Sand control screen assembly and method for use of same
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsJohn C. Gano, Jean Marc Lopez
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sand control screen assembly (40) is operably positionable within a wellbore (64). The sand control screen assembly (40) includes a base pipe (42) having at least one opening (46) in a sidewall portion thereof. A filter medium (48) is disposed exteriorly of at least a first circumferential portion of the base pipe (42). The filter medium (48) is in fluid communication with the at least one opening (46). A swellable material layer (56) is disposed exteriorly of a second circumferential portion of the base pipe (42) such that in response to contact with an activating fluid, radial expansion of the swellable material layer (56) causes the filter medium (48) to contact the wellbore (64).
Claims24
A sand control screen assembly operably positionable within a wellbore, the sand control screen assembly comprising:
- a base pipe having at least one opening in a sidewall portion thereof;
- a filter medium disposed exteriorly of at least a first circumferential portion of the base pipe, the filter medium in fluid communication with the at least one opening;
- and
- a swellable material layer disposed exteriorly of a second circumferential portion of the base pipe, the swellable material layer being thicker proximate a midpoint of the second circumferential portion of the base pipe than proximate an endpoint of the second circumferential portion of the base pipe;
- wherein, in response to contact with an activating fluid, radial expansion of the swellable material layer causes the filter medium to be displaced toward a surface of the wellbore.
A method of installing a sand control screen assembly in a wellbore, the method comprising:
- running the sand control screen assembly to a target location within the wellbore, the sand control screen having a filter medium disposed exteriorly of at least a first circumferential portion of a base pipe;
- contacting a swellable material layer disposed exteriorly of a second circumferential portion of the base pipe with an activating fluid, the swellable material layer being thicker proximate a midpoint of the second circumferential portion of the base pipe than proximate an endpoint of the second circumferential portion of the base pipe;
- radially expanding the swellable material layer in response to contact with the activating fluid;
- and
- displacing the filter medium toward a surface of the wellbore in response to the radial expansion of the swellable material layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.