Metal-matrix downhole sand screens
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsMichael Linley FRIPP, Stephen Michael GRECI, Daniel D. GLEITMAN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A screen assembly for wellbore production wherein a base pipe is wrapped with a screen constructed one or more cables formed from a plurality of non-metallic fibers bonded to one another with a metal binder. The non-metallic fibers may be basalt fibers or another ceramic material. The metal binder forms a metal matrix that has a first diameter about a primary cable axis, with the metal matrix securing the non-metallic fibers so that they have a second diameter about the primary cable axis, where the second diameter is larger than the first diameter, minimizing exposure of the metal matrix to wellbore fluids.
Claims20
A screen assembly for wellbore production, comprising:
- a base pipe defining an interior flow passage extending longitudinally therethrough and at least one perforation defining a radial flow path into the interior flow passage;
- and
- a screen disposed radially around the base pipe, the screen constructed from one or more cables formed from a plurality of non-metallic fibers bonded to one another with a metal binder.
A screen assembly for wellbore production comprising a base pipe and at least one screen disposed around the base pipe, wherein the at least one screen is formed of one or more cables comprising a plurality of ceramic fibers each of the ceramic fibers having a metal coating.
A method of manufacturing a screen assembly for wellbore production comprising:
- a base pipe defining an interior flow passage extending longitudinally therethrough and at least one perforation defining a radial flow path into the interior flow passage;
- and
- a. providing a plurality of non-metallic fibers coated with metal;
- b. forming a cable utilizing the plurality of metal coated non-metallic fibers, wherein forming comprises arranging the non-metallic fibers adjacent one another to extend along a cable axis, and applying energy to the metal coating to bind the non-metallic fibers to one another;
- and
- c. wrapping the cable around the base pipe to form a screen about the base pipe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.