Abstract: The well screen assembly disclosed includes a perforated pipe joint having a well screen mounted internally of the pipe joint. The well screen includes a plurality of rods positioned parallel to and spaced from the longitudinal axis of the pipe joint with an elongated wire helically wrapped around the outside of the rods and positioned between the rods and the inside wall of the pipe joint. The wire is wrapped so that the spaces between the wire screen solid particles out of the well fluid as the fluid flows between the slots in the wire into the inside of the well screen. The well screen is spaced from the inside surface of the pipe joint to allow fluid to flow freely around the outside of the well screen after the fluid passes through the perforations in the pipe joint. Means are provided to mount the screen in the pipe joint and to retain gravel, in the space between the well screen and the inside surface of the pipe joint, if the screen is gravel packed.