Well Screen Design For Enhanced Horizontal Flow Filtration Control

Abstract

Embodiments and methods relate to a subsurface, well screen apparatus having a rib wire connected to a wire wrap, where the wire wrap enhances a volume of fluid and/or gas flow for reducing pressure drop via the well screen and/or has an inverted orientation as compared with prior designs. Embodiments and methods may also utilize a wire wrap that has a generally triangular shaped and/or triangular shaped cross-sectional profile. Embodiments and methods may also reverse the orientation of the rib wire and wire wrap. The effect of the embodiments and methods is enhanced horizontal flow filtration control.

1 . A method of providing a well screen in a subsurface environment for screening aggregate from and allowing flow of a volume of fluid and/or gas, comprising the steps of:
 mounting the well screen in the subsurface environment; and   enhancing the flow for reducing pressure drop via the well screen.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of enhancing the flow for reducing pressure drop via the well screen comprises funneling the fluid and/or gas in a flow direction. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of enhancing the flow for reducing the pressure drop via the well screen comprises filtering the aggregate from the fluid and/or gas. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the well screen comprises a rib wire connected to a wire wrap, wherein the wire wrap has an inward facing side and an outward facing side. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the rib wire connects to the wire wrap on the inward facing side of the wire wrap. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the rib wire connects to the wire wrap outer facing side of the wire wrap. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the wire wrap has a trapezoidal cross-sectional profile. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the wire wrap has a cross-sectional profile having a triangular shape. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the inward facing side of the wire wrap is longer and the outward facing side of the wire wrap is relatively shorter. 
     
     
         10 . A well screen apparatus for use in a subsurface environment, comprising:
 a rib wire connected to a wire wrap; and   wherein the wire wrap comprises a means for enhancing a volume of fluid and/or gas flow for reducing pressure drop via the well screen.   
     
     
         11 . The well screen apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein said means for enhancing the volume of fluid and/or gas flow for reducing pressure drop via the well screen comprises a means for funneling the volume of fluid and/or gas flow in a flow direction. 
     
     
         12 . The well screen apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the wire wrap has an inward facing side and an outward facing side, wherein the rib wire is connected to the wire wrap at the inward facing side of the wire wrap. 
     
     
         13 . The well screen apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the inward facing side of the wire wrap is longer and the outward facing side of the wire wrap is relatively shorter. 
     
     
         14 . The well screen apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the wire wrap has an inward facing side and an outward facing side, wherein the rib wire is connected to the wire wrap at the outward facing side of the wire wrap. 
     
     
         15 . The well screen apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the inward facing side of the wire wrap is longer and the outward facing side of the wire wrap is relatively shorter. 
     
     
         16 . The well screen apparatus, according to  claim 11 , wherein the wire wrap has a triangular shaped cross-sectional profile having an apex and a base, wherein the base of the wire wrap is in an inward facing direction and the apex of the wire wrap is in an outward facing direction. 
     
     
         17 . The well screen apparatus, according to  claim 11 , wherein the wire wrap has a trapezoidal shaped cross-sectional profile, the wire wrap having an inward facing side and an outward facing side, wherein the inward facing side is relatively longer than the outward facing. 
     
     
         18 . The well screen apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising a perforated pipe connected to the subsurface well screen apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . The well screen apparatus according to  claim 18 , further comprising another well screen disposed between the subsurface well screen and the perforated pipe. 
     
     
         20 . A method of providing a well screen in a subsurface environment for screening aggregate from and allowing flow of a volume of fluid and/or gas, comprising the steps of:
 mounting the well screen in the subsurface environment; and   increasing the flow of the volume of fluid and/or gas in the subsurface environment whilst decreasing a flow velocity across the well screen for reducing erosion of the well screen.