Patent ID: 6227303
Filing Date: 2001-05-08
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
A well screen comprising:a base pipe having a perforated side and a solid side;an outer, larger-diameter pipe concentrically-positioned over said base pipe thereby forming an annulus therebetween, said outer pipe having a perforated side and a solid side which radially-align with said perforated side and said solid side, respectively, of said base pipe when said pipes are concentrically positioned;seal means for closing the upper end of said annulus;means positioned within said annulus for isolating said radially-aligned, perforated sides of said base pipe and said outer pipe from said radially-aligned, solid sides of said base pipe and said outer pipe wherein said perforated sides of said base pipe and said outer pipe form a production side of said well screen and wherein said solid sides of said base pipe and said outer pipe form an alternate flowpath side of said well screen;means for allowing flow of fluids into said production side of said well screen while blocking flow of solids into said production side of said screen;at least one outlet in said alternate flowpath side of said well screen; andan inlet opening at the upper end of said annulus for allowing flow of solids only into said alternate flowpath side of said well screen.