Patent ID: 6749020
Filing Date: 2004-06-15
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
A well screen two step coupled connector structure comprising:first and second well screen sections to be coupled, each of said first and second well screen sections including a tubular length of perforated screen and a first tubular coupling pin secured to a first end of said tubular length of perforated screen, said first tubular coupling pin having an outer end section of a first outer diameter terminating at a free coupling pin end and spaced, non-inclined pin threads formed externally on said outer end section and spaced from the free coupling pin end thereof, said free coupling pin end terminating in an annular angled surface, an intermediate section of a greater outer diameter than said outer end section to form a shoulder therebetween and spaced, non-inclined pin threads formed externally on said intermediate section, and an inner end section of a greater outer diameter than said intermediate section to form a stepped shoulder therebetween having an end surface inclined inwardly toward said inner end section to form an angled recess at an innermost end of said intermediate section, and a tubular open ended coupling having a central passage extending therethrough between first and second ends thereof which is divided into first and second coupling sections by an inwardly projecting divider for receiving the first tubular coupling pins of said first and second well screen sections respectively, the central passage in said first and second coupling sections including an innermost section adjacent to said inwardly projecting divider having a diameter sufficient to receive the outer end section of said first tubular coupling pin and internal, non-inclined coupler threads formed in said innermost section to engage the external non-inclined pin threads formed on said outer end section and an outermost section having a larger diameter than that of the innermost section which is sufficient to receive the intermediate section of said first tubular coupling pin and internal non-inclined coupler threads formed in said outermost section to engage the external non-inclined pin threads formed on said intermediate section, said central passage in said first and second coupling sections angling inwardly at said inwardly projecting divider to provide an angled sealing surface to engage the annular angled surface of the free coupling pin end for said first tubular coupling pin, said tubular open ended coupling including an annular projection formed at the first and second ends thereof to project into the angled recess at the innermost end of the intermediate section of said first tubular coupling pin, said annular projection having an angled end wall to engage and provide an angled sealing surface with said angled recess, wherein the outer diameter of said annular projection is less than the outer diameter of the remainder of said tubular open ended coupling to form a support shoulder to provide support to suspend one length of perforated screen during the makeup of the next length of perforated screen.