Screen For Controlling Sand Production in a Wellbore

Abstract

A wellbore screen ( 1 ) is provided for controlling inflow of solid particles into a wellbore ( 2 ). The wellbore screen comprises a conduit ( 3 ) for transporting fluid, an outer layer ( 4 ) comprising a filter for reducing inflow of solid particles into the conduit ( 3 ), the outer layer extending around the conduit and being radially expandable against the wellbore wall, and swelling means arranged between the conduit and the outer layer. The swelling means ( 6 ) is susceptible of swelling upon contact with a selected fluid so as to radially expand the outer layer against the wellbore wall.

1 . A wellbore screen for controlling inflow of solid particles into a wellbore, the wellbore screen comprising a conduit for transporting fluid, an outer layer comprising a filter for reducing inflow of solid particles into the conduit, the outer layer extending around the conduit and being radially expandable against the wellbore wall, and swelling means arranged between the conduit and the outer layer, the swelling means being susceptible of swelling upon contact with a selected fluid so as to radially expand the outer layer against the wellbore wall. 
   
   
       2 . The wellbore screen of  claim 1 , wherein the swelling means includes a plurality of swelleable rings, each ring extending around the conduit and being susceptible of swelling upon contact with the selected fluid, the rings being mutually spaced along the conduit. 
   
   
       3 . The wellbore screen of  claim 2 , wherein the rings are arranged at regular mutual spacings along the conduit. 
   
   
       4 . The wellbore screen of  claim 1 , wherein the swelling means includes a sleeve extending around the conduit, the sleeve being provided with a plurality of through-openings spaced along the sleeve. 
   
   
       5 . The wellbore screen of  claim 4 , wherein each through-opening has a substantially rectangular shape or a substantially circular shape. 
   
   
       6 . The wellbore screen of  claim 1 , wherein the swelling means includes a material susceptible to swelling upon contact with hydrocarbon fluid or water. 
   
   
       7 . The wellbore screen of  claim 6 , wherein said material is susceptible to swelling upon contact with water and includes a rubber selected from Nitrile Butadiene rubber, Hydrogenated Nitrile Butadiene rubber, Carboxylated Nitrile Butadiene rubber, Fluor Polymer, TetraFluorEthylene/PolyPropylene, Ethylene-Propylene-Diene Terpolymer rubber, Chloroprene rubber, ChloroSulfonated Polyethylene, Chlorinated Polyethylene, and PolyUrethane rubber. 
   
   
       8 . The wellbore screen of  claim 6 , wherein said material is susceptible to swelling upon contact with hydrocarbon fluid and includes a rubber selected from Natural rubber, Acrylate Butadiene rubber, Butyl rubber, Brominated Butyl rubber, Chlorinated Butyl rubber, Chlorinated Polyethylene, Chloroprene rubber, Styrene Butadiene rubber, Sulphonated Polyethylene, Ethylene Acrylate rubber, Epichlorohydrin Ethylene Oxide Copolymer, Epichlorohydrin Ethylene Oxide Terpolymer, Ethylene-Propylene-Copolymer (Peroxide crosslinked), Ethylene-Propylene-Diene Terpolymer rubber, and Silicone rubber. 
   
   
       9 . The wellbore screen of  claim 8 , wherein said material is selected from Ethylene Propylene Copolymer (Peroxide crosslinked), Ethylene-Propylene-Diene Terpolymer rubber, Butyl rubber, Brominated Butyl rubber, Chlorinated Butyl rubber, and Chlorinated Polyethylene. 
   
   
       10 . The wellbore screen of  claim 1 , wherein the outer layer includes an annular filter layer and an annular shroud extending around the annular filter layer. 
   
   
       11 . The wellbore screen of  claim 1 , wherein the wellbore is a wellbore for the production of hydrocarbon fluid or water from the earth formation. 
   
   
       12 . (canceled)