SHUNT SYSTEM FOR DOWNHOLE SAND CONTROL COMPLETIONS

A downhole sand control completion system includes a completion string (102) extendable within a wellbore (104) and including one or more sand control screen assemblies (114a, 114b, 114c) arranged about a base pipe (112), each sand control screen assembly including one or more sand screens (204a, 204b, 204c) positioned about the base pipe. A shunt system (212) is positioned about an exterior of the base pipe to receive and redirect a gravel slurry (130) flowing in an annulus (118) defined between the completion string and a wellbore wall. A return tube (224, 224b) is positioned about the exterior of the base pipe and extends longitudinally along a portion of the completion string. The return tube defines a plurality of openings (230) to receive a portion of a fluid in the annulus into the return tube to be conveyed into an interior of the base pipe via the return tube.