Restrictor valve mounting for downhole screens

• US 7,644,758 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2007
• Issued: 01/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Henriksen, Knut Herman, Coronado, Martin P., Crow, Stephen L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bomar; Shane
• Application Number:
  US11/740,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20080264628A1
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 166/205, 166/227, 166/229
• US Class Current: 166/205
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/08 responsive to flow or pressure of the fluid obtained E21B34/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/08 Screens or liners expandable screens or liners E21B43/108

Abstract

In one aspect of the invention a valve that operates in association with a downhole screen is threaded into the wall of a base pipe after being inserted through a saddle. When the valve body is threaded in, the engagement into the wall threads in the base pipe acts as a sealing force on a ring seal between the saddle and the base pipe and between the valve body and the saddle. The valve itself can be outfitted with a cover with openings that can be integral or removable and disposed at the end of the valve that is innermost to the base pipe. Preferably a series of elongated slots are used that can catch slurry if the well is to be killed while allowing subsequent production to drive the accumulated solids from well killing back into the base pipe. Another feature places the valve in a base pipe opening under a cylindrical screen section to reduce assembly time and cost of constructing an adjacent housing to one side of the cylindrical screen section to accommodate the valve.

Claims

1. A downhole screen for placement adjacent a producing formation, comprising:

a base pipe sufficiently strong to conduct pressurized fluid into or from the formation with at least one opening, said base pipe having an outer surface;

a tubular screen surrounding said base pipe and slidably positionable over said outer surface to be mounted to said outer surface of said base pipe in a manner where said screen spans over said opening;

a valve in said opening having a valve member operable while allowing flow in opposed directions.

2. The screen of claim 1, wherein:

said valve further comprises at least one seal for a leak path between said valve and said opening.

3. The screen of claim 2, wherein:

said valve further comprises a filter disposed on said valve at a location within said base pipe to allow particles delivered into the base pipe to be retained by said filter to selectively obstruct it.

4. The screen of claim 2, wherein:

said opening in said base pipe is threaded and said valve comprises a mating thread for securing said valve to said thread.

5. The screen of claim 4, further comprising:

a saddle with a hole therethrough to be placed on the base pipe before said thread in said base pipe is engaged, said valve, when threaded, retaining said saddle to said base pipe.

6. The screen of claim 5, wherein:

said valve comprises a flange with said at least one seal comprising a first seal to overlap said saddle to retain and seal against said saddle.

7. The screen of claim 6, wherein:

said at least one seal further comprises a second seal to surround the hole in the base pipe for sealing between said saddle and said base pipe and around said hole.

8. The screen of claim 5, wherein:

said at least one seal further comprises a first seal to surround the hole in the base pipe for sealing between said saddle and said base pipe and around said hole.

9. The screen of claim 1, wherein:

said valve further comprises a filter disposed on said valve at a location within said base pipe to allow particles delivered into the base pipe to be retained by said filter to selectively obstruct it.

10. The screen of claim 9, wherein:

said filter is removably mounted.

11. The screen of claim 1, wherein:

said valve selectively allows passage of liquid and closes, or restricts, if gas is present.

12. A downhole screen for placement adjacent a producing formation, comprising:

a base pipe sufficiently strong to conduct pressurized fluid into or from the formation with at least one opening, said base pipe having an outer surface;

a tubular screen surrounding said base pipe and slidably positionable over said outer surface to be mounted to said outer surface of said base pipe in a manner where said screen spans over said opening;

a valve in said opening;

said valve further comprises at least one seal for a leak path between said valve and said opening.

13. The screen of claim 12, wherein:

said opening in said base pipe is threaded and said valve comprises a mating thread for securing said valve to said thread.

14. The screen of claim 13, further comprising:

a saddle with a hole therethrough to be placed on the base pipe before said thread in said base pipe is engaged, said valve, when threaded, retaining said saddle to said base pipe.

15. The screen of claim 14, wherein:

said valve comprises a flange with said at least one seal comprising a first seal to overlap said saddle to retain and seal against said saddle.

16. The screen of claim 14, wherein:

said at least one seal further comprises a first seal to surround the hole in the base pipe for sealing between said saddle and said base pipe and around said hole.

17. The screen of claim 16, wherein:

said saddle comprises a second seal to surround the hole in the base pipe for sealing between said saddle and said base pipe and around said hole.

18. The screen of claim 12, wherein:

said valve selectively allows passage of liquid and closes, or restricts, if gas is present.

19. A downhole screen for placement adjacent a producing formation, comprising:

a base pipe sufficiently strong to conduct pressurized fluid into or from the formation with at least one opening, said base pipe having an outer surface;

a tubular screen surrounding said base pipe and slidably positionable over said outer surface to be mounted to said outer surface of said base pipe in a manner where said screen spans over said opening;

a valve in said opening;

said valve further comprises a filter disposed on said valve at a location within said base pipe to allow particles delivered into the base pipe to be retained by said filter to selectively obstruct it.

20. The screen of claim 19, wherein:

said filter is removably mounted.

21. The screen of claim 19, wherein:

said filter comprises a plurality of elongated openings.

22. The screen of claim 19, wherein:

said valve selectively allows passage of liquid and closes, or restricts, if gas is present.