Device and process for the lining of a pipe branch, particuarly

Details Device and process for the lining of a pipe branch, particuarly Device and process for the lining of a pipe branch, particuarly

1998-07-20

1999-10-12

Bagnell, David

Wells

Expansible anchor or casing

Expansible casing

4051501, E21B 4310

Patent

active

059642882

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a device and a process for lining a bifurcation in a well, particularly in an oil well.
2. Description of Related Art
The invention finds a particular application in sealing and lining the area where a main bore that is generally (although not necessarily) vertical joins an oblique bore running from the vertical bore, known in the art as a "side track".
This type of secondary bore is used to access lateral oil-bearing reservoirs when the main reservoir is exhausted or has become uneconomic or simply to increase the productivity of the well.
This type of bore also enables the production area to be significantly expanded into areas where access is difficult without having to drill a new well from the surface; this applies in particular to production from deposits under the sea.
Prior art processes use metal tubes to consolidate and seal the borehole, both for the main well and often for the secondary wells, and it is difficult to obtain a good seal in the area of the join.
It has already been proposed to line a well by means of an initially flexible radially deformable tubular preform that can be expanded by internal pressure and hardened in situ by heating its wall to polymerize it.
This technique is described in documents WO-94/21887 and WO-94/25655 and in unpublished French patent application 94 08691 of Jul. 7 1994, for example.
The present invention proposes to transpose this technique known in itself to lining the bifurcation area in which the main bore and the secondary bore join.


BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the invention is to propose a simple low-cost lightweight device that is easy to put into place and produces a perfect seal of the junction in the bifurcation area.
The device for lining a bifurcation in a well, in particular in an oil well, in accordance with the present invention comprises--in a manner that is known in itself--a radially deformable flexible tubular preform that can be expanded by internal pressure and hardened in situ by heating its wall to polymerize it. The device is remarkable in that said preform is formed of a rectilinear main section and a rectilinear secondary section at an acute angle to the main section and joined and sealed to the latter in a middle area, temporary restraining means being provided to hold the secondary section initially in a radially folded condition, pressed against the main section, the combination then constituting a rectilinear preform, whereas after removal of said temporary restraining means, and due to internal pressure, the secondary section separates from the main section, the combination then constituting a generally "y" shape preform (the bottom bar of which is aligned with one of the top bars).
In accordance with a number of further, non-limiting features of the invention: and elastic membrane bag housed inside the preform and adapted to be pulled out at the end of operation. diameter of the main section being greater than or the same as that of the secondary section. secondary sections adapted to break one after the other beyond a particular internal pressure threshold.
The process for lining and sealing a bifurcation in a well, in particular in an oil well, comprising a main bore and an oblique secondary bore by means of a device as described hereinabove is remarkable in that, using a preform in which the angle between said main section and said secondary section is close to that of the bifurcation: state and with the secondary section pressed against the main section, the combination having a rectilinear configuration; free end of the secondary section is at the entry of the oblique secondary bore; rupture progressively the restraining bindings and to cause progressive radial unfolding and angular deployment of the secondary section concomitantly with further lowering of the preform; substantially positioned at the level of the bifurcate portion of the well; to expand radially and to press it against the walls of the well; wall;
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REFERENCES:
patent: 2804926 (1957-09-01), Zublin
patent: 4444276 (1984-04-01), Peterson, Jr.
patent: 5388648 (1995-02-01), Jordan, Jr.

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