Well screens with erosion resistant shunt flow paths

Abstract

A well screen can include a shunt flow path, and an erosion resistant layer between the shunt flow path and a body, the erosion resistant layer comprising a coating applied to the body. A method of constructing a well screen can include constructing a shunt flow path having an erosion resistant layer therein, and positioning the shunt flow path with the well screen, whereby the shunt flow path can convey the erosive slurry between opposite ends of the well screen. A system for use with a well can include a well screen including a shunt flow path through which an erosive slurry flows between sections of an annulus external to the well screen, and an internal erosion resistant layer in the shunt flow path.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A well screen, comprising:
 a shunt flow path; and   an erosion resistant layer between the shunt flow path and a body, the erosion resistant layer comprising a coating applied to an interior of the body.   
     
     
         2 . The well screen of  claim 1 , wherein the erosion resistant layer internally lines the shunt flow path. 
     
     
         3 . The well screen of  claim 1 , wherein the erosion resistant layer is positioned in a section of the shunt flow path having a reduced cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         4 . The well screen of  claim 1 , wherein the erosion resistant layer is positioned in a section of the shunt flow path having a change in direction. 
     
     
         5 . The well screen of  claim 1 , wherein the erosion resistant layer is positioned in a section of the shunt flow path comprising an intersection between shunt tubes. 
     
     
         6 . The well screen of  claim 1 , wherein the shunt flow path provides fluid communication between opposite ends of the well screen. 
     
     
         7 . The well screen of  claim 1 , wherein the shunt flow path provides fluid communication between an interior and an exterior of the well screen. 
     
     
         8 . The well screen of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a steel material. 
     
     
         9 . The well screen of  claim 1 , wherein the erosion resistant layer comprises a tungsten carbide material. 
     
     
         10 . The well screen of  claim 1 , wherein the erosion resistant layer is applied to an interior of a shunt tube. 
     
     
         11 . The well screen of  claim 1 , wherein the erosion resistant layer has a greater erosion resistance as compared to the body. 
     
     
         12 . The well screen of  claim 1 , further comprising a nozzle which provides fluid communication between the shunt flow path and an exterior of the well screen, and wherein the coating lines an interior of the nozzle. 
     
     
         13 . A method of constructing a well screen, the method comprising:
 constructing a shunt flow path having an erosion resistant layer therein, the erosion resistant layer comprising a coating; and   positioning the shunt flow path with the well screen.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the constructing further comprises positioning the erosion resistant layer between the shunt flow path and a body, the erosion resistant layer having a greater erosion resistance as compared to the body. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a steel body surrounds the shunt flow path, the steel body having the erosion resistant layer therein, whereby the erosion resistant layer protects the steel body from the erosive slurry. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the constructing further comprises the erosion resistant layer internally lining the shunt flow path. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the constructing further comprises positioning the erosion resistant layer in a section of the shunt flow path having a reduced cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the constructing further comprises positioning the erosion resistant layer in a section of the shunt flow path having a change in direction. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the constructing further comprises positioning the erosion resistant layer in a section of the shunt flow path comprising an intersection between shunt tubes. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the erosion resistant layer comprises a tungsten carbide material. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising connecting a nozzle to the shunt flow path, whereby the nozzle can direct an erosive slurry to an exterior of the well screen, the nozzle having the erosion resistant layer therein. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the shunt flow path can conveys an erosive slurry between opposite ends of the well screen. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the shunt flow path can conveys an erosive slurry between an interior and an exterior of the well screen. 
     
     
         24 . A system for use with a well, the system comprising:
 a well screen including a shunt flow path through which an erosive slurry flows between longitudinal sections of an annulus external to the well screen, and an internal erosion resistant layer in the shunt flow path, the erosion resistant layer comprising a coating.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the erosion resistant layer is positioned between the shunt flow path and a body, the erosion resistant layer having a greater erosion resistance as compared to the body. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the body comprises a steel material. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the erosion resistant layer internally lines the shunt flow path. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the erosion resistant layer is positioned in a section of the shunt flow path having a reduced cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the erosion resistant layer is positioned in a section of the shunt flow path having a change in direction. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the erosion resistant layer is positioned in a section of the shunt flow path comprising an intersection between shunt tubes. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the shunt flow path provides fluid communication between opposite ends of the well screen. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the shunt flow path provides fluid communication between an interior and an exterior of the well screen. 
     
     
         33 . A well screen, comprising:
 a shunt flow path;   a nozzle which provides fluid communication between the shunt flow path and an exterior of the well screen; and   an erosion resistant layer which lines the shunt flow path and an interior of the nozzle.   
     
     
         34 . The well screen of  claim 33 , wherein the shunt flow path provides fluid communication between opposite ends of the well screen. 
     
     
         35 . The well screen of  claim 33 , wherein the nozzle comprises a steel body having the erosion resistant layer therein, whereby the erosion resistant layer protects the steel body from an erosive slurry. 
     
     
         36 . The well screen of  claim 33 , wherein the erosion resistant layer comprises a tungsten carbide material. 
     
     
         37 . The well screen of  claim 33 , wherein the erosion resistant layer comprises a coating applied in the shunt flow path and to the interior of the nozzle. 
     
     
         38 . The well screen of  claim 33 , wherein the erosion resistant layer has a greater erosion resistance as compared to a body of the nozzle. 
     
     
         39 . The well screen of  claim 33 , wherein the erosion resistant layer has a greater hardness as compared to a body of the nozzle.