Flexible Sand Screen for Small Lateral Hole Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sand control methods are unsuitable for small lateral holes due to their large size and rigidity, which prevents effective installation and leads to sand production and reduced well productivity, as existing sand screens cannot be scaled down to fit within these holes without compromising bending resistance.
Innovation Solution
A flexible sand screen with a short bending radius, capable of being bent 90° over a length of 30 cm, featuring a flow-through element with alternating external diameters and a filtration device that allows for communication between the outer surface and internal cavity, enabling the screen to be installed in lateral holes while preventing sand and particles from entering the well.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid sand screens of large dimensions are installed in wells, then sand control effectiveness is improved, but adaptability to small lateral holes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sand screen transitions from a rigid structure to a flexible dynamic structure that can adapt its shape. The screen comprises a flexible base pipe with spiral wires wrapped around it, allowing the assembly to bend and conform to the curved geometry of small lateral holes while maintaining sand filtration capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs flexible components including a flexible base pipe and spiral wires that can bend without breaking. This flexibility allows the sand screen to be installed in small lateral holes with tight curvature radii, solving the adaptability problem while maintaining structural integrity for effective sand control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If sand screen dimensions are reduced to fit small lateral holes, then adaptability is improved, but bending resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sand screen is segmented into multiple functional layers: a flexible base pipe, spiral wires wrapped around the base pipe, and a filtration layer. This segmentation allows each component to contribute differently to the overall performance - the base pipe provides flexibility for installation, while the spiral wires provide structural support and bending resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite structure combining the flexible base pipe with spiral wires wrapped around it. This composite construction provides both the flexibility needed for installation in small lateral holes and the bending resistance required to maintain structural integrity during operation.
3Strength
If rigid pipes are used for sand control, then structural strength is improved, but ease of installation in lateral holes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sand screen system transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible structure that can adapt during installation. The flexible base pipe with spiral wires can bend to follow the curvature of lateral holes, making installation straightforward while maintaining sufficient structural strength for long-term operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The flexible sand screen effectively prevents sand and particle ingress, maintains well integrity, and allows for efficient fluid flow, extending the useful life of the well and reducing pressure loss, thus justifying the economics of sand-free hydrocarbon or water production.
Implementation Method 1
a filtration device, where the flow-through element has an internal cavity extending over at least parts of the length of the flow-through element, and where the flow-through element is further configured with a plurality of openings along its length, the openings, via the filtration device, providing communication between an outer surface of the flow-through element and the internal cavity
Data Source
AI summary
A sand screen for installation in a well includes a flow-through element having a center line running in the longitudinal direction of the flow-through element; and a filtration device. The flow-through element has an internal cavity extending over at least parts of a length of the flow-through element. There are a plurality of openings over the length of the flow-through element. The openings, via the filtration device, provide communication between an outer surface of the flow-through element and the internal cavity. The sand screen is flexible in a radial direction and in an axial direction.