CA2827203A1 - Screen, method of expanding a screen and method of conforming a screen to a borehole - Google Patents

Screen, method of expanding a screen and method of conforming a screen to a borehole Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2827203A1
CA2827203A1 CA2827203A CA2827203A CA2827203A1 CA 2827203 A1 CA2827203 A1 CA 2827203A1 CA 2827203 A CA2827203 A CA 2827203A CA 2827203 A CA2827203 A CA 2827203A CA 2827203 A1 CA2827203 A1 CA 2827203A1
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CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
screen
volume
binder
expanding
binding
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA2827203A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Randall V. Guest
Michael H. Johnson
Kirk J. Huber
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Baker Hughes Holdings LLC
Original Assignee
Baker Hughes Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Baker Hughes Inc filed Critical Baker Hughes Inc
Publication of CA2827203A1 publication Critical patent/CA2827203A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B33/00Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
    • E21B33/10Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
    • E21B33/12Packers; Plugs
    • E21B33/1208Packers; Plugs characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B33/00Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
    • E21B33/10Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
    • E21B33/12Packers; Plugs
    • E21B33/127Packers; Plugs with inflatable sleeve
    • E21B33/1277Packers; Plugs with inflatable sleeve characterised by the construction or fixation of the sleeve

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Filtering Materials (AREA)
  • Prostheses (AREA)
  • Manufacture Or Reproduction Of Printing Formes (AREA)

Abstract

A screen includes, a body having a permeable material with energy stored therein configured to change the body from a first volume to a second volume, and a binder in operable communication with the body configured to retain the body in the first volume until the binder is weakened sufficiently for the energy stored within the body to overcome the binder and allow the body to change from the first volume toward the second volume.

Description

SCREEN, METHOD OF EXPANDING A SCREEN AND METHOD OF CONFORMING
A SCREEN TO A BOREHOLE
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 13/029758, filed on February 17, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0001] Filtering contaminates from flowing fluids is a common exercise in systems involved in transportation of fluids. Many such systems employ screens as the filtering mechanism. Screens that expand to substantially fill an annular gap, for example, between concentric tubulars, is another common practice. Some of these systems use swaging equipment to radially expand the screen. Although such equipment serves its purpose it has limitations, including a limited amount of potential expansion, complex and costly equipment and an inability to expand to fill a nonsymmetrical space. Apparatuses and methods that overcome these and other limitations with existing systems are therefore desirable to operators in the field.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
[0002] Disclosed herein is a screen. The screen includes, a body having a permeable material with energy stored therein configured to change the body from a first volume to a second volume, and a binder in operable communication with the body configured to retain the body in the first volume until the binder is weakened sufficiently for the energy stored within the body to overcome the binder and allow the body to change from the first volume toward the second volume.
[0003] Further disclosed herein is a method of expanding a screen. The method includes, generating energy within a permeable body sufficient to change the body from a first volume to a second volume, binding the permeable body to prevent the generated energy from expanding the permeable body from the first volume to the second volume, weakening the binding to a level sufficient to allow the generated energy to expand the permeable body from the first volume to the second volume, and expanding the body from the first volume toward the second volume [0004] Further disclosed herein is a method of conforming a screen to a borehole.
The method includes, positioning a screen within a borehole, weakening a binding maintaining the screen at a first volume, expanding the screen toward a second volume with energy stored within the screen, and contacting walls of the borehole with the screen.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way.
With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
[0006] FIG. 1 depicts a quarter cross sectional view of a screen disclosed herein in an unexpanded configuration; and [0007] FIG. 2 depicts a quarter cross sectional view of the screen of FIG. 1 in an expanded configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
[0009] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, an embodiment of a screen disclosed herein is illustrated generally at 10. The screen 10 includes, a body 14 made of a fluid permeable material 18 with energy stored therein that allows the body 14 to expand from a first volume as illustrated in FIG. 1 to a second volume that is a larger than the first volume. The body 14, as illustrated in FIG. 2, has a larger volume than the first volume but is somewhat less than the second volume due to the body 14 contacting walls 22 of a borehole 26 within which the body 14 is positioned. A binder 30 made of a removable material 34 structurally constrains the body 14 at the first volume until the binder 30 is weakened sufficiently to allow the stored energy to be released. During release of the stored energy the body 14 expands toward the second volume.
[0010] The binder 30, in this embodiment, is a solid that is distributed within the body 14 thereby structurally constraining the body 14 at the first volume.
Weakening of the binder 30 can be accomplished in different ways, depending upon the material that the binder 30 is made of For example, when the binder 30 is made of a dissolvable material exposing the binder 30 to an applicable solvent will allow the binder 30 to dissolve thereby allowing the stored energy to be released and the body 14 to expand toward the second volume. One example of a usable binder material that is soluble in water is the synthetic polymer, polyvinyl alcohol. Dissolution of the binder 30 made of polyvinyl alcohol in water weakens the structural integrity thereof until the energy stored in the body 14 is able to break the binder 30 apart expanding the body 14 in the process. Dissolution of polyvinyl alcohol, like many soluble materials, is accelerated at increased temperatures.
[0011] In an alternate embodiment, the binder 30 could be made of a material having a low melting temperature relative to that of the body 14. Such an embodiment would allow an operator to release the energy stored in the body 14 by increasing the temperature sufficiently to melt the binder 30. In still other embodiments, the binder 30 could be made of a material that can be chemically degraded when exposed to a chemical, such as an acid for example. An operator could then expose the binder 30 to an applicable acid to initiate the chemical degradation needed to release the energy within the body 14.
[0012] Generating energy in the body 14 can be achieved in different ways depending upon the material, chemical and physical characteristics of the body 14. For example, the body 14 could be made of a material capable of regaining its original shape after being deformed, such as a polymer, that is made into a mat of substantially randomly oriented filaments extruded from one or more spinnerets, for example. The mat could then be compacted to the first volume where it is bound by the binder 30. An alternate embodiment could employ open celled foam that is deformed through an extrusion process before being bound by the binder 30.
[0013] Regardless of the material or structure of the body 14, the body 14 will have fluid filtration characteristics defined by the body 14. The filtration characteristics, however, may differ depending upon what volume the body 14 is taking. As such, an operator may set the desired filtration characteristics at a volume that the body 14 is expected to have when fully deployed.
[0014] Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, the screen 10, as illustrated, is employed in a sand screen within the wellbore 26 in an earth formation 38. The body 14 of the screen 10 is run into the borehole 26 while in the compacted first volume configuration as shown in Figure 1. An annular gap 42 between an outer surface 46 of the body 14 and an inner surface 50 defined by the walls 22 of the borehole 26 allow the body 14 to be run without detrimentally scraping the walls 22. Once the screen 10 is at the desired position within the borehole 26 initiation of degradation of the binder 30, as discussed above, can begin. Upon sufficient degradation of the binder 30 the body 14 can expand into contact with the walls 22.
The nature of the structure of the body 14 allows it to contact the walls 22 regardless of whether the walls 22 are cylindrical or not and regardless of whether the annular gap 42 is of a consistent size or not. In fact, the walls 22 need not even be symmetrical about the body 14. Additionally, since the volume of the body 14, as illustrated in Figure 2, is less than the second volume the body 14 will exert a force against the walls 22. This force will help prevent erosion of the walls 22 that could occur due to fluid flow if a portion of the annular gap 42 were allowed to exist between the walls 22 and the outer surface 46 after the body 14 has expanded.
[0015] In the sand screen application, the screen 10 is positioned on a tubular 54 having perforations 58 therethrough. Fluid, upon being filtered after it flows through the body 14 is able to flow through the perforations 58 and into an inside 62 of the tubular 54.
Once on the inside 62 the fluid can flow longitudinally through the tubular 54 as desired.
[0016] While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited.
Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

Claims (22)

1. A screen comprising:
a body having a permeable material with energy stored therein configured to change the body from a first volume to a second volume; and a binder in operable communication with the body configured to retain the body in the first volume until the binder is weakened sufficiently for the energy stored within the body to overcome the binder and allow the body to change from the first volume toward the second volume.
2. The screen of claim 1, wherein the binder includes polyvinyl alcohol.
3. The screen of claim 1, wherein the energy is created by compaction of the body.
4. The screen of claim 1, wherein the binder is weakened by changes in temperature.
5. The screen of claim 1, wherein the binder is weakened by exposure to a solvent.
6. The screen of claim 1, wherein the binder is weakened by a chemical reaction.
7. The screen of claim 1, wherein the binder is weakened by exposure to an acid.
8. The screen of claim 1, wherein the permeable material is a polymer.
9. The screen of claim 1, wherein the body is configured to filter fluid.
10. The screen of claim 1, wherein the body is expandable when the binder is removable from the body.
11. The screen of claim 1, wherein the body has a mat structure.
12. The screen of claim 1, wherein the body has an open celled foam structure.
13. A sand screen apparatus comprising:
a tubular; and a body according to claim 1 in operable communication with the tubular positioned radially of the tubular.
14. The sand screen apparatus of claim 13, wherein the tubular is perforated.
15. A method of expanding a screen comprising:
generating energy within a permeable body sufficient to change the body from a first volume to a second volume;
binding the permeable body to prevent the generated energy from expanding the permeable body from the first volume to the second volume;

weakening the binding to a level sufficient to allow the generated energy to expand the permeable body from the first volume to the second volume; and expanding the body from the first volume toward the second volume.
16. The method of expanding a screen of claim 15, wherein the generating energy is through compaction of the body.
17. The method of expanding a screen of claim 15, wherein the weakening the binding is through changes in temperature thereof.
18. The method of expanding a screen of claim 15, wherein the weakening the binding is through exposing the binding to a solvent.
19. The method of expanding a screen of claim 15, further comprising dissolving the binding.
20. The method of expanding a screen of claim 15, further comprising removing the binding from the body.
21. The method of expanding a screen of claim 15, wherein the generating energy is through extrusion of the body.
22. A method of conforming a screen to a borehole, comprising:
positioning a screen within a borehole;
weakening a binding maintaining the screen at a first volume;
expanding the screen toward a second volume with energy stored within the screen;
and contacting walls of the borehole with the screen.
CA2827203A 2011-02-17 2012-01-13 Screen, method of expanding a screen and method of conforming a screen to a borehole Abandoned CA2827203A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/029,758 US20120211226A1 (en) 2011-02-17 2011-02-17 Screen, method of expanding a screen and method of conforming a screen to a borehole
US13/029,758 2011-02-17
PCT/US2012/021274 WO2012112247A2 (en) 2011-02-17 2012-01-13 Screen, method of expanding a screen and method of conforming a screen to a borehole

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2827203A1 true CA2827203A1 (en) 2012-08-23

Family

ID=46651799

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2827203A Abandoned CA2827203A1 (en) 2011-02-17 2012-01-13 Screen, method of expanding a screen and method of conforming a screen to a borehole

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US20120211226A1 (en)
CN (1) CN103384751A (en)
AU (1) AU2012218167A1 (en)
BR (1) BR112013020783A2 (en)
CA (1) CA2827203A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2504010A (en)
NO (1) NO20131037A1 (en)
RU (1) RU2013142178A (en)
WO (1) WO2012112247A2 (en)

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN103939059A (en) * 2014-04-13 2014-07-23 吉林大学 Filter pipe with regenerable water filtering opening structure
EP3146147B1 (en) * 2014-05-22 2019-07-24 Annsca Energy Pty Ltd Shale gas extraction
WO2018191783A1 (en) * 2017-04-19 2018-10-25 Romolo Lorenzo Bertani Contaminant extraction in a borehole
GB2595146B (en) 2019-02-20 2023-07-12 Schlumberger Technology Bv Non-metallic compliant sand control screen
US11441399B2 (en) * 2020-07-29 2022-09-13 Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Llc Downhole conformable screen system and method of making a conformable screen for downhole use
EP4229118A1 (en) * 2020-10-13 2023-08-23 Services Pétroliers Schlumberger Elastomer alloy for intelligent sand management
CN112647903B (en) 2020-12-28 2021-10-26 中国科学院广州能源研究所 Expansion screen pipe and construction method thereof

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3099318A (en) * 1961-01-23 1963-07-30 Montgomery K Miller Well screening device
US7644773B2 (en) * 2002-08-23 2010-01-12 Baker Hughes Incorporated Self-conforming screen
US6854522B2 (en) * 2002-09-23 2005-02-15 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Annular isolators for expandable tubulars in wellbores
US7048048B2 (en) * 2003-06-26 2006-05-23 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Expandable sand control screen and method for use of same
US20050056425A1 (en) * 2003-09-16 2005-03-17 Grigsby Tommy F. Method and apparatus for temporarily maintaining a downhole foam element in a compressed state
US7832490B2 (en) * 2007-05-31 2010-11-16 Baker Hughes Incorporated Compositions containing shape-conforming materials and nanoparticles to enhance elastic modulus
EA018184B1 (en) * 2007-10-16 2013-06-28 Эксонмобил Апстрим Рисерч Компани Flow control system and method for undesired fluid inflow from injection well in production of hydrocarbons

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB201314560D0 (en) 2013-09-25
GB2504010A (en) 2014-01-15
AU2012218167A1 (en) 2013-08-15
RU2013142178A (en) 2015-03-27
WO2012112247A2 (en) 2012-08-23
US20120211226A1 (en) 2012-08-23
WO2012112247A3 (en) 2012-12-27
BR112013020783A2 (en) 2016-10-11
NO20131037A1 (en) 2013-08-02
CN103384751A (en) 2013-11-06

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Effective date: 20130812

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Effective date: 20160113