Expandable Screen Assembly and Method of Expanding a Plurality of Screens

Abstract

An expandable screen assembly includes, a tubular, and a plurality of screens in operable communication with the tubular each of the plurality of screens is configured to radially expand in response to a same force longitudinally compressing the plurality of screens.

1 . An expandable screen assembly comprising:
 a tubular; and   a plurality of screens in operable communication with the tubular each of the plurality of screens being configured to radially expand in response to a same force longitudinally compressing the plurality of screens.   
     
     
         2 . The expandable screen assembly of  claim 1 , wherein longitudinal forces needed to radially expand the plurality of screens varies from one of the plurality of screens to another the plurality of screens. 
     
     
         3 . The expandable screen assembly of  claim 1 , wherein forces needed to radially expand each of the plurality of screens increases sequentially along a longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         4 . The expandable screen assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the sequential increases in force increase in an uphole direction. 
     
     
         5 . The expandable screen assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a first end of one of the plurality of screens is stationary relative to the tubular and another end is movable relative to the first end. 
     
     
         6 . The expandable screen assembly of  claim 5 , wherein a plurality of screens nearer to the first end are configured to expand before a plurality of screens further from the first end. 
     
     
         7 . The expandable screen assembly of  claim 5 , wherein a plurality of screens nearer to the first end are structurally weaker than a plurality of screens further from the first end. 
     
     
         8 . The expandable screen assembly of  claim 7 , wherein structural weakness is due at least in part to radial thicknesses of the plurality of screens. 
     
     
         9 . The expandable screen assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of screens are configured to expand sequentially starting with a screen nearest the first end and proceeding to a screen furthest from the first end. 
     
     
         10 . The expandable screen assembly of  claim 5 , wherein a plurality of screens that are nearer to the first end have deformable portions with greater longitudinal dimensions than a plurality of screens further from the first end. 
     
     
         11 . The expandable screen assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of screens prior to being radially expanded has a greater radial dimension near a longitudinal center thereof than at locations further from the longitudinal center. 
     
     
         12 . The expandable screen assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable screen assembly is employable within a wellbore. 
     
     
         13 . The expandable screen assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of screens, when expanded, are configured to contact walls of a structure surrounding the expandable screen assembly even though dimensions of radial expansion needed to contact the walls varies. 
     
     
         14 . The expandable screen assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a piston in operable communication with the plurality of screens and the tubular configured to compress the plurality of screens in response to pressure applied thereagainst. 
     
     
         15 . The expandable screen assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a plug seat in operable communication with the tubular configured to allow pressure to build against the piston when a plug is seated against the plug seat. 
     
     
         16 . The expandable screen assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular is perforated. 
     
     
         17 . The expandable screen assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of screens are configured to center the tubular within a structure surrounding the plurality of screens when the plurality of screens are radially expanded. 
     
     
         18 . A method of expanding a plurality of screens comprising:
 simultaneously longitudinally compressing the plurality of screens with a same load; and   radially expanding each of the plurality of screens sequentially.   
     
     
         19 . The method of expanding a plurality of screens of  claim 18  wherein the sequentially radially expanding of the plurality of screens progresses in an uphole direction. 
     
     
         20 . The method of expanding a plurality of screens of  claim 18  wherein the longitudinally compressing is in response to building pressure against a piston in operable communication with the plurality of screens.