US5190102A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sintered metal substitute for prepack screen aggregate
Assignee: Halliburton Co
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Filing: 1991-12-16
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Granted: 1993-03-02
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Expires: 2011-12-16
Abstract
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 20 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.
Inventors
- 👤 Bryant A. Arterbury
- 👤 James E. Spangler
- 👤 Thomas V. Malorzo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 17:18
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D29/00; B01D29/11; B01D29/111; B01D29/13; B01D29/15; B01D29/31; B01D29/33; B01D39/00; B01D39/14; B01D39/20; B01D39/2027; B01D39/2031; B01D39/2034; B22; B22F; B22F3/00; B22F3/10; B22F3/11; B22F3/1103; B22F3/1118; B22F8/00; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/02; E21B43/08; E21B43/082; B22F2998/00; B22F2998/10; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/20; Y02W; Y02W30/00; Y02W30/50; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/496; Y10T29/49604; Y10T29/49616; Y10T29/4962
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
52 words
A well screen for separating particulated material from formation fluid comprising, in combination: a perforated, tubular mandrel; a fluid-porous, particulate-restricting member mounted on said mandrel in radially spaced relation with respect to said mandrel, thereby defining a prepack annulus therebetween; and, a permeable sleeve of sintered metal disposed within said prepack annulus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
52 words
A well screen for separating particulated material from formation fluid comprising, in combination: a perforated, tubular mandrel; a fluid-porous, particulate-restricting member mounted on said mandrel in radially spaced relation with respect to said mandrel, thereby defining a prepack annulus therebetween; and, a permeable sleeve of sintered metal disposed within said prepack annulus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A well screen as defined in claim 1, wherein the sintered metal sleeve has a sidewall radial thickness in the range of from about 0.025 inch to about 0.200 inch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
A sand screen assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said fluid-porous, particulate-restricting member comprises circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending rib wires and a screen wire wrapped externally about said rib wires in a longitudinally spaced pattern, thereby defining longitudinally spaced screen apertures for conducting formation fluids through said outer screen, said longitudinally extending rib wires being disposed between said external screen wire and said sintered metal sleeve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A well screen as defined in claim 1, including an annular weld connecting end portions of the sintered metal sleeve and the particulate-restricting member onto said mandrel at opposite ends thereof, respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A well screen as defined in claim 1, wherein said sintered metal sleeve is formed by rolling a flat sheet of sintered metal into a right circular cylinder, and thereafter welding the adjacent edge portions together.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
A well screen as defined in claim 1, wherein said sintered tube is formed by rolling a flat sheet of sintered metal into a right circular cylinder, with the adjacent edge portions of the rolled cylinder being welded together and being welded to said tubular mandrel along a longitudinal weld seam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A well screen as defined in claim 1, wherein said permeable sleeve of sintered metal comprises a seamless tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
140 words
A sand screen for placement within a well bore comprising, in combination: an elongated tubular mandrel having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures formed radially therethrough; an outer wire screen mounted onto said mandrel in substantially concentric alignment with said mandrel, said outer wire screen having circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending outer rib wires and an outer screen wire wrapped externally about said outer rib wires and welded thereto at substantially all points of contact therewith, thereby defining longitudinally spaced outer screen apertures for conducting formation fluids through said outer screen; an annular weld formed on said mandrel and connecting the end portions of said outer screen wires and said outer rib wires together for centering said screen in radially spaced relation with said mandrel, thereby defining a prepack annulus; and, a permeable, sintered metal sleeve disposed within said prepack annulus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
140 words
A sand screen for placement within a well bore comprising, in combination: an elongated tubular mandrel having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures formed radially therethrough; an outer wire screen mounted onto said mandrel in substantially concentric alignment with said mandrel, said outer wire screen having circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending outer rib wires and an outer screen wire wrapped externally about said outer rib wires and welded thereto at substantially all points of contact therewith, thereby defining longitudinally spaced outer screen apertures for conducting formation fluids through said outer screen; an annular weld formed on said mandrel and connecting the end portions of said outer screen wires and said outer rib wires together for centering said screen in radially spaced relation with said mandrel, thereby defining a prepack annulus; and, a permeable, sintered metal sleeve disposed within said prepack annulus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
A well screen for separating unconsolidated material out of inflowing well fluid in water, oil, gas and recovery wells, characterized by a tubular, porous body of sintered powdered metal, the porous body of sintered powdered metal comprising compressed metal slivers having an uncompressed length in the range of from about 50 microns to about 1,400 microns.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
A well screen for separating unconsolidated material out of inflowing well fluid in water, oil, gas and recovery wells, characterized by a tubular, porous body of sintered powdered metal, the porous body of sintered powdered metal comprising compressed metal slivers having an uncompressed length in the range of from about 50 microns to about 1,400 microns.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A well screen as defined in claim 9, wherein the powdered metal is stainless steel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A well screen as defined in claim 9, wherein the powdered metal is nickel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A well screen as defined in claim 9, wherein the powdered metal comprises nickel chromium alloy.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
115 words
An improved well screen of the type having a fluid-porous, particulate-restricting member for separating unconsolidated material out of formation fluid, characterized in that the particulate-restricting member is a porous, tubular body of sintered powdered metal formed by the following steps: depositing metal slivers having an average length of from about 50 microns to about 1,400 microns into a mold; compressing the metal slivers within the mold; and, baking the compressed slivers in an oven at a temperature sufficient to cause the slivers to become tacky and bonded to each other, thereby forming a metallurgically integral, porous structure having pore openings in the flow area size range of from about 20 microns to about 150 microns.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
115 words
An improved well screen of the type having a fluid-porous, particulate-restricting member for separating unconsolidated material out of formation fluid, characterized in that the particulate-restricting member is a porous, tubular body of sintered powdered metal formed by the following steps: depositing metal slivers having an average length of from about 50 microns to about 1,400 microns into a mold; compressing the metal slivers within the mold; and, baking the compressed slivers in an oven at a temperature sufficient to cause the slivers to become tacky and bonded to each other, thereby forming a metallurgically integral, porous structure having pore openings in the flow area size range of from about 20 microns to about 150 microns.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
A well screen for separating particulated material from formation fluid comprising, in combination: a perforated, tubular mandrel; a permeable sleeve of sintered metal concentrically mounted on said tubular mandrel; and, a fluid-porous, particulate-restricting member mounted on said sintered metal sleeve.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
A well screen for separating particulated material from formation fluid comprising, in combination: a perforated, tubular mandrel; a permeable sleeve of sintered metal concentrically mounted on said tubular mandrel; and, a fluid-porous, particulate-restricting member mounted on said sintered metal sleeve.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
70 words
A sand screen assembly as defined in claim 14, wherein said fluid-porous, particulate-restricting member comprises circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending outer rib wires and a screen wire wrapped externally about said outer rib wires in a longitudinally spaced pattern, thereby defining longitudinally spaced screen apertures for conducting formation fluids through said outer screen, said longitudinally extending outer rib wires being disposed between said external screen wire and said sintered metal sleeve.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
A well screen as defined in claim 14, wherein said sintered metal sleeve comprises a flat sheet of sintered metal rolled substantially in the form of a right circular cylinder, with its adjacent edge portions being welded together.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
A well screen as defined in claim 14, wherein said sintered metal tube comprises a flat sheet of sintered metal rolled substantially in the form of a right circular cylinder, with its adjacent edge portions being welded together and being welded to said tubular mandrel along a longitudinal weld seam.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
A well screen as defined in claim 14, wherein said permeable sleeve of sintered metal comprises a seamless tube.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
80 words
A sand screen for placement within a well bore comprising, in combination: an elongated mandrel having a tubular sidewall and a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures formed radially therethrough; a permeable, sintered metal sleeve concentrically mounted on said mandrel; and, a wire screen mounted on said mandrel in substantially concentric alignment with said sintered metal sleeve, said wire screen having a wire wrapped externally about said sintered metal sleeve, thereby defining longitudinally spaced outer screen apertures for conducting formation fluids.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
80 words
A sand screen for placement within a well bore comprising, in combination: an elongated mandrel having a tubular sidewall and a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures formed radially therethrough; a permeable, sintered metal sleeve concentrically mounted on said mandrel; and, a wire screen mounted on said mandrel in substantially concentric alignment with said sintered metal sleeve, said wire screen having a wire wrapped externally about said sintered metal sleeve, thereby defining longitudinally spaced outer screen apertures for conducting formation fluids.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for making a prepack sleeve for a well screen comprising the steps: (a) producing metal slivers in average lengths in the range of from about 50 microns to about 1,400 microns; (b) compressing the slivers to approximately 60,000 to 65,000 pounds per square inch within a mold; and, (c) sintering the compressed slivers in an oven at a temperature in the range of from about 1,600 to about 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit until the slivers become tacky and bond to each other.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for making a prepack sleeve for a well screen comprising the steps: (a) producing metal slivers in average lengths in the range of from about 50 microns to about 1,400 microns; (b) compressing the slivers to approximately 60,000 to 65,000 pounds per square inch within a mold; and, (c) sintering the compressed slivers in an oven at a temperature in the range of from about 1,600 to about 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit until the slivers become tacky and bond to each other.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method for making a prepack sleeve as defined in claim 20, wherein the compressing step (b) is carried out within a mold having a cavity for producing a flat sheet of compressed metal slivers, and after the compressed metal slivers have been sintered in step (c), rolling the flat sheet of sintered metal substantially into the form of a cylinder, and thereafter welding the abutting edge portions of the cylinder together.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
87 words
The method for making a prepack sleeve as defined in claim 20, wherein the compressing step (b) is carried out within a mold having a cavity for producing a flat sheet of compressed metal slivers, and after the compressed slivers have been sintered in step (c), rolling the flat sheet of sintered metal substantially into the form of a cylinder, with the adjacent edge portions of the rolled cylinder of sintered metal being welded together and being welded to a tubular mandrel along a longitudinal weld seam.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-03-01 | 1996-08-31 | 1997-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-03-01 | 2000-08-31 | 2001-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-03-01 | 2004-08-31 | 2005-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |