# US 8,464,793 B2 · Flow control system with sand screen > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,464,793 B2 - Document ID: US8464793B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/840,922 - Filed: 2010-07-21 - Published: 2011-07-28 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2010-01-22 - Assignees: Schlumberger Technology Corporation - Applicants: Steven W. Scott; Steinar Bakke - Inventors: Steven W. Scott; Steinar Bakke - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464793B2 ## CPC - E21B 43/08: Screens or liners {(expandable screens or liners E21B43/108)} - E21B 43/084: {Screens comprising woven materials, e.g. mesh or cloth} - E21B 43/086: {Screens with preformed openings, e.g. slotted liners (comprising porous materials E21B43/082)} - E21B 43/088: {Wire screens (comprising porous materials E21B43/082; comprising woven materials E21B43/084)} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A technique enables long-lasting control over fluid flow in a wellbore. The technique employs a base pipe, a flow control device, and a sand control screen. The sand control screen is coupled to the flow control device and mounted over the base pipe. Additionally, the sand control screen comprises longitudinal ribs positioned along the base pipe and a filter media positioned along the longitudinal ribs. A protective shroud is mounted over the filter media and cooperates with the other components of the system to provide a simple but durable system and method for controlling fluid flow. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for controlling flow in a wellbore, comprising: a base pipe having a flow control device housing positioned around the pipe; an orifice extending through a sidewall of a section of the base pipe covered by the flow control device housing; and a sand control screen positioned around the base pipe and engaged with the flow control device housing, the sand control screen comprising: a plurality of longitudinal ribs extending along the base pipe to the flow control device housing; a wire transversely wrapped about the plurality of longitudinal ribs to secure the plurality of longitudinal ribs directly onto an outer surface of the base pipe; a filter media positioned over the wire; and an outer protective shroud, wherein the flow control device housing is secured to the sand control screen without being welded to the base pipe, wherein the flow control device housing is welded to axial ends of the plurality of longitudinal ribs. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein a spacing between adjacent wire wraps of the transversely wrapped wire is greater than the pore size of the filter media. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the filter media comprises a woven material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer protective shroud comprises a perforated tube. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the sand control screen is positioned along a substantially unperforated portion of the base pipe. ### Claim 6 A system for controlling flow in a wellbore, comprising: a base pipe having a flow control device housing positioned around the pipe; an orifice extending through a sidewall of a section of the base pipe covered by the flow control device housing; and a sand control screen positioned around the base pipe and engaged with the flow control device housing, the sand control screen comprising: a plurality of longitudinal ribs extending along the base pipe to the flow control device housing; a wire transversely wrapped about the plurality of longitudinal ribs to secure the plurality of longitudinal ribs directly onto an outer surface of the base pipe; a filter media positioned over the wire; and an outer protective shroud, wherein the flow control device housing is secured to the sand control screen without being welded to the base pipe, wherein the sand control screen further comprises a standoff layer between the wire transversely wrapped and the filter media. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the standoff layer is a mesh layer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the sand control screen further comprises an additional mesh layer positioned between the filter media and the outer protective shroud. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The system as recited in claim 6, wherein a spacing between adjacent wire wraps of the transversely wrapped wire is greater than the pore size of the filter media. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the filter media comprises a woven material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the outer protective shroud comprises a perforated tube. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the sand control screen is positioned along a substantially unperforated portion of the base pipe. ### Claim 13 A system for controlling flow in a wellbore, comprising: a base pipe having a flow control device housing positioned around the pipe; an orifice extending through a sidewall of a section of the base pipe covered by the flow control device housing; and a sand control screen positioned around the base pipe and engaged with the flow control device housing, the sand control screen comprising: a plurality of longitudinal ribs extending along the base pipe to the flow control device housing; a wire transversely wrapped about the plurality of longitudinal ribs to secure the plurality of longitudinal ribs directly onto an outer surface of the base pipe; a filter media positioned over the wire; and an outer protective shroud, wherein the flow control device housing is secured to the sand control screen without being welded to the base pipe, wherein the sand control screen further comprises an additional mesh layer positioned between the filter media and the outer protective shroud. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system as recited in claim 13, wherein a spacing between adjacent wire wraps of the transversely wrapped wire is greater than the pore size of the filter media. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the filter media comprises a woven material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the outer protective shroud comprises a perforated tube. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the sand control screen is positioned along a substantially unperforated portion of the base pipe. ### Claim 18 A system for controlling flow in a wellbore, comprising: a base pipe; a flow control device; and a sand control screen coupled to the flow control device and mounted over the base pipe, the sand control screen comprising: a plurality of longitudinal ribs positioned against an outer surface of the base pipe; a filter media radially outward of the plurality of longitudinal ribs; and a protective shroud mounted over the filter media, the protective shroud comprising a plurality of axial ribs bound together by an independent wire wrapped over an exterior of the plurality of axial ribs to secure the plurality of axial ribs in place. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the base pipe is substantially unperforated beneath the sand control screen. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the flow control device is welded to the sand control screen but not to the base pipe. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the plurality of longitudinal ribs is held against the base pipe by a transversly wrapped wire.