Apparatus and methods for allowing fluid flow inside at least one screen and outside a pipe disposed in a well bore

1. Apparatus for allowing the flow of fluid into a fluid flow system disposed in a well bore during gravel packing operations, the apparatus comprising:

a tubular assembly having upper and lower ends and at least one port, said at least one port allowing fluid communication between the interior and exterior of said tubular assembly;

a first inflow control device extending at least partially around at least part of said tubular assembly and over at least one said port, said first inflow control device having a length;

at least one screen extending around at least part of said tubular assembly and over all of said first inflow control device, said at least one screen forming an annulus around said tubular assembly, said annulus including a gap disposed between said at least one screen and said first inflow control device, said gap extending along the length of said first inflow control device; and

at least one inlet formed in said tubular assembly between said at least one screen and the lower end of said tubular assembly, said at least one inlet in fluid communication with said annulus and the interior of said tubular assembly,

wherein fluid may flow from the well bore through said at least one screen, into and through said annulus, through said gap and into said tubular assembly through said at least one inlet without the necessity of a wash pipe.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including at least one valve associated with said at least one inlet, said at least one valve being capable of selectively blocking said at least one inlet.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further including at least first and second said screens and at least first and second said inflow control devices, each said screen forming a respective said annulus, wherein fluid entering either of said screens flows to said at least one inlet without entering the interior of said tubular assembly at a location therebetween, and further including a flow communication assembly disposed between said first and second screens, said flow communication assembly having at least one passageway in fluid communication with said at least two annuluses.

4. A method of allowing gravel packing of substantially the entire well bore annulus around a tubular assembly disposed in a well bore, the gravel packing including alpha and beta wave formation, the tubular assembly including at least one closable inlet disposed proximate to the bottom end of the tubular assembly and in fluid communication with the bore thereof, at least one screen and at least one inflow control device disposed between the inlet and the upper end of the tubular assembly and at least one flow path extending outside of the tubular assembly and around the flow restriction mechanisms of the inflow control device(s) from the screen(s) to the inlet(s) of the tubular assembly, the method comprising:

opening the at least one inlet;

allowing the entry of gravel delivery fluid from the well bore through at least one screen and into the at least one flow path during the alpha wave formation;

allowing screen filtered gravel delivery fluid to flow in the at least one flow path around at least one inflow control device and in to at least one inlet;

allowing screen filtered gravel delivery fluid to enter the bore of the tubular assembly through the at least one inlet;

after the alpha wave is formed, allowing the entry of gravel delivery fluid from the well bore through at least one screen and into the at least one flow path during the beta wave formation;

allowing screen filtered gravel delivery fluid to flow in the at least one flow path around at least one inflow control device and in to at least one inlet;

allowing screen filtered gravel delivery fluid to enter the bore of the tubular assembly through the at least one inlet; and

closing the at least one inlet, whereby formation fluid thereafter passes from the well bore through at least one screen into the at least one inflow control device for controlled entry in the tubular assembly through at least one other entry port.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein screen filtered gravel delivery fluid flows through in the at least one flow path and into at least one inlet unrestricted.

6. The method of claim 5 further including allowing the recovery of gravel delivery fluid into the interior of the tubular assembly without the use of a wash pipe.