# US 2016/0251908 A1 · Flow distribution assemblies with shunt tubes and erosion-resistant fittings > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0251908 A1 - Document ID: US20160251908A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/760,291 - Filed: 2014-08-22 - Published: 2016-09-01 - Earliest claimed: 2014-08-22 - Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Applicants: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Inventors: Jan Veit; Stephen Michael Greci; Matthew Ryan Gommel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160251908A1 ## CPC - E21B 17/00: Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; {Cables;} Casings; Tubings - E21B 43/04: Gravelling of wells - E21B 43/08: Screens or liners {(expandable screens or liners E21B43/108)} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract An example shunt tube assembly includes at least one shunt tube that defines an inner flow path for a fluid and provides an upper portion and a lower portion. At least one shunt fitting is positioned inline between the upper and lower portions of the at least one shunt tube. The shunt fitting provides an outlet that fluidly communicates with the inner flow path to provide an exit for at least a portion of the fluid to be discharged from the at least one shunt tube. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A shunt tube assembly, comprising: at least one shunt tube defining an inner flow path for a fluid and providing an upper portion and a lower portion; and at least one shunt fitting positioned inline between the upper and lower portions of the at least one shunt tube, the at least one shunt fitting providing an outlet that fluidly communicates with the inner flow path to provide an exit for at least a portion of the fluid to be discharged from the at least one shunt tube. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The shunt tube assembly of claim 1, wherein the fluid is selected from the group consisting of a fracturing fluid, a gravel slurry, and any combination thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The shunt tube assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one shunt fitting is coupled to the upper and lower portions of the at least one shunt tube by at least one of welding, brazing, an adhesive, a mechanical fastener, shrink fitting, and any combination thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The shunt tube assembly of claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the at least one shunt tube is at least one of circular, polygonal, oval, and kidney-shaped. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The shunt tube assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one shunt fitting comprises an erosion-resistant material selected from the group consisting of a carbide, a ceramic, a cobalt alloy, and a surface-hardened metal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The shunt tube assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one shunt tube comprises an erosion-resistant material selected from the group consisting of a carbide, a ceramic, a cobalt alloy, a surface-hardened metal, and a composite. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The shunt tube assembly of claim 1, wherein an inner surface of at least one of the at least one shunt fitting and the at least one shunt tube is clad with an erosion-resistant material selected from the group consisting of a carbide, a cobalt alloy, and a ceramic. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The shunt tube assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a first coupling assembly including a first coupling attached to a first end of the shunt fitting; and a second coupling assembly including a second coupling attached to a second end of the shunt fitting. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The shunt tube assembly of claim 8, wherein the first and second couplings are attached to the first and second ends of the shunt fitting, respectively, by at least one of welding, brazing, an adhesive, a mechanical fastener, shrink fitting, and any combination thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The shunt tube assembly of claim 8, wherein one or both of the first and second couplings are directly attached to the upper and lower portions of the shunt tube, respectively. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The shunt tube assembly of claim 8, further comprising: an upper extension included in the first coupling assembly and extending between the first coupling and the upper portion of the shunt tube; and a lower extension included in the second coupling assembly and extending between the second coupling and the lower portion of the shunt tube. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The shunt tube assembly of claim 1, wherein the outlet comprises a nozzle that extends from the shunt fitting at an angle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The shunt tube assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a work string extendable within a wellbore, wherein the at least one shunt tube extends along an exterior of the work string; and one or more sand screens disposed about a portion of the work string and interposing the work string and the one or more shunt tubes. ### Claim 14 A method, comprising: introducing a flow distribution assembly into a wellbore on a work string, the flow distribution assembly including at least one shunt tube extending along an exterior of the work string and defining an inner flow path for a fluid, the at least one shunt tube providing an upper portion and a lower portion; conveying the fluid into the at least one shunt tube from an annulus defined between the work string and the wellbore; and discharging at least a portion of the fluid from the at least one shunt tube at a shunt fitting positioned inline between the upper and lower portions of the at least one shunt tube, the shunt fitting providing an outlet that fluidly communicates with the inner flow path. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the fluid is selected from the group consisting of a fracturing fluid, a gravel slurry, and any combination thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising preventing erosion of the shunt fitting, wherein the shunt fitting comprises an erosion-resistant material selected from the group consisting of a carbide, a ceramic, a cobalt alloy, and a surface-hardened metal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising preventing erosion of the at least one shunt tube, wherein the at least one shunt tube comprises an erosion-resistant material selected from the group consisting of a carbide, a ceramic, a cobalt alloy, a surface-hardened metal, and a composite. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising preventing erosion of an inner surface of at least one of the shunt fitting and the at least one shunt tube, wherein the inner surface of the at least one of the shunt fitting and the at least one shunt tube is clad with an erosion-resistant material selected from the group consisting of a carbide, a cobalt alloy, and a ceramic. ### Claim 19 A shunt tube assembly, comprising: at least one shunt tube defining an inner flow path for a fluid and defining an opening that provides fluid communication between the inner flow path and an exterior of the at least one shunt tube; and a shunt nozzle aligned with the opening and mounted to an outer surface of the at least one shunt tube, the shunt nozzle fluidly communicating with the inner flow path to provide an exit for at least a portion of the fluid to be discharged from the at least one shunt tube. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The shunt tube assembly of claim 19, wherein the shunt nozzle extends from the at least one shunt tube at an angle ranging between 1° and 179° with respect to the at least one shunt tube. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The shunt tube assembly of claim 19, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the shunt nozzle is at least one of circular, polygonal, oval, and kidney-shaped. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The shunt tube assembly of claim 19, wherein the shunt nozzle comprises an erosion-resistant material selected from the group consisting of a carbide, a ceramic, a cobalt alloy, and a surface-hardened metal. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The shunt tube assembly of claim 19, wherein the at least one shunt tube comprises an erosion-resistant material selected from the group consisting of a carbide, a ceramic, a cobalt alloy, a surface-hardened metal, and a composite. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The shunt tube assembly of claim 19, wherein an inner surface of at least one of the shunt nozzle and the at least one shunt tube is clad with an erosion-resistant material selected from the group consisting of a carbide, a cobalt alloy, and a ceramic. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The shunt tube assembly of claim 19, wherein the shunt nozzle is secured to the outer surface of the at least one shunt tube by at least one of welding, brazing, an adhesive, a mechanical fastener, shrink fitting, and any combination thereof.