Claims
- 1. An expandable screen for use in a wellbore comprising:
at least one expandable, perforated tubular member, the member when expanded, providing at least one fluid path between the exterior of the screen and the wellbore.
- 2. The expandable screen of claim 1, wherein the fluid path includes a channel formed on the outer surface of the member, the channel extending longitudinally from a first end of the screen to a second end of the screen.
- 3. The expandable screen of claim 2, wherein the channel is formed in an outer surface of a perforated outer shroud disposed around the tubular member, the channel providing a fluid conduit along the exterior of the screen after expansion of the screen.
- 4. The expandable screen of claim 3, including a plurality of channels disposed around the exterior of the screen.
- 5. The expandable screen of claim 4, wherein the channels each include two sides and a bottom surface, the bottom surface substantially co-planar to the outer surface of the base pipe.
- 6. The expandable screen of claim 5, wherein the channels retain their substantial shape after expansion.
- 7. The expandable screen of claim 6, wherein the channels are disposed alternatively with the perforations of the outer shroud.
- 8. The expandable screen of claim 7, further including a porous filter material disposed between the perforated base pipe and the shroud.
- 9. The expandable screen of claim 8, wherein the bottom of at least one channel is connected to the base pipe with the filter material held therebetween.
- 10. The expandable screen of claim 8, wherein multiple screens can be attached together, end to end to form a string, the channels of each screen aligned when the string is formed.
- 11. The expandable screen of claim 9, wherein the screen is constructed and arranged to receive an expander tool in an interior thereof, the expander having at least one radially extendable rolling member to expand the screen past its elastic limit.
- 12. A method of installing an expandable sand screen in a wellbore, the method comprising:
running a section of expandable sand screen into the wellbore to a predetermined location, the expandable sand screen having at least one longitudinal channel formed on an outer surface thereof; and expanding the expandable sand screen along at least part of its length to increase the inner and outer diameter thereof in a manner leaving the one longitudinal groove substantially intact.
- 13. The method of claim 12, further including:
causing the at least one channel to come substantially into contact with the wellbore, forming a fluid conduit between the channel and the wellbore.
- 14. The method of claim 13, further including injecting a slurry into the wellbore, and causing the slurry to travel along the at least one channel and communicate with a formation in the wellbore therearound.
- 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the slurry is a slurry including fracturing material.
- 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the slurry is a slurry including sand.
- 17. The method of claim 14, wherein the slurry is injected with the use of a cross over tool to divert the slurry from an inside of a tubular to the outside of a tubular.
- 18. The method of claim 18 wherein the expandable screen is run into the wellbore at the end of a liner.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/885,850, filed Jun. 20, 2001, which is herein incorporated by reference.
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09885850 |
Jun 2001 |
US |
Child |
10447979 |
May 2003 |
US |