Compliant wellbores screens may be arranged to radially expand in a wellbore. The screens include an outer shroud layer including a perforation pattern thereon arranged for limiting the degree to which the screens are expand. The perforation patterns may permit the screens to be expanded to a predetermined limit by imparting a stable or relatively low expansion force. Once the predetermined limit is reached, the outer shrouds may require a sharp increase in the expansion force for further expansion. The sharp increase will prevent over-expansion of the screens, particularly where precise control over an expansion force imparted to expand the screens proves difficult. The perforation pattern may include arc-shaped perforations formed in sheet metal, spaces between braided metal strands, or many other arrangements.

A method of reducing erosional peak velocity includes arranging a sand control screen assembly in an open hole section of a wellbore, the sand control screen assembly including a base pipe defining a plurality of flow ports, a sand screen arranged about the base pipe, and a wellbore isolation device deployed within an annulus defined between the sand control screen assembly and an inner wall of the wellbore. A fluid from a surrounding subterranean formation is circulated within the annulus, and the fluid within the annulus is diverted through the sand screen and into the base pipe upon approaching the wellbore isolation device. A peak velocity of the fluid flowing through the sand screen is reduced with a peak flux reducing assembly arranged axially adjacent the wellbore isolation device.

A sand control assembly includes a base pipe having at least one perforation, a housing, and at least one inflow control device integrated within the housing via an associated ring secured to the housing and the base pipe, the at least one inflow control device and the associated ring creating a seal. The housing is disposed around the exterior of the base pipe, and the housing is secured to a bypass ring at a first end of the housing and secured to the base pipe at a second end of the housing via a weld end ring. A longitudinal axis of the at least one inflow control device is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the base pipe.

An autonomous flow control device includes a valve assembly having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A valve element is disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The valve element has a viscosity dominant flow path configured to provide a first flow resistance and an inertia dominant flow path configured to provide a second flow resistance that is greater than the first flow resistance such that when the viscosity of the fluid flowing therethrough is greater than a first predetermined level, the fluid follows the viscosity dominant flow path with the first flow resistance and when the viscosity of the fluid flowing therethrough is less than a second predetermined level, the fluid follows the inertia dominant flow path with the second flow resistance, thereby regulating the production rate of the fluid responsive to changes in the viscosity of the fluid.

A well screen for a borehole. The well screen may include an arcuate outer shroud, a mesh layer, and a drainage layer. The arcuate outer shroud may include perforations, a first longitudinal end, and a second longitudinal end. The first and second longitudinal ends may be spaced arcuately apart such that a gap is formed between the first and the second longitudinal ends of the outer shroud. The mesh layer may restrict flow of particulate materials of a predetermined size from passing therethrough and is positioned radially inward from the outer shroud. The mesh layer may include a first and a second longitudinal end that are radially aligned with the first and the second longitudinal ends of the outer shroud to continue the gap. The drainage layer may be positioned radially inward from to the mesh layer and may include at least one of perforations or louvers.

The invention is related to a system which has been developed to obtain gas from the gas hydrate formations that are found under the frozen layers of earth in the cold regions or sea floor/slopes and comprises a drilling machine (3) that performs drilling by means of a drilling bit (33) after being lowered into the drilled well, drilling machine lowering and controlling equipment (1) which allow said drilling machine (3) to be lowered into the well and supply power and control to the system (A), and a stripped production tubing (4) with plugs (41) in which the water level and water level dependent pressure and gas pressure are controlled, which allows for the dissociation of the formation into gas and water and forming a cavern (6), and in which the gas separated from the gas hydrate formation reaches the surface; and to the method presented by using said system (A).

A dual-stage sand and gas separator for use within a wellbore of a fluid producing well is disclosed. During sand separation, fluid is ported into a vortex housing and across a vortex cup which imparts a vortex motion on the fluid to separate solids from the fluid. Some of the solids are filtered by a sand filter screen, while heavier solids are diverted down hole by a diverter plate. The fluid pass internally through the vortex cup into the gas separation housing. During the gas separation phase, a sump is created by the transfer tubing and gas is separated from the fluid and ported away from the tubing.

An automated sand grain bridge simulator obtains field data that is associated with a stand-alone sand screen completion and well and sand grain elastic and plastic deformation data. An expected stress profile along a sand grain bridge throughout the life of the wellbore is iteratively determined. The sand grain bridge is formed on screen openings of the stand-alone screen completion. The expected stress profile is compared to a predetermined range of elastic and plastic deformation limits. It is determined whether the stand-alone sand screen completion is sufficient to retain downhole sands which results in improved engineering design, field performance and saves the cost of comprehensive dynamic laboratory testing.

A filter assembly is provided having a resilient member connected between an upper member and a lower section, wherein the resilient member enables the filter screen to vibrate relative to the upper member. A centralizing member is positioned above the filter screen having a diameter greater than the filter screen, wherein the filter screen is a cylinder having a plurality of filter apertures formed therein, and wherein the filter apertures extend substantially parallel to the central axis.

A drilling mud screen comprising a body, the body comprising an optional flow collar, an optional flow divider, an optional breakup blade, and optional end cap and a filter; the filter having openings; and a drilling mud inlet or a drilling mud outlet at the openings of the filter is disclosed. Methods of installing and using the drilling mud screen are also disclosed.