Filter for subterranean wells
AssigneePall Corporation
InventorsPaul C. Koehler, Stephen A. Geibel, Michael B. Whitlock, Reza Hashemi, Christophe A. Malbrel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A damage-resistant filter for use in subterranean wells has at least one layer of a filter medium, such as a sintered supported porous membrane, coaxially disposed about a perforated support member. The filter may also include a drainage layer disposed between the inner support member and the filter medium, and a protective covering, such as a perforated cage, surrounding the filter medium. The filter is particularly suitable for removal of sand and other particulates from fluids produced in a well.
Claims94
A filter arrangement for use in a subterranean well comprising:
- a filter disposed in a well and including a hollow inner support member having a peripheral wall permeable to a fluid to be filtered, and one or more layers of a supported porous medium disposed around the inner support member, the supported porous medium comprising a foraminate support and particulates sintered to the foraminate support;
- and
- a fluid transporting member for transporting a fluid disposed in the well in fluid communication with the filter so that fluid can flow between an interior of the inner support member and the fluid transporting member.
A filter arrangement for a subterranean well comprising:
- a filter disposed in a wall and including a hollow inner support member having a peripheral wall permeable to a fluid to be filtered, and a plurality of layers of a sintered porous medium, each layer comprising a sheet having longitudinal ends and being cylindrically wrapped around the inner support member and joined to itself without being joined to any adjoining layer of the sintered porous medium between the longitudinal ends, whereby adjoining layers can slide with respect to each other;
- and
- a fluid transporting member for transporting a fluid disposed in the well in fluid communication with the filter so that fluid can flow between an interior of the inner support member and the fluid transporting member.
A filter arrangement for use in a subterranean well comprising:
- a filter disposed in a well and including a hollow inner support member having a perforated peripheral wall, an inner drainage mesh wrapped around the inner support member, and a plurality of layers of a supported porous medium cylindrically wrapped around the inner drainage layer, the supported porous medium comprising a support mesh and particulates supported within openings of the mesh and sintered to the mesh, the medium having an F2 removal rating at .beta.=100 of at most approximately 80 micrometers, each layer having a thickness of approximately 0.015 to approximately 0.025 inches and longitudinal ends and being joined to itself by a longitudinal seam weld without being joined to an adjoining layer between its longitudinal ends;
- and
- a fluid transporting member for transporting a fluid disposed in the well in fluid communication with the filter so that fluid can flow between an interior of the inner support member and the fluid transporting member.
A method of filtering well fluids comprising:
- disposing a filter comprising one or more layers of a supported porous medium in a subterranean well, the supported porous medium comprising a foraminate support and particulates sintered to the foraminate support;
- and
- passing a fluid through the supported porous medium.
A filtering method comprising:
- disposing a filter including a supported porous medium within an uncased portion of a subterranean well for oil or gas without a gravel pack surrounding the filter, the supported porous medium comprising a foraminate support and particulates sintered to the foraminate support;
- allowing an underground formation surrounding the filter to collapse against the filter;
- and
- filtering a fluid from the well with the filter and transporting the filtered fluid out of the well.
A method of filtering fluids in a geothermal well comprising:
- disposing a filter having a supported porous medium into a geothermal producing well, the supported porous medium comprising a foraminate support and particulates sintered to the foraminate support;
- and
- filtering hot water or steam within the producing well through the filter.
A filtering method for a subterranean well comprising:
- connecting a filter comprising a supported porous medium in series with a drill string, the supported porous medium comprising a foraminate support and particulates sintered to the foraminate support;
- drilling a well in an underground formation using the drill string;
- leaving the drill string and the filter within the well upon completion of the drilling;
- filtering a fluid produced by the formation through the filter to remove particles from the fluid;
- and
- transporting the filtered fluid through the drill string out of the well.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.