Sand screen structure with quick connection section joints therein

A method of assembling a sand screen structure useable to separate particulate material from formation fluid in a well, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing first and second generally tubular filter sections each having an end portion;
• axially inserting said end portion of said first filter section into said end portion of said second filter section to a telescoped relationship therewith;
• and
• creating, in response to the performance of said axially inserting step, an axially releasable, snap-locked relationship between the telescoped end portions in a manner substantially precluding relative axial and rotational movement therebetween.

A sand screen structure for separating particulate material from formation fluid in a well, comprising:

• a plurality of generally tubular axial filter sections coaxially disposed in an end-to-end orientation, with facing end portions of each axially adjacent pair of said filter sections being in a telescoped relationship;
• a circumferentially spaced series of axially extending shunt tubes carried on each of said filter sections, the shunt tubes on one of each axially adjacent pair of said filter sections being telescopingly engaged with the shunt tubes on the other filter section;
• and
• cooperating means on each pair of telescoped filter section end portions for releasably joining them in an axially snap-fitted relationship, said cooperating means being operative to substantially preclude relative axial and rotational movement between each telescoped pair of said end portions.

A method of assembling a sand screen structure useable to separate particulate material from formation fluid in a well, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing first and second generally tubular filter sections each having an end portion, each of said filter sections having thereon a circumferentially spaced series of axially extending shunt tubes;
• axially inserting said end portion of said first filter section into said end portion of said second filter section, to a telescoped relationship therewith, in a manner bringing the two series of shunt tubes into a telescoped relationship with one another;
• and
• creating, in response to the performance of said axially inserting step, an axially releasable, snap-locked relationship between the telescoped filter section end portions in a manner substantially precluding relative axial and rotational movement therebetween.

A sand screen structure for separating particulate material from formation fluid in a well, comprising:

• first and second generally tubular axial filter sections coaxially disposed in an end-to-end orientation, with facing end portions of said first and second filter sections being in a telescoped relationship, said first and second filter sections having exterior side portions;
• first and second circumferentially spaced series of axially extending shunt tubes respectively embedded in said exterior side portions of said first and second filter sections, said first and second series of shunt tubes being in a telescoped relationship with one another;
• and
• cooperating means on each pair of telescoped end portions for releasably joining them in an axially snap-fitted relationship.