Premium mesh screen

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9267360-B2
Application number	US-201213431720-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2012
Priority date	Apr 1, 2011
Publication date	Feb 23, 2016
Grant date	Feb 23, 2016

Abstract

Systems and methods for preventing particles from flowing into a base pipe are provided. A base pipe can have a plurality of perforations formed radially therethrough. A filtering strip can be wrapped helically around an outer surface of the base pipe to cover at least a portion of the perforations. The filtering strip can include a drainage layer, a filter layer, and a shroud layer. The drainage layer can include a plurality of ribs in contact with the outer surface of the base pipe. The filter layer can be coupled to the drainage layer and include at least one mesh screen. The shroud layer can be coupled to the filter layer and include a perforated metal sheet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A downhole tool, comprising:
a base pipe having a plurality of perforations formed radially therethrough; and
a filtering strip wrapped helically around an outer surface of the base pipe to cover at least a portion of the perforations, the filtering strip comprising:
a drainage layer comprising a plurality of ribs in contact with the outer surface of the base pipe;
a filter layer positioned adjacent to the drainage layer, wherein the filter layer comprises at least one mesh screen; and
a shroud layer positioned adjacent to the filter layer, wherein the shroud layer comprises a perforated metal sheet, wherein the drainage layer and the shroud layer are structurally connected to one another prior to being wrapped around the base pipe, and wherein the drainage layer, the filter layer, and the shroud layer are wrapped simultaneously around the base pipe.

2. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the drainage layer further comprises a plurality of transverse wires that are perpendicular to the ribs.

3. The tool of claim 1 , wherein a width of the strip is between about 2 cm and about 30 cm.

4. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the strip is wrapped around the base pipe such that adjacent wraps of the strip at least partially overlap one another.

5. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the strip is wrapped around the base pipe such that a longitudinal gap is disposed between two adjacent wraps of the strip.

6. The tool of claim 5 , wherein a width of the gap is between about 1 cm and about 30 cm.

7. The tool of claim 5 , wherein a pitch of the strip wrapped around the base pipe is between about 3 cm and about 60 cm.

8. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the strip covers all of the perforations in the base pipe.

9. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the drainage layer, the filter layer, and the shroud layer each have substantially the same width.

10. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the drainage layer, the filter layer, and the shroud layer are physically connected to one another with a connecting member.

11. The tool of claim 10 , wherein the connecting member is a side wall physically connected to sides of the drainage layer and the shroud layer.

12. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the drainage layer and the shroud layer are structurally connected to one another by welding prior to being wrapped around the base pipe.

13. A downhole tool, comprising:
a base pipe having a plurality of perforations formed radially therethrough; and
a filtering strip wrapped helically around an outer surface of the base pipe to cover at least a portion of the perforations, the filtering strip comprising:
a drainage layer comprising:
a plurality of ribs in contact with the outer surface of the base pipe; and
a plurality of transverse wires that are perpendicular to the ribs;

a filter layer positioned adjacent to the drainage layer, wherein the filter layer comprises:
an inner mesh screen positioned adjacent to the drainage layer;
an outer mesh screen, wherein the inner and outer mesh screens each include a first plurality of apertures having a nominal average cross-sectional length between about 300 μm and about 1,000 μm; and
a middle mesh screen disposed between the inner and outer mesh screens, wherein the middle mesh screen includes a second plurality of apertures having a nominal average cross-sectional length between about 60 μm and about 300 μm; and

a shroud layer positioned adjacent to the filter layer, wherein the shroud layer comprises a metal sheet having a plurality of openings formed therethrough with a nominal average cross-sectional length between about 3 mm and about 13 mm, wherein the drainage layer and the shroud layer are structurally connected to one another prior to being wrapped around the base pipe, and wherein the drainage layer, the filter layer, and the shroud layer are wrapped simultaneously around the base pipe.

14. The tool of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of ribs comprises a first sub layer and the plurality of transverse wires comprises a second sub layer, and wherein the first and second sub layers are welded together.

15. The tool of claim 13 , wherein a channel is formed between each two ribs of the plurality of ribs.

16. The tool of claim 13 , further comprising a side wall structurally connected to a side of the strip and adapted to hold the drainage layer, the filter layer, and the shroud layer together.

17. The tool of claim 16 , wherein the side wall is made of stainless steel.

18. The tool of claim 16 , wherein the side wall is welded to the drainage layer and the shroud layer.

19. The tool of claim 13 , wherein the inner mesh screen is sintered to the middle mesh screen.

20. A method of preventing particles from flowing into a base pipe, comprising:
wrapping a filtering strip helically around an outer surface of a perforated base pipe, wherein the strip comprises:
a drainage layer comprising a plurality of ribs;
a filter layer positioned adjacent to the drainage layer, wherein the filter layer comprises at least one mesh screen; and
a shroud layer positioned adjacent to the filter layer, wherein the shroud layer comprises a perforated metal sheet, wherein the drainage layer and the shroud layer are structurally connected to one another prior to being wrapped around the base pipe, and wherein the drainage layer, the filter layer, and the shroud layer are wrapped simultaneously around the base pipe; and

running the base pipe having the strip wrapped thereabout into a wellbore.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising varying a pitch of the strip to make two adjacent wraps of the strip at least partially overlap one another.

22. The method of claim 20 , further comprising varying a pitch of the strip to vary a gap disposed between two adjacent wraps of the strip.

23. The method of claim 20 , further comprising welding the strip to the base pipe.

24. The method of claim 20 , further comprising covering at least a portion of the perforations in the base pipe with the strip.

Assignees

• Krush Robert
• Moen Terje
• Yuan Min Mark
• Marsh Arnold Gene
• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Krush Robert
• Moen Terje
• Yuan Min Mark
• Marsh Arnold Gene

Classifications

• Y10T137/794

  With means for separating solid material from the fluid · CPC title

• E21B43/08 Primary

  Screens or liners {(expandable screens or liners E21B43/108)} · CPC title