Sand exclusion liner and method of using the same

Abstract

A conventional screened liner is modified to enable fluid circulation through its length when working it toward a landing position in a horizontal wellbore. At surface, a sleeve of heat-liquifiable sealant (such as wax or tar) is formed internally in each perforated liner joint to blind the liner openings. The sleeve may have a central longitudinal bore formed therethrough or alternatively the sleeve is bored out to fully re-open the joint bore. In either case, the bore through the blinded joints enable circulating the liner into the wellbore. Once the liner is in place, the sealant can be removed by circulating steam past it to liquify it. By providing bore-forming blinded screen joints, it is now possible to circulate through the entire length of liner to remove sand blockages without reversing fluid flow through the liner openings.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.