Sand control screen assembly having a compliant drainage layer

• US 8,701,757 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2010
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Greci, Stephen Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): SAYRE, JAMES G
• Application Number:
  US12/971,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20120152528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 166227-230, 166/233
• US Class Current: 166/227
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/088 Wire screens comprising porous materials E21B43/082; comprising woven materials E21B43/084

Abstract

A sand control screen assembly (300) includes a base pipe (302) having at least one opening in a sidewall thereof and a screen jacket positioned about the base pipe (302). The screen jacket includes a drainage layer (304) and a filter medium positioned about the drainage layer (304). The drainage layer (304) includes a plurality of circumferentially distributed axially extending ribs (306) and a wrap wire (308) positioned around the ribs (306) forming a plurality of turns having gaps therebetween. The ribs (306) includes a plurality of first ribs (310) having a first cross-sectional rib profile, shaped and sized to maintain an annular space between the wrap wire (308) and the base pipe (302) and a plurality of second ribs (312) having a second cross-sectional rib profile, shaped and sized to provide for a gap between the second ribs (312) and the base pipe (302).

Claims

1. A sand control screen assembly comprising:

a base pipe having at least one opening in a sidewall thereof; and

a screen jacket positioned exteriorly about the base pipe, the screen jacket including a drainage layer and a filter medium positioned exteriorly about the drainage layer, the drainage layer including a plurality of circumferentially distributed axially extending first ribs, a plurality of circumferentially distributed axially extending second ribs and a wrap wire securably attached exteriorly to the first ribs and the second ribs forming a plurality of turns having gaps therebetween,

wherein the first ribs contact the base pipe and have a first nominal diameter that provides a first stand-off dimension between the wrap wire and the base pipe at the locations of the first ribs; and

wherein, the second ribs having a second nominal diameter that is less than the first nominal diameter such that, in a first configuration of the drainage layer, the second ribs form gaps with the base pipe and, in a second configuration of the drainage layer, the second ribs contact the base pipe to provide a second stand-off dimension, that is less than the first stand-off dimension, between the wrap wire and the base pipe at the locations of the second ribs.

2. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the screen jacket is positioned about a perforated section of the base pipe.

3. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the screen jacket is positioned about a nonperforated section of the base pipe.

4. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the filter medium further comprises a wire mesh filter medium.

5. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the first ribs have a generally-trapezoidal cross-sectional rib profile and the second ribs have a circular cross-sectional rib profile.

6. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the first ribs have a generally-trapezoidal cross-sectional rib profile and the second ribs have a rectangular cross-sectional rib profile.

7. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one second rib is circumferentially located between each adjacent pair of first ribs.

8. The sand control screen assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein at least two second ribs are circumferentially located between each adjacent pair of first ribs.