Importance

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Abstract

A sand screen having a plurality of sintered, substantially spherical plastic members covering a perforated mandrel is releasably suspended from a packer mandrel by a locking mandrel and a landing nipple. The sand screen and locking mandrel are retrievable with the assistance of a running tool which is insertable into the bore of the locking mandrel. According to this arrangement, the sand screen can be removed and replaced without retrieving the packer or the production tubing. In one embodiment, the sand screen is enclosed within the bore of a sliding side valve. The sliding side valve can be opened and closed as desired for selectively admitting production from various producing zones, or for isolation of a damaged screen. In another embodiment, an auxiliary sand screen having a plurality of sintered, substantially spherical plastic members covering a perforated mandrel is inserted into the bore of a primary screen, for example, a conventional wire-wrap sand screen. The auxiliary sand screen is thus interposed in the flow path for screening out sand fines which may be conducted through the wire-wrap screen because of screen damage caused by corrosion or sand erosion.

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First Claim