Selectively expandable screen for a resource exploration and recovery system

Abstract

A selectively expandable screen system including a tubular having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a flow path. A screen assembly is mounted at the outer surface of the tubular. The screen assembly is formed from a compressible metal material. A selectively releasable compression device is coupled to the screen assembly. The selectively releasable compression device selectively maintains the compressible metal material in a compressed configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A selectively expandable screen system comprising:
 a tubular having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a flow path;   a screen assembly mounted at the outer surface of the tubular, the screen assembly being formed from a compressible metal material; and   a selectively releasable compression device coupled to the screen assembly, the selectively releasable compression device selectively maintaining the compressible metal material in a compressed configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The selectively expandable screen system according to  claim 1 , wherein the selectively releasable compression device comprises a plurality of wires extending about the tubular and the compressible metal material. 
     
     
         3 . The selectively expandable screen system according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of wires are formed from a degradable material. 
     
     
         4 . The selectively expandable screen system according to  claim 1 , wherein the selectively releasable compression device comprises a tubular. 
     
     
         5 . The selectively expandable screen system according to  claim 4 , wherein the tubular is formed from a degradable material. 
     
     
         6 . The selectively expandable screen system according to  claim 1 , wherein the compressible metal material comprises a plurality of intermeshed metal fibers. 
     
     
         7 . A resource exploration and recovery system comprising:
 a first system;   a second system coupled to the first system through one or more tubulars, at least one of the one or more tubulars comprising:
 an outer surface and an inner surface defining a flow path; 
 a screen assembly mounted at the outer surface of the tubular, the screen assembly being formed from a compressible metal material; and 
 a selectively releasable compression device coupled to the screen assembly, the selectively releasable compression device selectively maintaining the compressible metal material in a compressed configuration. 
   
     
     
         8 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 7 , wherein the selectively releasable compression device comprises a plurality of wires extending about the tubular and the compressible metal material. 
     
     
         9 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of wires are formed from a degradable material. 
     
     
         10 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 7 , wherein the selectively releasable compression device comprises a tubular. 
     
     
         11 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 10 , wherein the tubular is formed from a degradable material. 
     
     
         12 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 7 , wherein the compressible metal material comprises a plurality of intermeshed metal fibers. 
     
     
         13 . A method of deploying a screen formed from a metal material mounted to an outer surface of a tubular, the method comprising:
 compressing the metal material toward the outer surface of the tubular;   restraining the metal material with a selectively releasable compression device;   moving the screen into a selected position; and   releasing the selectively releasable compression device allowing the metal material to expand radially outwardly of the outer surface.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein releasing the selectively releasable compression device includes degrading the selectively releasable compression device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein releasing the selectively releasable compression device includes breaking one or more retaining wires.