Compliant screen with flow restrictive portions to reduce cross flow of wellbore fluids

Abstract

Compliant screens and methods of preventing crossflow through the compliant screen in a well completion. Example compliant screens have a drainage layer, a filtration layer disposed over the drainage layer, and an outer shroud disposed over the filtration layer. The filtration layer is a mesh having a lower transition portion, an upper transition portion, and a compliant portion disposed between the lower and upper portions. Flow through the lower and upper portions is reduced relative to the compliant portion. The compliant screen is activated by expanding the compliant screen such that it makes contact with an adjacent subterranean formation and a fluid is flowed through the compliant section from the subterranean formation.