摘要 |
A filter is provided which combines a woven wire mesh (14) over a supporting body. The supporting body is typically a metal perforated tube which provides fluid communication between the well bore and the production equipment string. The woven wire mesh (14) acts as a filter to prevent the influx of sand particles (30), provides openings oriented at various angles relative to its surface, so that some area is available for fluid entry even when particulate matter is lodged on the surface above an opening, provides interior channels that allow fluid to travel from one location on the mesh surface to another location over an opening into the supporting body, and does not provide "straight-through" openings, thus forcing the fluid to make multiple turns (28) to pass through the mesh, thereby dissipating the fluid's energy and increases the mesh's erosion resistance. When particulate matter accumulates on the mesh's surface, the resulting particle cake remains porous, heightening the filter's resistance to plugging. |