Fluid Filtering Device for a Wellbore and Method for Completing a Wellbore

A method for completing a wellbore in a subsurface formation, the method comprising:

• providing a sand control device, the sand control device comprising:
• at least a first compartment, wherein each compartment comprises:
• a base pipe having a permeable section and an impermeable section, the base pipe being in fluid communication with a string of tubing within the wellbore,
• a first filtering conduit circumscribing the base pipe and forming a first annular region between the base pipe and the first filtering conduit, the first filtering conduit having a filtering medium adjacent the impermeable section of the base pipe,
• a second filtering conduit also circumscribing the base pipe and forming a second annular region between the base pipe and the second filtering conduit, the second filtering conduit having a filtering medium adjacent the permeable section of the base pipe,
• a blank tubular housing sealingly circumscribing at least the second filtering conduit and forming a third annular region between the second filtering conduit and the surrounding housing, and
• an under-flow ring disposed between the first filtering conduit and the second filtering conduit and placing the first annular region in fluid communication with the third annular region, and the under-flow ring having an outer diameter that sealingly receives the blank tubular housing at an end;
• and
• running the sand control device into a wellbore to a selected subsurface location, and thereby forming an annulus in the wellbore between the sand control device and the surrounding wellbore.

A system for producing fluid from a wellbore, the system comprising:

• providing a wellbore to a subsurface formation comprising a producible fluid;
• preparing the wellbore to control sand production, by running a sand control device into a wellbore to a selected subsurface location, and thereby forming an annulus in the wellbore between the sand control device and the surrounding wellbore, the sand control device comprising:
• at least a first compartment, wherein each compartment comprises:
• a base pipe having a permeable section and an impermeable section, the base pipe being in fluid communication with a string of tubing within the wellbore,
• a first filtering conduit circumscribing the base pipe and forming a first annular region between the base pipe and the first filtering conduit, the first filtering conduit having a filtering medium adjacent the impermeable section of the base pipe,
• a second filtering conduit also circumscribing the base pipe and forming a second annular region between the base pipe and the second filtering conduit, the second filtering conduit having a filtering medium adjacent the permeable section of the base pipe,
• a blank tubular housing sealingly circumscribing at least the second filtering conduit and forming a third annular region between the second filtering conduit and the surrounding housing, and
• an under-flow ring disposed between the first filtering conduit and the second filtering conduit and placing the first annular region in fluid communication with the third annular region, and the under-flow ring having an outer diameter that sealingly receives the blank tubular housing at an end;
• and
• producing fluid from the wellbore by passing the fluid through at least a portion of the sand control device.