Inflow control devices for sand control screens
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsWilliam M. Richards, Ronald G. Dusterhoft, William D. Henderson, Travis T. Hailey, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Inflow control devices for sand control screens. A well screen includes a filter portion and at least two flow restrictors configured in series, so that fluid which flows through the filter portion must flow through each of the flow restrictors. At least two tubular flow restrictors may be configured in series, with the flow restrictors being positioned so that fluid which flows through the filter portion must reverse direction twice to flow between the flow restrictors. A method of installing a well screen includes the step of accessing a flow restrictor by removing a portion of an inflow control device of the screen.
Claims21
A well screen, comprising:
- a filter portion;
- and
- an inflow control device which controls flow of a fluid through the filter portion, the inflow control device comprising:
- an annular chamber;
- a first flow restrictor which restricts fluid flow into the chamber;
- and
- a second flow restrictor which restricts fluid flow out of the chamber,
- wherein a flow restriction across the well screen is selectively variable during installation of the well screen by replacing at least one of the first and second flow restrictors with a flow restrictor having a different flow characteristic.
A well screen, comprising:
- an annular chamber;
- a first flow restrictor tube which restricts flow into the chamber;
- and
- a second flow restrictor tube which restricts flow out of the chamber,
- the first and second flow restrictor tubes being positioned so that fluid must reverse direction at least twice within the chamber to flow between the first and second flow restrictor tubes.
A method of installing a well screen, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing the well screen including an inflow control device with an annular chamber and at least two flow restrictors configured in series which restrict flow of fluid through the chamber by restricting flow of the fluid through each of the flow restrictors;
- accessing at least one flow restrictor during installation of the well screen by removing a portion of the inflow control device;
- and
- then replacing the at least one flow restrictor with a flow restrictor having a different flow characteristic, thereby selectively varying a flow restriction across the well screen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.