Abstract: In order to study the plugging mechanisms and optimize the structure of foam metal screen,the plugging process for foam metal screens was simulated by a large-scale sand control simulation device. With the screen plugging degree evaluating the specific productivity index, the plugging degree and mechanism under the different shale content, the screen precision and the thickness of the foam metal were analyzed. The experimental results showed that surface particle bridging was the main cause of foam metal screen plugging. The specific productivity index exponentially decreases with the increase of shale content where it finally stabilized at 0.075 m3/(d·MPa·m), which decreased by 78% compared with the index where there was no shale content. When the pore size of foam metal is increased, the specific productivity index increases. The increase of foam metal thickness had slight impact on the specific productivity index. The experimental study of plugging mechanism and influencing factors of foam metal screen provided theoretical basis for the optimization of screen structure.