Claims
- 1. A method of recovering fluids from at least one lateral wellbore extending from a central wellbore, comprising:
- (a) setting a fluid control assembly within the central wellbore adjacent the lateral wellbore;
- (b) sealing an annulus formed between the fluid control assembly and the wellbore on either side of the lateral wellbore;
- (c) regulating from the earth's surface fluid flow from the lateral wellbore into an interior of the fluid flow control assembly; and
- (d) regulating from the earth's surface service tool access from the interior of the fluid flow control assembly into the lateral wellbore.
- 2. A method of remotely controlling fluid production from at least one lateral wellbore extending from a central wellbore, comprising the steps of:
- connecting at least one fluid control apparatus to a tubing string, the at least one fluid control apparatus having a selectively operable flow control valve and a selectively operable lateral access door;
- locating and orienting the tubing string in the central wellbore with the at least one fluid control apparatus adjacent the at least one lateral wellbore;
- providing packing means to isolate fluid flow from the at least one lateral wellbore and prevent commingling flow of produced fluids through an annulus formed between the central wellbore and the tubing string; and,
- using a control panel to control the at least one fluid control apparatus to regulate fluid production from the at least one lateral wellbore and to regulate service tool access from the interior of the at least one fluid control apparatus into the at least one lateral wellbore.
- 3. The method of claim 2, further including the step of using a selective orienting key to interact with an orienting sleeve within the central wellbore to locate and orient the at least one fluid control apparatus adjacent the at least one lateral wellbore.
- 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of regulating fluid production from the at least one lateral wellbore, includes the steps of:
- closing the lateral access door;
- opening the flow control valve; and,
- producing fluid from the at least one lateral wellbore.
- 5. The method of claim 4, further including the step of providing a signal from the control panel to control the rate of flow of fluids from the at least one lateral wellbore by adjusting an annularly openable port in the flow control valve.
- 6. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of regulating service tool access into the at least one lateral wellbore includes the steps of:
- opening the lateral access door;
- setting a selective orienting deflector tool in the at least one fluid control apparatus adjacent the at least one lateral wellbore; and
- using the deflector tool to guide a service tool into the at least one lateral wellbore.
- 7. The method of claim 6, further including the step of using a set of locking keys in cooperation with a profile formed in an inner surface of the at least one fluid control apparatus to locate, orient, and set the deflector tool.
- 8. The method of claim 4 or 6, further including the step of providing signals from the control panel to open and close the flow control valve and the lateral access door.
- 9. The method of claim 4 or 6, further including the step of using a well tool to open and close the flow control valve and the lateral access door.
- 10. A method of remotely controlling production of fluids from and remotely accessing a first lateral wellbore and a second lateral wellbore, the first and second lateral wellbores extending from a central wellbore, the first lateral wellbore intersecting a first producing zone, and the second lateral wellbore intersecting a second producing zone, the method comprising the steps of:
- connecting a first and a second fluid control apparatus to a tubing string, the first fluid control apparatus having a first selectively operable flow control valve and a first selectively operable lateral access door, the second fluid control apparatus having a second selectively operable flow control valve and a second selectively operable lateral access door;
- locating and orienting the tubing string in the central wellbore with the first lateral access door adjacent the first lateral wellbore and the second lateral access door adjacent the second lateral wellbore;
- providing packing means to isolate fluid flow between the first and second producing zones and prevent commingling flow of produced fluids through an annulus formed between the central wellbore and the tubing string; and,
- using a control panel to control the first and second fluid control apparatus to regulate fluid production from the first and second producing zones and to regulate service tool access from the interior of the first and second fluid control apparatus into the first and second lateral wellbores.
- 11. The method of claim 10, further including the step of using a selective orienting key to interact with an orienting sleeve within the central wellbore to locate and orient the first lateral access door adjacent the first lateral wellbore and the second lateral access door adjacent the second lateral wellbore.
- 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of regulating fluid production from the first production zone includes the steps of:
- closing the first and second lateral access doors;
- closing the second flow control valve;
- opening the first flow control valve; and,
- producing fluid from the first production zone through the first lateral wellbore.
- 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of regulating fluid production from the second production zone includes the steps of:
- closing the first and second lateral access doors;
- closing the first flow control valve;
- opening the second flow control valve; and,
- producing fluid from the second production zone through the second lateral wellbore.
- 14. The method of claim 12 or 13, further including the step of providing a signal from the control panel to control the rate of flow of fluids from the producing zones by adjusting annularly openable ports in the flow control valves.
- 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of regulating service tool access into the first lateral wellbore includes the steps of:
- opening the first lateral access door;
- setting a selective orienting deflector tool in the first fluid control apparatus adjacent the first lateral wellbore; and
- using the deflector tool to guide a service tool into the first lateral wellbore.
- 16. The method of claim 15, further including the step of using a set of locking keys in cooperation with a profile formed in an inner surface of the first fluid control apparatus to locate, orient, and set the deflector tool.
- 17. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of regulating service tool access into the second lateral wellbore includes the steps of:
- closing the first lateral access door;
- opening the second lateral access door;
- setting a selective orienting deflector tool in the second fluid control apparatus adjacent the second lateral wellbore; and
- using the deflector tool to guide a service tool into the second lateral wellbore.
- 18. The method of claim 17, further including the step of using a set of locking keys in cooperation with a profile formed in an inner surface of the second fluid control apparatus to locate, orient, and set the deflector tool.
- 19. The method of claim 12, 13, 15, or 17, further including the step of providing signals from the control panel to open and close the first and second flow control valves and the first and second lateral access doors.
- 20. The method of claim 12, 13, 15, or 17, further including the step of using a well tool to open and close the first and second flow control valves and the first and second lateral access doors.
- 21. A method of remotely accessing a first lateral wellbore and a second lateral wellbore for remediation purposes, the first and second lateral wellbores extending from a central wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:
- connecting a first and a second selectively operable lateral access assembly to a tubing string, the first lateral access assembly having a first lateral access door, and the second lateral access assembly having a second lateral access door;
- locating and orienting the tubing string in the central wellbore with the first lateral access door adjacent the first lateral wellbore and the second lateral access door adjacent the second lateral wellbore;
- closing the first lateral access door;
- opening the second lateral access door;
- setting a selective orienting deflector tool in the second lateral access assembly adjacent the second lateral wellbore; and
- using the deflector tool to guide a service tool into the second lateral wellbore.
- 22. The method of claim 21, further including the step of using a selective orienting key to interact with an orienting sleeve within the central wellbore to locate and orient the first lateral access door adjacent the first lateral wellbore and the second lateral access door adjacent the second lateral wellbore.
- 23. The method of claim 21, further including the step of using a set of locking keys in cooperation with a profile formed in an inner surface of the second lateral access assembly to locate, orient, and set the deflector tool.
- 24. The method of claim 21, further including the steps of:
- opening the first lateral access door;
- setting the selective orienting deflector tool in the first lateral access assembly adjacent the first lateral wellbore; and
- using the deflector tool to guide a service tool into the first lateral wellbore.
- 25. The method of claim 24, further including the step of using a set of locking keys in cooperation with a profile formed in an inner surface of the first lateral access assembly to locate, orient, and set the deflector tool.
- 26. The method of claim 21 or 24, further including the step of providing signals from a control panel to open and close the first and second lateral access doors.
- 27. The method of claim 21 or 24, further including the step of using a well tool to open and close the first and second lateral access doors.
- 28. A method of remotely controlling production of fluids from a first lateral wellbore and a second lateral wellbore, the first and second lateral wellbores extending from a central wellbore, the first lateral wellbore intersecting a first producing zone, and the second lateral wellbore intersecting a second producing zone, the method comprising the steps of:
- connecting a first and a second selectively operable flow control valve to a tubing string;
- locating the tubing string in the central wellbore with the first flow control valve adjacent the first lateral wellbore and the second flow control valve adjacent the second lateral wellbore;
- providing packing means to isolate fluid flow between the first and second producing zones and prevent commingling flow of produced fluids through an annulus formed between the central wellbore and the tubing string;
- closing the first flow control valve;
- opening the second flow control valve; and,
- producing fluid from the second lateral wellbore.
- 29. The method of claim 28, further including the steps of:
- closing the second flow control valve;
- opening the first flow control valve; and,
- producing fluid from the first lateral wellbore.
- 30. The method of claim 28 or 29, further including the step of providing signals from a control panel to open and close the first and second flow control valves.
- 31. The method of claim 28 or 29, further including the step of using a shifting tool to open and close the first and second flow control valves.
- 32. The method of claim 28 or 29, further including the step of providing a signal from a control panel to control the rate of flow of fluids from the producing zones by adjusting annularly openable ports in the first and second flow control valves.
- 33. The method of claim 28 or 29, further including the steps of:
- providing a source of hydraulic fluid to the first and second flow control valves;
- providing an electrical signal from a control panel to a first solenoid valve in the first flow control valve and to a second solenoid valve in the second flow control valve;
- controlling the rate of flow of fluids from the producing zones by using the solenoid valves to selectively control hydraulic fluid flow from the hydraulic fluid source to a moveable pistons in the first and second flow control valves to control movement of the moveable pistons in relation to annularly openable ports in the first and second flow control valves.
- 34. The method of claim 28, further including the step of using a selective orienting key to interact with an orienting sleeve within the central wellbore to locate the first flow control valve adjacent the first lateral wellbore and the second flow control valve adjacent the second lateral wellbore.
- 35. The method of claim 29, further including the step of placing a tubing plug in a lower end of the tubing string to block flow from a lower most producing zone into the tubing.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/638,027, filed Apr. 26, 1996.
US Referenced Citations (21)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
WO 9403699 |
Feb 1994 |
WOX |
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
638027 |
Apr 1996 |
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