Filter for subterranean wells

• US 6,352,111 B1
• Filed: 01/11/2000
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb Incorporated (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Rouse, Bill, Jordon, Joe, Fontenot, J. Gary, Bode, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): SUCHFIELD, GEORGE A
• Application Number:
  US09/480,245
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 166/66.4, 166/74, 166/105, 166/105.1, 166/227, 166/234, 166/242.2, 166/265, 166/278, 166/369, 166/370, 210/170, 210/315, 210/460, 210/484, 210/490, 210/492
• US Class Current: 166/265
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/15 arranged for inward flow filtration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/54 arranged concentrically or coaxially
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/02 Filters adapted for location in special places, e.g. pipe-lines, pumps, stop-cocks, B01D35/05 takes precedence; water pipe system filters E03B3/18, E03B7/07; dirt catchers in sewers E03F; filters or strainers for pipe-lines in general B08B, E03F; object or dirt catching devices in sinks or the like E03C1/26; suction strainers or filters for pumps F04B53/005, F04D29/70
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 39/1623 of synthetic origin
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/084 Screens comprising woven materials, e.g. mesh or cloth
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/086 Screens with preformed openings, e.g. slotted liners comprising porous materials E21B43/082
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/088 Wire screens comprising porous materials E21B43/082; comprising woven materials E21B43/084

Abstract

A subterranean filter to remove particles from production fluid in a well includes a perforated inner member, at least one filter membrane made of a non-woven polymer material and a metal braided layer installed around the membrane and inner member to provide a filter having improved permeability and resistance to chemical and physical forces.

Claims

1. A filter for use in a well, the filter comprising:

an inner member having a plurality of perforations therethrough;

at least one filter membrane disposed around the inner member, the filter membrane comprising a non-woven material;

a braided layer of material surrounding the at least one filter membrane and the inner member; and

an outer member having a plurality of perforations and disposed around the braided layer.

2. The filter of claim 1, wherein said non-woven material is a polymer.

3. The filter of claim 2, wherein said non-woven material is selected from a group consisting of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) fluorocarbon polymers and fluorinated ethylene-propylene (FEP) resins.

4. The filter of claim 2, wherein said non-woven material has a basis weight of between 20 and 23 ounces per square yard.

5. The filter of claim 1, further including a drainage layer disposed between the inner member and the at least one filter membrane.

6. The filter of claim 5, wherein said drainage layer includes longitudinally spaced rods and a plurality of wires circumscribing the inner member.

7. The filter of claim 1, wherein the perforated inner member is coiled tubing.

8. A filtering apparatus for use in a well, comprising:

a filter having a perforated inner member, a filter membrane disposed around said inner member, a metal braided layer disposed around the filter membrane, and an outer member disposed around the metal braided layer, the filter connected at a first and second ends to a well production pipe;

a pump disposed above said filter and connected at a first and second ends to the well production pipe and;

a motor disposed beneath the filter, the motor connected at an upper end to the well production pipe.

9. A subterranean filter for filtering sand and dirt from a production fluid, said filter comprising:

a perforated inner member;

a drainage layer disposed around said inner member;

a filter membrane disposed around said drainage layer;

a metal braiding disposed around the filter membrane and;

a permeable outer member disposed around said metal braiding.

10. The subterranean filter of claim 9, further including a drainage layer formed between the inner member and the filter membrane.

11. The subterranean filter of claim 10, wherein the drainage layer is constructed of a plurality of rods having a first diameter placed longitudinally around the inner member and a plurality of wires having a second diameter wrapped around the rods transversely.

12. A method of filtering particles form a production fluid comprising the steps of:

placing a filter having a non-woven polymer membrane disposed within a metal braided layer in a production zone of a well;

causing said production fluid to flow through said filter and;

capturing said production fluid at a well head.

13. A filter arrangement for use in a subterranean well comprising:

a filter disposed in a well and including a hollow inner support member having a peripheral wall permeable to a fluid to be filtered;

one or more layers of a non-woven polymer material disposed around the inner support member

a metal braided layer formed around the one or more layers of non-woven polymer and the inner support member and;

a fluid transporting member for transporting a fluid disposed in the well in fluid communication with the filter so that fluid can flow between an interior of the inner support member and the fluid transporting member.

14. A filter arrangement for use in a subterranean well comprising:

a filter disposed in a well and including a hollow inner support member having a perforated peripheral wall;

an inner drainage layer wrapped around the inner support member and;

a plurality of layers of a non-woven polymer material wrapped around the inner drainage layer, the polymer material constructed and arranged to filter out particles over about 80 micrometers in diameter.

15. A subterranean filter for filtering particles from production fluid comprising:

a perforated, coiled tubing inner member; and

a filtering member disposed around the inner member.

16. The filter of claim 15, wherein the filter member is a polymer material.

17. The filter of claim 15, wherein the filter member is a braided metal.

18. The filter of claim 15, wherein the filter member is woven around the inner member.

19. A subterranean filter for filtering particles from production fluid comprising:

a perforated, coiled tubing inner member; and

a filtering member disposed around the inner member, the filter member made of a braided metal.