Patent ID: 8807205

Claim:
A method for assembling a gravel packing apparatus, the method comprising: providing first and second joints each including a sand control screen assembly having a filter medium positioned exteriorly of a base pipe and a slurry delivery subassembly rotatably mounted exteriorly on the sand control screen assembly, the slurry delivery subassembly including at least one transport tube extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the sand control screen assembly; threadably coupling the sand control screen assembly of the first joint to the sand control screen assembly of the second joint; after threadably coupling the sand control screen assembly of the first joint to the sand control screen assembly of the second joint, locking the slurry delivery subassembly of the second joint relative to the sand control screen of the second joint with a locking assembly of the second joint; after locking the slurry delivery subassembly of the second joint relative to the sand control screen of the second joint, axially aligning the at least one transport tube of the first joint with the at least one transport tube of the second joint by rotating the slurry delivery subassembly of the first joint relative to the sand control screen of the first joint; after axially aligning the at least one transport tube of the first joint with the at least one transport tube of the second joint, locking the slurry delivery subassembly of the first joint relative to the sand control screen of the first joint with a locking assembly of the first joint; and coupling at least one jumper tube between the at least one transport tube of the first joint and the at least one transport tube of the second joint.