WELLBORE FILTER SCREEN AND RELATED METHODS OF USE

• US 20120292047A1
• Filed: 01/20/2011
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Knobloch, Benton T. Jr., Tilley, David J., Roy, Todd J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,038,736 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/378
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/103 Down-hole by-pass valve arrangements, i.e. between the inside of the drill string and the annulus valves specifically for maintaining circulation of drilling fluid while connecting or disconnecting tubular joints E21B21/019
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/12 using drilling pipes with plural fluid passages, e.g. closed circulation systems
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 2200/06 Sleeve valves
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 27/005 Collecting means with a strainer
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 37/00 Methods or apparatus for cleaning boreholes or wells E21B21/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0078 Nozzles used in boreholes drilling by liquid or gas jets E21B7/18; drill bits with nozzles E21B10/60; perforators using direct fluid action E21B43/114; obtaining a slurry of minerals using nozzles E21B43/29

Abstract

Disclosed is a downhole well filter (800) and method of use in a tubing string with a power head (704) for creating reverse flow. The filter assembly includes an inner pipe (820) into which fluid flow is directed. The inner pipe is positioned within a cylindrical screen member (830). The well fluid flows through the screen member and debris from the fluid is deposited in the annulus (832) between the inner pipe and screen member. The screen member has a cap (860) at its upper end to prevent fluid from escaping from the upper end of the screen member. The cap may have a pop off valve (870) so fluid can escape from the screen member when the screen becomes clogged with debris or pressure builds within the screen member.

Claims

1. A method for filtering debris from a well fluid, the method comprising the steps of:

flowing debris-containing well fluid through an inlet into an elongated tool housing;

then flowing the debris-containing well fluid through an inner tube;

then flowing the debris-containing well fluid into a first annulus between the inner tube and an elongated screen member;

then flowing the well fluid through the screen member, thereby filtering the well fluid of at least some of the debris; and

then flowing the well fluid through a housing outlet.

2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of flowing the debris-containing well fluid through an outlet of the inner tube positioned near an upper end of the screen member.

3. A method as in claim 2, further comprising the step of flowing the debris-containing well fluid along substantially the entire length of the inner tube and then into the first annulus.

4. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of blocking fluid flow through one end of the screen member with a cap covering one end of the screen member.

5. A method as in claim 4, further comprising the step of later allowing fluid flow through the cap.

6. A method as in claim 5, further comprising the step of opening a valve positioned in the cap, thereby allowing fluid flow through the cap.

7. A method as in claim 5 wherein the cap comprises at least one bypass port and a pop off valve positioned to control fluid flow through the bypass port.

8. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of blocking flow at one end of the first annulus with a base plate.

9. A method as in claim 8, further comprising the step of connecting the base plate to the inner tube and the screen member.

10. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of connecting the tool housing to a tubing string.

11. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of connecting a power head tool to the tubing string above the elongated tool housing.

12. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of directing downhole fluid flow within the tubing string into a wellbore annulus, then through the inlet into the elongated housing, the inlet positioned at the downhole end of the housing.

13. A method as in claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

connecting the elongated housing to a nipple capable of being manipulated by a power hand tool;

removing the nipple and elongated housing simultaneously from the drill string;

placing the nipple and elongated housing simultaneously on a tubing rack;

then removing the nipple from the elongated housing utilizing a powered hand tool; and

removing a cleaning subassembly from the elongated housing.

14. A method as in claim 13 wherein the cleaning subassembly comprises the base plate, inner tube, and screen member.

15. A wellbore tool for filtering debris from a well fluid and adapted to be lowered into a wellbore on a tubing string, the tool comprising:

an elongated tool housing having an interior passageway for flow of well fluids through the housing, the housing having an inlet and an outlet, the housing adapted for connection in a tubing string;

an elongated screen member positioned in the housing, defining a first annulus between the housing and the screen member; and

an inner tube in fluid communication with the housing inlet, the inner tube positioned within the screen member and defining a second annulus between the inner tube and the screen member, one end of the inner tube in fluid communication with the housing inlet, the inner tube for directing fluid flow from the housing inlet into the first annulus, for capturing debris from the fluid.

16. A tool as in claim 15 further comprising a base plate removably connected to one end of the tool housing, the base plate attached to the inner tube and screen member.

17. A tool as in claim 15 further comprising a cap positioned at one end of the screen member for blocking fluid flow through the end of the screen member.

18. A tool as in claim 17 further comprising a bypass port and bypass valve for allowing fluid flow to bypass flowing through a screen wall of the screen member.

19. A tool as in claim 18 wherein the bypass valve is operated by fluid pressure increase within the screen member.

20. A tool as in claim 15 wherein the inner tube extends substantially the length of the screen member, the inner tube having an opening positioned proximate an upper end of the screen assembly.

21. A tool as in claim 15 further comprising spacers for maintaining the screen member spaced from a wall of the tool housing.

22. A tool as in claim 15 further comprising a nipple removable by power hand tools.

23. A tool as in claim 16 further comprising a removable subassembly comprised of at least the base plate, the inner tube and the screen assembly, the subassembly capable of removal from the tool housing utilizing a powered hand tool.