Flow distribution assemblies with shunt tubes and erosion-resistant shunt nozzles

Abstract

A shunt tube assembly includes a shunt tube having an inner flow path for a fluid and defining an opening in a sidewall of the shunt tube. A shunt nozzle is coupled to the sidewall and has an elongate slot defined therethrough and is aligned with the opening to provide fluid communication between the inner flow path and an exterior of the shunt tube. The elongate slot has a length and a height, and the length is greater than the height.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shunt tube assembly, comprising:
 a shunt tube having an inner flow path for a fluid and defining an opening in a sidewall of the shunt tube; and   a shunt nozzle coupled to the sidewall and having an elongate slot defined the ethrough and aligned with the opening to provide fluid communication between the inner flow path and an exterior of the shunt tube, wherein the elongate slot has a length and a height, and the length is dissimilar to the height.   
     
     
         2 . The shunt tube assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shunt tube is rectangular and the length is a horizontal measurement of the elongate slot generally parallel to the shunt tube, and the height is a vertical measurement of the elongate slot generally orthogonal to the shunt tube. 
     
     
         3 . The shunt tube assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the length is greater than the height. 
     
     
         4 . The shunt tube assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shunt nozzle is a six-sided block comprising:
 a first end and a second end opposite the first end;   a top and a bottom opposite the top; and   a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the elongate slot extends between the first and second sides.   
     
     
         5 . The shunt tube assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the length of the elongate slot is constant between the first and second sides. 
     
     
         6 . The shunt tube assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the length of the elongate slot varies between the first and second sides. 
     
     
         7 . The shunt tube assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the height of the elongate slot is constant across the length of the elongate slot. 
     
     
         8 . The shunt tube assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the height of the elongate slot varies across the length of the elongate slot. 
     
     
         9 . The shunt tube assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the elongate slot defines a channel where the height is increased as compared to remaining portions of the elongate slot. 
     
     
         10 . The shunt tube assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the channel exhibits a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of circular, oval, ovoid, polygonal, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The shunt tube assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shunt nozzle is coupled to the sidewall by at least one of welding, brazing, an adhesive, a mechanical fastener, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The shunt tube assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate slot extends from the shunt tube at an angle ranging between 1° and 179° with respect to the shunt tube. 
     
     
         13 . The shunt tube assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shunt nozzle comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a carbide, a carbide embedded in a matrix of cobalt or nickel by sintering, a cobalt alloy, a ceramic, a surface-hardened metal, a steel alloy, a chromium alloy, a nickel alloy, a cermet-based material, a metal matrix composite, a nanocrystalline metallic alloy, an amorphous alloy, a hard metallic alloy, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The shunt tube assembly of  claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the shunt nozzle is clad with an erosion-resistant material selected from the group consisting of a carbide, a cobalt alloy, and a ceramic. 
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising:
 introducing a flow distribution assembly into a wellbore on a work string, the flow distribution assembly including at least one shunt tube extending along an exterior of the work string and having an inner flow path for a fluid and defining an opening in a sidewall of the shunt tube;   conveying the fluid into the inner flow path from an annulus defined between the work string and the wellbore; and   discharging at least a portion of the fluid from the at least one shunt tube at a shunt nozzle coupled to the sidewall and having an elongate slot defined therethrough and aligned with the opening to provide fluid communication between the inner flow path and the annulus, wherein the elongate slot has a length and a height, and the length is dissimilar to the height.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising preventing erosion of the shunt fitting, wherein the shunt nozzle comprises an erosion-resistant material selected from the group consisting of a carbide, a ceramic, a cobalt alloy, a surface-hardened metal, stainless steel, a nickel-chromium alloy, a molybdenum alloy, and a chromium steel. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising preventing erosion of an inner surface of the shunt nozzle, wherein the inner surface of the shunt nozzle is clad with an erosion-resistant material selected from the group consisting of a carbide, a cobalt alloy, and a ceramic. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising preventing erosion of the at least one shunt tube, wherein the at least one shunt tube comprises an erosion-resistant material selected from the group consisting of a carbide, a ceramic, a cobalt alloy, a surface-hardened metal, and a composite. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the elongate slot defines a channel where the height is increased along the length as compared to remaining portions of the elongate slot. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the shunt tube is rectangular and the length is a horizontal measurement of the elongate slot generally parallel to the shunt tube and the height is a vertical measurement of the elongate slot generally orthogonal to the shunt tube, and wherein the length is greater than the height.