Wells – Processes – Parallel string or multiple completion well
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-18
2001-07-24
Neuder, William (Department: 3672)
Wells
Processes
Parallel string or multiple completion well
C166S050000, C166S207000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263968
ABSTRACT:
This application is related to concurrently filed U.S. application Ser. No. 09/028,427, now abandoned, entitled “Apparatus and Methods for Completing a Wellbore”, which is commonly assigned with the present invention and is incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the completion of wellbores, and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to improved apparatus and methods for completing lateral wellbores in multilateral wells.
2. History of the Related Art
Horizontal well drilling and production have become increasingly important to the oil industry in recent years. While horizontal wells have been known for many years, only relatively recently have such wells been determined to be a cost-effective alternative to conventional vertical well drilling. Although drilling a horizontal well usually costs more than its vertical counterpart, a horizontal well frequently improves production by a factor of five, ten, or even twenty in naturally-fractured reservoirs. Generally, projected productivity from a horizontal wellbore must triple that of a vertical wellbore for horizontal drilling to be economical. This increased production minimizes the number of platforms, cutting investment, and operation costs. Horizontal drilling makes reservoirs in urban areas, permafrost zones, and deep offshore waters more accessible. Other applications for horizontal wellbores include periphery wells, thin reservoirs that would require too many vertical wellbores, and reservoirs with coning problems in which a horizontal wellbore lowers the drawdown per foot of reservoir exposed to slow down coning problems.
Some wellbores contain multiple wellbores extending laterally from the main wellbore. These additional lateral wellbores are sometimes referred to as drainholes, and main wellbores containing more than one lateral wellbore are referred to as multilateral wells. Multilateral wells allow an increase in the amount and rate of production by increasing the surface area of the wellbore in contact with the reservoir. Thus, multilateral wells are becoming increasingly important, both from the standpoint of new drilling operations and from the reworking of existing wellbores, including remedial and stimulation work.
As a result of the foregoing increased dependence on and importance of horizontal wells, horizontal well completion, and particularly multilateral well completion, have been important concerns and continue to provide a host of difficult problems to overcome. Lateral completion, particularly at the junction between the main and lateral wellbores, is extremely important to avoid collapse of the wellbore in unconsolidated or weakly consolidated formations. Thus, open hole completions are limited to competent rock formations; and, even then, open hole completions are inadequate since there is limited control or ability to access (or reenter the lateral) or to isolate production zones within the wellbore. Coupled with this need to complete lateral wellbores is the growing desire to maintain the lateral wellbore size as close as possible to the size of the primary vertical wellbore for ease of drilling, completion, and future workover.
The problem of lateral wellbore (and particularly multilateral wellbore) completion has been recognized for many years, as reflected in the patent literature. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,704 discloses a system for completing multiple lateral wellbores using a dual packer and a deflective guide member. U.S. Pat. No. 2,797,893 discloses a method for completing lateral wells using a flexible liner and deflecting tool. U.S. Pat. No. 2,397,070 similarly describes lateral wellbore completion using flexible casing together with a closure shield for closing off the lateral. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,858,107, a removable whipstock assembly provides a means for locating (e.g. accessing) a lateral subsequent to completion thereof. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,396,075; 4,415,205; 4,444,276; and 4,573,541 all relate generally to methods and devices for multilateral completions using a template or tube guide head. Other patents of general interest in the field of horizontal well completion include U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,452,920 and 4,402,551.
More recently, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,318,122; 5,353,876; 5,388,648; and 5,520,252 have disclosed methods and apparatus for sealing the juncture between a vertical well and one or more horizontal wells. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,503, which is commonly assigned with the present invention and is incorporated herein by reference, discloses several methods and systems for drilling and completing multilateral wells. Furthermore, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,566,763 and 5,613,559, which are commonly assigned with the present invention and are incorporated herein by reference, both disclose decentralizing, centralizing, locating, and orienting apparatus and methods for multilateral well drilling and completion.
Notwithstanding the above-described efforts toward obtaining cost-effective and workable lateral well drilling and completions, a need still exists for improved apparatus and methods for completing lateral wellbores. Toward this end, there also remains a need to increase the economy in lateral wellbore completions, such as, for example, by minimizing the number of downhole trips necessary to drill and complete a lateral wellbore.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention comprises a completion apparatus for coupling to a work string and for use within a liner of a wellbore. The completion apparatus includes a first packing assembly for creating a fluid tight seal against a liner in a wellbore; a second packing assembly for creating a second fluid tight seal against the liner; and a pressurization assembly disposed between the first and second packing assemblies.
In another aspect, the present invention comprises a method of completing a wellbore. A liner is disposed in a wellbore. A first packing assembly, a pressurization assembly, and a second packing assembly are coupled to a work string. The work string is run into the liner. A fluid tight seal is created between the first packing assembly and the liner, and a fluid tight seal is created between the second packing assembly and the liner. Fluid is pumped down the work string to the pressurization assembly. The pressurization assembly and fluid are utilized to pressurize an annulus defined by the pressurization assembly, the liner, the first packing assembly, and the second packing assembly. The pressure in the annulus is increased so as to deform the liner in a radially outward direction.
In a further aspect, the present invention comprises a method of completing a wellbore. A liner is provided having a first section and a second section. The first section is deformable in a radially outward direction at a lower pressure than the second section. The liner is disposed in a wellbore. A packing assembly is coupled to a work string, and the work string is run into the liner. A fluid tight seal is created between the packing assembly and the liner. Fluid is pumped down the work string to pressurize an interior of the liner after the packing assembly. The pressure in the interior of the liner is increased so as to deform the first section of the liner in a radially outward direction.
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Freeman Tommie Austin
Wilson Thomas P.
Halliburton Energy Service,s Inc.
Imwalle, Esq. William M.
Neuder William
Smith, Esq. Marlin R.
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