe having an axial bore therethrough;

a filter media connected to the base pipe defining an annular bore between the base pipe and the filter media;

a first tubular end component connected to one end of the base pipe and a second tubular end component connected to the other end of the base pipe, wherein the filter media is arranged between the tubular end components, each tubular end component comprising one or more flow ports adapted to communicate with the annular bore;

one or more shunt tubes arranged within the annular bore; and

a set of couplers adapted to connect the one or more shunt tubes to the first and second tubular end components, each coupler comprising a first end for connection to an end of a shunt tube and a second end for connection to a flow port of a tubular end component.

2. The sand screen assembly of claim 1, wherein each coupler is adapted to form a metal-to-metal seal with a shunt tube and a flow port in a tubular end component.

3. The sand screen assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

an adhesive adapted to seal each coupler between a shunt tube and a flow port of a tubular end component.

4. The sand screen assembly of claim 1, wherein each tubular end component is one selected from the group consisting of:

a termination ring, an end ring, a load sleeve, a torque sleeve, an inflow control device ring, and a nozzle ring.

5. A method of manufacturing a sand screen assembly, comprising:

providing two tubular end components, each tubular end component having at least one port formed therein for conveyance of a treatment fluid;

arranging a base pipe having an axial bore therethrough between the two tubular end components;

connecting one end of a shunt tube to the at least one flow port of one tubular end component using a first coupler;

connecting other end of the shunt tube to the at least one flow port of other tubular end component using a second coupler; and

applying a filter media around the base pipe to form an annular space between the base pipe and filter media wherein resides the shunt tube and couplers.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein connecting the ends of the shunt tube to the tubular end components comprises:

establishing a flow path between the flow ports of the end components and the shunt tube.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein connecting the ends of the shunt tube to the tubular end components comprises:

heating each coupler;

forcing one end of the coupler into the at least one flow port of one of the tubular end components;

forcing other end of the coupler into one end of the shunt tube; and

cooling the coupler to form a metal-to-metal seal between the tubular end component and the shunt tube.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein connecting the ends of the shunt tube to the tubular end components comprises:

applying an adhesive between one end of each coupler and one end of the shunt tube to seal the coupler to the shunt tube; and

applying an adhesive between other end of each coupler and the at least one flow port of one of the tubular end components to seal the coupler to the tubular end component.

9. Coupler apparatus for use in manufacturing a sand screen assembly, the sand screen assembly comprising a base pipe connected to an end component, a filter media formed around and external to the base pipe to define an annular space between the base pipe and the filter media, and a shunt tube for connecting to the end component to reside in the annular space, the coupler apparatus comprising:

a tubular body defining an axial bore therethrough adapted to convey a treatment fluid between the shunt tube and a port formed in the end component, the tubular body having a first end adapted to connect with the port of the end component, the tubular body having a second end formed opposite the first end and adapter to connect with the shunt tube.