Abstract: Cylindrical screens and screen assemblies for use with perforated base pipe or casing for sand control in wellbores have generally longitudinally extending slots punched in the screen. The outer surface of the screen material is deformed below the inner surface causing apertures to form along the longitudinal edges of the slot. The slots are generally longitudinally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical screens whether butt-welded or spiral-rolled and welded by determining the angle at which the slots need to be punched to result in such alignment. End caps which connect between the screen and the casing extend over the ends of the cylindrical screen and are welded thereto to minimize sand entry. At least one of the end caps may include an expansion joint to permit relative expansion and contraction between the screen and the casing particularly when used in thermal recovery operations.

Abstract: Assemblies, systems, and methods to facilitate gravel packing of a wellbore having a flow restricting device are described. The assemblies, systems, and methods can include a flow restricting device and an alternative-path gravel packing system to provide a gravel pack about the flow restricting device. The assemblies, systems, and methods can allow uniform and complete annular sand control pack placement together with reduced flow of unwanted fluids.

Abstract: A rod-based well screen is formed in place on a perforated pipe base by wrapping wire around the pipe base and a plurality of rods located around the outside of the pipe. The wire is welded sequentially to each individual rod as it is wrapped around the pipe. The welding and ground electrodes engage the wire and the rods respectively. The rod engaging ground electrode is positioned a short distance ahead of the wire being wrapped around the rods and the pipe base. The ground electrode includes a plurality of contacts. Each contact is mounted to pivot toward and away from a rod. Springs urge each contact toward a rod to hold the rod against the outside surface of the pipe base and to maintain good electrical contact between the contact and the rod. Each contact has a groove to guide the rod into position for welding to the wire.

Abstract: A downhole apparatus is described comprising a main body coupled with a well tubing and a swellable mantle disposed on the main body. The swellable mantle expands upon contact with at least one predetermined fluid, and the main body comprises at least one opening for fluid flow between an exterior of the main body and the bore. An insert permits the passage of fluid, through the swellable mantle, between the exterior of the apparatus and the opening. In one aspect of the invention a screen filters solids between the exterior of the apparatus and the bore, and a swellable mantle comprises a first region which allows the passage of fluid between the exterior of the apparatus and the main body and a second region, circumferentially adjacent the first region, which substantially prevents passage of fluid. Corresponding well completion and production methods are also described.

Abstract: A rod-based well screen is formed in place on a perforated pipe base by wrapping wire around the pipe base and a plurality of rods located around the outside of the pipe. The wire is welded sequentially to each individual rod as it is wrapped around the pipe. The welding and ground electrodes engage the wire and the rods respectively. The rod engaging ground electrode is positioned a short distance ahead of the wire being wrapped around the rods and the pipe base. The ground electrode includes a plurality of contacts. Each contact is mounted to pivot toward and away from a rod. Springs urge each contact toward a rod to hold the rod against the outside surface of the pipe base and to maintain good electrical contact between the contact and the rod. Each contact has a groove to guide the rod into position for welding to the wire.

Abstract: A screen device includes a foam body having a passageway that extends longitudinally through the foam body, the foam body has an open cell structure such that at least two surfaces of the foam body are in fluidic communication with one another through the foam body.

Abstract: A screen section is made with variable resistance to flow in the screen material to balance the flow along the screen length. In one variation different discrete zones have screens configured for different percentages of open area while all have the same particle filtration capability. In another variation discrete portions have differing amounts of overlapping screen portions so as to balance flow without affecting the particle size screened. The cross-sectional shape of a wire wrap underlayment for the screen is made closer to trapezoidal to decrease the angle of opening for the incoming flow paths toward the base pipe. In this manner flow resistance is reduced and flow is increased due to reduced turbulence.

Abstract: A sand control screen assembly (40) is operably positionable within a wellbore (50). The sand control screen assembly (40) includes a base pipe (42) having a plurality of openings (46) in a sidewall portion thereof and an internal flow path (44). A plurality of radially extendable filter members (52) are each operably associated with at least one of the openings (46) of the base pipe (42). The radially extendable filter members (52) have a circumferential dimension that is less than a longitudinal dimension thereof. The radially extendable filter members (52) have a radially retracted running configuration and a radially extended operating configuration, in which, the radially extendable filter members (52) preferably contact the wellbore (50).

Abstract: A screen assembly for removing particulates from a fluid in a well bore said well bore being provided with a tubing for transport of fluids inside the tube, said tube being provided with sliding sleeve doors through which the fluids flow from the well bore external the tube and into the tube. The screen assembly comprises a filter arranged external the tubing and covering the sliding sleeve doors, such that the filter prevents particles above a predefined size from entering through the sliding sleeve doors: The screen assembly further comprises a supportive tube having apertures allowing well bore fluids to pass. Furthermore said filter is arranged on the inner side of said supportive tube, such that the filter is placed between the supportive tube and the tube with the sliding sleeve doors. The filter is made from ceramic material.

Abstract: A device for an underground well, typically a petroleum well (1), wherein, in the uncased inflow portion (2, 4, 6) of the well, there is placed an inflow pipe, possibly in the form of a strainer pipe (8) comprising a strainer/perforated outer mantle (16), a main pipe (12) located within and a number of preferably axial spacer strips (18) spaced apart about the external periphery of the main pipe and arranged to support the strainer mantle (16), whereby there are, in the space defined by the strainer mantle (16) and the main pipe (12), channels 20 between the spacers (18), and in one or more of the channels 20, there extends at least one cable, pipe or hose (34, 38).

Abstract: A completion assembly for use in a lateral well bore has a base pipe with a plurality of holes through the sidewall of the base pipe. Flow through the holes is regulated to produce an influx difference between the ends of the base pipe. Flow can be regulated by variably spacing or sizing the holes. Flow can also be regulated by selectively inserting a rod between adjacent splines located on the base pipe to cover and block the flow through certain holes in the base pipe. Flow can also be regulated using a rotatable sleeve adjacent to the base pipe such that rotation of the sleeve brings the holes and openings in the pipe and sleeve, respectively, into and out of alignment. A filter can be used to filter sand and other particulates. An erosion inhibitor can be used to extend the useful life of the assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a design and method of manufacture for a mesh-type screen to be used in subsurface well completions to prevent the production of sand.

Abstract: A system that is useable in a subterranean well includes a tubular structure that is formed from a spirally wound strip, and the tubular structure is provided downhole in the subterranean well.

Abstract: A screen assembly (60) comprises a base pipe (62) having perforated and nonperforated sections (66, 68), ribs (70) circumferentially spaced therearound and a filter medium (84) positioned around the ribs (70) having voids (92, 94) therethrough. The screen assembly (60) includes a slurry passageway (98) defined by the nonperforated section (68) of the base pipe (62), two of the ribs (70) and the portion (100) of the filter medium (84) that is circumferentially aligned with the nonperforated section (68). This portion (100) of the filter medium (84) has a filler material (96) disposed within the voids (92, 94) to create a fluid tight seal for a fluid slurry. The fluid slurry is discharged from the screen assembly (60) to a plurality of levels of the interval through exit ports (106) in a plurality of manifolds (102) when the screen assembly (60) is in an operable position.

Abstract: A completion assembly for use in a lateral well bore has a base pipe with a plurality of holes through the sidewall of the base pipe. Flow through the holes is regulated to produce an influx difference between the ends of the base pipe. Flow can be regulated by variably spacing or sizing the holes. Flow can also be regulated by selectively inserting a rod between adjacent splines located on the base pipe to cover and block the flow through certain holes in the base pipe. Flow can also be regulated using a rotatable sleeve adjacent to the base pipe such that rotation of the sleeve brings the holes and openings in the pipe and sleeve, respectively, into and out of alignment. A filter can be used to filter sand and other particulates. An erosion inhibitor can be used to extend the useful life of the assembly.

Abstract: A subterranean filter to remove particles from production fluid in a well includes a perforated inner member, at least one filter membrane made of a non-woven polymer material and a metal braided layer installed around the membrane and inner member to provide a filter having improved permeability and resistance to chemical and physical forces.

Abstract: Underground cavities containing liquid contaminants are remediated by drilling directionally through the cavity and then pulling back pipe with a slotted section extending through the cavity. The pipe is supplied on reels in lengths much longer than in the prior art, thus avoiding the joining by butt welding of successive short lengths of pipe as in the prior art. Slots are preferably cut parallel to the axis of the pipe or at a angle in respect to the axis instead of being cut radially as in the prior art, so that a much greater portion of the pipe circumference remains joined together, thereby substantially increasing the axial strength of the pipe.

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, a portion of the wall of which is perforated, and having 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 two layers of woven cloth of ceramic fibers wrapped around the wire screen, means for holding the ends of the porous cloth membrane in sealing engagement with the base pipe, and a perforated tubular metal shroud surrounding the woven ceramic cloth membrane to protect the membrane from damage when lowered into a well bore.

Abstract: The invention features an assembly for use in a system used to drill a well. The system is capable of receiving a mixture of drilling fluid (e.g., liquid mud) and gumbo from downhole of the well. The assembly has a grating having at least one opening extending through the grating and positioned to intercept the mixture. The at least one opening is sized to block the gumbo from passing through the at least one opening and to allow the fluid to pass through the at least one opening. The assembly has an arm and a motivator connected to move the arm across the grating to remove the gumbo blocked from passing through the at least one opening.

Abstract: A well screen having slurry flow paths enclosed therein includes support rods extending in the axial direction of the screen disposed cylindrically at a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction of the screen, a wire wound on the outer periphery of said support rods so as to form slits of a predetermined width, one or more flow paths for gravel-containing slurry provided inside of the wire and extending in the axial direction of the screen, and openings for communicating the flow paths with the outside of the screen. Lowering and lifting of the screen through a wellbore can be made smoothly without interfering of the slurry flow paths with the wellbore and installation of the screen can thereby be facilitated.

Abstract: A well screen for a horizontal or high-angle well includes a screen main body and a protective frame. The screen main body has screen rods arranged in the circumferential direction of the well screen and a screen wire wound on the screen rods. The protective frame includes protective rods provided on the outside of the screen wire in the circumferential direction and extending in the axial direction of the well screen, annular rod holding members provided with interval in the axial direction for holding the protective rods, and a protective wire wound about the protective rods. When the well screen forced into the well passes through a bent section of the well, the protective frame slides in contact with the wall surface of the bent section thereby protecting the screen wire.

Abstract: A prepack well screen assembly has a resistance welded outer screen concentrically mounted in radially spaced relation on a perforated mandrel, thereby defining an annulus in which a sintered metal prepack sleeve is loaded. The longitudinal spacing distance between adjacent turns of the outer screen selectively exclude sand fines of a predetermined minimum size. The porosity of the sintered metal prepack sleeve is selected to pass sand fines in the size range of from about 10 microns to about 150 microns. The effective inlet flow area through the sintered metal prepack sleeve is substantially greater than the effective inlet flow area through the outer screen. The sintered metal prepack screen excludes sand fines from inflowing formation fluid during the initial production phase following a gravel pack operation, without limiting production of formation fluid.

Abstract: A well structure suitable for use as a shallow well having a large diameter includes a well curb, and one or more water intake segments mounted in a part of the well curb. Each water intake segments includes a frame made of a vertically arranged pair of flanges extending in the circumferential direction and a laterally arranged pair of flanges extending in the axial direction, the frame having a form which constitute a part of a cylinder, a screen element such as wires and wire supporting rods secured to the frame, and one or more reinforcing members secured at ends thereof to either of the vertically arranged pair of flanges or the laterally arranged pair of flanges for reinforcing the frame.

Abstract: An improved filter of the type including closely spaced wedgewire windings defining a permanent filter media by allowing liquid flow through the gaps, in which the outer face of the wedgewire strands are ground away to eliminate the radiused corners on each strand, which corners create a small convergent region intermediate adjacent strands of wedgewire tending to trap solids and clog the filter when particles sizes are present in a range tending to wedge in those regions, particularly when gelatinous substances are also present.

Abstract: An apertured pipe segment is disclosed which is of injection moulded plastics construction and can be used to form a well screen or sub-soil drainage pipe. Each aperture comprises a longitudinally extending inner slot which extends from a slot mouth inwardly and is defined by inwardly diverging slot walls, and an outer slot which extends from the outside of the pipe segment inwardly to the slot mouth. The smallest width of the outer slot is greater than the width of the slot mouth. The inner slot is open longitudinally to one end of the pipe segment and the outer slot is open longitudinally to the other end of the pipe segment. The pipe segments can thus be made by an inexpensive two-part mould not requiring collapsible cores.

Abstract: A screen particularly suitable for use in deep well comprises a reinforcing member (2) of a generally cylindrical configuration, a plurality of support rods (3) arranged on the outside of the reinforcing member (2) in the axial direction thereof and a wire (4) wound helically on the outside of the support rods (3). A multitude of slits (2b) continuous in substantially the circumferential direction of the reinforcing member (2) are formed at a predetermined pitch in the reinforcing member (2). The screen made according to the invention has a much larger opening space and therefore has a greater fluid collecting efficiency than conventional screens while maintaining a sufficient strength against an external pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus for filtering drilling mud that is being recirculated out of the drill hole. A flow conveying tubular section has at its first lower end a flanged base portion sealably attachable to the well casing or blow out preventer and is open-ended at its second end for allowing fluid flow therethrough. Also provided is an outer tank portion encapsulating substantially the upper half portion of the tubular section. The tank portion has an open-ended top for receiving flow out the upper end of the flow conveying tubular section and is integrally attached at its bottom portion to the outer surface of the tubular section to define a container for receiving fluid flow from the tubular section. An adjustable primary filter is provided on that portion of the tubular section enclosed by the tank portion for filtering and conveying fluid out of the tubular section into the tank portion. There is provided a secondary filter having a plurality of angulated vanes defining an angulated mud filtering surface.

Abstract: A well screen is provided, for insertion into a well, for screening out sand and other particles from the well, and for connection at its upper end to a pipe for delivering water or other liquid up from the well, with the well screen having a skin with slits in it for passage of liquid therethrough, and with the skin having internal rigidifying supports. The skin is provided with a surface area increase in the form of undulations preferably of sawtooth configuration throughout its surface, and is preferably thinwalled. The screen is preferably of thermoplastic construction.

Abstract: A well screen formed of an extruded wedge shaped plastic strip wound about cylindrically disposed supporting rods in which the flexible strip is extruded of dual durometer dissimilar materials in the form of a unitary strip having complementary characteristics in which one body portion is formed of a suitable substantially rigid plastic material and another body portion is formed of a plastic material which has relatively greater strength characteristics whereby in the event of cracking of one of the portions, the strip is held together in a useable condition by the other body portion and a coating of abrasive resistant material is extruded unitarily with the strip to form an outer surface portion having substantial resistance to wear.

Abstract: A foraminous screening device comprising a cylindrically tubular body having a plurality of spaced apart apertures therethrough and including a network of helically shaped ribs. The network includes first and second rib sets both having a plurality of mutually parallel and axially spaced ribs therein. The ribs of the first set have a clockwise orientation and are connected at points of intersection to the ribs of the second set which are oriented in a counterclockwise direction. Each of the ribs comprises a plurality of axially disposed, overlying bundles of tensed glass filament which are interconnected and embedded in a matrix of hardened synthetic resin. The ribs are interwoven at each point of intersection, and each bundle constitutes a portion of a continuous, elongated glass filament strand.

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.

Abstract: Well screen having a base made of formed channels provides the strength of a pipe base screen but weighs less, costs less, and provides greater vertical flow area. The channels are perforated and are in continuous contact around the screen with the contiguous legs of adjacent channels being welded at their ends to each other and to the wrap wire. The screen is particularly useful in oil and gas wells where great torsional strength is needed.