Sand control screen assembly having fluid loss control capability and method for use of same

• US 7,191,833 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2004
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Richards, William Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith; Matthew J.
• Application Number:
  US10/925,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20060042795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 166/51, 166/227, 166/231, 166/233, 166/235, 166/278, 166/115, 166/202
• US Class Current: 166/278
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/063 Valve or closure with destructible element, e.g. frangible disc E21B34/103 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/045 Crossover tools
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/08 Screens or liners expandable screens or liners E21B43/108
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/088 Wire screens comprising porous materials E21B43/082; comprising woven materials E21B43/084

Abstract

A sand control screen assembly (60) that is positionable within a wellbore includes a base pipe (62) having at least one opening (64) that allows fluid flow therethrough and a filter medium (66) positioned exteriorly of the base pipe (62) that selectively allows fluid flow therethrough and prevents particulate flow of a predetermined size therethrough. An isolation member (68) is positioned interiorly of the base pipe (62) forming an annulus (84) therewith. A one-way valve (86) is slidably operable within the annulus (84). The one-way valve (86) controls the flow of fluid through sand control screen assembly (60) such that fluid flow is selectively prevented from the interior to the exterior of the sand control screen assembly (60) but is allowed from the exterior to the interior of the sand control screen assembly (60).

Claims

1. A sand control screen assembly positionable within a wellbore comprising:

a base pipe having at least one opening that allows fluid flow therethrough;

a filter medium positioned exteriorly of the base pipe, the filter medium selectively allowing fluid flow therethrough and preventing particulate flow of a predetermined size therethrough;

an isolation member positioned interiorly of the base pipe and forming an annular region therewith; and

a seal member slidably operable within the annular region, the seal member controlling fluid flow between the exterior and the interior of the sand control screen assembly, the seal member having a one-way valve configuration and a Valve open configuration wherein fluid flow from the interior to the exterior of the sand control screen assembly and from the exterior to the interior of the sand control screen assembly is allowed.

2. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the seal member prevents fluid loss from the interior to the exterior of the sand control screen assembly in the one-way valve configuration.

3. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the seal member is operable from the one-way valve configuration to the valve open configuration responsive to a differential pressure between the interior and the exterior of the sand control screen assembly that exceeds a predetermined threshold.

4. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the seal member further comprises a spring retainer, a biasing member and a shuttle valve.

5. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein the spring retainer is in a first position relative to the base pipe when the seal member is in the one-way valve configuration such that the biasing member urges the shuttle valve into a sealing position.

6. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein the spring retainer is in a second position relative to the base pipe when the seal member is in the valve open configuration such that the biasing member does not urge the shuttle valve into the sealing position.

7. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein the spring retainer is releasably secured to one of the base pipe and the isolation member with at least one shear pin when the spring retainer is in the first position.

8. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein the spring retainer is operated from the first position to the second position by the application of a differential pressure above a predetermined threshold between the interior and the exterior of the sand control screen assembly.

9. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein the spring retainer is operated from the first position to the second position by mechanically shifting the spring retainer relative to the base pipe.

10. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein the spring retainer is secured to one of the base pipe and the isolation member with at least one collet finger when the spring retainer is in the second position.

11. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein the shuttle valve has a sealing position and a non sealing position when the seal member is in the one-way valve configuration.

12. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 11 wherein the shuttle valve has a disabled position when the seal member is in the valve open configuration.

13. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein the shuttle valve is secured to the base pipe with a keeper ring when the shuttle valve is in the disabled position.

14. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein the shuttle valve is operated to the disabled position responsive to a differential pressure above a predetermined threshold between the exterior and the interior of the sand control screen assembly.

15. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein the shuttle valve is operated to the disabled position by mechanically shifting the shuttle valve relative to the base pipe.

16. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the isolation member further comprises a tubular having at least one opening.

17. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the isolation member further comprises a pair of tubulars having a gap therebetween.

18. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the isolation member further comprises a tubular having an end in fluid communication with the interior of the sand control screen.

19. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the internal isolation member is retrievable from within the base pipe allowing fluid flow from the interior to the exterior and from the exterior to the interior of the sand control screen assembly.

20. A sand control screen assembly positionable within a wellbore comprising:

a base pipe having at least one opening that allows fluid flow therethrough;

a filter medium positioned exteriorly of the base pipe, the filter medium selectively allowing fluid flow therethrough and preventing particulate flow of a predetermined size therethrough;

an isolation member positioned interiorly of the base pipe and forming an annular region therewith; and

a one-way valve slidably operable within the annular region, the one-way valve controlling fluid flow between the exterior and the interior of the sand control screen assembly,

wherein at least a portion of the isolation member is retrievable from within the base pipe allowing fluid flow from the interior to the exterior and from the exterior to the interior of the sand control screen assembly.

21. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 20 wherein the one-way valve has a non sealing position and a sealing position.

22. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 21 wherein the one-way valve prevents fluid flow from the interior to the exterior of the sand control screen assembly in the sealing position.

23. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 22 wherein the one-way valve is actuatable to the non sealing position to allow fluid flow from the exterior to the interior of the sand control screen assembly.

24. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 20 wherein the isolation member further comprises a tubular having at least one opening.

25. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 20 wherein the isolation member further comprises a pair of tubulars having a gap therebetween.

26. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 20 wherein the isolation member further comprises a tubular having an end in fluid communication with the interior of the sand control screen.

27. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 20 wherein the one-way valve further comprises a spring retainer, a biasing member and a shuttle valve.

28. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 27 wherein the biasing member urges the shuttle valve into a sealing position.

29. A downhole treatment method comprising the steps of:

locating a sand control screen assembly within a production interval of a wellbore, the sand control screen assembly including a base pipe having at least one opening, a filter medium positioned exteriorly of the base pipe and an isolation member positioned interiorly of the base pipe and forming an annular region therewith;

pumping a treatment fluid into the production interval;

allowing fluid returns to enter the interior of the sand control screen assembly by slidably actuating a seal member disposed in the annular region to a non sealing position of a one-way valve configuration;

preventing fluid loss from the interior to the exterior of the sand control screen assembly with the seal member in a sealing position of the one-way valve configuration;

allowing production fluids to enter the interior of the sand control screen assembly by slidably actuating the seal member to the non sealing position;

operating the seal member from the one-way valve configuration to a valve open configuration;

allowing fluid flow from the interior to the exterior of the sand control screen assembly; and

retrieving at least a portion of the isolation member from within the base pipe.

30. The method as recited in claim 29 wherein the step of pumping a treatment fluid into the production interval further comprises performing a treatment selected from the group consisting of gravel packing, fracturing and frac packing.

31. The method as recited in claim 29 wherein the step of allowing production fluids to enter the interior of the sand control screen assembly further comprises overcoming a bias force to slidably actuate the seal member to the non sealing position.

32. The method as recited in claim 29 wherein the step of allowing production fluids to enter the interior of the sand control screen assembly further comprises overcoming a bias force to slidably actuate the seal member to the non sealing position.

33. The method as recited in claim 29 wherein the step of preventing fluid loss from the interior to the exterior of the sand control screen assembly further comprises applying a bias force to slidably actuate the seal member to the sealing position.

34. The method as recited in claim 29 wherein the step of preventing fluid loss from the interior to the exterior of the sand control screen assembly further comprises applying a differential pressure between the interior and the exterior of the sand control screen assembly.

35. The method as recited in claim 29 wherein the step of operating the seal member from the one-way valve configuration to the valve open configuration further comprises applying a differential pressure between the interior and the exterior of the sand control screen assembly that exceeds a predetermined threshold.

36. The method as recited in claim 35 wherein the step of operating the seal member from the one-way valve configuration to the valve open configuration further comprises applying a differential pressure between the exterior and the interior of the sand control screen assembly that exceeds a predetermined threshold.

37. The method as recited in claim 29 wherein the step of operating the seal member from the one-way valve configuration to the valve open configuration further comprises mechanically operating the seal member from the one-way valve configuration to the valve open configuration.

38. A downhole treatment method comprising the steps of:

locating a sand control screen assembly within a production interval of a wellbore, the sand control screen assembly including a base pipe having at least one opening, a filter medium positioned exteriorly of the base pipe and an isolation member positioned interiorly of the base pipe and forming an annular region therewith;

pumping a treatment fluid into the production interval;

allowing fluid returns to enter the interior of the sand control screen assembly by slidably actuating a one-way valve disposed in the annular region to a non sealing position;

preventing fluid loss from the interior to the exterior of the sand control screen assembly with the one-way valve in a sealing position;

allowing production fluids to enter the interior of the sand control screen assembly by slidably actuating the one-way valve to the non sealing position; and

retrieving at least a portion of the isolation member from within the base pipe.

39. The method as recited in claim 38 wherein the step of pumping a treatment fluid into the production interval further comprises performing a treatment selected from the group consisting of gravel packing, fracturing and frac packing.

40. The method as recited in claim 38 wherein the step of allowing production fluids to enter the interior of the sand control screen assembly further comprises overcoming a bias force to slidably actuate the one-way valve to the non sealing position.

41. The method as recited in claim 38 wherein the step of allowing production fluids to enter the interior of the sand control screen assembly further comprises overcoming a bias force to slidably actuate the one-way valve to the non sealing position.

42. The method as recited in claim 38 wherein the step of preventing fluid loss from the interior to the exterior of the sand control screen assembly further comprises applying a bias force to slidably actuate the one way valve to the sealing position.

43. The method as recited in claim 38 wherein the step of preventing fluid loss from the interior to the exterior of the sand control screen assembly further comprises applying a differential pressure between the interior and the exterior of the sand control screen assembly.