Screen assembly and method of forming a screen assembly

Abstract

A screen assembly for subsurface systems including a tubular having an outer surface. A first screen portion and a second screen portion extend about the outer surface. The second screen portion is displaced from the first screen portion by a void region. A plurality of weld plugs is mounted about the outer surface of the tubular in the void region. A centralizing ring extends about the tubular at the void region. The centralizing ring extending over each of the first screen portion and the second screen portion and is mechanically joined to the tubular through the plurality of weld plugs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A screen assembly for subsurface systems comprising:
 a tubular including an outer surface;   a first screen portion and a second screen portion extend about the outer surface, the second screen portion being displaced from the first screen portion by a void region;   a plurality of weld plugs mounted about the outer surface of the tubular in the void region; and   a centralizing ring extending about the tubular at the void region, the centralizing ring extending over each of the first screen portion and the second screen portion and being mechanically joined to the tubular through the plurality of weld plugs.   
     
     
         2 . The screen assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the centralizing ring is mounted to the tubular without being connected to the first screen portion and the second screen portion. 
     
     
         3 . The screen assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the centralizing ring includes a plurality of openings receptive of corresponding ones of the plurality of weld plugs, the plurality of weld plugs being joined to the centralizing ring at corresponding ones of the plurality of openings. 
     
     
         4 . The screen assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of openings comprises threaded openings, and each of the plurality of weld plugs include external threads that engage with the threaded openings. 
     
     
         5 . The screen assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the centralizing ring includes a discontinuity. 
     
     
         6 . The screen assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the discontinuity defines a skive cut in the centralizing ring. 
     
     
         7 . The screen assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first screen portion is defined by a first plurality of wire wraps and the second screen portion is defined by a second plurality of wire wraps. 
     
     
         8 . The screen assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein first plurality of wire wraps and the second plurality of wire wraps are defined by a continuous wire. 
     
     
         9 . The screen assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the centralizing ring includes an outer surface and a plurality of centralizing blades projecting radially outwardly of the outer surface. 
     
     
         10 . The screen assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the centralizing ring includes a plurality of radially outwardly projecting centralizing blades. 
     
     
         11 . A method of forming a screen assembly comprising:
 positioning a first screen portion about an outer surface of a tubular;   positioning a second screen portion about the outer surface separated from the first screen portion by a void region;   mounting a plurality of weld plugs about the outer surface of the tubular at the void region;   positioning a centralizing ring about the tubular over the first screen portion and the second screen portion; and   securing the centralizing ring to the tubular through the plurality of weld plugs.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein positioning the first screen portion includes wrapping a first plurality of wire wraps about the tubular and positing the second screen portion includes wrapping a second plurality of wire wraps about the tubular. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein wrapping the first plurality of wire wraps and the second plurality of wire wraps includes wrapping a continuous wire about the outer surface. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising: securing the centralizing ring to the plurality of weld plugs by engaging external threads on each of the plurality of weld plugs with internal threads formed in corresponding openings of the centralizing ring. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein positioning the centralizing ring about the tubular aligning a first angled surface on a first end of the centralizing ring with an angled surface on a second, opposing end of the centralizing ring. 
     
     
         16 . A resource exploration and recovery system comprising:
 a first system;   a second system connected to the first system through a tubular system supporting a screen assembly comprising:
 a tubular including an outer surface; 
 a first screen portion and a second screen portion extend about the outer surface, the second screen portion being displaced from the first screen portion by a void region; 
 a plurality of weld plugs mounted about the outer surface of the tubular in the void region; and 
 a centralizing ring extending about the tubular at the void region, the centralizing ring extending over each of the first screen portion and the second screen portion and being mechanically joined to the tubular through the plurality of weld plugs. 
   
     
     
         17 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 16 , wherein the centralizing ring is mounted to the tubular without being connected to the first screen portion and the second screen portion. 
     
     
         18 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 16 , wherein the centralizing ring includes a plurality of openings receptive of corresponding ones of the plurality of weld plugs, the plurality of weld plugs being joined to the centralizing ring at corresponding ones of the plurality of openings. 
     
     
         19 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of openings comprises threaded openings, and each of the plurality of weld plugs include external threads that engage with the threaded openings. 
     
     
         20 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 16 , wherein first screen portion is defined by a first plurality of wire wraps and the second screen portion is defined by a second plurality of wire wraps. 
     
     
         21 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 20 , wherein the first plurality of wire wraps and the second plurality of wire wraps are defined by a continuous wire. 
     
     
         22 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 16 , wherein the centralizing ring includes a plurality of radially outwardly projecting centralizing blades.