Patent ID: 8511380

Claim:
A sand screen assembly, comprising: a first sand screen assembly comprising an imperforate base pipe and a screen, wherein the screen is disposed about the imperforate base pipe such that a first flowpath is defined therebetween; a second sand screen assembly comprising an imperforate base pipe and a screen, wherein the screen is disposed about the imperforate base pipe such that a second flowpath is defined therebetween; and a coupling disposed between the first and second sand screen assemblies, wherein the coupling comprises: a housing disposed between the imperforate base pipe of the first sand screen assembly and the imperforate base pipe of the second sand screen assembly, the housing defining a first coupling flowpath therein; a shroud disposed at least partially about the housing forming a second coupling flowpath therebetween, wherein the shroud is disposed between the screen of the first sand screen assembly and the screen of the second sand screen assembly, wherein the second coupling flowpath is in fluid communication with the first and second flowpaths, and wherein the shroud comprises a blank pipe with a plurality of slots extending radially therethrough; a third coupling flowpath formed through the housing and adapted to provide a path of fluid communication between the first and second coupling flowpaths; and a sliding sleeve disposed within the housing, wherein the sliding sleeve is configured to slide between a first position where the sliding sleeve substantially obstructs the third coupling flowpath and a second position where the third coupling flowpath is substantially free from obstruction, wherein the second coupling flowpath fluidly communicates with the first coupling flowpath via the third coupling flowpath when the sliding sleeve is in the second position.