# US 8,783,349 B2 · Compliant sand screen

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- Number: US 8,783,349 B2
- Document ID: US8783349B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/464,682
- Filed: 2012-05-04
- Published: 2013-11-07
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2012-05-04
- Assignees: Schlumber Technology Corporation
- Applicants: Agathe Robisson; Francois M. Auzerais; Sudeep Maheshwari; Partha Ganguly; S. Sherry Zhu
- Inventors: Agathe Robisson; Francois M. Auzerais; Sudeep Maheshwari; Partha Ganguly; S. Sherry Zhu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783349B2

## CPC

- E21B 43/08: Screens or liners {(expandable screens or liners E21B43/108)}
- E21B 43/103: {of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like}
- B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING

## Abstract

Embodiments disclose a sand screen apparatus for use in a well that intersects a hydrocarbon formation. The sand screen apparatus comprises a composite, the composite having a compressed state and an expanded state. In embodiments, the composite comprises a base polymer and one or a plurality of reactive fillers where the reactive fillers react with the base polymer in the expanded state after exposure to a first trigger.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sand screen apparatus for use in a well that intersects a hydrocarbon formation, comprising:
a composite, the composite having a compressed state and an expanded state;
the composite comprising a base polymer, one or a plurality of reactive fillers, and a plurality of dissolvable or degradable fillers dispersed within the composite;
wherein the one or the plurality of reactive fillers react with the base polymer in the expanded state after exposure to a first trigger.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The screen of claim 1, wherein the composite is one of a foam composite or a bulk composite.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The screen of claim 1, wherein the composite expands after placement in the well and conforms to a wellbore wall.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The screen of claim 1, wherein the composite stiffens after exposure to the first trigger.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The screen of claim 4, wherein the first trigger is a temperature change.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The screen of claim 4, wherein the first trigger is a fluid introduced into the well.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The screen of claim 1, wherein the reactive fillers are selected from a group consisting of Portland cement, aluminous cement, fly ash, slag cement, MgO, ZnO, Ca(OH)2, CaO, Mg(OH)2, ZnCl2, MgCl2, CaCl2, CaCO3, Na2CO3 or K2CO3, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The screen of claim 1, wherein the composite comprises a shape memory alloy.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The screen of claim 8, wherein the shape memory alloy is nickel-titanium, copper-aluminum-nickel, copper-zinc-aluminum, iron-manganese-silicon; and combinations thereof.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The screen of claim 1, wherein the composite comprises a low temperature melting polymer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The screen of claim 10, wherein the low temperature melting polymer is a polystyrene, LDPE, PVC, EVA; and combinations thereof.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The screen of claim 1, wherein the composite has a modulus increase from the compressed state to the expanded state.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The screen of claim 1, wherein the base polymer is a thermoplastic, a thermoset or a rubber.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The screen of claim 13, wherein the rubber is NBR, HNBR, neoprene, EPDM, polyurethane, FKM or FFKM; and combinations thereof.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The screen of claim 1, wherein the composite matrix is a shape memory polymer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The screen of claim 1, wherein the plurality of dissolvable or degradable fillers are configured to control porosity of the composite.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The screen of claim 16, wherein the plurality of dissolvable or degradable fillers comprise degradable polymers.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The screen of claim 17, wherein the degradable polymers are polyesters.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The screen of claim 18, wherein the polyesters are selected from the group consisting of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), polyglycolic acid, polycaprolacton (PCL) polybutylene succinate, polybutylene succinate-co-adipate, PBT, PET; and combinations thereof.

### Claim 20 (depends on 2)

The screen of claim 2, further comprising a degrading or dissolving film wherein the degrading or dissolving film surrounds the composite in the compressed state.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The screen of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fillers wherein the plurality of fillers have shape memory properties.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The screen of claim 21, wherein the plurality of fillers maintain the composite in a compressed state.

### Claim 23

A well completion method, comprising:
covering at least one base pipe with a composite comprising a base polymer and one or a plurality of reactive fillers;
running the base pipe to a location in a wellbore;
expanding the composite;
conforming the composite to the wellbore wall;
stiffening the composite; and
filtering fluids through the composite to said base pipe;
detaching the composite from the base pipe; and
lifting the base pipe out of the wellbore.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The well completion method of claim 23, further comprising a support member.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The well completion method of claim 24, wherein the support member is a screen.

### Claim 26

A method of completing a wellbore in a subterranean formation, comprising:
positioning an expandable sand control device in the wellbore and forming an annulus between the sand control device and the wellbore, the sand control device having a foam composite comprising a base polymer, one or a plurality of reactive fillers, and a plurality of dissolvable or degradable fillers dispersed within the composite, the foam composite designed to expand and fill the annulus.