Sand screen assemblies for a subterranean wellbore

Abstract

A sand screen assembly for a subterranean wellbore includes a base pipe having a central axis and including a flow port extending radially therethrough. The sand screen assembly also includes a screen element disposed about the base pipe and radially spaced from the base pipe to define an annulus radially positioned between the screen element and the base pipe. In addition, the sand screen assembly includes a manifold formed about the based pipe. The flow port is in fluid communication with the manifold and axially overlaps with the manifold. Further, the sand screen assembly includes a phase change material disposed within the manifold. The phase change material is configured to melt at a temperature below a melting temperature of the base pipe and flow into the flow port.

1 . A sand screen assembly for a subterranean wellbore, the sand screen assembly comprising:
 a base pipe having a central axis and including a flow port extending radially therethrough;   a screen element disposed about the base pipe and radially spaced from the base pipe to define an annulus radially positioned between the screen element and the base pipe;   a manifold formed about the based pipe, wherein the flow port is in fluid communication with the manifold and axially overlaps with the manifold; and   a phase change material disposed within the manifold, wherein the phase change material is configured to melt at a temperature below a melting temperature of the base pipe and flow into the flow port.   
     
     
         2 . The sand screen assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material is entirely disposed within the manifold. 
     
     
         3 . The sand screen assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the phase change material has an annular shape. 
     
     
         4 . The sand screen assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material is disposed about the flow port. 
     
     
         5 . The sand screen assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the phrase change material comprises an opening configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough and into the flow port. 
     
     
         6 . The sand screen assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the screen element comprises a plurality of perforations extending radially therethrough, wherein the perforations are in fluid communication with the annulus and the manifold. 
     
     
         7 . The sand screen assembly of  claim 2 , comprising a plurality of rib wires disposed within the annulus, wherein the rib wires are configured to maintain the radially spacing of the base pipe and the screen element. 
     
     
         8 . The sand screen assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material comprises a bismuth alloy. 
     
     
         9 . The sand screen assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the screen element has an uphole end and a downhole end, wherein the manifold is positioned axially proximal the downhole end of the screen element. 
     
     
         10 . The sand screen assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flow port is axially spaced from the sand element. 
     
     
         11 . A method of selectively stopping a flow of fluids through a sand screen assembly, the method comprising:
 (a) inserting a phase change material within the sand screen assembly, wherein the phase change material is configured to melt at a temperature below a melting temperature of the sand screen assembly;   (b) inserting the sand screen within a subterranean wellbore after (a);   (c) flowing fluid through a flow port of the sand screen after (b);   (d) melting the phase change material;   (e) flowing the phase change material into the flow port;   (f) re-solidifying the phase change material within the flow port after (d) and (e); and   (g) restricting fluid flow through the flow port after and as a result of (f).   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein (d) comprises:
 (d1) inserting a heating element within a throughbore of the sand screen; and   (d2) positioning the heating element in the throughbore proximal the phase change material.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein (d) comprises:
 (d1) activating a heating element positioned proximal the phase change material; and   (d2) generating thermal energy with the heating element.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sand screen assembly comprises:
 a base pipe having a central axis and including the flow port extending radially therethrough;   a screen element disposed about the base pipe and radially spaced from the base pipe to define an annulus radially positioned between the screen element and the base pipe;   a manifold formed about the based pipe, wherein the flow port is in fluid communication with the manifold and axially overlaps with the manifold.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the flow port is axially aligned with the manifold. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the flow port is positioned axially downhole of the screen element. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein (a) comprises positioning the phase change material in the manifold. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the annulus has an uphole end and a downhole end axially opposite the uphole end, wherein the flow port is axially positioned proximal the downhole end of the annulus. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein (c) comprises:
 (c1) flowing the fluid through a plurality of perforations in a screen element of the sand screen assembly;   (c2) flowing the fluid through into a manifold of the sand screen assembly after (c1); and   (c3) flowing the fluid through the flow port after (c2).   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising flowing the fluid through the phase change material during (c) and before (d)-(g).