Patent Abstract:
A unitary gravel pack multi-pathway tube includes a body; a gravel slurry flow passage defined within the body; and a control line protection projection extending from and supported by the body, the projection extending laterally from the body relative to an extent of the flow passage and method.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/330,757 filed Jan. 12, 2006 which claims the benefit of an earlier filing date from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/643,819 filed Jan. 14, 2005, the entire disclosure of each of which is incorporated herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND 
   In oil and gas wells, multi-pathway tubes around screen shrouds are known to convey gravel pack slurry beyond annular obstructions of any kind. In general, such multi-pathway tubes (also termed alternate path technology) begin “operating” automatically when an obstruction such as an annular bridge arises. Multi-pathway tubes are open to the annulus just downstream of a gravel pack packer and provide an alternate path for the flow of the slurry if indeed gravel slurry pressure rises due to an annular obstruction. Where no annular obstruction exists, the multi-pathway tube is naturally bypassed for the easier flowing annulus. 
   Where the multi-pathway tube does become a slurry conduit, that slurry is reintroduced to the annulus downstream of the obstruction by exiting ports in the multi-pathway tube where pressure in the annulus allows. Because of the high pressure in the multi-pathway tube, the slurry tends to exit at a high velocity. Slurry being by nature erosive, a property exacerbated by high velocity, it is a very effective cutting implement. Any type of control line utilized must be protected from this discharge. 
   In order to run control lines downhole, the art has clamped the lines to outside of the screen shroud, and run an additional screen shroud outside of the multi-pathway tubes. This may be effective but does increase the overall outside dimension of the assembly. As one of skill in the art is all too aware, increasing an outside dimension or reducing an inside dimension are to be avoided. 
   SUMMARY 
   A gravel pack multi-pathway tube includes a body; a gravel slurry flow passage defined by the body; and a projection at the body, the projection extending laterally from the body relative to an extent of the flow passage, the projection defining an area, that is protected from a lateral impact, a direction of the impact being defined by a set of force vectors and where a radial vector is the largest of the set of vectors, the radial vector intersecting a control line protected by the projection. 
   A gravel packing device component includes a shroud; a multi-pathway tube at the shroud; and a projection extending laterally from the multi-pathway tube to create a protected space between the projection and the shroud, the space being protected from a lateral impact including a force vector substantially radially directed relative to the shroud the space being receptive to a control line. 
   A unitary gravel pack multi-pathway tube includes a body; a gravel slurry flow passage defined within the body; and a control line protection projection extending from and supported by the body, the projection extending laterally from the body relative to an extent of the flow passage. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several Figures: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective schematic view of a gravel pack component illustrating multi-pathway tubes and a control line; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the multi-pathway tube with a screen shroud shown in phantom; 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic elevation view of the component illustrated in  FIG. 1  entering a rotary and the control line being inserted; 
       FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  but with one of the projections bent; 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic representation of an alternative multi-pathway tube; and 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic representation of the alternative multi-pathway tube of  FIG. 5  in a completed condition. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , some of the components of a gravel packing apparatus  10  are illustrated to provide environment for the arrangement disclosed herein. In  FIG. 1 , a cross coupling connector  12  is illustrated twice with a space interval. The space interval is occupied primarily by a gravel pack screen. Such screens are known to the art and do not require explanation here. The screen itself is not shown in the figures hereof but will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to be beneath the screen shroud (identified as  42  hereunder), which is represented in the figures. Although the view includes only two connectors  12 , it is to be understood that more (or only one) may be utilized in the gravel pack apparatus  10 . Each connector  12  is illustrated with pass-through  14  for four multi-pathway tubes  16   a . The tubes  16   a  proceed longitudinally and meet in a fluid conveyable manner with multi-pathway tubes  16   b . Multi-pathway tubes  16   b  proceed helically along apparatus  10  until meeting in a fluid conveyable manner with multi-pathway tubes  16   c . Multi-pathway tubes  16   c  proceed longitudinally into the next connector  12 . It will be understood that tubes  16   a - c  are each considered a multi-pathway tube and are broken into parts merely to aid discussion. As noted, four multi-pathway tubes  16   a - c  are illustrated; it is to be understood that more or fewer can be utilized as desired. 
   At each connector  12 , at least one of the multi-pathway tubes  16   a - c  will have ports (not shown but known to one of skill in the art and present in the commercially available “direct pak” screen from Baker Oil Tools, Houston, Tex.). Multi-pathway tubes adjacent those with ports will not have ports. A particular tube will have ports for about one-quarter of the total length of the screen component (see screen shroud  42 ) of the gravel pack apparatus  10 . For example, a 1000-foot screen will have the ports change four times, once at each 250-foot increment of the 1000-foot screen. Each change will occur at a cross coupling connector  12 . The fact that one of the tubes  16   a - c  will not have ports at each increment means that such tube may safely retain a control line  18  in an appurtenant projection (specifically identified hereunder). To maintain the control line in safety along the entirety of the screen section, the line may be moved back and forth between adjacent appurtenant projections at the end of each increment, with the change taking place at a connector  12 . As is apparent from the foregoing, a desired location for the control line is along one of the tubes  16   b  that does not have ports. Utilizing this arrangement, a control line may be secured in a position that is not particularly exposed to the high velocity gravel slurry while also avoiding the need for any external clamps or extra shroud. Further, because of the ability of the control line to be shifted back and forth between adjacent tubes  16   a - c , the control line may be kept away from the high velocity slurry over the entire extent of the screen section (see screen shroud  42 ) of apparatus  10 . 
   Because of the arrangement noted, the inventors hereof determined that securement of the control line near a multi-pathway tube that did not include ports for each of the segments of the apparatus would be advantageous. Unfortunately, there was no known way to achieve this without resorting to external clamps, which suffer from the drawbacks noted above. Referring to  FIG. 2 , a cross-section view of a multi-pathway tube  16   b  according to the teaching herein is illustrated. Tube  16   b  includes a body  30  defining a flow passage  32 , the body having a radially larger boundary  60  and a radially smaller boundary  62 , the boundaries joined laterally by semicircular boundaries  64 . Further, appurtenant the body  30  is at least one, and as illustrated two, wing-shaped projections  34 . Each projection  34  extends from body  30 , at a substantially equivalent radius of curvature to the radially larger boundary  60 , at a lateral edge thereof and extends for a length sufficient to receive a control line (not shown). Each projection forms a pocket  36  between a concave surface  38  thereof and an outer surface  40  (shown in phantom) of screen shroud  42  (see  FIG. 1 ). Advantageously, projection  34  includes a lip  44  at an end thereof remote from body  30 . Lip  44  is useful for enhancing retention of control line  18  once inserted at projection  34 . Further, lip  44  causes an outside surface  46  of projection  34  to present a convex configuration, which is helpful with respect to avoiding hang-ups during the running of the apparatus  10 . 
   As noted above, tube  16   b  is helically arranged about shroud  42 , which additionally assists in maintaining the control line  18  against the shroud  42 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , a schematic representation depicting shroud  42 , tube  16   b , control line  18  and an insertion device is provided. A rotary table  50  is known to the art and requires no explanation. Extending from a portion of the table  50  is a support  52  upon which is mounted a cable snap machine  54 . The cable snap machine  54  is here illustrated to comprise a body  56  and four rolling or non-rolling bushings  58 . It is to be understood that more or fewer bushings could be utilized and that bearings could be substituted without departing from the scope of the disclosure hereof. The bushings  58  that are horizontally (in the figure) spaced from each other are a fixed distance apart, that distance calculated to support the tube  16   b  at one side and urge the control line  18  under the projection  34  on the other side of the same tube  16   b . Movement of the shroud (and the rest of the apparatus  10 ) in a downward direction (relative to the figure) automatically causes the control line to engage the projection  34 . The second pair of bushings illustrated lower in the figure either further engage the control line with the projection or merely ensure that it engaged appropriately when passing through the first set of bushings. Additionally, in one embodiment, if one of the wing-shaped projections  34  at the multi-pathway tube does not contain a control line, the snap machine may be configured to deform the unsupported projection inwards toward the screen shroud  42  to reduce the possibility of the unsupported projection  34  coming in contact with any restrictions in the wellbore, which may potentially damage the flow area section of the tube. Such a condition is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The deforming of the projection can be accomplished simultaneously while the control line is being snapped into the other side of the tube or can be accomplished without regard for whether or not a control line is present on the other side of the tube  16   b.    
   In yet another embodiment, referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the projection  34  (here illustrated to be welded at weld bead  70  onto the multi-pathway tube  16   b ) is deformed over an inserted control line by bending lip  44  toward the shroud  42  to more permanently and encapsulatively engage the control line. The lip is illustrated in the undeformed condition in  FIG. 5  and in the deformed condition in  FIG. 6 . The snap in machine is easily modifiable to accomplish the deforming of the projection to encapsulate the control lines against the shroud  42  by substituting a differently shaped bushing or bearing having a concave shape to form the lip  44 . 
   Earlier in this disclosure, it was stated that the control line is maintained in a protected position relative to ports in the multi-pathway tubes  16   b . When inserting the control line into the tube  16   b , and after a one-quarter length of the total gravel screen is reached the control line is manually moved over to position it to be engaged by an adjacent tube  16   b . The process of inserting the control line  18  then continues as described hereinabove. One of skill in the art should appreciate that when the line  18  is moved over to an adjacent tube  16   b , the line will be on a physically opposite side of the machine  54 . In an embodiment where each side of machine  54  is a mirror image, no adjustment will be necessary but only a reengagement with the control line need be performed. Alternatively, and where one of the described embodiments that causes deformation is utilized, the machine  54  will be adjusted to reverse the action of the machine such as by reversing the bushings  58 . 
   In accordance with the concepts and apparatus disclosed herein, control lines hereby can be added to the apparatus  10  right on the rig floor and while the apparatus is being run in the hole. Resultantly, the control line is protected and maintained in position. It is to be understood that “control line” as used herein is intended to include single or multiple hydraulic, electrical, fiber optic lines, etc. and that the lines may be individual in form, nested, flat packed, etc. 
   While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustrations and not limitation.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4