The field of the invention is screen assemblies that span multiple zones and more particularly modular screen components that can be assembled with couplings where the couplings can control flow through screens in a given zone.
In completions that span multiple zones, an array of screens is frequently positioned in each of the zones. The zones are typically isolated with packers and are individually fractured and gravel packed generally in a downhole to uphole direction. In the past a given zone could be long enough to warrant using multiple screen sections. Typically, each of these screen sections had a base pipe under the screen material and a valve, typically a sliding sleeve, associated with each screen section. The annular space between the screen material and the base pipe for each screen section was sealed at opposed ends on a given screen section and the only access into the base pipe for flow of production to the surface was the sliding sleeve valve in each of the sections.
This configuration required multiple sliding sleeve valves that had to be operated and created issues of flow distribution within a given zone. This lead to the concept of connecting the annular spaces between adjacent screens through the use of ported couplings. This, in essence, made the various standalone screens function more akin to a single screen. Several US Patents illustrate the jumper path between the annular flow areas between the screen and its respective base pipe, and they are U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,405,800 and 7,048,061. U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,207 shows a way to hook together shunt tubes outside of screen sections through couplings. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,464,006 and 5,865,251 show gravel packing systems that use screens with sliding sleeves that can close them off, such as when a wash pipe with a shifting tool is pulled out of the screen assembly. U.S. Pat. No. 7,451,816 uses base pipe openings in screens that can be covered as an aide to gravel deposition in a surrounding annulus.
Despite the various designs that connected annular spaces in screens through jumper lines and couplings between the screen sections, the base pipes continued to hold the sliding sleeves so that there was still as many sliding sleeves to operate as before to fully open a zone. The other lingering issue of the prior designs with the location of the sliding sleeves inside the base pipe flow bore and directly under the screen assembly that covered the base pipe was that the resulting flow area or drift dimension of the screen section was diminished which limited the size of tools that could get through a given screen as well as created flow constrictions that could limit production or require the use of artificial lift techniques that consume additional power and create other costs for procurement and installation.
The present invention addresses these issues and others by placing the access valves in the couplings where there is generally more room to locate the valve structure because the outside dimension of the coupling does not have the overlying screen structure on it. Additionally a single valve can connect some to all of the screens in a given zone so as to make access to entire zone for flow or for isolation go that much faster. The equipment cost is reduced as well as the risk of a malfunction. The flow is not constricted with the valve assembly located in a coupling. The passages among the screen sections that encompass the couplings can also be the location for a variety of instruments that can sense well conditions and flow through the screen sections to name a few examples. These and other aspects of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from a review of the description of the preferred embodiment and the associated drawings while understanding that the full scope of the invention is determined by the appended claims.
A modular screen system allows connection of screens using couplings that connect the annular space in each module between the screen material and the base pipe. A series of connected screens and couplings feed into a single valve to control the flow through many screens. The valve is preferably located in a coupling and the passages through the coupling or the screen can also accommodate instrumentation to detect, store or transmit well data or flows through the various screen modules.
a-8b are a section through an assembly of screens showing both kinds of couplings with one sliding sleeve in the closed position and another in the open position;
A screen module 10 is shown in
The end ring 22 has an end 32 against which abuts housing 34 of a coupling 36. The same occurs at end ring 26 but with a different coupling 36. Referring now to
Another coupling type 50 is shown in
While the valve 68 is illustrated as a sliding sleeve other variations are envisioned. The sleeve 68 can rotate to open and close ports 76. Alternatively, pressure or temperature or other types of plugs in openings 76 can be used that, for example, can be responsive to cycles of applied and removed pressure to go between open and closed positions such as in conjunction with a j-slot mechanism. Alternatively, the valve member can be responsive to production of certain fluids like water or gas to go to the closed position.
a-8b show an overall system with the couplings 50 that incorporate sliding sleeves 68 at opposed ends of
A single zone can have as few as one screen section 10 connected by a valved coupling 50 or many screen sections 10 connected by un-valved coupling 36 with one or more valved couplings 50 anywhere in the zone or either at one of the ends or anywhere in between. The objective is to link the screens 10 and produce them all from a given zone through at least one valved coupling such as 50. The zones can be isolated with a variety of packers either on opposed end or on one end if the zone goes to the hole bottom.
The sliding sleeves 68 can be operated with shifting tools on work strings, hydraulic control lines or electric motors to name a few variations. Flow in the passages that lead to openings 76 can be in one direction or two directions. Such passages can be used as return passages during gravel deposition or for fracturing.
The above description is illustrative of the preferred embodiment and many modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention whose scope is to be determined from the literal and equivalent scope of the claims below.
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