Downhole screen assembly

Abstract

A screen assembly that is used with a well includes a base pipe, a screen and ribs. The base pipe has a non-perforated section and has a longitudinal axis. The screen at least partially circumscribes the non-perforated section of the base pipe, and the ribs extend longitudinally in an annular space between the screen and the non-perforated section. A flexible member (e.g., a wire) is wrapped around the ribs. Various other mechanisms may be used instead of the ribs and flexible member in the annular space. In this regard, such annular standoffs such as a corrugated material, a member that has longitudinal channels, and a member formed from a first set of wires that is interwoven with a second set of wires may be used. Alternatively, longitudinal channels may be formed in the outer surface of the base pipe.

1 . A screen assembly usable with a well, comprising:
 a base pipe having a non-perforated section and having a longitudinal axis;   a screen at least partially circumscribing the non-perforated section of the base pipe;   ribs to extend longitudinally in an annular space between the screen and the non-perforated section; and   a flexible member to be wrapped around the ribs.   
   
   
       2 . The screen assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible member comprises a wire. 
   
   
       3 . The screen assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ribs comprise wires. 
   
   
       4 . The screen assembly of  claim 3 , wherein each wire has a cross-sectional dimension that is substantially the same as a distance between the non-perforated section of the base pipe and the screen. 
   
   
       5 . The screen assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible member is spirally wrapped around the ribs. 
   
   
       6 . The screen assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base pipe further comprises a perforated section not at least partially circumscribed by the screen, the perforated section to receive fluid communicated through the screen. 
   
   
       7 . A screen assembly usable with a well, comprising:
 a base pipe;   a screen at least partially circumscribing the base pipe; and   a corrugated material located in an annular space between the screen and the base pipe.   
   
   
       8 . The screen assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the corrugated material comprises a metal. 
   
   
       9 . The screen assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the corrugated material is perforated. 
   
   
       10 . A screen assembly usable with a well, comprising:
 a base pipe having a longitudinal axis;   a screen at least partially circumscribing the base pipe;   a first set of flexible members to extend longitudinally in an annular space between the screen and the base pipe; and   a second set of flexible members interwoven with the first set of flexible members.   
   
   
       11 . The screen assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first set of flexible members comprise a first set of wires,
 the second set of flexible members comprise a second set of wires, and   the wires of the second set of wires each have a substantially smaller cross-sectional dimension than wires of the first set of wires.   
   
   
       12 . The screen assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first set of flexible members comprise a first set of wires,
 the second set of flexible members comprise a second set of wires, and   the wires of the second set of wires are substantially transverse to the wires of the first set of wires.   
   
   
       13 . A screen assembly usable with a well, comprising:
 a base pipe having a longitudinal axis;   a screen to at least partially circumscribing the base pipe; and   at least one member to extend longitudinally in an annular space between the screen and the base pipe, each member comprising a base portion and at least two sidewalls to form at least one longitudinal channel.   
   
   
       14 . The screen assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one longitudinal channel comprises an open channel which faces the base pipe. 
   
   
       15 . The screen assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one longitudinal channel comprises an open channel which faces the screen. 
   
   
       16 . The screen assembly of  claim 15  further comprising:
 a wire to be wrapped around the said at least one member.   
   
   
       17 . The screen assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the wire is adapted to be spirally wrapped around said at least one member. 
   
   
       18 . The screen assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one member is perforated. 
   
   
       19 . The screen assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one member forms multiple longitudinal channels. 
   
   
       20 . A screen assembly usable with a well, comprising:
 a base pipe having a longitudinal axis;   a screen to at least partially circumscribing the base pipe,   wherein longitudinal channels are formed in the base pipe and at least partially circumscribed by the screen.   
   
   
       21 . The screen assembly of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a support layer to be located between the screen and the base pipe.   
   
   
       22 . The screen assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the support layer comprises a woven mesh, a square mesh or a perforated sheet material. 
   
   
       23 . A method usable with a well, comprising:
 providing a base pipe having a non-perforating section and having a longitudinal axis;   at least partially surrounding a non-perforated section of the base pipe with a screen;   longitudinally extending ribs in an annular space between the screen and the non-perforated section of the base pipe; and   wrapping a flexible member around the ribs.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the ribs comprise wires. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein each wire has a cross-sectional dimension that is substantially the same as a distance between the non-perforated section of the base pipe and the screen. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the flexible member comprises a wire. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the wire is spirally wrapped around the ribs. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the base pipe further comprises a perforated section not at least partially circumscribed by the screen, the perforated section to receive fluid communicated through the screen. 
   
   
       29 . A method usable with a well, comprising:
 providing a base pipe;   at least partially surrounding the base pipe with a screen; and   disposing a corrugated material in an annular space between the screen and the base pipe.   
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the corrugated material comprises a metal. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the corrugated material is perforated. 
   
   
       32 . A method usable with a well, comprising:
 providing a base pipe;   at least partially surrounding the base pipe with a screen;   extending a first set of wires longitudinally in an annular space between the screen and the base pipe; and   interweaving a second set of wires with the first set of wires.   
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein wires of the second set of wires each have a substantially smaller cross-sectional dimension than wires of the first set of wires. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein wires of the second set of wires are substantially transverse to the wires of the first set of wires. 
   
   
       35 . A method usable with a well, comprising:
 providing a base pipe;   at least partially surrounding the base pipe with a screen;   extending at least one member longitudinally in an annular space between the screen and the base pipe; and   forming at least one longitudinal channel in the member.   
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said at least one longitudinal channel comprises an open channel which faces the base pipe. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said at least one longitudinal channel comprises an open channel which faces the screen. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37  further comprising:
 a wire to be wrapped around the said at least one member.   
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the wire is adapted to be spirally wrapped around said at least one member. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said at least one member is perforated. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said at least one member forms multiple longitudinal channels. 
   
   
       42 . A method usable with a well, comprising:
 providing a base pipe;   at least partially surrounding the base pipe with a screen; and   forming longitudinal channels in the base pipe, the channels being at least partially circumscribed by the screen.   
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising:
 disposing a support layer between the screen and the base pipe.   
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the support layer comprises a woven mesh, a square mesh or a perforated sheet material.