Multilateral junction fitting for intelligent completion of well

A method for completing a well, the method comprising:

• positioning a main completion string in a main wellbore below a junction in the main wellbore, said main completion string defining an interior;
• positioning a lateral completion string in a lateral wellbore extending from the junction, said lateral completion string defining an interior;
• then
• positioning a wye-shaped junction fitting to engage the main and lateral completion strings so as to
• i) establish fluid communication between an interior of said junction fitting and the interiors of said main and lateral completion strings,
• ii) establish communication between the surface of the well and the main completion string via a first communication line segment positioned outside the interior of the junction fitting, and
• iii) establish communication between the surface of the well and the lateral completion string via a second communication line segment positioned outside the interior of the junction fitting;
• wherein establishing communication between the surface of the well and the main completion string via the first communication line segment comprises moving a valve assembly from a first configuration to a second configuration;
• wherein the valve assembly comprises:
• a port formed through the wall of the wye-shaped junction fitting to form a tapered valve seat adjacent the hollow interior and an opposing opening formed through the exterior surface;
• a plug positioned within the opposing opening;
• a check ball positioned within the port;
• and
• a spring positioned between the check ball and the plug, wherein the spring urges the check ball against the tapered valve seat;
• wherein, in the first configuration, the check ball is seated in the tapered valve seat to fluidically isolate the first communication line segment from the hollow interior;
• wherein, in the first configuration, at least a portion of the check ball protrudes into the hollow interior;
• and
• wherein, in the second configuration, the check ball is spaced from the tapered valve seat to place the first communication line segment in fluid communication with the hollow interior.

A well system for use within a well having a main wellbore and a lateral wellbore, comprising:

• a junction fitting having a generally wye-shaped tubular body formed by a wall and defining a hollow interior, an exterior surface, an uphole end, and downhole main and lateral ends, said uphole end and downhole main and lateral ends being open to said interior, said junction fitting disposed at an intersection of said main wellbore and said lateral wellbore;
• a tubing string disposed in said main wellbore uphole of said junction fitting and coupled to the uphole end of said junction fitting, said tubing string defining an interior that is fluidly coupled with said interior of said junction fitting;
• a main completion string disposed in said main wellbore downhole of said junction fitting and coupled to the downhole main end of said junction fitting, said main completion string having an interior that is fluidly coupled with said interior of said junction fitting;
• a lateral completion string disposed in said lateral wellbore and coupled to the downhole lateral end of said junction fitting, said lateral completion string having an interior that is fluidly coupled with said interior of said junction fitting;
• a first communication line extending between said tubing string and said main completion string;
• a second communication line extending between said tubing string and said lateral completion string;
• said first and second communication lines being located completely outside of said interior of said junction fitting;
• wherein a port is formed through the wall of the wye-shaped tubular body and defining a first opening facing towards the hollow interior and a second opening formed through the exterior surface;
• wherein the wall forms a tapered valve seat around the first opening;
• wherein the junction fitting further comprises a valve assembly that is movable between a first configuration and a second configuration, the valve assembly comprising:
• a plug within the second opening;
• a check ball within the port;
• and
• a spring between the check ball and the plug, wherein the spring urges the check ball against the tapered valve seat;
• wherein, in the first configuration, the check ball is seated in the tapered valve seat to fluidically isolate the first communication line from the flow channel of the tubing string;
• wherein, in the first configuration, at least a portion of the check ball protrudes into the hollow interior;
• and
• wherein, in the second configuration, the check ball is spaced from the tapered valve seat to place the first communication line in fluid communication with the flow channel of the tubing string.