The unconventional market is very competitive. The market is trending towards longer horizontal wells to increase reservoir contact. Multilateral wells offer an alternative approach to maximize reservoir contact. Multilateral wells include one or more lateral wellbores extending from a main wellbore. A lateral wellbore is a wellbore that is diverted from the main wellbore.
A multilateral well can include one or more windows or casing exits to allow corresponding lateral wellbores to be formed. The window or casing exits for multilateral wells are typically formed by positioning one or more solid whipstock assemblies in a casing string with a running tool at desired locations in the main wellbore. The solid whipstock assemblies may be used to deflect a window mill relative to the casing string. The deflected window mill penetrates part of the casing joint to form the window or casing exit in the casing string and is then withdrawn from the wellbore. Drill assemblies can be subsequently inserted through the casing exit in order to cut the lateral wellbore, fracture the lateral wellbore, and/or service the lateral wellbore.
Traditional multilateral well construction does not integrate well with the unconventional frac business. For example, traditional multilateral well construction designs and re-entry methods add enough additional cost to the Drill and FRAC program that they often are not an economically viable solution compared to multiple single wells.
Provided, in one aspect, is a deflector assembly. The deflector assembly, in one embodiment, a tubular member, the tubular member having an uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion and a downhole main wellbore tubular portion, wherein an inside diameter of the uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion (IDU) is greater than an inside diameter of the downhole main wellbore tubular portion (IDD). The deflector assembly according to his embodiment further includes an exit window located in a sidewall of the uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion, and a ramped deflector positioned within the uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion, the ramped deflector located proximate and ramping toward the exit window. In accordance with one aspect, the ramped deflector includes a through bore having a diameter (DTB) coupling the uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion and the downhole main wellbore tubular portion, the through bore forming a ramped deflector lip for allowing a first downhole tool having a diameter (D1) less than the diameter (DTB) to pass through the ramped deflector to the downhole main wellbore tubular portion, and for diverting a second downhole tool having a diameter (D2) greater than the diameter (DTB) toward the exit window.
Reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
A subterranean formation containing oil and/or gas hydrocarbons may be referred to as a reservoir, in which a reservoir may be located on-shore or off-shore. Reservoirs are typically located in the range of a few hundred feet (shallow reservoirs) to tens of thousands of feet (ultra-deep reservoirs). To produce oil, gas, or other fluids from the reservoir, a well is drilled into a reservoir or adjacent to a reservoir.
A well can include, without limitation, an oil, gas, or water production well, or an injection well. As used herein, a “well” includes at least one wellbore having a wellbore wall. A wellbore can include vertical, inclined, and horizontal portions, and it can be straight, curved, or branched. As used herein, the term “wellbore” includes any cased, and any uncased (e.g., open-hole) portion of the wellbore. A near-wellbore region is the subterranean material and rock of the subterranean formation surrounding the wellbore. As used herein, a “well” also includes the near-wellbore region. The near-wellbore region is generally considered to be the region within approximately 100 feet of the wellbore. As used herein, “into a well” means and includes into any portion of the well, including into the wellbore or into the near-wellbore region via the wellbore.
While a main wellbore may in some instances be formed in a substantially vertical orientation relative to a surface of the well, and while the lateral wellbore may in some instances be formed in a substantially horizontal orientation relative to the surface of the well, reference herein to either the main wellbore or the lateral wellbore is not meant to imply any particular orientation, and the orientation of each of these wellbores may include portions that are vertical, non-vertical, horizontal or non-horizontal. Further, the term “uphole” refers to a direction that is towards the surface of the well, while the term “downhole” refers to a direction that is away from the surface of the well.
As shown, a main wellbore 150 has been drilled through the various earth strata, including the subterranean formation 110. The term “main” wellbore is used herein to designate a wellbore from which another wellbore is drilled. It is to be noted, however, that a main wellbore 150 does not necessarily extend directly to the earth's surface, but could instead be a branch of yet another wellbore. A casing string 160 may be at least partially cemented within the main wellbore 150. The term “casing” is used herein to designate a tubular string used to line a wellbore. Casing may actually be of the type known to those skilled in the art as a “liner” and may be made of any material, such as steel or composite material and may be segmented or continuous, such as coiled tubing.
A deflector assembly 170 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure may be positioned at a desired intersection between the main wellbore 150 and a lateral wellbore 180. In one or more embodiments, such as the embodiment illustrated in
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Coupled to an uphole end of the tubular member 210, in the embodiment shown, is a liner casing 204 and a liner hanger 208. The liner casing 204, in one embodiment, is substantially similar in size (e.g., outer diameter) as the tubular member 210. In fact, in one or more embodiments, the tubular member 210 is an extension of the liner casing 204. The liner casing 204, in one or more embodiments, is a 7⅝″ liner casing configured to engage (e.g., via a mule shoe) a larger main bore casing. For example, the larger main bore casing could be a 9⅝″ main bore casing, among others, and remain within the scope of the disclosure.
The tubular member 210, in the illustrated embodiment of
The deflector assembly 200, in one or more embodiments, further includes an exit window 230 located in a sidewall 235 of the uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion 220. The exit window 230 may be a pre-milled exit window and remain within the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art appreciate the steps that would be necessary to form the exit window 230. A width of the exit window 230 should be sufficient to allow one or more different types of downhole tools to exit therefrom, including milling tools, junction isolation tools, etc.
The deflector assembly 200; in one or more embodiments consistent with the disclosure, may additionally include a ramped deflector 240 positioned within the uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion 220. The ramped deflector 240, in accordance with the disclosure, is located proximate and ramping toward the exit window 230. A ramp angle and/or ramp profile of the ramped deflector 240 may vary greatly and remain within the scope of the disclosure, and in fact may be similar to the ramp angles and/or ramp profiles currently used within solid whipstocks. In one or more embodiments of the disclosure, the ramp angle is less than 30 degrees. In one or more different embodiments of the disclosure, the ramp angle is less than 10 degrees, and in yet one or more other different embodiments of the disclosure the ramp angle is less than 6 degrees.
The ramped deflector 240, in one or more embodiments, includes a through bore 245 having a diameter (DTB) coupling the uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion 220 and the downhole main wellbore tubular portion 270. In accordance with one or more embodiments, the diameter (DTB) of the through bore 245 is substantially equal to the inside diameter (IDD) of the downhole main wellbore tubular portion 270. The phrase “substantially equal” as used herein with regard to the diameters, and unless otherwise stated, requires that the diameters are within ±10 percent of each other. In accordance with one or more other embodiments, the diameter (DTB) of the through bore 245 is ideally equal to the inside diameter (IDD) of the downhole main wellbore tubular portion 270. The phrase “ideally equal” as used herein with regard to the diameters, and unless otherwise stated, requires that the diameters are within ±5 percent of each other.
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Aspects disclosed herein include:
A. A deflector assembly, the deflector assembly including a tubular member, the tubular member having an uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion and a downhole main wellbore tubular portion, wherein an inside diameter (IDU) of the uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion is greater than an inside diameter (IDD) of the downhole main wellbore tubular portion, an exit window located in a sidewall of the uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion, and a ramped deflector positioned within the uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion, the ramped deflector located proximate and ramping toward the exit window, and further wherein the ramped deflector includes a through bore having a diameter (DTB) coupling the uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion and the downhole main wellbore tubular portion, the through bore forming a ramped deflector lip for allowing a first downhole tool having a diameter (D1) less than the diameter (DTB) to pass through the ramped deflector to the downhole main wellbore tubular portion, and for diverting a second downhole tool having a diameter (D2) greater than the diameter (DTB) toward the exit window.
B. A method for forming a multilateral well, the method including 1) placing a deflector assembly within a main wellbore located in a subterranean formation, the deflector assembly including a) a tubular member, the tubular member having an uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion and a downhole main wellbore tubular portion, wherein an inside diameter (IDU) of the uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion is greater than an inside diameter (IDD) of the downhole main wellbore tubular portion, b) an exit window located in a sidewall of the uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion, and c) a ramped deflector positioned within the uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion, the ramped deflector located proximate and ramping toward the exit window, and further wherein the ramped deflector includes a through bore having a diameter (DTB) coupling the uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion and the downhole main wellbore tubular portion, the through bore forming a ramped deflector lip; 2) running a first downhole tool having a diameter (D1) less than the diameter (DTB) toward the ramped deflector, the ramped deflector lip allowing the first downhole tool to pass through the ramped deflector to the downhole main wellbore tubular portion, and 3) running a second downhole tool having a diameter (D2) greater than the diameter (DTB) toward the ramped deflector, the ramped deflector lip diverting the second downhole tool toward the exit window.
C. A multilateral well, the multilateral well including a main wellbore, a lateral wellbore extending from the main wellbore, a deflector assembly located proximate an intersection between the main wellbore and the lateral wellbore, the deflector assembly including a) a tubular member, the tubular member having an uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion and a downhole main wellbore tubular portion, wherein an inside diameter (IDU) of the uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion is greater than an inside diameter (IDD) of the downhole main wellbore tubular portion, b) an exit window located in a sidewall of the uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion, and c) a ramped deflector positioned within the uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion, the ramped deflector located proximate and ramping toward the exit window, and further wherein the ramped deflector includes a through bore having a diameter (DTB) coupling the uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion and the downhole main wellbore tubular portion, the through bore forming a ramped deflector lip for allowing a first downhole tool having a diameter (D1) less than the diameter (DTB) to pass through the ramped deflector to the downhole main wellbore tubular portion, and for diverting a second downhole tool having a diameter (D2) greater than the diameter (DTB) toward the exit window.
Aspects A, B, and C may have one or more of the following additional elements in combination: Element 1: further including a drillable outer sleeve enclosing the exit window. Element 2: further including a filler material substantially filling exposed space between the ramped deflector and the drillable outer sleeve, and further wherein a second through bore extends through the filler material to couple the uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion and the downhole main wellbore tubular portion. Element 3: further including a filler material substantially filling exposed space between the ramped deflector and the exit window, and further wherein a second through bore extends through the filler material to couple the uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion and the downhole main wellbore tubular portion. Element 4: wherein the filler material is cement. Element 5: wherein the downhole main wellbore tubular portion is a downhole liner, and further wherein the downhole liner extends into the uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion to form the ramped deflector lip. Element 6: wherein the diameter (DTB) of the through bore is substantially equal to the inside diameter (IDD) of the downhole main wellbore tubular portion. Element 7: wherein the uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion is a first uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion, and the ramped deflector is a first ramped deflector, and wherein the tubular member further includes a second uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion located uphole of the first uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion, wherein an inside diameter (IDU2) of the second uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion is greater than the inside diameter (IDD) of the downhole main wellbore tubular portion, and further including a second exit window located in a sidewall of the second uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion and a second ramped deflector positioned within the second uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion, the second ramped deflector located proximate and ramping toward the second exit window, and further wherein the second ramped deflector includes a second through bore coupling the second uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion and the first uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion, the second through bore having a diameter (DTB2) greater than the first through bore diameter (DTB), the second through bore forming a second ramped deflector lip for allowing the second downhole tool having the diameter (D2) less than the diameter (DTB2) to pass through the second ramped deflector toward the first ramped deflector, and for diverting a third downhole tool having a diameter (D3) greater than the diameter (DTB2) toward the second exit window. Element 8: wherein the inside diameter (IDU2) of the second uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion is substantially equal to the inside diameter (IDU1) of the first uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion. Element 9: further including a polished bore receptacle portion located between the uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion and the downhole main wellbore tubular portion. Element 10: wherein the second downhole tool is a drilling assembly having the diameter (D2) greater than the diameter (DTB), and further including drilling a lateral wellbore into the subterranean formation by diverting the drilling assembly toward the exit window using the ramped deflector lip. Element 11: wherein the first downhole tool is a junction isolation tool having the diameter (D1) less than the diameter (DTB), and further including fracturing the main wellbore by running the junction isolation tool through the ramped deflector and into the main wellbore tubular portion and subjecting the downhole main wellbore tubular portion to increased pressure to fracture the main wellbore. Element 12: further including a polished bore receptacle portion located between the uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion and the downhole main wellbore tubular portion, and wherein fracturing the main wellbore by running the junction isolation tool through the ramped deflector and into the main wellbore tubular portion includes seating the junction isolation tool within the polish bore receptacle portion and then subjecting the downhole main wellbore tubular portion to the increased pressure to fracture the main wellbore. Element 13: wherein the uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion is a first uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion, and the ramped deflector is a first ramped deflector, and wherein the tubular member further includes a second uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion located uphole of the first uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion, wherein an inside diameter (IDU2) of the second uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion is greater than the inside diameter (IDD) of the downhole main wellbore tubular portion, and further including a second exit window located in a sidewall of the second uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion, and a second ramped deflector positioned within the second uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion, the second ramped deflector located proximate and ramping toward the second exit window, and further wherein the second ramped deflector includes a second through bore coupling the second uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion and the first uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion, the second through bore having a diameter (DTB2) greater than the first through bore diameter (DTB), the second through bore forming a second ramped deflector lip. Element 14: further including running a third downhole tool having a diameter (D3) greater than the diameter (DTB2) toward the second ramped deflector, the second ramped deflector lip diverting the third downhole tool toward the second exit window. Element 15: wherein the inside diameter (IDU2) of the second uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion is substantially equal to the inside diameter (IDU1) of the first uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion. Element 16: wherein the uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion is a first uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion, and the ramped deflector is a first ramped deflector, and wherein the tubular member further includes a second uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion located uphole of the first uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion, wherein an inside diameter (IDU2) of the second uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion is greater than the inside diameter (IDD) of the downhole main wellbore tubular portion, and further including a second exit window located in a sidewall of the second uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion, and a second ramped deflector positioned within the second uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion, the second ramped deflector located proximate and ramping toward the second exit window, and further wherein the second ramped deflector includes a second through bore coupling the second uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion and the first uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion, the second through bore having a diameter (DTB2) greater than the first through bore diameter (DTB), the second through bore forming a second ramped deflector lip for allowing the second downhole tool having the diameter (D2) less than the diameter (DTB2) to pass through the second ramped deflector toward the first ramped deflector, and for diverting a third downhole tool having a diameter (D3) greater than the diameter (DTB2) toward the second exit window. Element 17: wherein the inside diameter (IDU2) of the second uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion is substantially equal to the inside diameter (IDU1) of the first uphole lateral wellbore tubular portion.
Those skilled in the art to which this application relates will appreciate that other and further additions, deletions, substitutions and modifications may be made to the described embodiments.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/802,882, filed on Feb. 8, 2019, entitled “PRE-MILLED WHIPSTOCKLESS EXIT AND DEFLECTOR WINDOW AND METHOD”, currently incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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