Sand control screen assembly and treatment method using the same

A sand control screen assembly positionable within a production interval comprising:

• a base pipe having at least one opening that allows fluid flow therethrough;
• a filter medium positioned about the exterior of at least a portion of the base pipe, the filter medium selectively allowing fluid flow therethrough and preventing particulate flow of a predetermined size therethrough;
• and
• a seal member operably associated with the base pipe that controls fluid flow through the opening of the base pipe, the seal member having a one-way valve configuration and a valve open configuration, in the one-way valve configuration, the seal member preventing fluid loss from the interior to the exterior of the sand control screen assembly and allows fluid flow from the exterior to the interior of the sand control screen assembly when the differential pressure between the exterior and the interior of the sand control screen assembly exceeds a predetermined threshold, in the valve open configuration, the seal member allowing fluid flow from the interior to the exterior of the sand control screen assembly and from the exterior to the interior of the sand control screen assembly.

A sand control screen assembly comprising:

• a tubular member having at least one fluid passageway in a sidewall section thereof;
• a filter medium positioned exteriorly around the tubular member defining a first annular region with the tubular member;
• a housing positioned exteriorly around the tubular member defining a second annular region with the tubular member;
• and
• a seal member positioned within the second annulus, the seal member having a one-way valve configuration and a valve open configuration, the seal member including a spring retainer, a biasing member and a shuttle valve, the spring retainer having a first position relative to the tubular member when the seal member is in the one-way valve configuration such that the biasing member urges the shuttle valve into a sealing position, the spring retainer having a second position relative to the tubular member when the seal member is in the valve open configuration such that the biasing member does not urge the shuttle valve into the sealing position.

A downhole treatment method comprising the steps of:

• locating a sand control screen assembly within a production interval of a wellbore;
• pumping a treatment fluid into the production interval;
• allowing fluid returns to enter the interior of the sand control screen assembly with a seal member of the sand control screen assembly in a one-way valve configuration;
• preventing fluid loss from the interior to the exterior of the sand control screen assembly with the seal member of the sand control screen assembly in the one-way valve configuration;
• operating the seal member from the one-way valve configuration to a valve open configuration;
• and
• allowing production fluids to enter the interior of the sand control screen assembly.