Flow distribution assemblies for distributing fluid flow through screens

An assembly, comprising:

• a base pipe having at least one flow port defined therein;
• a well screen arranged about the base pipe and in fluid communication with the at least one flow port;
• and
• a shroud arranged about the well screen adjacent the at least one flow port, the shroud having an uphole extension extending axially away from the at least one flow port, the uphole extension defining an uphole shrouded portion of a first length of the well screen disposed adjacent to the flow port and an uphole unshrouded portion of the first length of the well screen disposed uphole of the flow port, and a downhole extension extending axially away from the at least one flow port, the downhole extension defining a downhole shrouded portion of a second length of the well screen disposed adjacent to the flow port and a downhole unshrouded portion of the second length of the well screen disposed downhole of the flow port;
• wherein the shroud further comprises:
• an upper support coupled to the well screen uphole from the at least one flow port and a lower support coupled to the well screen downhole from the at least one flow port;
• wherein a portion of the well screen between the upper support and the lower support is removed;
• an uphole annular gap defined between the well screen and the uphole extension extending axially along the uphole shrouded portion of the first length of the well screen;
• and
• a downhole annular gap defined between the well screen and the downhole extension extending axially along the downhole shrouded portion of the second length of the well screen, wherein the uphole and downhole annular gaps are configured to receive a flow of a fluid, and
• wherein the uphole and downhole extensions increase a flow resistance of the fluid by channeling the fluid across the uphole and downhole annular gaps, respectively, to distribute a flow energy of the fluid over the first and second lengths of the well screen, respectively.

A method comprising:

• introducing into a wellbore a flow distribution assembly arranged on a base pipe having at least one flow port defined therein, the flow distribution assembly including a well screen arranged about the base pipe and in fluid communication with the at least one flow port, the well screen having an end disposed at or near the at least one flow port and a shroud arranged about the end of the well screen and extending axially along of the well screen, the shroud defining a shrouded portion of the well screen disposed adjacent to the flow port and an unshrouded portion of the well screen disposed not adjacent to the flow port;
• wherein the shroud further comprises an upper support and a lower support, the method further comprising coupling the upper support to the well screen uphole from the at least one flow port and the lower support to the well screen downhole from the at least one flow port;
• wherein a portion of the well screen between the upper support and the lower support is removed;
• channeling a flow of a fluid into an annular gap defined between the well screen and the shroud extending axially along the shrouded portion of the length of the well screen;
• and
• increasing a flow resistance of the fluid by distributing a flow energy of the fluid over the length of the well screen with the shroud.

A method comprising:

• introducing into a wellbore a flow distribution assembly arranged on a base pipe having at least one flow port defined therein, the flow distribution assembly including a well screen arranged about the base pipe and in fluid communication with the at least one flow port, and a shroud arranged about the well screen adjacent to the at least one flow port, the shroud having an uphole extension extending axially away from the at least one flow port, the uphole extension defining an uphole shrouded portion of a first length of the well screen disposed adjacent to the flow port and an uphole unshrouded portion of the first length of the well screen disposed uphole of the flow port, and a downhole extension extending axially away from the at least one flow port, the downhole extension defining a downhole shrouded portion of a second length of the well screen disposed adjacent to the flow port and a downhole unshrouded portion of the second length of the well screen disposed downhole of the flow port;
• wherein the shroud further comprises an upper support and a lower support, the method further comprising coupling the upper support to the well screen uphole from the at least one flow port and the lower support to the well screen downhole from the at least one flow port;
• wherein a portion of the well screen between the upper support and the lower support is removed;
• channeling a flow of a fluid into an uphole annular gap defined between the well screen and the uphole extension extending axially along the uphole shrouded portion of the first length of the well screen and into a downhole annular gap defined between the well screen and the downhole extension extending axially along the downhole shrouded portion of the second length of the well screen;
• and annular gap defined between the well screen and the shroud;
• and
• increasing a flow resistance of the fluid by distributing a flow energy of the fluid over the first length and the second length of the well screen with the shroud.