Knitted wire fines discriminator

Abstract

Particularly, the knitted wire fluid/gas energy absorber and fines discriminator is designed to provide significantly, enhanced erosion resistance and durability through absorbing energy from fluid moving at elevated and erosive velocities through an energy absorbing and flexible structure, providing also a tortuous path for the fluid/gas, thereby, reducing the risk of sand production and sub terrain erosion damage to tubulars. The wire used for the knitted wire fluid/gas energy absorber and fines discriminator may be made from a range of different materials which possess the desired combination of properties required for this process, and lend themselves to knitting, may be compressed, exhibit desired mechanical strength and flex. Such materials may be: Stainless steel of various grades, metallic alloys of various kinds, (zinc, copper etc), wire made of various fibers such as Kevlar, Aramid and a range of other suitable materials.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A subterranean pipe system, comprising: 
 a substructure tubular member having an exterior wall and having at least one opening therethrough; a knitted wire energy absorber, said energy absorber covering at least a portion of said exterior wall of said substructure.    
     
     
         2 . The pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said substructure openings is perforated.  
     
     
         3 . The pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said substructure openings is slotted.  
     
     
         4 . The pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein said energy absorber includes a knitted wire mesh cylindrical ring surrounding said substructure.  
     
     
         5 . The pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein said energy absorber includes a stack of knitted wire mesh cylindrical rings.  
     
     
         6 . The pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein there is further included a tubular member mounted over said energy absorber and in fluid communication with the well and said energy absorber.  
     
     
         7 . The pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein said tubular member has openings therethrough.  
     
     
         8 . The pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein said substructure tubular member includes a wire wrapped screen mounted around said exterior wall of said substructure tubular member.  
     
     
         9 . The pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein said covering is a wire mesh screen.  
     
     
         10 . The pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein said wire mesh screen covers at least a portion of said exterior wall of said tubular member.  
     
     
         11 . The pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein said energy absorber includes a knitted wire mesh screen acting as a fines discriminator.  
     
     
         12 . The pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein there is further included an outer protective shielding covering said energy absorber.  
     
     
         13 . The pipe system of  claim 12 , wherein said outer protective shielding has openings therethrough.  
     
     
         14 . The pipe system of  claim 13 , wherein said openings are perforations in said outer protective shielding.  
     
     
         15 . The pipe system of  claim 13 , wherein said openings are leuvered.  
     
     
         16 . The pipe system of  claim 12 , wherein energy absorber includes an exterior wall and said outer protective shielding is mounted to cover said exterior wall.  
     
     
         17 . The pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein said energy absorber includes a knitted wire mesh screen and said knitted wire mesh includes wire, said wire being stainless steel.  
     
     
         18 . The pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein said energy absorber includes a knitted wire mesh screen and said knitted wire mesh includes wire, said wire being metallic alloys of zinc.  
     
     
         19 . The pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein said energy absorber includes a knitted wire mesh screen and said knitted wire mesh includes wire, said wire being metallic alloys of copper.  
     
     
         20 . The pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein said energy absorber includes a knitted wire mesh screen and said knitted wire mesh includes wire, said wire being fibers of kavler.  
     
     
         21 . The pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein said energy absorber includes a knitted wire mesh screen and said knitted wire mesh includes wire, said wire being fibers of aramid.  
     
     
         22 . The pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein said energy absorber includes a series of knitted wire mesh cylinders layered around each other, said inner cylinder covering said portion of said exterior wall.  
     
     
         23 . The pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein said energy absorber includes a series of wire mesh cylinders layered around each other, said inner cylinder covering said portion of said exterior wall.  
     
     
         24 . The pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein said energy absorber includes a series of wire mesh and braided wire cylinders layered around each other, said inner cylinder covering said portion of said exterior wall.  
     
     
         25 . A subterranean pipe system, comprising: 
 a substructure tubular member having a wall and having at least one opening therethrough; a knitted wire mesh screen acting as a fines discriminator, said knitted wire mesh screen covering at least a portion of said wall of said substructure, said energy absorber juxtaposed to at least a portion of said wall of said substructure.    
     
     
         26 . A knitted wire inflow control apparatus for providing known pressure loss for a flowing fluid in a pipe, comprising: 
 a cylindrical shaped inner tubular member, said tubular member having a known pressure drop, said tubular member including layers of knitted wire mesh and being mounted in the pipe.    
     
     
         27 . The control apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein said pipe is in a subterranean production system having flowing fluid flowing through said tubular member to produce the pressure loss.