Abstract: Methods and apparatus provides an improved shunt nozzle which is part of an alternative pathway for a slurry to by-pass an obstruction such as a sand bridge during gravel packing. The nozzle includes a hardened insert that lines a surface of an aperture in a shunt. A jacket secured to the shunt receives the insert, which is trapped from movement relative to the jacket.

Abstract: Methods and systems for automatically inspecting a wire-wrapped well screen are provided. A camera may capture an image of a portion of the screen including at least two facing edge portions of adjacent wraps of wire defining a slot therebetween. A thickness of the slot may be determined based on the image, for example, by calculating a distance between the facing edge portions. The camera may be moved relative to the screen to measure slot thickness at several sample locations along a length of the screen. The screen may also be rotated relative to the camera to measure slot thickness at sample locations at different angular offset locations around the screen. Slot thickness measured at the sample locations may be analyzed to generate an inspection report that could be supplied to a customer with the well screen.

Abstract: Methods and systems for automatically inspecting a wire-wrapped well screen are provided. A camera may capture an image of a portion of the screen including at least two facing edge portions of adjacent wraps of wire defining a slot therebetween. A thickness of the slot may be determined based on the image, for example, by calculating a distance between the facing edge portions. The camera may be moved relative to the screen to measure slot thickness at several sample locations along a length of the screen. The screen may also be rotated relative to the camera to measure slot thickness at sample locations at different angular offset locations around the screen. Slot thickness measured at the sample locations may be analyzed to generate an inspection report that could be supplied to a customer with the well screen.

Abstract: A well screen is disclosed for positioning in a well bore to screen solid particles from the fluid produced by the well comprising a base pipe having a perforated wall and threaded connections for connecting the base pipe into a pipe string, a wire screen surrounding the perforated portion of the base pipe, a thin porous membrane comprising an inner layer of cloth of woven ceramic fibers wrapped around the wire screen and covered by a porous sleeve membrane of braided ceramic fibers, means for holding the ends of the porous cloth membranes in sealing engagement with the base pipe, and a perforated tubular metal shroud surrounding the ceramic cloth membranes to protect the membranes from damage when lowered into a well bore.