+

WO1998053174A1 - Dispositif et procede permettant de former un puits a canalisations grace au forage et a l'utilisation d'une colonne perdue - Google Patents

Dispositif et procede permettant de former un puits a canalisations grace au forage et a l'utilisation d'une colonne perdue Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1998053174A1
WO1998053174A1 PCT/GB1998/001476 GB9801476W WO9853174A1 WO 1998053174 A1 WO1998053174 A1 WO 1998053174A1 GB 9801476 W GB9801476 W GB 9801476W WO 9853174 A1 WO9853174 A1 WO 9853174A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
window
tubular member
casing
string
borehole
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1998/001476
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Jean Buytaert
Original Assignee
Integrated Drilling Services Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Integrated Drilling Services Limited filed Critical Integrated Drilling Services Limited
Publication of WO1998053174A1 publication Critical patent/WO1998053174A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B7/00—Special methods or apparatus for drilling
    • E21B7/04—Directional drilling
    • E21B7/06—Deflecting the direction of boreholes
    • E21B7/061—Deflecting the direction of boreholes the tool shaft advancing relative to a guide, e.g. a curved tube or a whipstock
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B41/00—Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00
    • E21B41/0035—Apparatus or methods for multilateral well technology, e.g. for the completion of or workover on wells with one or more lateral branches
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/02—Subsoil filtering
    • E21B43/10—Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells

Definitions

  • the invention relates to apparatus and a method for the drilling and production of a lateral well, and more particularly but not exclusively for the drilling and production of multi-lateral wells from a single mother well.
  • Drilling multi-lateral wells provides the advantage that the productivity or recovery of hydrocarbons from a formation can be improved by drilling a number of branch wells, all of which feed a mother well. Drilling multi-lateral wells can also reduce the platform cost by reducing the number of slots required to exploit a given hydrocarbon formation.
  • lateral wells can be completed “barefoot” (that is no liner pipe is used to case off the lateral well) . Barefoot completions are only satisfactory where the formations drilled are suitable for such a completion (such as a limestone formation) .
  • a casing with a section of side wall which incorporates an outlet tube and which is pivotally coupled to the casing by a hinge mechanism.
  • the pivotable section is moveable from a first position in which the outer surface of the casing is cylindrical and the inner bore of the casing is substantially narrowed by the outlet tube; and a second position in which the inner bore of the casing is cylindrical and the outlet tube protrudes from the casing.
  • this type of arrangement has the disadvantage that the diameter of the lateral well is limited with respect to the diameter of the mother well due to the pivotable outlet tube arrangement, as it must be contained within the main casing during installation.
  • apparatus for drilling a second borehole from a first borehole comprising a casing string for insertion into the first borehole, a portion of the casing string having a window in its side wall through which a drill bit can pass, the window having a central axis which is at an oblique angle to the central longitudinal axis of the portion of the casing in which the window is located; and a tubular member located within the casing string and arranged so that the longitudinal axis of the tubular member is substantially coincident to the central axis of the window, so that a portion of the tubular member can pass through the window to protrude from the casing.
  • the tubular member is typically capable of having a liner coupled thereto.
  • a first coupling formation is provided on the bore of the window, and a cooperating second coupling formation is provided on the outer surface of the tubular member.
  • a method of drilling a second borehole from a first borehole comprising providing a casing string for insertion into the first borehole, a portion of the casing string having a window in its sidewall through which a drill bit can pass, the window having a central axis which is at an oblique angle to the central longitudinal axis of the portion of the casing in which the window is located; inserting the casing string into the first borehole; inserting a drill string into the casing string; diverting the drill string with a diversion device through the window and subsequently on to drill the second borehole.
  • the method typically further includes the steps of withdrawing the drill string from the casing string; and passing a portion of a tubular member through the window whereby the portion of the tubular member protrudes into the second borehole.
  • the tubular member and the casing string are typically coupled together.
  • the method typically further includes the step of inserting a liner into the second borehole through the tubular member and coupling the liner to the tubular member .
  • the window is premachined in the casing and is optionally initially filled with a drillable material.
  • the portion of the casing string in which the window is located is of a drillable material. This has the advantage that the casing string may be run into a well and be cemented in place in a conventional manner. It will be appreciated that the window may not be filled, but may simply comprise an aperture.
  • a sleeve is typically positioned over the window. The sleeve is typically formed of a drillable material.
  • the method typically further includes the step of drilling through the material before the string is passed therethrough to drill the second borehole.
  • the tubular member is located within an angled section of the casing string, and more preferably, the tubular member and the angled section of the casing string are co-axial.
  • This provides the advantage that a relatively large diameter tubular member, with respect to the casing string diameter, can be used. Further, the tubular member does not require to be bent in order to insert it into the second borehole.
  • the casing string comprises an upper casing section which is coupled to the angled section of the casing which is coupled to a lower casing section.
  • the upper and lower casing sections are substantially parallel.
  • the window is located in the lower casing section.
  • the first and second coupling formations are respective first and second screw thread surfaces.
  • the first and second screw thread surfaces comprise a screw thread having a neck and a relatively wider head. This type of screw thread is typically referred to as dove tail shaped threads.
  • the dove tail shaped threads typically provide an interlocking between the tubular member and the window.
  • a locking device is provided to prevent the tubular member from passing completely through the window.
  • the tubular member includes a torque coupling device at its upper end for coupling to a torque drive apparatus.
  • the drill string includes a drill bit having an outer diameter when not drilling, which is less than its outer diameter when drilling.
  • the drill bit is a bi-centre drill bit.
  • a milling string is inserted into the casing string to mill the section of tubular member not passed through the window.
  • the milling string is centralised within the casing string by a centralising device, and preferably, the centralising device is the diversion device.
  • Fig. 1 is a part cross-sectional side view of an apparatus for the drilling and production of a lateral well from a mother well in accordance with the present invention
  • Fig. 2 is a complete side view of the apparatus of Fig. 1
  • Fig. 3 is a part cross-sectional side view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 during drilling of the initial section of a lateral well
  • Fig. 4 is a part cross-sectional side view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 during production of the initial section of the lateral well
  • Fig. 5 is a complete side view of the apparatus of Fig. 4
  • Fig. 6 is a part cross-sectional side view of the apparatus of Fig. 4 during a washing over operation
  • FIG. 7 is a part cross-sectional side view of the apparatus of Fig. 6;
  • Fig. 8 is a part cross-sectional side view in detail showing the thread design of an outlet tube of the apparatus of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 9 shows a cross-sectional side view of the thread coupling arrangement of Fig. 8;
  • Fig. 10 is a part cross-sectional side view in detail showing the thread design of an outlet tube of the apparatus of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 11 shows a cross-sectional side view of an alternative thread coupling arrangement of Fig. 10.
  • Fig. 1 shows an apparatus 1 for the drilling and production of a lateral well from a mother well comprising a threaded outlet tube 10 which is located within an outer casing 5. Also located within the outer casing 5 is a deviation device, also known as a whipstock 15.
  • the outer casing 5 comprises three distinct sections, and is included in a casing string (not shown) made up of casing tubulars (not shown) in the conventional manner.
  • a casing string (not shown) made up of casing tubulars (not shown) in the conventional manner.
  • an upper outer casing section 5A which connects to the lower end of a conventional casing tubular so that the longitudinal axes of the upper outer casing section 5A and the casing tubular coincide.
  • the lower end of the upper casing section 5A is connected to a middle outer casing section 5B which is inclined with respect to the upper casing section 5A.
  • the lower end of the inclined middle outer casing section 5B is connected to a lower outer casing section 5C, the latter of which is parallel to the upper casing section 5A.
  • the lower end of the lower outer casing section 5C is connected to the upper end of a conventional casing tubular (not shown) if required.
  • the lower outer casing section 5C has a pre-machined window 20 in a portion of its side wall.
  • the window 20 is further machined to incorporate a thread 22 (which can more be more clearly seen in Fig. 9) on the inner bore of the window 20.
  • the thread 22 is machined to co-operate and couple with the thread 13 located on the outer surface of the outlet tube 10.
  • Fig. 1 shows the outlet tube 10 engaged in the threaded upper part of the pre-machined window 20 of the casing section 5C.
  • casing section 5C is eccentric and the screw thread 22 is machined in the thicker part of the casing 5C.
  • the window 20 is resealed by filling it with an easily drilled material 24, as shown in Fig. 2.
  • the window 20 can be resealed by applying a sleeve (not shown) around the window 20 which is again formed at least partly from an easily drilled material. This allows the outer casing 5 to be run into the mother well and cemented in a conventional manner.
  • the whipstock 15 has a deflection face 17, and is arranged within the lower outer casing section 5C such that the deflection face 17 is parallel to the central axis of the inner bore of the window 20. Thus, any tools that move through the lower outer casing section 5C will be deflected through the window 20 by the deflection face 17.
  • the outlet tube 10 is mounted within the outer casing 5 such that the upper end 10A is located within the inclined middle outer casing section 5B and the lower end 10B is located within the lower outer casing section 5C, and a section of the threads 13, 22 are mutually coupled.
  • the lower end 10B of the outlet tube 10 is supported by the deflection face 17 of the whipstock 15, and the easily drilled material 24, and is finished at its lowermost face with a hardfaced shoe 12, as shown in Fig. 3.
  • the outer casing 5 is included in the casing string which is run to the bottom of the mother well and cemented in a conventional manner. Thereafter, when a lateral well 30 (Fig. 3) is required to be drilled, a particular type of drill bit commonly known in the art as a bi-centre bit 26 is used.
  • the bi-centre bit 26 is connected at the lower end of a drill string made up of sections of drill pipe 29 by means of a crossover sub 28.
  • the effective outer diameter of the bi-centre bit 26 when it is not in use is typically 6 inches (approximately 152mm), and the inner diameter of the outlet tube 10 is typically 6 1 /s inches (approximately 156mm) .
  • Tube 10 is of the order of 20 feet (approximately 6.1 metres) in length.
  • the drill string is conveyed through the casing string until the bi- centre bit 26 reaches the lower end 10B of the outlet tube 10 and thus comes to rest against the easily drilled material 24.
  • the bi-centre bit 26 is then activated and drills through the material 24 thus reopening the window 20.
  • the bi-centre bit 26 is of such a configuration that it drills a hole larger in diameter (approximately 7 inches (178mm)) than its effective outer diameter when not in use (typically 6 inches (152mm), which allows for the lateral well 30, when drilled by the bi-centre bit 26, to have an internal bore which is greater in diameter than the outer diameter of the outlet tube 10.
  • the drill pipe 29 outer diameter is typically 2 inches (approximately 89mm), and the cross over sub 28 outer diameter is typically 5 inches (approximately 127mm) .
  • Fig. 4 shows the outlet tube 10 lowered (by rotation) into a locked position through the threaded window 20 of the casing section 5C and into the pre- drilled initial section of the lateral well 30.
  • Assembly 31 typically comprises conventional sections of drill pipe and collars, with a torque coupling 32A attached at the lower end thereof.
  • a torque coupling 32B located at the upper end 10A of the outlet tube 10.
  • Locking devices 34A, 34B located between the thread 13 of the outlet tube 10 and the thread 22 of the window 20 prevents the outlet tube 10 from being fully screwed in too far and thus being lost into the lateral well 30. It may be that only the upper locking device 34A is provided.
  • the locking devices 34A, 34B may comprise a blocking of the thread 13 on the outlet tube 10. Figs 4 and 5 show the outlet tube 10 fully extended into the lateral well 30.
  • the assembly 31 is then removed from the mother well and a second assembly 40 having a conventional wash over mill 41 at its lower end is then inserted into the mother well, as shown in Fig. 6.
  • the second assembly 41 facilitates a washing over operation of a portion of the outlet tube 10 which is left inside the casing section 5C after rotation of the outlet tube 10.
  • the outer diameter of an upper portion 15A of the whipstock 15 is spaced apart coaxially from the inner diameter of the lower outer casing section 5C and thus creates an annular gap 18.
  • the wash over mill 41 passes down through the lower outer casing section 5C it is centralised by the whipstock 15 and is restrained to pass down the annular gap 18.
  • the wash over mill 41 does so, it mills the portion of the outlet tube 10 that protrudes into the inner bore of the outer casing 5c at the junction of the outlet tube 10 and the lower outer casing section 5C and creates a clean through bore for the mother well, as shown in Fig. 7 (with the outlet tube 10 being shown in phantom) .
  • the portion of the outlet tube 10 which was left in the casing section 5C has been milled out by the washover string 40.
  • the lateral well 30 can then be drilled and lined to its full extent in a conventional manner, with the liner string being attached to (or “hung off") the inner bore of the threaded outlet tube 10. It may thereafter be cemented.
  • the whipstock 15 would conventionally be held within the lower outer casing section 5C by conventional locking dogs or packer arrangement, and can be withdrawn from the lower outer casing section 5C by a conventional fishing operation.
  • the thread 13 of the outlet tube 10 and the corresponding thread 22 of the window 20 have a narrow neck 50 and relatively wider head 52 which provide for a structural integrity between the threads, and may also provide a sealing function.
  • the coupling formation between the outlet tube 10 and thread 22 of the window 20 provides structural integrity to the lateral well 30, and will help to prevent the casing from bursting open at the junction with the outlet tube 10. It may also provide/promote a seal between the threaded outlet tube 10 and the mother well casing.
  • Figs 10 and 11 show an alternative thread formation.
  • a thread 13a is provided on the outlet tube 10 and a corresponding thread 22a is provided on the bore of the window 20.
  • the threads 13a, 22a form a substantially dove-tailed shape, as can be seen more clearly in Fig. 11.
  • the dove-tailed shape enhances structural integrity between the threads 13a, 22a, and may also seal the connection.
  • the coupling formation between the outlet tube 10 and thread 22a of the window 20 enhances structural integrity of the lateral well 30, and will help to prevent the casing from bursting open at the junction with the outlet tube 10. It may also provide/promote a seal between the threaded outlet tube 10 and the mother well casing.
  • the primary advantages of the invention are that it does not require under reaming of the mother well bore prior to the casing string being inserted into the lateral mother well bore, which means that the casing string can be inserted into the lateral mother well bore immediately after it has been drilled. Further, the lateral well can be of a relatively greater diameter for a given mother well diameter than conventional apparatus and methods for drilling lateral wells provide.

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention se rapporte à une colonne de tubage destinée à être insérée dans le premier trou de forage, une partie de cette colonne étant dotée d'une fenêtre ménagée dans sa paroi latérale et à travers laquelle un trépan peut passer. Cette fenêtre présente un axe central qui forme un angle avec l'axe longitudinal central de la partie de la colonne dans laquelle se trouve la fenêtre, ces deux axes se coupant de manière oblique. L'invention concerne également un élément tubulaire situé à l'intérieur de la colonne de tubage et conçu de telle manière que l'axe longitudinal de l'élément tubulaire coïncide sensiblement avec l'axe central de la fenêtre, ainsi, une partie de l'élément tubulaire peut passer à travers la fenêtre afin de faire saillie à partir de ladite colonne.
PCT/GB1998/001476 1997-05-21 1998-05-21 Dispositif et procede permettant de former un puits a canalisations grace au forage et a l'utilisation d'une colonne perdue WO1998053174A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9710318.8A GB9710318D0 (en) 1997-05-21 1997-05-21 Apparatus and method for drilling and lining a second borehole from a first borehole
GB9710318.8 1997-05-21

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1998053174A1 true WO1998053174A1 (fr) 1998-11-26

Family

ID=10812698

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1998/001476 WO1998053174A1 (fr) 1997-05-21 1998-05-21 Dispositif et procede permettant de former un puits a canalisations grace au forage et a l'utilisation d'une colonne perdue

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB9710318D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1998053174A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6848504B2 (en) 2002-07-26 2005-02-01 Charles G. Brunet Apparatus and method to complete a multilateral junction

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2397070A (en) * 1944-05-10 1946-03-19 John A Zublin Well casing for lateral bores
US5322135A (en) * 1993-07-23 1994-06-21 Meridian Oil, Inc. Open hole coring method
WO1996023953A1 (fr) * 1995-02-03 1996-08-08 Integrated Drilling Services Limited Appareil de production et de forage a multiples canaux d'evacuation

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2397070A (en) * 1944-05-10 1946-03-19 John A Zublin Well casing for lateral bores
US5322135A (en) * 1993-07-23 1994-06-21 Meridian Oil, Inc. Open hole coring method
WO1996023953A1 (fr) * 1995-02-03 1996-08-08 Integrated Drilling Services Limited Appareil de production et de forage a multiples canaux d'evacuation

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6848504B2 (en) 2002-07-26 2005-02-01 Charles G. Brunet Apparatus and method to complete a multilateral junction

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9710318D0 (en) 1997-07-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CA2361359C (fr) Methode et appareil pour raccordement multilateral
CA2133240C (fr) Methode et dispositif pour etancher le point de jonction entre un puits vertical et un ou plusieurs puits horizontaux a l'aide d'un joint deformable
US5423387A (en) Method for sidetracking below reduced-diameter tubulars
US5564503A (en) Methods and systems for subterranean multilateral well drilling and completion
AU733035B2 (en) Casing mounted lateral liner seal housing
AU663275B2 (en) Method and apparatus for locating and re-entering one or more horizontal wells using mandrel means
EP0764234B1 (fr) Ensemble sifflet deviateur
US6354375B1 (en) Lateral well tie-back method and apparatus
US20020056572A1 (en) Downhole drilling apparatus and method for use of same
US20020162690A1 (en) Downhole drilling apparatus
WO1998009053A9 (fr) Procede et appareil d'etancheite d'une jonction dans un puits multilateral
WO2001016457A1 (fr) Procede et appareil de croisement de tubages de puits de fond
US6913082B2 (en) Reduced debris milled multilateral window
AU2018435946B2 (en) Methods and systems for drilling a multilateral well
US5725060A (en) Mill starting device and method
US6244339B1 (en) Apparatus for and a method of drilling a lateral borehole
WO2022081020A1 (fr) Établissement de voies latérales dans un puits
US8763701B2 (en) Window joint for lateral wellbore construction
WO1998053174A1 (fr) Dispositif et procede permettant de former un puits a canalisations grace au forage et a l'utilisation d'une colonne perdue
RU2813423C1 (ru) Способ строительства многоствольной скважины
US12012854B2 (en) Sidetrack casing assembly for drilling sidetrack wellbores
RU2795655C1 (ru) Способ реконструкции бездействующей скважины

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): CA NO US

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: CA

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase
点击 这是indexloc提供的php浏览器服务，不要输入任何密码和下载