Abstract:
A tubular screen support system includes, a screen, a base pipe in substantially coaxial alignment with the screen defining an annular space therebetween, and at least one tubular supportive of the screen relative to the base pipe positionable within the annular space having perimetrically localized variations in a radial dimension thereof.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Tubular fluid flowing systems, such as those used in the hydrocarbon recovery and gas sequestration industries, typically use screens to prevent particulate, such as gravel, for example, that is larger than a selected size, from entering the tubular. Such screens typically include wire wrapped around a support structure that is positioned radially outwardly of a base pipe. The base pipe provides a primary flow channel to or from remote locations, such as a surface in a borehole in an earth formation, for example. In addition to the primary flow channel, the base pipe has strength sufficient to withstand mechanical loads experienced thereby including longitudinal loads due to the weight of the tubular string, for example. 
         [0002]    Openings through the base pipe permit fluids to flow therethrough from inside to outside of the base pipe as well as from outside to inside of the base pipe. It is often desirable to selectively open or close the openings at various locations along a length of the base pipe to control where along the base pipe fluid is able to flow through the openings. Since valving to control the plurality of openings can add costs and complexity to a system, it is sometimes desirable to minimize the number of openings and to space them longitudinally relatively far from one another. Large longitudinal distances between adjacent openings necessitate longitudinal flow channels of substantial area in annular spaces between the base pipe and the screen or through the screen itself. Such longitudinal flow channels, however, can be restrictive to flow therethrough. Increases in an annular dimension of these flow channels can increase the cross sectional flow area. However, doing so also weakens the structural support of the screen leaving the screen vulnerable to damage. 
         [0003]    Arrangements to alleviate the above drawbacks of such systems would be well received in the art. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
       [0004]    Disclosed herein is a tubular screen support system. The system includes, a screen, a base pipe in substantially coaxial alignment with the screen defining an annular space therebetween, and at least one tubular supportive of the screen relative to the base pipe positionable within the annular space having perimetrically localized variations in a radial dimension thereof. 
         [0005]    Further disclosed herein is a tubular screen support. The tubular screen support includes at least one tubular positionable in an annular space defined between a base pipe and a screen having radial dimensions that vary perimetrically, and the at least one tubular is configured to provide structural support to the screen relative to the base pipe. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  depicts a partial cross sectional perspective view of a tubular screen support disclosed herein; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  depicts a partial cross sectional perspective view of an alternate tubular screen support disclosed herein having a tubular with varying wall thickness; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  depicts a partial cross sectional perspective view of an alternate tubular screen support disclosed herein having elongated members integrated into a tubular wall; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  depicts a partial cross sectional perspective view of an alternate tubular screen support disclosed herein having a perimetrically corrugated tubular; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  depicts a cross sectional view of an alternate tubular screen support disclosed herein having multiple tubulars; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  depicts a cross sectional view of an alternate tubular screen support disclosed herein having multiple corrugated tubulars. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures. 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a tubular screen support disclosed herein is illustrated generally at  10 . The tubular screen support  10  includes, a tubular  14  configured to be positioned in an annular space  18 , of annular dimension  20 , defined between a base pipe  22  and a screen  26 . The screen  26 , in this embodiment includes ribs  26 A positioned radially outwardly of the tubular  14 , and wire wrap  26 B, wrapped around the ribs  26 A. A plurality of elongated members  30 , illustrated in this embodiment as tubes, are positioned radially between the base pipe  22  and the tubular  14  and structurally support the tubular  14  relative to the base pipe  22 . Attachment of the tubular  14 , the base pipe  22 , the screen  26  and the elongated members  30 , to one another, can be by any of a variety of means such as by welding, brazing, press fitting, heat shrinking, and adhesive bonding, for example. 
         [0015]    The tubular  14  has perimetrically localized variations  34  in radial dimensions thereof. In this embodiment, the localized variations  34  are dimensioned to be engaged with the elongated members  30 B. The elongated members  30 B are rotationally offset in comparison to the wire wrap  26 B. This rotational offset allows the annular dimension  20  to be smaller than it would be if the tubular  14  had inner and outer radial surfaces that were cylindrical and did not include the perimetrically localized variations  34  (for systems using similarly dimensioned elongated members  30  and ribs  26 A). By keeping the annular dimension  20  small the base pipe  22  can have a larger inside diameter than it otherwise would thereby minimizing restriction to flow therethrough. Additionally, a wall thickness  38  of the base pipe  22  can be greater than it otherwise could be, thereby providing greater structural strength. Additional structural support for the base pipe  22  can be provided by the attachment of the elongated members  30  to the base pipe. 
         [0016]    A plurality of flow channels  42  and  50  (shown herein as being longitudinal although helical and other geometries are contemplated), are defined by the annular space  18  between adjacent elongated members  30  and ribs  26 A, respectively. A cross sectional area of the flow channels  42  can be set as needed based on the anticipated flow rates and lengths of the flow channels  42  to prevent undesirable restriction to fluid flow therethrough, without detrimentally affecting the structural support to the screen  26 . This is due to the fact that the tubular  14  through the ribs  26 A provides the structural support for the wire wrap  26 B. Additionally, the localized variations  34  in the tubular  14  will contribute to the stiffness and strength of the tubular  14  thereby allowing greater structural support to the screen  26  without a need for additional wall thickness of the tubular  14 . 
         [0017]    A plurality of ports  46  through the tubular  14  fluidically connect the flow channels  42  to the flow channels  50  defined between the screen  26  and the tubular  14 . The cross sectional flow area through the ports  46  can be made much larger than the flow area of the flow channels  42  and  50 . Consequently, there is no concern in creating a restriction through the ports  46  if the ports  46  are specifically positioned to avoid being aligned with either of the elongated members  30  or the ribs  26 A. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , an alternate embodiment of a tubular screen support  110  disclosed herein is illustrated. The support  110  has many similarities to that of support  10  and as such only the differences between the two will be described and depicted with unique reference characters. A tubular  114  of the support  110  includes perimetrically localized variations  134  in radial dimensions thereof that are independent of locations of the elongated members  31 . These additional localized variations  134  provide stiffening to the tubular  114  such that the tubular  114  can structurally support the screen  26  while minimizing a wall thickness  136 A of the tubular  114 . 
         [0019]    Additionally, wall thickness of the tubular  114  varies, with a smaller wall thickness  136 B being perimetrically aligned with the elongated members  31 . This variation in wall thickness of the tubular  114  further permits reductions in the annular dimension  20  without sacrificing strength. In fact, the strength of the tubular  114  in the portion with the smaller wall thickness  136 B, can actually be made to be stronger than areas with the standard wall thickness  136 A by attachment of the tubular  114  to the elongated member  31 . 
         [0020]    It should be noted that the elongated member  31 , illustrated in this embodiment, differs from the elongated member  30  in that it is solid as opposed to hollow. Many variations in the elongated members  30 ,  31  are contemplated, such as, changes in size, geometry and material to thereby form rods, tubes, ribs and bars, for example. The elongated members  30 ,  31  may be a transmission line, such as a sensing line, a control line, an optical fiber or electrical line, for example. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , another embodiment of a tubular screen support  210  disclosed herein is illustrated. The support  210  differs from the supports  110  and  10  in that a portion of a tubular  214  is constructed of the elongated member  31  directly. An attachment method of the elongated member  31  to the balance of the tubular  214  may preferably be by welding to assure structural stability. Elongated member  31  could also be replaced with the solid elongated member  30  discussed above. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , an alternate embodiment of a tubular screen support  310  is depicted. The support  310  differs from the above embodiments in that a tubular  314  has perimetrical corrugations  316  that span the entire annular dimension  20 . As such, the rib  26 A is not necessary to the direct structural support of the wire wrap  26 B but could add to the strength when attached to one or more of the tubular  314 , the wire wrap  26 B and the base pipe  22 . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , alternate embodiments of tubular screen supports  410  and  510  are illustrated. The supports  410  and  510  differ from the above-described embodiments by combining more than one of the tubulars  14  and  314  within a single assembly to span the annular dimension  20 . 
         [0024]    While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.