Screen with tracer material and method of making the same

Abstract

A screen including a screen segment having a mesh and a shroud radially outwardly of the mesh, a tracer material configured with a greater surface area than volume disposed radially inwardly of the shroud. A method for making a tracer screen including selecting a pattern of shroud holes in a screen cartridge for application of tracer material, applying tracer material into the selected holes, migrating the tracer material outwardly from the hole and between a mesh and the shroud of the screen cartridge. A borehole system including a borehole, a tubing string disposed in the borehole, and a tracer screen having tracer material with a greater surface area than volume disposed between a shroud and a mesh or a screen cartridge.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A screen comprising:
 a screen segment having a mesh and a shroud radially outwardly of the mesh;   a tracer material configured with a greater surface area than volume disposed radially inwardly of the shroud.   
     
     
         2 . The screen as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the tracer material infiltrates the mesh. 
     
     
         3 . The screen as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the tracer material comprises a tracer substance and a viscous carrier fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The screen as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the tracer substance is a chemical, a radioactive material or a combination including one or more of the foregoing. 
     
     
         5 . The screen as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the viscous carrier fluid is epoxy, silicone or a combination including one or more of the foregoing. 
     
     
         6 . A method for making a tracer screen comprising:
 selecting a pattern of shroud holes in a screen cartridge for application of tracer material;   applying tracer material into the selected holes;   migrating the tracer material outwardly from the hole and between a mesh and the shroud of the screen cartridge.   
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the pattern is alternating. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the pattern is checkerboard. 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the pattern is helical. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the applying is by hand applicator. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the migrating includes partial infiltration into the mesh. 
     
     
         12 . A borehole system comprising:
 a borehole;   a tubing string disposed in the borehole; and   a tracer screen having tracer material with a greater surface area than volume disposed between a shroud and a mesh or a screen cartridge.