# US 10,502,032 B2 · Flow distribution assemblies for distributing fluid flow through screens > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,502,032 B2 - Document ID: US10502032B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/373,486 - Filed: 2019-04-02 - Published: 2019-07-25 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-02 - Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Applicants: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Inventors: Stephen Michael Greci; Jean-Marc Lopez; Michael Fripp; John Charles Gano - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502032B2 ## CPC - E21B 43/086: {Screens with preformed openings, e.g. slotted liners (comprising porous materials E21B43/082)} - E21B 43/088: {Wire screens (comprising porous materials E21B43/082; comprising woven materials E21B43/084)} - E21B 33/12: Packers; Plugs (used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16) - E21B 43/14: Obtaining from a multiple-zone well - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract Embodiments herein include 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, the well screen having an end disposed at or near the at least one flow port; a shroud arranged about the end of the well screen and extending axially along a length of the well screen; and an annular gap defined between the well screen and the shroud and configured to receive a flow of a fluid, wherein the shroud increases a flow resistance of the fluid by channeling the fluid across the annular gap to distribute a flow energy of the fluid over the length of the well screen. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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, the well screen having an end disposed at or near the at least one flow port; a shroud arranged about the end of the well screen; 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; and an annular gap defined between the well screen and the shroud and configured to receive a flow of a fluid, wherein the shroud increases a flow resistance of the fluid by channeling the fluid across the annular gap to distribute a flow energy of the fluid over the length of the well screen. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the shroud further comprises at least one of a perforation and a dimple. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the shroud comprises a plurality of perforations and/or dimples that exhibit more than one size. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the shroud comprises a plurality of perforations increasing in frequency in a direction away from the at least one flow port. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the shroud comprises a plurality of dimples increasing in frequency in a direction toward the at least one flow port. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the shroud tapers in a direction toward the at least one flow port. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The assembly of claim 6, wherein tapering of the shroud is at least one of continuous and stepped. ### Claim 8 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, the well screen having an end disposed at or near the at least one flow port; a shroud arranged about the end of the well screen and extending axially along a length of the well screen; 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 the upper support includes a first flow control device and the lower support includes a second flow control device; and an annular gap defined between the well screen and the shroud and configured to receive a flow of a fluid, wherein the shroud increases a flow resistance of the fluid by channeling the fluid across the annular gap to distribute a flow energy of the fluid over the length of the well screen. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The assembly of claim 8, wherein the shroud further comprises at least one of a perforation and a dimple. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The assembly of claim 8, wherein the shroud comprises a plurality of perforations and/or dimples that exhibit more than one size. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The assembly of claim 8, wherein the shroud comprises a plurality of perforations increasing in frequency in a direction away from the at least one flow port. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The assembly of claim 8, wherein the shroud comprises a plurality of dimples increasing in frequency in a direction toward the at least one flow port. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The assembly of claim 8, wherein the shroud tapers in a direction toward the at least one flow port. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The assembly of claim 13, wherein tapering of the shroud is at least one of continuous and stepped. ### Claim 15 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, the well screen having an end disposed at or near the at least one flow port; a shroud arranged about the end of the well screen and extending axially along a length of the well screen; 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; plugging material disposed on either side of the at least one flow port beneath the upper support and the lower support; and an annular gap defined between the well screen and the shroud and configured to receive a flow of a fluid, wherein the shroud increases a flow resistance of the fluid by channeling the fluid across the annular gap to distribute a flow energy of the fluid over the length of the well screen. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The assembly of claim 15, wherein the shroud further comprises at least one of a perforation and a dimple. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The assembly of claim 15, wherein the shroud comprises a plurality of perforations and/or dimples that exhibit more than one size. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The assembly of claim 15, wherein the shroud comprises a plurality of perforations increasing in frequency in a direction away from the at least one flow port. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The assembly of claim 15, wherein the shroud comprises a plurality of dimples increasing in frequency in a direction toward the at least one flow port. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The assembly of claim 15, wherein the shroud tapers in a direction toward the at least one flow port.