US 12,352,139 B2
Screen apparatus and method
Eilidh Jean McKay, Aberdeen (GB); and Duncan Alexander Harper, Alford (GB)
Assigned to Swellfix UK Limited, Aberdeenshire (GB)
Appl. No. 17/631,109
Filed by Swellfix UK Limited, Westhill (GB)
PCT Filed Aug. 12, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/072633
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 28, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/028474, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 18, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 1911536.9 (GB), filed on Aug. 12, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0220832 A1, Jul. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. E21B 43/10 (2006.01); E21B 34/14 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 43/108 (2013.01) [E21B 34/14 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
19. A method for repairing/plugging a defect in a sand screen or tubular, comprising:
positioning a downhole expandable apparatus in a wellbore adjacent a defect, the expandable apparatus comprising a base pipe,
wherein the base pipe comprises at least one aperture in a wall thereof, and a fluid permeable expandable foam material mounted thereon,
wherein the at least one aperture is positioned on a section of the base pipe that is under the expandable foam material mounted on the base pipe such that the expandable foam material extends across the at least one aperture, the expandable foam material being retained in a non-expanded configuration by a retractable sleeve;
retracting the retractable sleeve of the downhole expandable apparatus to configure a portion of the expandable foam material to an expanded configuration, in which the expandable foam material is expanded so as to contact the defect.