Patent ID: 9187987
Filing Date: 2015-11-17
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A method of preventing component erosion in a well, comprising: forming a base pipe with a plurality of flow restriction openings extending radially therethrough; limiting the average diameter of each flow restriction opening to 8 mm or less; placing a screen around the base pipe to filter particulates from an inflowing fluid stream; spacing the plurality of flow restriction openings along the base pipe to reduce a peak flux through the screen and to create a distributed inflow of fluid which maintains a flow rate of the inflowing fluid below an erosion flow rate across the screen; and varying perforation density along a length of the base pipe to optimize a flow distribution pattern by varying the sizes of flow restriction openings along the base pipe, the varying perforation density providing a relatively greater restriction of flow in sections of the screen otherwise exposed to the highest radial flow of fluid through the screen.