Jumper Connection for Shunt Tubes on Wellscreen Assembly

Abstract

A method and apparatus for communicating ends of adjoining shunt tubes on connected wellscreen joints involves positioning a jumper tube in a gap between opposed ends of adjoining shunt tubes on connected wellscreen joints. First and second sliding end connectors of the jumper tube are engaged with the shunt tube ends by moving the connectors into an extended position over the shunt tube ends and using slide lock components to lock the connectors with the shunt tube ends. If desired, the connectors of the jumper tube can be disengaged from the shunt tube ends by moving the connectors into a retracted position away from the shunt tube ends and by rotating the connectors, thereby unlocking the lock components.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of communicating opposed ends of adjoining shunt tubes on connected wellscreen joints, the method comprising:
 positioning a jumper tube in a gap between the opposed ends of the adjoining shunt tubes; and   connecting first and second ends of the jumper tube to the opposed ends by—
 moving a first connector from a retracted position on the first end to an extended position at least partially over the opposed end of the shunt tube, and 
 engaging first thread between a first inner surface of the first connector and a first outer surface of the opposed end of the shunt tube. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising disengaging the first thread by rotating and moving the first connector from the extended position into the retracted position away from the opposed end. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein connecting the first and second ends comprises moving a second connector from a retracted position on the second end into an extended position at least partially over the opposed end of the shunt tube and engaging second thread between a second inner surface of the second connector and a second outer surface of the opposed end of the shunt tube. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein moving the first connector from the retracted position on the first end into the extended position at least partially over the opposed end of the shunt tube comprises sliding the first connector over the opposed end in one direction and locking ratchet threading of the first thread in an opposite direction. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein engaging the first thread between the first inner surface of the first connector and the first outer surface of the opposed end of the shunt tube comprises engaging a first ratchet portion of the first thread on the first inner surface of the first connector with a second ratchet portion of the first thread on the first outer surface of the opposed end. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising engaging the first ratchet portion of the first thread on the first inner surface of the first connector with a third ratchet portion of the first thread on another outer surface of the first end of the jumper tube. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising engaging a portion of the first inner surface of the first connector with a portion of the first outer surface of the first end with an interference fit. 
     
     
         8 . A connection for communicating opposed ends of adjoining shunt tubes on connected wellscreen joints, the connection comprising:
 a jumper tube having first and second ends;   a first connector disposed on the first end and movable thereon at least from a retracted position to an extended position, the first connector in the extending position positioning at least partially over the opposed end of the shunt tube; and   a first thread disposed on a first inner surface of the first connector, the first thread on the first connector in the extended condition engaging a first outer surface of the opposed end of the shunt tube.   
     
     
         9 . The connection of  claim 8 , wherein the first connector is movable from the extended position to the retracted position; and wherein the first thread rotated with the moving first connector disengages the first inner surface from the first outer surface of the opposed end. 
     
     
         10 . The connection of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a second connector disposed on the second end and movable thereon at least from a retracted position to an extended position, the second connector in the extending position positioning at least partially over the opposed end of the shunt tube; and   a second thread disposed on a second inner surface of the second connector, the second thread on the second connector in the extended condition engaging a second outer surface of the opposed end of the shunt tube.   
     
     
         11 . The connection of  claim 8 , wherein to move the first connector from the retracted position on the first end into the extended position at least partially over the opposed end of the shunt tube, the first connector slides over the opposed end in one direction while locking ratchet threading of the first thread in an opposite direction. 
     
     
         12 . The connection of  claim 8 , wherein the first ratchet portion of the first thread on the first inner surface of the first connector engages a second ratchet portion of the first thread on the first outer surface of the opposed end. 
     
     
         13 . The connection of  claim 12 , wherein the first ratchet portion of the first thread on the first inner surface of the first connector engages a third ratchet portion of the first thread on another outer surface of the first end of the jumper tube. 
     
     
         14 . The connection of  claim 12 , wherein a portion of the first inner surface of the first connector engages a portion of the first outer surface of the first end with an interference fit. 
     
     
         15 . A wellscreen assembly, comprising:
 first and second screen joints connected together and having first and second adjoining shunt tubes, the first and second adjoining shunt tubes having opposed ends separated by a gap from one another;   a jumper tube having first and second ends and positioning in the gap between the opposed adjoining shunt tube ends;   a first connector disposed on the first end and movable thereon at least from a retracted position to an extended position, the first connector in the extending position positioning at least partially over the opposed end of the shunt tube; and   a first thread disposed on a first inner surface of the first connector, the first thread on the first connector in the extended condition engaging a first outer surface of the opposed end of the shunt tube.   
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first connector is movable from the extended position to the retracted position; and wherein the first thread rotated with the moving first connector disengages the first inner surface from the first outer surface of the opposed end. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a second connector disposed on the second end and movable thereon at least from a retracted position to an extended position, the second connector in the extending position positioning at least partially over the opposed end of the shunt tube; and   a second thread disposed on a second inner surface of the second connector, the second thread on the second connector in the extended condition engaging a second outer surface of the opposed end of the shunt tube.   
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein to move the first connector from the retracted position on the first end into the extended position at least partially over the opposed end of the shunt tube, the first connector slides over the opposed end in one direction while locking ratchet threading of the first thread in an opposite direction. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first ratchet portion of the thread on the first inner surface of the first connector engages a second ratchet portion of the first thread on the first outer surface of the opposed end. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the first ratchet portion of the first thread on the first inner surface of the first connector engages a third ratchet portion of the first thread on another outer surface of the first end of the jumper tube. 
     
     
         21 . The assembly of  claim 19 , wherein a portion of the first inner surface of the first connector engages a portion of the first outer surface of the first end with an interference fit.