Shunt system for downhole sand control completions

A method, comprising:

• introducing a gravel slurry into an annulus defined between a completion string and a wellbore wall, the completion string including one or more sand control screen assemblies arranged about a base pipe and each sand control screen assembly including one or more sand screens positioned about the base pipe;
• receiving and redirecting a portion of the gravel slurry in a shunt system positioned about an exterior of the base pipe;
• drawing a portion of a carrier fluid in the annulus into return tube positioned between the completion string and the wellbore wall and extending longitudinally along a portion of the completion string, the return tube defining a plurality of openings to receive the portion of the carrier fluid into the return tube, and the return tube extending as a continuous conduit between a first and a second ends of the return tube;
• flowing the portion of the carrier fluid within the return tube;
• preventing proppant, sand, and gravel from flowing through the return tube, wherein the return tube is configured to prevent proppant, sand, and gravel to flow through the return tube, and
• directly conveying the portion of the carrier fluid from the return tube into an interior of the base pipe,
• wherein one or more jumper tubes that fluidly couple axially adjacent portions of the return tube, and
• wherein the one or more jumper tubes are configured to generally span an axial distance between one or more axially adjacent sand screens of the one or more sand screens.

A downhole sand control completion system, comprising:

• a completion string extendable within a wellbore and including one or more sand control screen assemblies arranged about a base pipe, each sand control screen assembly including one or more sand screens positioned about the base pipe;
• a shunt system positioned about an exterior of the base pipe to receive and redirect a gravel slurry flowing in an annulus defined between the completion string and a wellbore wall;
• a return tube positioned between the completion string and the wellbore wall and extending longitudinally along a portion of the completion string, the return tube comprising an elongated sand screen and defining a plurality of openings formed between laterally adjacent wires of the elongated sand screen and configured to receive a portion of a carrier fluid flowing from the annulus into the return tube, wherein the carrier fluid is directly conveyed into an interior of the base pipe via the return tube, and wherein the return tube is configured to prevent proppant, sand, and gravel to flow through the return tube;
• and
• one or more jumper tubes that fluidly couple axially adjacent portions of the return tube, wherein the one or more jumper tubes are configured to generally span an axial distance between one or more axially adjacent sand screens of the one or more sand screens.