Sintered screen completion

Well completion apparatus comprising, in combination:

• a first packer including a body mandrel having a longitudinal bore defining a production flow passage, anchor slips movably mounted on said packer body mandrel for radial expansion into set engagement against a well casing, and an annular seal element mounted on said body mandrel for radial expansion into set engagement against a well casing, thereby providing an annular fluid seal across the annulus between the body mandrel and a well casing in the radially expanded, set condition;
• a second packer including a body mandrel having a longitudinal bore defining a production flow passage, anchor slips movably mounted on said packer body mandrel for radial expansion into set engagement against a well casing, and an annular seal element mounted on said body mandrel for radial expansion into set engagement against a well casing, thereby providing an annular fluid seal across the annulus between the body mandrel and a well casing in the radially expanded, set condition;
• a circulation sub having a tubular mandrel intersected by a longitudinal production bore and having a sidewall portion radially intersected by a circulation port, and having a tubular sleeve slidably received within the bore of said circulation sub for opening and closing the circulation port, the mandrel of said circulation sub being coupled to the mandrels of said first and second packers, thereby defining a longitudinal flow passage therebetween;
• and,
• a tubular sand screen mounted on said circulation sub, said sand screen having a tubular, porous sidewall composed of sintered powdered metal disposed in radially spaced relation with respect to said circulation sub.

Well completion apparatus comprising, in combination:

• a first packer including a body mandrel having a longitudinal bore defining a production flow passage, anchor slips movably mounted on said packer body mandrel for radial expansion into set engagement against a well casing, and an annular seal element mounted on said body mandrel for radial expansion into set engagement against a well casing, thereby providing an annular fluid seal across the annulus between the body mandrel and a well casing in the radially expanded, set condition;
• a second packer including a body mandrel having a longitudinal bore defining a production flow passage, anchor slips movably mounted on said packer body mandrel for radial expansion into set engagement against a well casing, and an annular seal element mounted on said body mandrel for radial expansion into set engagement against a well casing, thereby providing an annular fluid seal across the annulus between the body mandrel and a well casing in the radially expanded, set condition;
• a landing nipple coupled to the mandrel of said first packer, said landing nipple having a tubular mandrel intersected by a longitudinal bore disposed in flow communication with the mandrel bore of said first packer;
• a locking mandrel disposed in releasable, interlocking engagement with said landing nipple, said locking mandrel being intersected by a longitudinal bore defining a flow passage disposed in flow communication with said packer mandrel bore;
• a primary sand screen having a first tubular end portion coupled to the mandrel of said landing nipple and having a second tubular end portion coupled to the mandrel of said second packer, and having a fluid porous, particulate-restricting member extending between said first and second tubular end portions, said fluid porous, particulate-restricting member having a tubular bore defining a fluid flow passage;
• an auxiliary sand screen received within the production bore of said primary sand screen, said auxiliary sand screen having a tubular, porous body composed of sintered powdered metal and having a longitudinal flow passage disposed in flow communication with the mandrel bore of said first packer;
• and,
• sealing means coupled to said primary sand screen and to said auxiliary sand screen for sealing the annulus between said primary and secondary sand screens, and for sealing the longitudinal flow passage on the lower end of said auxiliary sand screen.

An improved sand screen assembly for separating particulate material from formation fluid comprising, in combination:

• a first packer including a body mandrel having a longitudinal bore defining a production flow passage, anchor slips movably mounted on said packer body mandrel for radial expansion into set engagement against a well casing, and an annular seal element mounted on said body mandrel for radial expansion into set engagement against a well casing, thereby providing an annular fluid seal across the annulus between the body mandrel and a well casing in the radially expanded, set condition;
• a second packer including a body mandrel having a longitudinal bore defining a production flow passage, anchor slips movably mounted on said packer body mandrel for radial expansion into set engagement against a well casing, and an annular seal element mounted on said body mandrel for radial expansion into set engagement against a well casing, thereby providing an annular fluid seal across the annulus between the body mandrel and a well casing in the radially expanded, set condition;
• a primary sand screen having a first tubular end portion coupled to the mandrel of the first packer and having a second tubular end portion coupled to the mandrel of the second packer, said primary sand screen having a fluid porous, particulate-restricting member extending between said first and second tubular end portions, said fluid porous, particulate-restricting member having a tubular bore defining a fluid flow passage;
• an auxiliary sand screen received within the production bore of said primary sand screen, said auxiliary sand screen having a tubular, porous body composed of sintered powdered metal, and having a longitudinal flow passage disposed in flow communication with the mandrel bore of said first packer;
• and,
• sealing means coupled to said primary sand screen and to said auxiliary sand screen for sealing the annulus between said primary and secondary sand screens, and for sealing the longitudinal flow passage on the lower end of said auxiliary sand screen.

Apparatus for completing a well of the type having a well casing extending between a subterranean production zone and a surface wellhead assembly comprising, in combination:

• a first packer including a body mandrel having a longitudinal bore defining a production flow passage, anchor slips movably mounted on said packer body mandrel for radial expansion into set engagement against the well casing, and an annular seal element mounted on said body mandrel for radial expansion into set engagement against the well casing, thereby providing an annular fluid seal across the annulus between the body mandrel and the well casing in the radially expanded, set condition;
• a first production tubing string having a first end portion coupled to the body mandrel of said first packer and having a second end portion adapted for attachment to the wellhead assembly;
• a second packer disposed with the bore of the first production tubing string, said second packer including a body mandrel having a longitudinal bore defining a production flow passage, anchor slips movably mounted on the body mandrel of said second packer for radial expansion into set engagement against the sidewall of the first production tubing string, and an annular seal element mounted on said body mandrel for radial expansion into set engagement against the sidewall of the first production tubing string, thereby providing an annular fluid seal across the annulus between the body mandrel and said first production tubing string in the radially expanded, set condition;
• a second production tubing string having a first end portion coupled to the body mandrel of said second packer and having a second end portion adapted for attachment to the wellhead assembly;
• a third production tubing string having a first end portion projecting through the body mandrel bore of said first packer and coupled to the body mandrel of the second packer, and having a second end portion suspended within the well casing intermediate the first packer and the production zone;
• and,
• a sand screen coupled to the second end portion of the third production tubing string, said sand screen having a tubular, porous body composed of sintered powdered metal, and having a longitudinal flow passage disposed in flow communication with the body mandrel bore of the second packer.