Production filtering system and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9506328-B2
Application number	US-201314372150-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 24, 2013
Priority date	Jul 24, 2013
Publication date	Nov 29, 2016
Grant date	Nov 29, 2016

Abstract

Systems and methods for filtering a production stream downhole that involves creating a basepipe annulus and a casing annulus and forcing the production stream through a filter between the casing annulus and the basepipe annulus before combining the production stream with a previously filtered production stream. Other systems and methods are disclosed.

First claim

I claim:

1. A system for filtering a production stream radially exterior to a tailpipe and radially interior to a casing in order to produce a first filtered production stream for introduction into the tailpipe having a second filtered production stream, the system comprising:
the tailpipe having a tailpipe inside diameter and a tailpipe outside diameter, the tailpipe for coupling to a lower end of a production stream and for disposing within the casing having a casing inside diameter;
a basepipe having a basepipe inside diameter and a basepipe outside diameter, wherein the basepipe inside diameter is greater than the tailpipe outside diameter to create a basepipe annulus and wherein the basepipe outside diameter is less than the casing inside diameter to create a casing annulus and wherein the basepipe has a first end and a second end and a medial portion between the first end and second end;
a first tailpipe attachment device and a second tailpipe attachment device, wherein the second tailpipe attachment device is coupled to the second end of the basepipe and to the tailpipe to create a fluid seal at one end of the basepipe annulus between the basepipe and the tailpipe, and wherein the first tailpipe attachment device is for centering the first end of basepipe;
a flow diverter coupled to an exterior of the basepipe for substantially sealing flow in the casing annulus;
a plurality of filter apertures formed on the medial portion of the basepipe upstream of the flowed diverter;
a screening device coupled over the plurality of apertures to create a filter on the basepipe; and
a plurality of return apertures for fluidly coupling the base annulus with the casing annulus downstream of the flow diverter.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second tailpipe attachment device comprises a three-way adapter with interior threads on two ends for coupling tailpipe segments and external threads for coupling to the basepipe.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second tailpipe attachment device comprises a three-way adapter with interior threads on two ends for coupling tailpipe segments and external threads for coupling to the basepipe; and further comprising an enlarged portion to centralize the tailpipe within the casing.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second tailpipe attachment device comprises a welded segment.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first tailpipe attachment device comprises an end-cap proximate to an exterior of the tailpipe and coupled to the first end of the basepipe.

6. The system of claim 1 , where the first tailpipe attachment device comprises an end-cap proximate to an exterior of the tailpipe and coupled to the first end of the basepipe, wherein the end-cap is formed with an plurality of flow channels and wherein the flow channels comprise at least a portion of the plurality of return apertures.

7. The system of claim 1 , where the first tailpipe attachment device comprises an end-cap proximate to an exterior of the tailpipe and coupled to the first end of the basepipe, wherein the first tailpipe attachment device has at least a portion with an outside diameter large enough to centralize the tailpipe and basepipe within the casing.

8. The system of claim 1 , where the first tailpipe attachment device comprises an end-cap proximate to an exterior of the tailpipe and coupled to the first end of the basepipe, wherein the first tailpipe attachment device comprises an outside diameter large enough to centralize the tailpipe and basepipe within the casing, and wherein the first tailpipe attachment device comprises an outside diameter that is at least 90% of the inside diameter of the casing.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flow diverter comprises a swell packer.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the screen device comprises wire wrapping over the plurality of filter apertures.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of return apertures comprises a plurality of apertures formed through the basepipe downstream of the flow diverter.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the basepipe is longer than one joint.

13. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fins coupled to the second tailpipe attachment device for centering the basepipe and tailpipe in the casing annulus.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the second tailpipe attachment device comprises a three-way adapter with interior threads on two ends for coupling tailpipe segments and external threads for coupling to the basepipe;
the first tailpipe attachment device comprises an end-cap proximate to an exterior of the tailpipe and coupled to the first end of the basepipe;
the flow diverter comprises a swell packer; and
the screen device comprises wire wrapping over the plurality of filter apertures.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the second tailpipe attachment device comprises a three-way adapter with interior threads on two ends for coupling tailpipe segments and external threads for coupling to the basepipe;
the first tailpipe attachment device comprises an end-cap proximate to an exterior of the tailpipe and coupled to the first end of the basepipe;
the flow diverter comprises a swell packer;
the screen device comprises wire wrapping over the plurality of filter apertures; and
the second tailpipe attachment device comprises a three-way adapter with interior threads on two ends for coupling tailpipe segments and external threads for coupling to the basepipe; and further comprising an enlarged portion to centralize the tailpipe and basepipe within the casing.

16. A system for filtering a production stream before combining with a filtered production stream in a tailpipe, the system comprising:
a basepipe for surrounding at least a portion of the tailpipe, the basepipe having a first end and second end, wherein the basepipe has an inside diameter greater than an outside diameter of the tailpipe whereby a base annulus is created when the basepipe is around the tailpipe and wherein the basepipe has an outside diameter smaller than a well casing inside diameter where when in service a casing annulus is created;
a first tailpipe attachment device and a second tailpipe attachment device, wherein the second tailpipe attachment device comprises a three-way adapter for coupling to an upstream portion of the tailpipe, and wherein the first tailpipe attachment device comprises an end-cap for disposing about a downstream portion of the tailpipe;
wherein the basepipe is coupled to the first tailpipe attachment device, and wherein the basepipe is coupled to the second tailpipe attachment device to create an upstream seal to the base annulus;
a filter formed on an intermediate portion of the basepipe for filtering the production stream as the production stream enters the base annulus through the filter;
an isolation tool coupled to a portion of the basepipe and configured so that when the isolation tool is disposed between the basepipe and the casing, the isolation tool is operable to substantially seal a portion of the casing annulus and thereby force the production stream into the filter; and
a plurality of return apertures in the basepipe for directing a filtered production stream from the base annulus to a portion of the casing annulus downstream of the packer.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the second tailpipe attachment device further comprises a plurality of fins for centering the basepipe within the casing annulus.

18. A method for filtering a production stream before the production stream enters a tailpipe, the method comprising:

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Lehrling Gunnar

Classifications

• E21B33/12

  Packers; Plugs (used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16) · CPC title

• E21B43/088

  Wire screens (comprising porous materials E21B43/082; comprising woven materials E21B43/084) · CPC title

• E21B17/02

  Couplings; joints {(expandable couplings or joints E21B43/106)} · CPC title

• E21B43/082 Primary

  Screens comprising porous materials, e.g. prepacked screens · CPC title

• E21B33/1208 Primary

  characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means (E21B33/1277 takes precedence) · CPC title