Abstract:
Systems and methods for a shrouded tubular device that includes but is not limited to a tubular member, such as a screen joint; a shroud surrounding at least a portion of the tubular, the shroud is at least a two-piece shroud; and a shim in the annulus between the tubular member and the shroud. By way of example only, the shroud may be located directly radially inward from the joint of two of the shroud pieces.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/094,604, filed on Sep. 5, 2008, incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     When well fluid is produced from a subterranean formation, the fluid typically contains particulates, or “sand.” The production of sand from the well must be controlled in order to extend the life of the well. One technique to accomplish this involves routing the well fluid through a downhole filter formed from gravel that surrounds a sandscreen. More specifically, the sandscreen typically is a cylindrical mesh that is inserted into and is generally concentric with the borehole of the well where well fluid is produced. Gravel is packed in the annular area between the formation and the sandscreen. The well fluid being produced passes through the gravel, enters the sandscreen and is communicated uphole via tubing that is connected to the sandscreen. 
     The gravel that surrounds the sandscreen typically is introduced into the well via a gravel packing operation. In a conventional gravel packing operation, the gravel is communicated downhole via a slurry, which is a mixture of fluid and gravel. A gravel packing system in the well directs the slurry around the sandscreen so that when the fluid in the slurry disperses, gravel remains around the sandscreen. 
     In a conventional gravel packing operation, fluid may prematurely leave the slurry. When this occurs, a bridge forms in the slurry flow path, and this bridge forms a barrier that prevents slurry that is upstream of the bridge from being communicated downhole. Thus, the bridge disrupts and possibly prevents the application of gravel around some parts of the sandscreen. 
     For purposes of circumventing any possible bridges, a system for packing a well may include alternate path transport tubes, tubes that provide, as their names imply, alternative paths for communicating the slurry down into the well. In effect, the transport tubes serve as shunts in that should a bridge form, one of the transport tubes serves to bypass the bridge to permit slurry to be introduced into the well beyond the bridge. Examples are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,407,007, incorporated herein by reference. 
     It is typically desirable to protect the transport tubes and sand screens with a shroud to prevent damage while running in hole or during operation. Often, the shroud is installed as two separate pieces that may meet at or near the longitudinal center of the screen joint. Also present at or near the center of the screen joints is a bracket that is installed to secure the transport tubes. When installed, it may be necessary to have a clearance between the shroud and the screen. That clearance may preferably be about 0.20 inches. However, when these two pieces are installed consistent alignment of the two pieces is often difficult or impossible due to the play that exists between the outer diameter of the middle bracket and the inner diameter of the shrouds necessary to introduce the desired clearance. 
     It would be desirable to create a solution to cure or alleviate the play between the middle bracket and the shroud. 
     SUMMARY 
     Disclosed herein is a shrouded tubular device that includes but is not limited to a tubular member, such as a screen joint; a shroud surrounding at least a portion of the tubular, the shroud is at least a two-piece shroud; and a shim in the annulus between the tubular member and the shroud. By way of example only, the shroud may be located directly radially inward from the joint of two of the shroud pieces. Also disclosed herein is a method for making a shrouded tubular device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing of a two-piece shroud as is traditionally used. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic drawing of one piece of a traditional two-piece shroud. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross section of a traditional shroud. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic drawing of a welded traditional two-piece shroud. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic drawing of one piece of an embodiment of a two-piece shroud as is taught herein. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic drawing of a cross section of an embodiment of a two-piece shroud as is taught herein. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic drawing of an embodiment of a two-piece shrouded tubular as is taught herein. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic drawing of an embodiment of a two-piece shrouded tubular as is taught herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4  there is shown a schematic drawing of a traditional two-piece shrouded sand screen  100  having a first shroud member  150  and a second shroud member  165  being installed on opposite ends of the screen joint  130 . Screen joint preferably comprises a screening element  135  (such as a wire wrapped screen) wrapped around perforated basepipe  170 . Each of shrouds  150  and  165  are preferably perforated with perforations  140  which may be round or of any other acceptable shape. Also enclosed within the shrouds  150  and  165  and preferably outside of the screen joint  130  is at least one bypass or shunt tube  110 . Also preferably enclosed within the shrouds  150  and  165  and external to the screen joint  130  is a leak-off tube  160 . Preferably, optional bypass tube  110  and leak-off tube  160  run longitudinal to screen joint  130 . However, it is possible that either or both of bypass tube  110  and leak-off tube  160  are spirally wound around screen joint  130  or otherwise arranged in a manner that the ends of the bypass tube  110  and optional leak-off tube  160  are preferably substantially coterminous with the shoulder of the screen joint (adjacent to the pin or box end). 
     During assembly, the traditional two-piece shrouded sand screen  100  is assembled by sliding the first and second shrouds  150  and  165  onto screen joint  130 . When shrouds  150  and  165  meet to form the shroud joint (often directly radially outward from the bracket  120 ), they are welded as is shown by weld  170  in  FIG. 4 . Because of the clearance  155  needed between shrouds  150  and  165  and screen joint  130 , it is often difficult to properly align shrouds  150  and  165  for welding. This can lead to welds, which make the circumferential profile of the shroud irregular. In some instances, it may be necessary to grind the welds to ensure the outer profile of the weld complies with the outer diameter of the other parts of the shroud. This introduces time and uncertainty in the manufacturing process as well as uncertainty into the strength of the welded joint. 
     In the embodiments as are shown in  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 7 , and  FIG. 8 , similar elements as described above are similarly labeled. Particularly, in  FIGS. 5-8  there is shown a schematic drawing of a two-piece shrouded sand screen  100  having a first shroud member  150  (second shroud member  165  is not shown, but is installed as is shown in  FIG. 1 ) being installed on screen joint  130 . Screen joint  130  preferably comprises a screening element  135  (such as a wire wrapped screen) wrapped around perforated basepipe  170 . The shrouds (e.g.,  150 ) are preferably perforated with perforations  140  which may be round or of any other acceptable shape. Also enclosed within the shrouds preferably outside of the screen joint  130  is at least one bypass or shunt tube  110 . Also preferably enclosed within the shrouds and external to the screen joint  130  is a leak-off tube  160 . Preferably, optional bypass tube  110  and leak-off tube  160  run longitudinal to screen joint  130 . However, it is possible that either or both of bypass tube  110  and leak-off tube  160  are spirally wound around screen joint  130  or otherwise arranged in a manner that the ends of the bypass tube  110  and optional leak-off tube  160  are preferably substantially coterminous with the ends of the screen joint. 
     During assembly of the embodiments of  FIGS. 5-8 , the two-piece shrouded sand screen  100  may be assembled by sliding the first shroud  150  and second shroud (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) onto screen joint  130 . Also used is shim  180  that surrounds at least a portion of screen joint  130 . Shim  180  may be sized and designed such that it takes up substantially all of the extra space or play in the annulus between the screen joint  130  and the shroud  150 . When the shrouds are installed on the screen joint, the interface of the two parts of the shroud preferably meet directly radially outward from the shim  180 . The shrouds may be welded to each other or welded to the shim or attached by any other acceptable means. Additionally, the shim may be attached to the bracket, e.g., by welding. 
     While the invention has been disclosed with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having the benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom. It is intended that the appended claims cover such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. By way of example and not limitation, it is envisioned that the system described herein could be installed around a joint of sand screen—such as a wire wrapped perforated pipe or a wire mesh screen system—or around a piece of blank pipe. As used herein, the term preferably means that while one particular configuration may be desirable, other configurations are also possible. Also, as used herein, the term “tubular” does not necessarily connote a perfectly cylindrical device. By way of example only, as can be seen in the figures, it may be desirable to have a trough formed in the shroud.