Braided screen for downhole sand control screen assemblies

Abstract

A sand control screen assembly includes a base pipe that defines an interior and one or more flow ports. A braided sand screen is disposed about the base pipe and is radially offset from the base pipe such that a production annulus is defined therebetween. The braided sand screen comprises a plurality of wires braided about the base pipe during manufacture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sand control screen assembly, comprising:
 a base pipe that defines an interior and one or more flow ports; and   a braided sand screen disposed about the base pipe and radially offset from the base pipe such that a production annulus is defined therebetween, wherein the braided sand screen comprises a plurality of wires braided about the base pipe during manufacture.   
     
     
         2 . The sand control screen assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a perforated shroud disposed about the braided sand screen. 
     
     
         3 . The sand control screen assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the production annulus is provided by positioning a plurality of longitudinally-extending ribs between the base pipe and the braided sand screen and the braided sand screen is braided about the base pipe on top of the plurality of longitudinally-extending ribs. 
     
     
         4 . The sand control screen assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the production annulus is provided by positioning a drainage layer between the base pipe and the braided sand screen and the braided sand screen is braided about the base pipe on top of the drainage layer. 
     
     
         5 . The sand control screen assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of wires exhibits a circular cross-section. 
     
     
         6 . The sand control screen assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of wires exhibits a polygonal cross-section. 
     
     
         7 . The sand control screen assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a first wire of the plurality of wires exhibits a first gauge and a second wire of the plurality of wires exhibits a second gauge different from the first gauge. 
     
     
         8 . The sand control screen assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of wires comprises stainless steel. 
     
     
         9 . The sand control screen assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one wire of the plurality of wires comprises a galvanically-corrodible or dissolvable metal. 
     
     
         10 . The sand control screen assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a degradable material applied to all or a portion of the braided sand screen. 
     
     
         11 . The sand control screen assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the degradable material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of borate glass, a degradable polymer, a degradable rubber, a dehydrated salt, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . A method, comprising:
 introducing a sand control screen assembly into a wellbore adjacent a formation penetrated by the wellbore, the sand control screen assembly having a base pipe and a braided sand screen disposed about the base pipe and radially offset therefrom such that a production annulus is defined between the base pipe and the braided sand screen;   drawing a fluid from the formation and into the production annulus via the braided sand screen, wherein the braided sand screen comprises a plurality of wires braided about the base pipe during manufacture of the sand control screen assembly; and   flowing the fluid into an interior of the base pipe via one or more flow ports defined in the base pipe.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the sand control screen assembly further includes a perforated shroud disposed about the braided sand screen, the method further comprising flowing the fluid through the perforated shroud. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein at least one wire of the plurality of wires comprises a galvanically-corrodible or dissolvable metal, the method further comprising degrading the at least one wire upon subjecting the at least one wire to a wellbore environment. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the sand control screen assembly further includes a degradable material applied to all or a portion of the braided sand screen, the method further comprising degrading the degradable material upon subjecting the degradable material to a wellbore environment. 
     
     
         16 . A method of manufacturing, comprising:
 moving a base pipe of a sand control screen assembly longitudinally through a center of a wire braiding machine that provides a plurality of spindles, wherein each spindle includes wire wrapped thereon and the base pipe defines one or more flow ports;   deploying the wire from each spindle as the plurality of spindles cyclically rotate; and   braiding the wire from each spindle about the base pipe as the base pipe moves longitudinally with respect to the wire braiding machine and thereby generating a braided sand screen positioned about the base pipe.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a plurality of longitudinally-extending ribs interposes the base pipe and the braided sand screen, and wherein braiding the wire from each spindle about the base pipe comprises:
 braiding the wire from each spindle directly onto the plurality of longitudinally-extending ribs; and   forming a production annulus between the base pipe and the braided sand screen.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a drainage layer interposes the base pipe and the braided sand screen, and wherein braiding the wire from each spindle about the base pipe comprises:
 braiding the wire from each spindle directly onto the drainage layer; and   forming a production annulus between the base pipe and the braided sand screen.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein at least one wire of the plurality of spindles comprises a galvanically-corrodible or dissolvable metal. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising applying a degradable material applied to all or a portion of the braided sand screen, wherein the degradable material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of borate glass, a degradable polymer, a degradable rubber, a dehydrated salt, and any combination thereof.