U.S. patent application number 15/705087 was filed with the patent office on 2018-03-15 for well screen design for enhanced horizontal flow filtration control.
The applicant listed for this patent is Bryant Alan Arterbury. Invention is credited to Bryant Alan Arterbury.
Application Number | 20180073333 15/705087 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 61559538 |
Filed Date | 2018-03-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180073333 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Arterbury; Bryant Alan |
March 15, 2018 |
Well Screen Design For Enhanced Horizontal Flow Filtration
Control
Abstract
Embodiments and methods relate to a subsurface, well screen
apparatus having a rib wire connected to a wire wrap, where the
wire wrap enhances a volume of fluid and/or gas flow for reducing
pressure drop via the well screen and/or has an inverted
orientation as compared with prior designs. Embodiments and methods
may also utilize a wire wrap that has a generally triangular shaped
and/or triangular shaped cross-sectional profile. Embodiments and
methods may also reverse the orientation of the rib wire and wire
wrap. The effect of the embodiments and methods is enhanced
horizontal flow filtration control.
Inventors: |
Arterbury; Bryant Alan;
(Houston, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Arterbury; Bryant Alan |
Houston |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
61559538 |
Appl. No.: |
15/705087 |
Filed: |
September 14, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62395193 |
Sep 15, 2016 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 43/088 20130101;
E21B 43/10 20130101; E21B 43/08 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E21B 43/08 20060101
E21B043/08; E21B 43/10 20060101 E21B043/10 |
Claims
1. A method of providing a well screen in a subsurface environment
for screening aggregate from and allowing flow of a volume of fluid
and/or gas, comprising the steps of: mounting the well screen in
the subsurface environment; and enhancing the flow for reducing
pressure drop via the well screen.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of enhancing the flow
for reducing pressure drop via the well screen comprises funneling
the fluid and/or gas in a flow direction.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of enhancing the flow
for reducing the pressure drop via the well screen comprises
filtering the aggregate from the fluid and/or gas.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the well screen comprises a rib
wire connected to a wire wrap, wherein the wire wrap has an inward
facing side and an outward facing side.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the rib wire connects to the wire
wrap on the inward facing side of the wire wrap.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the rib wire connects to the wire
wrap outer facing side of the wire wrap.
7. The method of claim 4 wherein the wire wrap has a trapezoidal
cross-sectional profile.
8. The method of claim 4 wherein the wire wrap has a
cross-sectional profile having a triangular shape.
9. The method of claim 4 wherein the inward facing side of the wire
wrap is longer and the outward facing side of the wire wrap is
relatively shorter.
10. A well screen apparatus for use in a subsurface environment,
comprising: a rib wire connected to a wire wrap; and wherein the
wire wrap comprises a means for enhancing a volume of fluid and/or
gas flow for reducing pressure drop via the well screen.
11. The well screen apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said
means for enhancing the volume of fluid and/or gas flow for
reducing pressure drop via the well screen comprises a means for
funneling the volume of fluid and/or gas flow in a flow
direction.
12. The well screen apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the
wire wrap has an inward facing side and an outward facing side,
wherein the rib wire is connected to the wire wrap at the inward
facing side of the wire wrap.
13. The well screen apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the
inward facing side of the wire wrap is longer and the outward
facing side of the wire wrap is relatively shorter.
14. The well screen apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the
wire wrap has an inward facing side and an outward facing side,
wherein the rib wire is connected to the wire wrap at the outward
facing side of the wire wrap.
15. The well screen apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the
inward facing side of the wire wrap is longer and the outward
facing side of the wire wrap is relatively shorter.
16. The well screen apparatus, according to claim 11, wherein the
wire wrap has a triangular shaped cross-sectional profile having an
apex and a base, wherein the base of the wire wrap is in an inward
facing direction and the apex of the wire wrap is in an outward
facing direction.
17. The well screen apparatus, according to claim 11, wherein the
wire wrap has a trapezoidal shaped cross-sectional profile, the
wire wrap having an inward facing side and an outward facing side,
wherein the inward facing side is relatively longer than the
outward facing.
18. The well screen apparatus according to claim 11, further
comprising a perforated pipe connected to the subsurface well
screen apparatus.
19. The well screen apparatus according to claim 18, further
comprising another well screen disposed between the subsurface well
screen and the perforated pipe.
20. A method of providing a well screen in a subsurface environment
for screening aggregate from and allowing flow of a volume of fluid
and/or gas, comprising the steps of: mounting the well screen in
the subsurface environment; and increasing the flow of the volume
of fluid and/or gas in the subsurface environment whilst decreasing
a flow velocity across the well screen for reducing erosion of the
well screen.
Description
BACKGROUND
Technical Field
[0001] The embodiments relate to a subsurface screening device for
water, oil, and/or gas.
[0002] Wire wrap screens have been in use for approx. 100 yrs.,
most all employ a "keystone", or trapezoid shaped wire. This wire
has the flat side facing out to control the inflow of solids.
Typically it is between 0.120''-0.040'' on the outer face, most
likely 0.090'' wide.times.0.140 or 0.125'' high, welded to a round
or similar shaped under rib. The spacing between the individual
wires controls the filtration. In all designs used in a "shroud"
configuration only the opposing open area allows for direct
communication of produced liquids/gas etc. Vertical flow is a
limiting factor--horizontal flow is preferred since it has reduced
pressure drop. To get a comparison, a wire wrap screen with a
0.090'' wire, spaced at 0.012'' (in order to control 20-40 mesh
frac sand) has about a 13% direct horizontal flow area exposed. The
typical perforated shroud has about 1/8'' to 5/16'' (hole)
opening--which only allows inlet area--not a filtration
component.
[0003] Current premium screen designs employ a protective "shroud"
component to either protect or enclose sized media (gravel/beads,
diffusion bonded sintered laminate SS, or non-sintered SS woven
wire etc.) in order to serve as the filtration "layer" that
provides exclusion of produced solids. This is generally done with
a perforated rolled & welded perforated (or punched) sheet
metal exterior tube, or a conventional resistance welded wire-wrap
or slotted liner design. The accepted normal design for the shroud
(rolled sheet metal) allows a 14-16 ga. thickness that allows for
approx. 23-30% open area. This is a limiting factor as it is the
first line of communication of flow to the component media(s) that
are contained within the apparatus. For comparative purposes refer
to www. Deltascreens.com, Weatherford, Superior energy, BOT, etc.
all have a version of this design.
SUMMARY
[0004] Embodiments and methods relate to a subsurface, well screen
apparatus having a rib wire connected to a wire wrap, where the
wire wrap enhances a volume of fluid and/or gas flow for reducing
pressure drop via the well screen and/or has an inverted
orientation as compared with prior designs. Embodiments and methods
may also utilize a wire wrap that has a generally triangular shaped
and/or triangular shaped cross-sectional profile. Embodiments and
methods may also reverse the orientation of the rib wire and wire
wrap. The effect of the embodiments and methods is enhanced
horizontal flow filtration control.
[0005] As used herein the terms "well screen" can mean "shroud" and
particularly in the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The exemplary embodiments may be better understood, and
numerous objects, features, and advantages made apparent to those
skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. These
drawings are used to illustrate only exemplary embodiments, and are
not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the disclosure may
admit to other equally effective exemplary embodiments. The figures
are not necessarily to scale and certain features and certain views
of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic in
the interest of clarity and conciseness.
[0007] FIG. 1 depicts a sectional view of an exemplary embodiment
of a well screen in a horizontal well or bore according to the
improvements disclosed herein.
[0008] FIG. 2 depicts a sectional view of an exemplary embodiment
of a well screen in a horizontal well or bore according to the
improvements disclosed herein.
[0009] FIG. 3 depicts a sectional view of an exemplary embodiment
of a well screen in a horizontal well or bore according to the
improvements disclosed herein
[0010] FIG. 4 depicts of a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of
an outside wire according to the improvements disclosed herein.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)
[0011] The description that follows includes exemplary apparatus,
methods, techniques, and instruction sequences that embody
techniques of the inventive subject matter. However, it is
understood that the described embodiments may be practiced without
these specific details.
[0012] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, this new design employs resistance
welded wire wrap technology in a unique configuration as applied to
subsurface and/or sub-water surface production premium well screen
designs, and offers a greater inflow capacity while offering
another layer of filtration capability. The well screen 10 is
adapted to be mounted subsurface in, for example, a formation to
screen out aggregate and allow flow of fluids and/or gases,
principally oil, water, and/or gas. The well screen 10 may have a
rib wire connected to a wire wrap, where the wire wrap comprises a
means for enhancing a volume of fluid and/or gas flow for reducing
pressure drop via the well screen. The wire wrap has an inward
facing side 32 and an outward facing side 34. The length of the
outward facing side 34 may be shorter than the length of the inward
facing side 32. The rib wire 20 may be connected to the outward
facing side 34 or the inward facing side 32.
[0013] FIGS. 1-3 show a well screen 10 embodiment with the rib
wire/inside wire 20 welded or attached to the outside wire wrap 30.
The well screen 10 enhances the flow and reduces or lowers pressure
drop. The flow enhancement may be attributable to increasing flow
without increasing flow velocity (or even reducing flow velocity).
By reducing flow velocity one may reduce erosion of the well screen
10. FIGS. 1-2 indicate the flow direction 70 of water, oil, gas, or
other fluid. The outside wire 30 has the "flat" side or long/longer
side 32 of the triangular or generally triangular shape 36 of the
outside wire 30 facing in an inner/inward facing direction 12 (this
is the inverted design and triangular may generally be trapezoidal
assuming the apex is not merely an infinitesimal point but a side).
The apex/pointed (thin) part or short/shorter side 34 of the
outside wire 30 is facing in the outwardly facing direction 14 (and
results in a first flow positon of fluid and/or gas proximate the
apex or shorter side 34, as compared or relative to a second flow
position proximate the longer or flat side 32). This creates a
funnel effect (see arrows of flow direction 70 in FIG. 2 at the
flow production interface between aggregate 40 and the well screen
10) to enhance flow for use downhole in, for example, a horizontal
well for well production.
[0014] By taking the trapezoid shaped wire and inverting it offers
a greater amount of "captured material" to provide inflow to the
controlled filtration opening. As with all wire wrapped screens
this can be controlled to a standard of +0.001''/-0.002''. This new
embodiment of a well screen 10 provides a funnel effect. This is
enhanced further by shaping the outside wire 30 to a more
triangular shape 36. This takes full advantage of the "funnel"
effect to deliver more horizontal flow to the controlled filtration
opening offering better drainage of the reservoir. This design of
the outside wire 30 is also completely welded at every juncture
& is preferred against other current designs for resistance to
impact damage. Impact damage can be caused by slips, tongs,
hammers, downhole unknowns, etc. In this embodiment the larger flat
surface 32 is welded to a rib 20 on the interior and that is where
the controlling filtration occurs--not on the outside as is current
design. Therefore any type of outside impacts will not cause a "hot
spot" where erosion is likely to occur with failure. This new
design of a well screen 10 is best employed in stand-alone (a.k.a.
open hole/barefoot) completion applications where either formation
sand or frac sand (media) 40 is allowed to interface with the well
screen 10. Since this new shroud design can be filtration adjusted
to actually capture more flow while providing an extra layer of
protection for the components it protects is an extra benefit. This
design allows the wire wrapped (inverted) well screen 10 to either
be slipped over (as in prepacked applications) or slipped over or
direct wrapped over filter media. This well screen 10 can either be
directly welded to perforated pipe as well as employed as
protection/filtration over another layer of filtration between it
and the perforated pipe.
[0015] In exemplary embodiments perforated pipe 50 may be mounted
in the interior to the inside rib wire 20 and outside wire wrap 30.
Another filter device (secondary/primary additional filter
component) 60 may be disposed in the small annular (open) space
between the perforated pipe 50 and the combination of the inside
rib wire 20 and outside wire wrap 30 in exemplary embodiments. The
filter device (secondary/primary additional filter component) 60
may, for example, but not limited to, be a cloth, wire cloth
sintered laminate, sized gravel, etc. Or, the combination of the
inside rib wire 20 and outside wire wrap 30 can also be direct
wrapped onto the perforated pipe 50 as well (without any other
intermediate filter media).
[0016] Referring to FIG. 4, the flat side 32 in one embodiment may
be about 0.060 inch(es),and the apex/point side 34 is a bit less
than 0.020 inch(es).
[0017] The exemplary embodiments have increased contact area
between the inside horizontal rib wire 20 and outside wrap wire 30
for an improved weld interface over prior art. The/such weld
surfaces of the exemplary embodiments have stronger resistance to
pull forces. Additionally, the opening size 38, defined between
each consecutive wrap of wire 30 and measured between consecutive
flat sides 32 of wrap wire 30, is less likely to be damaged,
therefore eliminating or lessening the likelihood of a "hot spot"
forming. The opening size 38 may be measured photometrically. The
exemplary embodiments also exhibit a better self-cleaning
characteristic of the fines in the annular space between the
perforated pipe 50 and the inside horizontal rib wire 20.
[0018] In another exemplary embodiment, the position and/or the
orientation of the rib wire and wire wrap may be reversed where the
horizontal rib wire 20 is located outside of the wire wrap 30; the
wire wrap 30 would be inside of the horizontal rib wire 20.
[0019] In one exemplary embodiment, the premium well screen in a
protective shroud design is implemented for enhanced horizontal
flow filtration control. The well screen design may be implemented
as a shroud and/or a screen.
[0020] While the embodiments are described with reference to
various implementations and exploitations, it will be understood
that these embodiments are illustrative and that the scope of the
inventive subject matter is not limited to them. Many variations,
modifications, additions and improvements are possible. The methods
employed may include method(s) for making the apparatus embodiments
described.
[0021] Plural instances may be provided for components, operations
or structures described herein as a single instance. In general,
structures and functionality presented as separate components in
the exemplary configurations may be implemented as a combined
structure or component. Similarly, structures and functionality
presented as a single component may be implemented as separate
components. These and other variations, modifications, additions,
and improvements may fall within the scope of the inventive subject
matter.
* * * * *
References