Baker Hughes Corporation

Robert J McNair

Henry J Jordan, Jr

Alan B Emerson

Brian S Kennedy

Patrick James Zimmerman

Mark W Brockman

L Cameron White

Daniel S Bangert

Jeffrey D Cockrell

Douglas James Murray

Alfred R Curington

Rodney J Bennett

A method for completing multi-lateral wells and maintaining selective re-entry into laterals is presented. In accordance with the present invention, a first lateral well is drilled from a primary well bore and a string of external casing packers and a packer bore receptacle are run therein. Once the orientation of the packer bore receptacle is determined, an orientation anchor of a retrievable whipstock assembly is mounted thereto. Thereafter, a second lateral well may be drilled. Once the second lateral well is drilled, the whipstock assembly may be retrieved and replaced with a scoophead diverter assembly which also includes an orientation anchor for mating with the packer bore receptacle. At this time, a string of external casing packers may be run into the second lateral well through the scoophead diverter assembly. Finally, a selective reentry tool is run into the scoophead assembly. The selective re-entry tool includes a diversion flapper for selecting either the first or second lateral well bore. Selective re-entry is desirable for the purpose of performing well intervention techniques. The re-entry tool may be actuated by a device located on a coil tubing work string which may be operated from the surface.

Method for completing multi-lateral wells and maintaining selective

The present invention relates to two improved methods for multilateral completion and cementing (e.g. sealing) the juncture between primary and lateral wellbores. These two completion methods of the present invention address the issue of cementation of the lateral wellbores for the purpose of zonal isolation. It is desirable to have the ability to re-enter each lateral wellbore as well as maintain the option to perform any function that could be done in a single wellbore. For this reason, cemented lateral wellbores are desirable so that normal isolation, stimulation or any other operation can be achieved. The methods allow sealing and reworking of either wellbores with single laterals or multiple laterals and provide safe durable junctions therebetween.

Method for multi-lateral completion and cementing the juncture with

In accordance with the present invention, a plurality of methods are provided for solving important and serious problems posed by lateral (and especially mutilateral) completion in a wellbore including methods for sealing the junction between a vertical and lateral well. Methods are disclosed for improved juncture sealing including novel techniques for establishing pressure tight seals between a liner in the lateral wellbore and a liner in the vertical wellbore. These methods generally relate to the installation of a liner to a location between the vertical and lateral wellbore such that the vertical well bore is blocked. Thereafter, at least a portion of the liner is removed to reopen the blocked vertical wellbore.

Method and apparatus for sealing the juncture between a vertical well

A method is presented involving the use of measurement-while-drilling (MWD) devices and tools for well completion (including multi-lateral well completion). While MWD techniques have been known for many years and in that time, have gained wide acceptance, the use of MWD has been limited only to borehole drilling, particularly directional drilling. However, it has now been discovered that MWD may be advantageously used in wellbore completions and particularly multi-lateral completions. Examples of successful applications of MWD in completions are provided with regard to lateral wellbores which may be installed at depths of 10,000 ft. or more, and which range from vertical to horizontal. Such examples include the running of a scoophead/diverter assembly and a parallel seal assembly where it is desirable to align the tools at approximately the position at which they will engage with mating equipment.

Wellbore completion using measurement-while-drilling techniques

A novel scoophead/diverter assembly is presented which is installed at the juncture between a primary wellbore and a lateral branch and which allows the production tubing of each to be oriented and anchored. This scoophead/diverter assembly further provides dual seal bores for tying back to the surface with either a dual packer completion or a single tubing string completion utilizing a selective re-entry tool. The scoophead/diverter assembly comprises a scoophead, a diverter sub, two struts as connecting members between the scoophead and diverter sub and a joint of tubing communicating from the scoophead, thru the diverter sub, and to the primary wellbore. The scoophead has a large and small bore. The large bore is a receptacle for a tie back sleeve run on top of the lateral wellbore string, and the small bore is a seal bore to tie the primary wellbore back to surface. Below the scoophead, a joint of tubing is threaded to the small bore. The tubing passes through an angled smooth bore in the diverter sub which causes the tubing joint to deflect from the offset of the small bore of the scoophead back to the centerline of the scoophead, and thus the centerline of the borehole with which it is concentric. In accordance with an important feature of the scoophead, the profile in the top of the scoophead is configured so that it directs the production tubing for the lateral wellbore into the large bore of the scoophead and also orients a parallel seal assembly when tying back to the surface with a dual packer completion or a single tubing completion. The orientation is accomplished by combining a sloped profile with a slotted inclined surface around the small bore and a compound angled surface above the slot.

Scoophead/diverter assembly for completing lateral wellbores

In accordance with the present invention, a plurality of methods are provided for solving important and serious problems posed by lateral (and especially multilateral) completion in a wellbore including methods for sealing the junction between a vertical and lateral well. Methods are disclosed for improved juncture sealing including novel techniques for establishing pressure tight seals between a liner in the lateral wellbore and a liner in the vertical wellbore. These methods generally relate to the installation of a liner to a location between the vertical and lateral wellbore such that the verticle wellbore is blocked. Thereafter, at least a portion of the liner is removed to reopen the blocked verticle wellbore.

In accordance with the present invention, a plurality of methods and devices are provided for solving important and serious problems posed by lateral (and especially multilateral) completion including methods and devices for re-entering selected lateral wells to perform completions work, additional drilling, or remedial and stimulation work. Various methods and devices are provided for assisting in the location and re-entry of lateral wells. Such re-entry devices include permanent or retrievable deflector (e.g., whipstock) devices. Preferably, the re-entry methods of this invention permit the bore size of the lateral wells to be the same or substantially the same bore size as the vertical wells.

Method and apparatus for locating and re-entering one or more horizontal

In accordance with the present invention, a plurality of methods and devices are provided for solving important and serious problems posed by lateral (and especially multilateral) completion in a wellbore including methods and devices for isolating a lateral well from other lateral branches in a multilateral well so as to prevent migration of fluids and to comply with regulations regarding the separate production of different production zones. Various methods and devices are provided for fluid isolation of a lateral well from other lateral wells and for separate production from a lateral well without commingling the production fluids. These methods include the use of a side pocket mandrel, whipstocks with sealable bores and valving techniques wherein valves are located at the surface or downhole at the junction of a particular lateral.

Growing community of inventors

The Woodlands, TX, United States of America

Robert J McNair