US20050034860A1 - Screen for sand control in a wellbore - Google Patents
Screen for sand control in a wellbore Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20050034860A1 US20050034860A1 US10/720,731 US72073103A US2005034860A1 US 20050034860 A1 US20050034860 A1 US 20050034860A1 US 72073103 A US72073103 A US 72073103A US 2005034860 A1 US2005034860 A1 US 2005034860A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- wire
- tubular
- sand screen
- filtering member
- mandrel
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- 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.)
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Classifications
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/02—Subsoil filtering
- E21B43/08—Screens or liners
- E21B43/088—Wire screens
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/02—Subsoil filtering
- E21B43/08—Screens or liners
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/02—Subsoil filtering
- E21B43/08—Screens or liners
- E21B43/084—Screens comprising woven materials, e.g. mesh or cloth
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/02—Subsoil filtering
- E21B43/08—Screens or liners
- E21B43/086—Screens with preformed openings, e.g. slotted liners
Definitions
- Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to wellbore completions, and more particularly, to a screen design for sand control.
- Hydrocarbon wells are typically formed with a central wellbore that is supported by steel casing.
- the casing lines the borehole in the earth, and the annular area created between the casing and the borehole is filled with cement to further support and form the wellbore.
- wells routinely include portions left open or unlined with casing. Because they are left open, hydrocarbons in an adjacent formation migrate into these wellbores where they are affected along a perforated tubular or sand screen having apertures in its wall and some kind of filtering material to prevent sand and other particles from entering.
- the sand screen is attached to production tubing at an upper end and the hydrocarbons travel to the surface of the well via the tubing.
- open wellbores lack support along their walls and the formations have a tendency to produce sand and particulate matter in quantities that hamper production along a sand screen
- open wellbores are often treated by fracturing and packing.
- Fracturing a wellbore or formation means subjecting the walls of the wellbore and the formation to high pressure solids and/or fluids that are intended to penetrate the formation and stimulate its production by increasing and enlarging the fluid paths towards the wellbore.
- Packing a wellbore refers to a slurry of sand that is injected into an annular area between the sand screen and the walls of the wellbore to provide a gravel pack that supports the wellbore and provides additional filtering to the hydrocarbons. Apertures through the sand screen are sized to retain the gravel pack.
- the sand screen's function includes filtering of particles, these particles can build up over time with smaller particles forming bridges at the sand screen that at least partially plug the sand screen. After producing through the sand screen for some time, the sand screen becomes plugged and prevents or slows the flow of fluids for production. This can occur regardless of whether the wellbore includes a gravel pack.
- a backflow of fluid by reverse pressurization supplied through the production tubing reopens the plugged sand screen in order to reestablish flow through the sand screen.
- the fluid used in the backflow includes an acid that aids in dissolving and dislodging debris trapped by the sand screen.
- the backflow operation requires applying reverse pressures that can be approximately three thousand pounds per square inch.
- a fluid loss mechanism can include mechanical flappers; however, mechanical flappers often stick open or shut requiring costly and time consuming efforts to correct.
- a solution containing particles in liquid can provide a chemical seal that applies to the sand screen to plug the apertures through the sand screen.
- Application of a second solution at a predetermined time removes the chemical seal from the sand screen. If normal procedures for releasing the chemical seal from the sand screen fail, a reverse pressurization must be applied across the sand screen in order to stimulate the chemical seal such that the plugged sand screen reopens.
- a second type of sand screen includes a perforated tubing with a wire wrapped screen positioned on its outside that is formed by wrapping wire around longitudinal rods such that the spacing between the wraps of wire is selected to be sufficiently small to filter particles.
- a variation on the wire wrapped screen includes providing a packing of sized particles between two wire wrapped screens. This packed screen increases pressure across the sand screen which decreases velocity in order to slow production as required in various completions. However, this packed screen is heavy, and it is difficult to provide and insure an even distribution of the sized particles therein.
- Another type of more recent and improved sand screen includes premium screens consisting of layers of metal fiber or metal powder between sheets of woven mesh that wrap around a perforated tubing. Therefore, the premium screens require a longitudinal weld in order to secure and seal the sheets of material that wrap around the perforated tubing. Thick premium screens become brittle at the longitudinal weld due to the heat affected zone at welds of the premium screen. Especially suited for thin premium screens, weak resistance welds provide one option for longitudinally welding. A shroud having apertures in its wall may be necessary to protect the premium screens.
- the present invention generally relates to a sand screen for use in a well that employs a seamless tube shaped filter member covering perforations in a length of perforated tubular.
- the filter member includes a monofilament or multifilament wire that is precisely wound to control angle and spacing of the wire. Configuration of a wind pattern and the amount of wire wound controls aperture size for filtering particles, flow characteristics through the filter member, and overall strength of the filter member. Seals at each end of the filter member can secure and circumferentially seal the filter member on the perforated tubular.
- FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a sand screen positioned in a wellbore.
- FIG. 2 is a view of a filter member of the sand screen according to one embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 3 is a view of the filter member with a first wrap of a wire around a mandrel.
- FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the sand screen illustrating a non-offset overlapping wind pattern.
- FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the sand screen illustrating an offset overlapping wind pattern.
- FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the sand screen with sealing rings adjacent ends of the filter member.
- FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the sand screen having a filter membrane therein.
- FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the sand screen having a packing therein.
- FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention in use within a wellbore 100 .
- the wellbore 100 includes an open borehole 102 , a production tubing string 104 , and a sand screen 106 within the production tubing string 104 .
- the sand screen 106 includes a filter member 108 surrounding a perforated tubular 110 that has apertures 112 in its wall. Seals 114 circumferentially seal the ends of the filter member 108 to the perforated tubular 110 of the sand screen 106 .
- the sand screen 106 is shown positioned in the wellbore 100 adjacent a producing formation. While not illustrated in FIG.
- the wellbore 100 may further include a gravel pack between the open borehole 102 and the sand screen 106 .
- the open borehole 102 may be any orientation within the wellbore 100 such as when the open borehole 102 forms a lateral wellbore.
- the sand screen 106 can be joined to any number of additional sand screens through conventional tubular make-up at the ends of the perforated tubular 110 .
- FIG. 2 shows the filter member 108 of the sand screen 106 .
- the filter member 108 is a seamless tube of a single monofilament wire 200 that is substantially flat and precisely wound to control angle and spacing of the wire 200 .
- the wire 200 can have a cross section of any shape such as ribbon, round, wedge, or house-shaped and can be a single monofilament wire, a single multifilament wire, or more than one monofilament or multifilament wire. If needed, two lengths of wire may be fusion welded together to provide the wire 200 for the filter member 108 .
- the wire 200 can be any material capable of being drawn.
- the filter member 108 is wound from wire 200 of a metal such as any 300 derivative stainless steel, titanium, or an alloy such as Alloy 20 .
- the wall thickness of the filter member 108 can vary from 0.06 inches up to approximately an inch in thickness.
- the length of the filter member 108 can be any length, it is preferably at least four feet, and most preferably eight feet.
- the wire 200 is wound to provide an appropriate inside diameter corresponding to a perforated tubular of any given outside diameter. Sintering the filter member 108 fixes the wire 200 in place by diffusion bonding all the wire contact points. Thus, sintering ensures that the aperture geometry provided by the wound wire stays static and increases strength levels of the filter member 108 .
- the filter member 108 can be used without sintering.
- FIG. 3 illustrates a first wrap of the wire 200 across the length of a mandrel 400 as the filter member 108 forms by winding the wire 200 on the mandrel 400 .
- the mandrel 400 is positioned on a lathe (not shown) and rotated as the wire 200 is fed onto the mandrel 400 .
- the location of the mandrel 400 relative to the wire is transposed back and forth by moving the mandrel 400 , moving the wire 200 being fed, or moving both the mandrel 400 and the wire 200 being fed.
- the mandrel 400 includes two end rings 402 separated by longitudinal members 404 .
- this type of mandrel 400 can form an integral part of the filter member 108 .
- the filter member 108 including the mandrel 400 positions around the perforated tubular 110 (shown in FIG. 1 ). Sintering of the filter member 108 occurs on the mandrel 400 .
- the end rings 402 of the mandrel 400 provide a solid and uniform surface for coupling the filter member 108 to the perforated tubular 110 with the seals 114 .
- the mandrel 400 is a perforated tubular that the wire 200 winds around to form the filter member 108 .
- the wire 200 can wind directly around the perforated tubular 110 shown in FIG. 1 .
- the mandrel 400 can be any tubular member removable from the wound wire 200 to provide the filter member 108 as shown in FIG. 2 .
- the mandrel 400 and filter member 108 can be made of different materials such that when heated an outside diameter of the mandrel 400 is smaller than an inside diameter of the filter member 108 , thereby permitting removal of the mandrel 400 .
- Other arrangements that allow selective reduction in the outside diameter of the mandrel 400 can provide the mandrel 400 that is removable.
- the filter member 108 may be wound to produce a tortuous path for fine filtration, a straight path for increased permeability, or anywhere in between.
- the tortuous path slows velocity flow and increases pressure to prevent formation erosion which is particularly useful in high production rate wells.
- the wire 200 winds such that overlapping portions are non-offset as schematically shown in FIG. 4 .
- the tortuous path utilizes offset overlapping winding of the wire 200 as schematically illustrated by FIG. 5 .
- the non-offset pattern has higher permeability than the offset pattern.
- FIG. 6 illustrates two possible embodiments for the seals 114 shown in FIG. 1 .
- the seals 114 can be any known device that secures and circumferentially seals the filter member 108 to the perforated tubular 110 such as a shrink fit ring that shrinks onto the perforated tubular 110 when heated, a threaded ring, a pin, a braze, a glue, a sweated ring or a weld. Additionally, the seals 114 may not be required at all if the filter member 108 is wound directly to the perforated tubular 110 . Referring to FIG.
- a first end ring 300 includes a tapered surface for wedging between the filter member 108 and the perforated tubular 110 thereby securing and circumferentially sealing.
- a set screw 306 secures the first end ring 300 to the perforated tubular 110 .
- a second end ring 301 secures to the perforated tubular 110 with weld 304 and includes a tapered surface wedged between another filter member 108 and the perforated tubular 110 in order to secure and circumferentially seal.
- Both end rings 300 , 301 have a ring of an elastomeric material 302 or thermoplastic layer that ensures sealing between the filter member 108 and the perforated tubular 110 .
- an alternative embodiment of the sand screen 106 has a filter member 108 that includes a filter membrane 804 such as a premium screen within the wall of the filter member 108 .
- a filter membrane 804 such as a premium screen within the wall of the filter member 108 .
- winding of the wire is stopped at a predetermined wall thickness 800 of the filter member so that the premium screen can be wrapped around the filter member 108 prior to completing the winding of the wire and forming an outer wall portion 802 .
- the premium screen 804 provides the filtering or supplemental filtering while the wound wire 800 , 802 provides strength and protection for the premium screen 804 .
- a filter member 108 of the sand screen 106 may include a packing 904 of sized particles in an annular area defined by an outside of an inner coil 900 and an inside of an outer coil 902 of wound wire as described above. Either of the inner or outer coils of wound wire may be replaced with a slotted tubular, a wire wrapped screen, a premium screen or a wire mesh. A seal such as a weld at each end of the inner and outer coils retains the sized particles in the annular area.
- Assembling the sand screen 106 includes winding a wire 200 into a substantially seamless tubular shape of the desired configuration, length, diameter, and thickness in order to provide a filter member 108 . Sintering the filter member 108 diffusion bonds the wire contact points. Positioning the filter member 108 around an outer wall of a perforated tubular 110 covers at least some apertures 112 through the perforated tubular 110 with the filter member. Providing seals 114 at each end of the filter member circumferentially seals the filter member 108 at its end to the perforated tubular 110 to provide the sand screen 106 .
- the filter member 108 Since the filter member 108 lacks weld joints, the filter member provides a uniform and effective filtration surface about its entire circumference. Additionally, the hoop strength of the filter member 108 is uniform in order to effectively distribute any hoop stresses applied to the filter member. The wall thickness of the filter member 108 can be increased to provide further strength to the filter member.
Abstract
A sand screen for a wellbore that employs a seamless tube shaped filter member covering perforations in a length of perforated tubular is disclosed. The filter member includes a monofilament or multifilament wire that is precisely wound to control angle and spacing of the wire. Configuration of a wind pattern and the amount of wire wound controls aperture size for filtering particles, flow characteristics through the filter member, and overall strength of the filter member. Seals at each end of the filter member can secure and circumferentially seal the filter member on the perforated tubular.
Description
- This application claims benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/495,480, filed Aug. 15, 2003, which is herein incorporated by reference.
- Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to wellbore completions, and more particularly, to a screen design for sand control.
- Hydrocarbon wells are typically formed with a central wellbore that is supported by steel casing. The casing lines the borehole in the earth, and the annular area created between the casing and the borehole is filled with cement to further support and form the wellbore. While some wells are produced by simply perforating the casing of the central wellbore and collecting the hydrocarbons, wells routinely include portions left open or unlined with casing. Because they are left open, hydrocarbons in an adjacent formation migrate into these wellbores where they are affected along a perforated tubular or sand screen having apertures in its wall and some kind of filtering material to prevent sand and other particles from entering. The sand screen is attached to production tubing at an upper end and the hydrocarbons travel to the surface of the well via the tubing.
- Since open wellbores lack support along their walls and the formations have a tendency to produce sand and particulate matter in quantities that hamper production along a sand screen, open wellbores are often treated by fracturing and packing. Fracturing a wellbore or formation means subjecting the walls of the wellbore and the formation to high pressure solids and/or fluids that are intended to penetrate the formation and stimulate its production by increasing and enlarging the fluid paths towards the wellbore. Packing a wellbore refers to a slurry of sand that is injected into an annular area between the sand screen and the walls of the wellbore to provide a gravel pack that supports the wellbore and provides additional filtering to the hydrocarbons. Apertures through the sand screen are sized to retain the gravel pack.
- Since the sand screen's function includes filtering of particles, these particles can build up over time with smaller particles forming bridges at the sand screen that at least partially plug the sand screen. After producing through the sand screen for some time, the sand screen becomes plugged and prevents or slows the flow of fluids for production. This can occur regardless of whether the wellbore includes a gravel pack. A backflow of fluid by reverse pressurization supplied through the production tubing reopens the plugged sand screen in order to reestablish flow through the sand screen. Often, the fluid used in the backflow includes an acid that aids in dissolving and dislodging debris trapped by the sand screen. The backflow operation requires applying reverse pressures that can be approximately three thousand pounds per square inch.
- During some wellbore completion or remediation procedures, it is necessary to stop the flow of production with a fluid loss mechanism. These mechanisms can include mechanical flappers; however, mechanical flappers often stick open or shut requiring costly and time consuming efforts to correct. Alternatively, a solution containing particles in liquid can provide a chemical seal that applies to the sand screen to plug the apertures through the sand screen. Application of a second solution at a predetermined time removes the chemical seal from the sand screen. If normal procedures for releasing the chemical seal from the sand screen fail, a reverse pressurization must be applied across the sand screen in order to stimulate the chemical seal such that the plugged sand screen reopens.
- Originally, sand screens simply consisted of slotted tubing; however, this provides little control as to the size of particles actually screened. A second type of sand screen includes a perforated tubing with a wire wrapped screen positioned on its outside that is formed by wrapping wire around longitudinal rods such that the spacing between the wraps of wire is selected to be sufficiently small to filter particles. A variation on the wire wrapped screen includes providing a packing of sized particles between two wire wrapped screens. This packed screen increases pressure across the sand screen which decreases velocity in order to slow production as required in various completions. However, this packed screen is heavy, and it is difficult to provide and insure an even distribution of the sized particles therein. Another type of more recent and improved sand screen includes premium screens consisting of layers of metal fiber or metal powder between sheets of woven mesh that wrap around a perforated tubing. Therefore, the premium screens require a longitudinal weld in order to secure and seal the sheets of material that wrap around the perforated tubing. Thick premium screens become brittle at the longitudinal weld due to the heat affected zone at welds of the premium screen. Especially suited for thin premium screens, weak resistance welds provide one option for longitudinally welding. A shroud having apertures in its wall may be necessary to protect the premium screens.
- Current sand screens lack the ability to withstand the reverse pressurization procedures. Under normal pressure conditions, the perforated tubing provides support for the premium screen since forces acting on the premium screen urge the premium screen against the outside surface of the perforated tubing. However, the reverse pressure urges the premium screen outward and places hoop stresses on the premium screen thereby causing the premium screen to fail at the longitudinal weld that holds it wrapped around the production tubing. Additionally, reverse pressurization using acid in excessive concentration dissolves a phenolic resin coating on the sized particles within packed screens. Thus, acid reverse pressurization can further plug the screen with the dissolved phenolic resin, damage other production tools and equipment with the dissolved phenolic resin, or destroy the functionality of the packed screen itself.
- There exists a need for an improved sand screen for use in a wellbore that is seamless and adaptable for different particle size filtration and production tubing diameter.
- The present invention generally relates to a sand screen for use in a well that employs a seamless tube shaped filter member covering perforations in a length of perforated tubular. The filter member includes a monofilament or multifilament wire that is precisely wound to control angle and spacing of the wire. Configuration of a wind pattern and the amount of wire wound controls aperture size for filtering particles, flow characteristics through the filter member, and overall strength of the filter member. Seals at each end of the filter member can secure and circumferentially seal the filter member on the perforated tubular.
- So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
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FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a sand screen positioned in a wellbore. -
FIG. 2 is a view of a filter member of the sand screen according to one embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 3 is a view of the filter member with a first wrap of a wire around a mandrel. -
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the sand screen illustrating a non-offset overlapping wind pattern. -
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the sand screen illustrating an offset overlapping wind pattern. -
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the sand screen with sealing rings adjacent ends of the filter member. -
FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the sand screen having a filter membrane therein. -
FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the sand screen having a packing therein. -
FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention in use within awellbore 100. Thewellbore 100 includes anopen borehole 102, aproduction tubing string 104, and asand screen 106 within theproduction tubing string 104. Thesand screen 106 includes afilter member 108 surrounding a perforated tubular 110 that hasapertures 112 in its wall.Seals 114 circumferentially seal the ends of thefilter member 108 to the perforated tubular 110 of thesand screen 106. Thesand screen 106 is shown positioned in thewellbore 100 adjacent a producing formation. While not illustrated inFIG. 1 , thewellbore 100 may further include a gravel pack between theopen borehole 102 and thesand screen 106. Theopen borehole 102 may be any orientation within thewellbore 100 such as when theopen borehole 102 forms a lateral wellbore. For extended lengths, thesand screen 106 can be joined to any number of additional sand screens through conventional tubular make-up at the ends of theperforated tubular 110. -
FIG. 2 shows thefilter member 108 of thesand screen 106. Thefilter member 108 is a seamless tube of asingle monofilament wire 200 that is substantially flat and precisely wound to control angle and spacing of thewire 200. Thewire 200 can have a cross section of any shape such as ribbon, round, wedge, or house-shaped and can be a single monofilament wire, a single multifilament wire, or more than one monofilament or multifilament wire. If needed, two lengths of wire may be fusion welded together to provide thewire 200 for thefilter member 108. Thewire 200 can be any material capable of being drawn. Preferably, thefilter member 108 is wound fromwire 200 of a metal such as any 300 derivative stainless steel, titanium, or an alloy such as Alloy 20. Depending on the amount ofwire 200 wound, the wall thickness of thefilter member 108 can vary from 0.06 inches up to approximately an inch in thickness. While the length of thefilter member 108 can be any length, it is preferably at least four feet, and most preferably eight feet. Thewire 200 is wound to provide an appropriate inside diameter corresponding to a perforated tubular of any given outside diameter. Sintering thefilter member 108 fixes thewire 200 in place by diffusion bonding all the wire contact points. Thus, sintering ensures that the aperture geometry provided by the wound wire stays static and increases strength levels of thefilter member 108. However, thefilter member 108 can be used without sintering. -
FIG. 3 illustrates a first wrap of thewire 200 across the length of amandrel 400 as thefilter member 108 forms by winding thewire 200 on themandrel 400. In manufacturing thefilter member 108, themandrel 400 is positioned on a lathe (not shown) and rotated as thewire 200 is fed onto themandrel 400. As thewire 200 is wound around themandrel 400, the location of themandrel 400 relative to the wire is transposed back and forth by moving themandrel 400, moving thewire 200 being fed, or moving both themandrel 400 and thewire 200 being fed. Themandrel 400 includes two end rings 402 separated bylongitudinal members 404. By not removing themandrel 400 from thewound wire 200, this type ofmandrel 400 can form an integral part of thefilter member 108. Thus, thefilter member 108 including themandrel 400 positions around the perforated tubular 110 (shown inFIG. 1 ). Sintering of thefilter member 108 occurs on themandrel 400. Additionally, the end rings 402 of themandrel 400 provide a solid and uniform surface for coupling thefilter member 108 to theperforated tubular 110 with theseals 114. - In one embodiment, the
mandrel 400 is a perforated tubular that thewire 200 winds around to form thefilter member 108. As such, thewire 200 can wind directly around theperforated tubular 110 shown inFIG. 1 . Alternatively, themandrel 400 can be any tubular member removable from thewound wire 200 to provide thefilter member 108 as shown inFIG. 2 . For example, themandrel 400 andfilter member 108 can be made of different materials such that when heated an outside diameter of themandrel 400 is smaller than an inside diameter of thefilter member 108, thereby permitting removal of themandrel 400. Other arrangements that allow selective reduction in the outside diameter of themandrel 400 can provide themandrel 400 that is removable. - The
filter member 108 may be wound to produce a tortuous path for fine filtration, a straight path for increased permeability, or anywhere in between. The tortuous path slows velocity flow and increases pressure to prevent formation erosion which is particularly useful in high production rate wells. In order to provide the straight path, thewire 200 winds such that overlapping portions are non-offset as schematically shown inFIG. 4 . The tortuous path utilizes offset overlapping winding of thewire 200 as schematically illustrated byFIG. 5 . The non-offset pattern has higher permeability than the offset pattern. -
FIG. 6 illustrates two possible embodiments for theseals 114 shown inFIG. 1 . Theseals 114 can be any known device that secures and circumferentially seals thefilter member 108 to theperforated tubular 110 such as a shrink fit ring that shrinks onto theperforated tubular 110 when heated, a threaded ring, a pin, a braze, a glue, a sweated ring or a weld. Additionally, theseals 114 may not be required at all if thefilter member 108 is wound directly to theperforated tubular 110. Referring toFIG. 6 , afirst end ring 300 includes a tapered surface for wedging between thefilter member 108 and theperforated tubular 110 thereby securing and circumferentially sealing. Aset screw 306 secures thefirst end ring 300 to theperforated tubular 110. Asecond end ring 301 secures to theperforated tubular 110 withweld 304 and includes a tapered surface wedged between anotherfilter member 108 and theperforated tubular 110 in order to secure and circumferentially seal. Both end rings 300, 301 have a ring of anelastomeric material 302 or thermoplastic layer that ensures sealing between thefilter member 108 and theperforated tubular 110. - As shown in
FIG. 7 , an alternative embodiment of thesand screen 106 has afilter member 108 that includes afilter membrane 804 such as a premium screen within the wall of thefilter member 108. As such, winding of the wire is stopped at apredetermined wall thickness 800 of the filter member so that the premium screen can be wrapped around thefilter member 108 prior to completing the winding of the wire and forming anouter wall portion 802. Thepremium screen 804 provides the filtering or supplemental filtering while thewound wire premium screen 804. As shown inFIG. 8 , afilter member 108 of thesand screen 106 may include a packing 904 of sized particles in an annular area defined by an outside of aninner coil 900 and an inside of anouter coil 902 of wound wire as described above. Either of the inner or outer coils of wound wire may be replaced with a slotted tubular, a wire wrapped screen, a premium screen or a wire mesh. A seal such as a weld at each end of the inner and outer coils retains the sized particles in the annular area. - Assembling the
sand screen 106 includes winding awire 200 into a substantially seamless tubular shape of the desired configuration, length, diameter, and thickness in order to provide afilter member 108. Sintering thefilter member 108 diffusion bonds the wire contact points. Positioning thefilter member 108 around an outer wall of aperforated tubular 110 covers at least someapertures 112 through theperforated tubular 110 with the filter member. Providingseals 114 at each end of the filter member circumferentially seals thefilter member 108 at its end to theperforated tubular 110 to provide thesand screen 106. - Since the
filter member 108 lacks weld joints, the filter member provides a uniform and effective filtration surface about its entire circumference. Additionally, the hoop strength of thefilter member 108 is uniform in order to effectively distribute any hoop stresses applied to the filter member. The wall thickness of thefilter member 108 can be increased to provide further strength to the filter member. - While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.
Claims (21)
1. A sand screen for use in a wellbore, comprising:
a length of tubular having perforations therethrough; and
a filtering member disposed around an outer wall of the tubular and covering at least some of the perforations, the filtering member comprising a wire wound around the outer wall to form a substantially seamless tubular shape.
2. The sand screen of claim 1 , wherein the wire has offset overlapping portions.
3. The sand screen of claim 1 , wherein overlapping portions of the wire are substantially non-offset.
4. The sand screen of claim 1 , wherein the filtering member further comprises a mandrel that the wire is wound around.
5. The sand screen of claim 1 , wherein the filtering member further comprises a mandrel that the wire is wound around, the mandrel having end rings separated by longitudinal members.
6. The sand screen of claim 1 , wherein the wire is a multifilament wire.
7. The sand screen of claim 1 , further comprising a seal at each end of the filtering member.
8. The sand screen of claim 1 , wherein the filtering member is sintered.
9. The sand screen of claim 1 , wherein the filtering member further comprises sized particles packed in an annular area between the substantially seamless tubular shape and a second tubular member having apertures therethrough.
10. The sand screen of claim 9 , wherein the second tubular member is wound wire.
11. A method for assembling a sand screen, comprising:
rotating a mandrel; and
winding a wire around the mandrel into a tubular shape having a wall defined by overlapping sections of the wire.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the mandrel is a perforated tubular.
13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising removing the mandrel from the tubular shape.
14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising positioning the mandrel around an outer wall of a tubular having perforations therethrough, thereby covering at least some of the perforations.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the winding the wire offsets overlapping portions of the wire.
16. A method for assembling a sand screen, comprising:
winding a wire into a substantially seamless tubular shape to provide a filtering member;
positioning the filtering member around an outer wall of a tubular having perforations therethrough thereby covering at least some of the perforations; and
circumferentially sealing the filtering member to the tubular at each end of the filtering member.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising sintering the filtering member thereby diffusion bonding contact points of the wire.
18. The sand screen of claim 16 , wherein the winding the wire offsets overlapping portions of the wire.
19. A method for assembling a sand screen, comprising:
winding a wire to form a coil in a substantially seamless tubular shape;
positioning the coil relative to a first tubular having a different diameter than the coil to provide an annular area between the coil and the first tubular;
packing the annular area with sized particles to provide a packing;
sealing ends of the annular area thereby retaining the packing to provide a filtering member;
positioning the filtering member around an outer wall of a second tubular having perforations therethrough thereby covering at least some of the perforations; and
circumferentially sealing the filtering member to the tubular at each end of the filtering member.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first tubular is wound wire.
21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first tubular is selected from the group consisting of slotted tubing, wire wrapped screen, wire mesh, and premium screen.
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/720,731 US20050034860A1 (en) | 2003-08-15 | 2003-11-24 | Screen for sand control in a wellbore |
CA002477507A CA2477507A1 (en) | 2003-08-15 | 2004-08-16 | Screen for sand control in a wellbore |
GB0418146A GB2404939B (en) | 2003-08-15 | 2004-08-16 | Screen for sand control in a wellbore |
NO20043398A NO337910B1 (en) | 2003-08-15 | 2004-08-16 | Sand screen for use in a wellbore, and method for mounting a sand screen |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US49548003P | 2003-08-15 | 2003-08-15 | |
US10/720,731 US20050034860A1 (en) | 2003-08-15 | 2003-11-24 | Screen for sand control in a wellbore |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20050034860A1 true US20050034860A1 (en) | 2005-02-17 |
Family
ID=33032732
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/720,731 Abandoned US20050034860A1 (en) | 2003-08-15 | 2003-11-24 | Screen for sand control in a wellbore |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20050034860A1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2477507A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2404939B (en) |
NO (1) | NO337910B1 (en) |
Cited By (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20050126779A1 (en) * | 2003-12-10 | 2005-06-16 | The Cavins Corporation | Seamless woven wire sintered well screen |
US20060096761A1 (en) * | 2004-11-10 | 2006-05-11 | Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. | Slip on screen with expanded base pipe |
US20090133874A1 (en) * | 2005-09-30 | 2009-05-28 | Dale Bruce A | Wellbore Apparatus and Method for Completion, Production and Injection |
US8459344B1 (en) * | 2009-09-08 | 2013-06-11 | William Bundy Stone | Bi-directional internal tubing plug |
RU2490433C1 (en) * | 2012-01-17 | 2013-08-20 | Сергей Аршавирович Акопов | Strainer for well in underground gas storages |
US20130341030A1 (en) * | 2012-06-26 | 2013-12-26 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Methods of improving hydraulic fracture network |
US8783349B2 (en) | 2012-05-04 | 2014-07-22 | Schlumber Technology Corporation | Compliant sand screen |
WO2014137332A1 (en) * | 2013-03-06 | 2014-09-12 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Method of assembly for sand screen |
US20170145796A1 (en) * | 2015-05-19 | 2017-05-25 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Braided screen for downhole sand control screen assemblies |
CN108222896A (en) * | 2018-01-17 | 2018-06-29 | 中国五冶集团有限公司 | For the halogen mining well structure of the salt pan of drift sand formation containing multilayer geology |
WO2020087762A1 (en) * | 2018-10-30 | 2020-05-07 | 中国石油大学(华东) | Novel bore well casing and large-wellbore multi-branch well rapid drilling and completion method |
CN111980637A (en) * | 2020-09-15 | 2020-11-24 | 东营市正能石油科技有限公司 | Erosion-resistant filling bypass sieve tube for oilfield exploitation |
US10988678B2 (en) | 2012-06-26 | 2021-04-27 | Baker Hughes, A Ge Company, Llc | Well treatment operations using diverting system |
US11111766B2 (en) | 2012-06-26 | 2021-09-07 | Baker Hughes Holdings Llc | Methods of improving hydraulic fracture network |
US11486241B2 (en) | 2012-06-26 | 2022-11-01 | Baker Hughes Holdings Llc | Method of using diverter and proppant mixture |
US11927082B2 (en) | 2019-02-20 | 2024-03-12 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Non-metallic compliant sand control screen |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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GB2462546B (en) * | 2004-11-10 | 2010-04-21 | Weatherford Lamb | Slip on screen with expanded base pipe |
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- 2003-11-24 US US10/720,731 patent/US20050034860A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
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- 2004-08-16 NO NO20043398A patent/NO337910B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2004-08-16 CA CA002477507A patent/CA2477507A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2004-08-16 GB GB0418146A patent/GB2404939B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
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US4018283A (en) * | 1976-03-25 | 1977-04-19 | Exxon Production Research Company | Method and apparatus for gravel packing wells |
US5190102A (en) * | 1990-10-22 | 1993-03-02 | Otis Engineering Corporation | Sintered metal substitute for prepack screen aggregate |
US5339895A (en) * | 1993-03-22 | 1994-08-23 | Halliburton Company | Sintered spherical plastic bead prepack screen aggregate |
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Cited By (26)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2005059308A3 (en) * | 2003-12-10 | 2006-05-26 | Cavins Corp | Seamless woven wire sintered well screen |
WO2005059308A2 (en) * | 2003-12-10 | 2005-06-30 | The Cavins Corporation | Seamless woven wire sintered well screen |
US20050126779A1 (en) * | 2003-12-10 | 2005-06-16 | The Cavins Corporation | Seamless woven wire sintered well screen |
US7503386B2 (en) | 2004-11-10 | 2009-03-17 | Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. | Slip on screen with expanded base pipe |
US7249631B2 (en) | 2004-11-10 | 2007-07-31 | Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. | Slip on screen with expanded base pipe |
US20070227726A1 (en) * | 2004-11-10 | 2007-10-04 | Bill Rouse | Slip on screen with expanded base pipe |
US20060096761A1 (en) * | 2004-11-10 | 2006-05-11 | Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. | Slip on screen with expanded base pipe |
US20090133874A1 (en) * | 2005-09-30 | 2009-05-28 | Dale Bruce A | Wellbore Apparatus and Method for Completion, Production and Injection |
US7891420B2 (en) | 2005-09-30 | 2011-02-22 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Wellbore apparatus and method for completion, production and injection |
EP2520761A2 (en) | 2005-09-30 | 2012-11-07 | ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company | Wellbore apparatus and method for completion, production and injection |
US9249644B1 (en) | 2009-09-08 | 2016-02-02 | New Product Engineering, Inc. | Internal bidirectional tubing plug |
US8459344B1 (en) * | 2009-09-08 | 2013-06-11 | William Bundy Stone | Bi-directional internal tubing plug |
RU2490433C1 (en) * | 2012-01-17 | 2013-08-20 | Сергей Аршавирович Акопов | Strainer for well in underground gas storages |
US8783349B2 (en) | 2012-05-04 | 2014-07-22 | Schlumber Technology Corporation | Compliant sand screen |
US20130341030A1 (en) * | 2012-06-26 | 2013-12-26 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Methods of improving hydraulic fracture network |
US9920607B2 (en) * | 2012-06-26 | 2018-03-20 | Baker Hughes, A Ge Company, Llc | Methods of improving hydraulic fracture network |
US10988678B2 (en) | 2012-06-26 | 2021-04-27 | Baker Hughes, A Ge Company, Llc | Well treatment operations using diverting system |
US11111766B2 (en) | 2012-06-26 | 2021-09-07 | Baker Hughes Holdings Llc | Methods of improving hydraulic fracture network |
US11486241B2 (en) | 2012-06-26 | 2022-11-01 | Baker Hughes Holdings Llc | Method of using diverter and proppant mixture |
WO2014137332A1 (en) * | 2013-03-06 | 2014-09-12 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Method of assembly for sand screen |
US9254454B2 (en) | 2013-03-06 | 2016-02-09 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Method of assembly for sand screen |
US20170145796A1 (en) * | 2015-05-19 | 2017-05-25 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Braided screen for downhole sand control screen assemblies |
CN108222896A (en) * | 2018-01-17 | 2018-06-29 | 中国五冶集团有限公司 | For the halogen mining well structure of the salt pan of drift sand formation containing multilayer geology |
WO2020087762A1 (en) * | 2018-10-30 | 2020-05-07 | 中国石油大学(华东) | Novel bore well casing and large-wellbore multi-branch well rapid drilling and completion method |
US11927082B2 (en) | 2019-02-20 | 2024-03-12 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Non-metallic compliant sand control screen |
CN111980637A (en) * | 2020-09-15 | 2020-11-24 | 东营市正能石油科技有限公司 | Erosion-resistant filling bypass sieve tube for oilfield exploitation |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA2477507A1 (en) | 2005-02-15 |
NO20043398L (en) | 2005-02-16 |
GB2404939B (en) | 2006-07-12 |
GB2404939A (en) | 2005-02-16 |
NO337910B1 (en) | 2016-07-11 |
GB0418146D0 (en) | 2004-09-15 |
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