Methods and systems for subterranean multilateral well drilling and completion

A method of creating a multilateral well, comprising the steps of:

• setting a diverter at a prescribed position and prescribed orientation in a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore;
• boring through a sidewall of said main well flow conductor and into a material surrounding said main well flow conductor, said orientation of said diverter determining a lateral position of a window in said main well flow conductor, a lateral wellbore thereby being formed in said material and extending from said main wellbore;
• lining said lateral wellbore with a liner, said liner having an interface end, said interface end adapted to contact a periphery of said window in said sidewall;
• cementing said liner in place within said lateral wellbore, said step of cementing creating a pressure-bearing seal between said periphery of said window and said interface end of said liner;
• and
• setting said main well flow conductor in said main wellbore, said main well flow conductor including a joint composed of a composite material, said step of boring comprising the step of drilling through a sidewall of said joint and into said material surrounding said main well flow conductor with a single drilling tool.

A method of creating a multilateral well, comprising the steps of:

• setting a diverter at a prescribed position and prescribed orientation in a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore;
• boring through a sidewall of said main well flow conductor and into a material surrounding said main well flow conductor, said orientation of said diverter determining a lateral position of a window in said main well flow conductor, a lateral wellbore thereby being formed in said material and extending from said main wellbore;
• lining said lateral wellbore with a liner, said liner having an interface end, said interface end adapted to contact a periphery of said window in said sidewall;
• cementing said liner in place within said lateral wellbore, said step of cementing creating a pressure-bearing seal between said periphery of said window and said interface end of said liner;
• and
• setting a preformed window member having a preformed window of a prescribed shape formed therein into said main well flow conductor.

A method of creating a multilateral well, comprising the steps of:

• setting a diverter at a prescribed position and prescribed orientation in a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore;
• boring through a sidewall of said main well flow conductor and into a material surrounding said main well flow conductor, said orientation of said diverter determining a lateral position of a window in said main well flow conductor, a lateral wellbore thereby being formed in said material and extending from said main wellbore;
• lining said lateral wellbore with a liner, said liner having an interface end, said interface end adapted to contact a periphery of said window in said sidewall;
• cementing said liner in place within said lateral wellbore, said step of cementing creating a pressure-bearing seal between said periphery of said window and said interface end of said liner;
• and
• injecting said cement into an annular space between said main well flow conductor and a wall of said main wellbore from ports located in said liner.

A method of creating a multilateral well, comprising the steps of:

• setting a diverter at a prescribed position and prescribed orientation in a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore;
• boring through a sidewall of said main well flow conductor and into a material surrounding said main well flow conductor, said orientation of said diverter determining a lateral position of a window in said main well flow conductor, a lateral wellbore thereby being formed in said material and extending from said main wellbore;
• lining said lateral wellbore with a liner and cementing said liner in place within said lateral wellbore, said step of cementing creating a pressure-bearing seal between said periphery of said window and said interface end of said liner;
• and
• locating a slidable flow control device having ports therein proximate said window, said flow control device movable within said well flow conductor to expose said window thereby allowing access to said liner by a tool.

A method of creating a multilateral well, comprising the steps of:

• setting a diverter at a prescribed position and prescribed orientation in a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore;
• boring through a sidewall of said main well flow conductor and into a material surrounding said main well flow conductor, said orientation of said diverter determining a lateral position of a window in said main well flow conductor, a lateral wellbore thereby being formed in said material and extending from said main wellbore;
• lining said lateral wellbore with a liner and cementing said liner in place within said lateral wellbore, said step of cementing creating a pressure-bearing seal between said periphery of said window and said interface end of said liner;
• and
• locating a slidable flow control device proximate said window, said flow control device substantially blocking a flow of fluid between said liner and said main well flow conductor.

A method of creating a multilateral well, comprising the steps of:

• setting a diverter having a soft centered drillable core at a prescribed position and a prescribed orientation in a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore, said diverter severably coupled to an end of a drillstring;
• milling a window through a sidewall of said main well flow conductor with a milling tool and drilling into said material surrounding said main well flow conductor with a drilling tool, said sidewall being composed of a metallic materia, said milling tool coupled to an end of said drillstring, said milling creating a window having a particular shape in said sidewall, said orientation of said diverter determining a lateral position of said window in said main well flow conductor, a lateral wellbore thereby being formed in said material and extending from said main wellbore, said steps of setting and boring performed in a single trip;
• lining said lateral wellbore with a liner adapted to contact a periphery of said window in said sidewall;
• and
• cementing said liner in place within said lateral wellbore, said step of cementing creating a pressure-bearing seal between said periphery of said window and said liner.

A method of creating a multilateral well, comprising the steps of:

• setting a diverter having a soft centered drillable core at a prescribed position and a prescribed orientation in a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore, said diverter severably coupled to an end of a drillstring;
• boring through a sidewall of said main well flow conductor with a boring tool coupled to an end of said drillstring, said boring creating a window having a particular shape in said sidewall, said orientation of said diverter determining a lateral position of said window in said main well flow conductor, a lateral wellbore thereby being formed in said material and extending from said main wellbore, said steps of setting and boring performed in a single trip;
• lining said lateral wellbore with a liner adapted to contact a periphery of said window in said sidewall;
• cementing said liner in place within said lateral wellbore, said step of cementing creating a pressure-bearing seal between said periphery of said window and said liner
• setting said main well flow conductor in said main wellbore, said main well flow conductor including a joint composed of a composite material, said step of boring comprising the step of drilling through a sidewall of said joint and into said material surrounding said main well flow conductor with a single drilling tool.

A method of creating a multilateral well, comprising the steps of:

• setting a diverter having a soft centered drillable core at a prescribed position and a prescribed orientation in a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore, said diverter severably coupled to an end of a drillstring;
• boring through a sidewall of said main well flow conductor with a boring tool coupled to an end of said drillstring, said boring creating a window having a particular shape in said sidewall, said orientation of said diverter determining a lateral position of said window in said main well flow conductor, a lateral wellbore thereby being formed in said material and extending from said main wellbore, said steps of setting and boring performed in a single trip;
• lining said lateral wellbore with a liner adapted to contact a periphery of said window in said sidewall;
• cementing said liner in place within said lateral wellbore, said step of cementing creating a pressure-bearing seal between said periphery of said window and said liner;
• and
• injecting said cement into an annular space between said main well flow conductor and a wall of said main wellbore from ports located in said liner.

A method of creating a multilateral well, comprising the steps of:

• setting a diverter having a soft centered drillable core at a prescribed position and a prescribed orientation in a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore, said diverter severably coupled to an end of a drillstring;
• boring through a sidewall of said main well flow conductor with a boring tool coupled to an end of said drillstring, said boring creating a window having a particular shape in said sidewall, said orientation of said diverter determining a lateral position of said window in said main well flow conductor, a lateral wellbore thereby being formed in said material and extending from said main wellbore said steps of setting and boring performed in a single trip;
• lining said lateral wellbore with a liner and cementing said liner in place within said lateral wellbore, said step of cementing creating a pressure-bearing seal between said periphery of said window and said liner;
• and
• locating a slidable flow control device having ports therein proximate said window, said flow control device movable within said well flow conductor to expose said window thereby allowing access to said liner by a tool.

A method of creating a multilateral well, comprising the steps of:

• setting a diverter having a soft centered drillable core at a prescribed position and a prescribed orientation in a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore, said diverter severably coupled to an end of a drillstring;
• boring through a sidewall of said main well flow conductor with a boring tool coupled to an end of said drillstring, said boring creating a window having a particular shape in said sidewall, said orientation of said diverter determining a lateral position of said window in said main well flow conductor, a lateral wellbore thereby being formed in said material and extending from said main wellbore, said steps of setting and boring performed in a single trip;
• lining said lateral wellbore with a liner and cementing said liner in place within said lateral wellbore, said step of cementing creating a pressure-bearing seal between said periphery of said window and said liner;
• and
• locating a slidable flow control device proximate said window, said flow control device substantially blocking a flow of fluid between said liner and said main well flow conductor.

A system for creating a multilateral well, comprising:

• means for diverting set at a prescribed position and a prescribed orientation in a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore;
• means for milling a window into a sidewall of said main well flow conductor and boring into a material surrounding said main well flow conductor, said means for milling creating said window having a particular shape in said sidewall, said orientation of said means for diverting determining a lateral position of said window in said main well flow conductor, a lateral wellbore thereby being formed in said material and extending from said main wellbore;
• means, cooperable with said means for diverting, for lining said lateral wellbore, said means for lining having an interface end, said interface end adapted to contact a periphery of said window in said sidewall;
• and
• a pressure-bearing seal between said periphery of said window and said interface end of said liner, said liner cemented in place within said lateral wellbore.

A system for creating a multilateral well, comprising:

• means for diverting set at a prescribed position and a prescribed orientation in a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore;
• means for boring through a sidewall of said main well flow conductor and into a material surrounding said main well flow conductor, said means for boring creating a window having a particular shape in said sidewall, said orientation of said means for diverting determining a lateral position of said window in said main well flow conductor, a lateral wellbore thereby being formed in said material and extending from said main wellbore;
• means, cooperable with said means for diverting, for lining said lateral wellbore, said means for lining having an interface end, said interface end adapted to contact a periphery off said window in said sidewall;
• a pressure-bearing seal between said periphery of said window and said interface end of said liner, said liner cemented in place within said lateral wellbore;
• and
• means for setting said main well flow conductor in said main wellbore, said main well flow conductor including a joint composed of a composite material, said drillstring drilling through a sidewall of said joint and into said material surrounding said main well flow conductor with a single drilling tool.

A system for creating a multilateral well, comprising:

• means for diverting set at a prescribed position and a prescribed orientation in a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore;
• means for boring through a sidewall of said main well flow conductor and into a material surrounding said main well flow conductor, said means for boring creating a window having a particular shape in said sidewall, said orientation of said means for diverting determining a lateral position of said window in said main well flow conductor, a lateral wellbore thereby being formed in said material and extending from said main wellbore;
• means, cooperable with said means for diverting, for lining said lateral wellbore, said means for lining having an interface end, said interface end adapted to contact a periphery of said window in said sidewall;
• a pressure-bearing seal between said periphery of said window and said interface end of said liner, said liner cemented in place within said lateral wellbore;
• and
• a preformed window member having a preformed window of a prescribed shape formed therein in said main well flow conductor.

A system for creating a multilateral well, comprising:

• means for diverting set at a prescribed position and a prescribed orientation in a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore;
• means for boring through a sidewall of said main well flow conductor and into a material surrounding said main well flow conductor, said means for boring creating a window having a particular shape in said sidewall, said orientation of said means for diverting determining a lateral position of said window in said main well flow conductor, a lateral wellbore thereby being formed in said material and extending from said main wellbore;
• means, cooperable with said means for diverting, for lining said lateral wellbore, said means for lining having an interface end, said interface end adapted to contact a periphery of said window in said sidewall;
• a pressure-bearing seal between said periphery of said window and said interface end of said liner, said liner cemented in place within said lateral wellbore;
• and
• means for injecting said cement into an annular space between said main well flow conductor and a wall of said main wellbore from ports located in said liner.

A system for creating a multilateral well, comprising:

• means for diverting set at a prescribed position and a prescribed orientation in a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore;
• means for boring through a sidewall of said main well flow conductor and into a material surrounding said main well flow conductor, said means for boring creating a window having a particular shape in said sidewall, said orientation of said means for diverting determining a lateral position of said window in said main well flow conductor, a lateral wellbore thereby being formed in said material and extending from said main wellbore;
• means, cooperable with said means for diverting, for lining said lateral wellbore;
• a pressure-bearing seal between said periphery of said window and said interface end of said liner, said liner cemented in place within said lateral wellbore;
• and
• means for locating a slidable flow control device having ports therein proximate said window, said flow control device movable within said well flow conductor to expose said window thereby allowing access to said liner by a tool.

A system for creating a multilateral well, comprising:

• means for diverting set at a prescribed position and a prescribed orientation in a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore;
• means for boring through a sidewall of said main well flow conductor and into a material surrounding said main well flow conductor, said means for boring creating a window having a particular shape in said sidewall, said orientation of said means for diverting determining a lateral position of said window in said main well flow conductor, a lateral wellbore thereby being formed in said material and extending from said main wellbore;
• means, cooperable with said means for diverting, for lining said lateral wellbore;
• a pressure-bearing seal between said periphery of said window and said interface end of said liner, said liner cemented in place within said lateral wellbore;
• and
• means for locating a slidable flow control device proximate said window, said flow control device substantially blocking a flow of fluid between said liner and said main well flow conductor.

A system for creating a multilateral well, comprising:

• a whipstock having a hollow metal conduit with a soft centered core at a prescribed position and a prescribed orientation in a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore, said whipstock severably coupled to an end of a drillstring;
• means for boring through a sidewall of said main well flow conductor and into a material surrounding said main well flow conductor, said means for boring creating a window having a particular shape in said sidewall, said orientation of said whipstock determining a lateral position of said window in said main well flow conductor, a lateral wellbore thereby being formed in said material and extending from said main wellbore;
• means, cooperable with said whipstock, for lining said lateral wellbore, said means for lining adapted to contact a periphery of said window in said sidewall;
• and
• a pressure-bearing seal between said periphery of said window and said liner, said liner cemented in place within said lateral wellbore.

A system for creating a multilateral well, comprising:

• a whipstock having a hollow metal conduit with a soft centered core at a prescribed position and a prescribed orientation in a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore, said whipstock severably coupled to an end of a drillstring;
• means for boring through a sidewall of said main well flow conductor and into a material surrounding said main well flow conductor, said means for boring creating a window having a particular shape in said sidewall, said orientation of said whipstock determining a lateral position of said window in said main well flow conductor, a lateral wellbore thereby being formed in said material and extending from said main wellbore;
• means, cooperable with said whipstock, for lining said lateral wellbore, said means for lining adapted to contact a periphery of said window in said sidewall;
• a pressure-bearing seal between said periphery of said window and said liner, said liner cemented in place within said lateral wellbore;
• and
• means for setting said main well flow conductor in said main wellbore, said main well flow conductor including a helical guide therein for rotating said diverter into said prescribed orientation in said main well flow conductor.

A system for creating a multilateral well, comprising:

• a whipstock having a hollow metal conduit with a soft centered core at a prescribed position and a prescribed orientation in a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore, said whipstock severably coupled to an end of a drillstring;
• means for boring through a sidewall of said main well flow conductor and into a material surrounding said main well flow conductor, said means for boring creating a window having a particular shape in said sidewall, said orientation of said whipstock determining a lateral position of said window in said main well flow conductor, a lateral wellbore thereby being formed in said material and extending from said main wellbore;
• means, cooperable with said whipstock, for lining said lateral wellbore, said means for lining adapted to contact a periphery of said window in said sidewall;
• a pressure-bearing seal between said periphery of said window and said liner, said liner cemented in place within said lateral wellbore;
• and
• means for setting said main well flow conductor in said main wellbore, said main well flow conductor including a joint composed of a composite material, said drillstring drilling through a sidewall of said joint and into said material surrounding said main well flow conductor with a single drilling tool.

A system for creating a multilateral well, comprising:

• a whipstock having a hollow metal conduit with a soft centered core at a prescribed position and a prescribed orientation in a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore, said whipstock severably coupled to an end of a drillstring;
• a milling tool for milling a window into said sidewall of said main well flow conductor and a drilling tool for drilling into said material surrounding said main well flow conductor, said sidewall being composed of a metallic material, said orientation of said whipstock determining a lateral position of said window in said main well flow conductor, a lateral wellbore thereby being formed in said material and extending from said main wellbore;
• means, cooperable with said whipstock, for lining said lateral wellbore, said means for lining adapted to contact a periphery of said window in said sidewall;
• and
• a pressure-bearing seal between said periphery of said window and said liner, said liner cemented in place within said lateral wellbore.

A system for creating a multilateral well, comprising:

• a whipstock having a hollow metal conduit with a soft centered core at a prescribed position and a prescribed orientation in a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore, said whipstock severably coupled to an end of a drillstring;
• means for boring through a sidewall of said main well flow conductor and into a material surrounding said main well flow conductor, said means for boring creating a window having a particular shape in said sidewall, said orientation of said whipstock determining a lateral position of said window in said main well flow conductor, a lateral wellbore thereby being formed in said material and extending from said main wellbore;
• means, cooperable with said whipstock, for lining said lateral wellbore, said means for lining adapted to contact a periphery of said window in said sidewall;
• a pressure-bearing seal between said periphery of said window and said liner, said liner cemented in place within said lateral wellbore;
• and
• means for locating a slidable flow control device having ports therein proximate said window, said flow control device movable within said well flow conductor to expose said window thereby allowing access to said liner by a tool.

A system for creating a multilateral well, comprising:

• a whipstock having a hollow metal conduit with a soft centered core at a prescribed position and a prescribed orientation in a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore, said whipstock severably coupled to an end of a drillstring;
• means for boring through a sidewall of said main well flow conductor and into a material surrounding said main well flow conductor, said means for boring creating a window having a particular shape in said sidewall, said orientation of said whipstock determining a lateral position of said window in said main well flow conductor, a lateral wellbore thereby being formed in said material and extending from said main wellbore;
• means, cooperable with said whipstock, for lining said lateral wellbore, said means for lining adapted to contact a periphery of said window in said sidewall;
• a pressure-bearing seal between said periphery of said window and said liner, said liner cemented in place within said lateral wellbore;
• and
• means for locating a slidable flow control device proximate said window, said flow control device substantially blocking a flow of fluid between said liner and said main well flow conductor.

A subterranean multilateral well structure, comprising:

• a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore, a sidewall of said main well flow conductor including a plurality of windows having a particular shape distributed along a length of said main well flow conductor, said windows having lateral orientations;
• a plurality of lateral wellbores formed in material surrounding said main wellbore, said lateral wellbores extending from respective ones of said plurality of windows;
• liners having interface ends cemented within each of said lateral wellbores, said interface ends of said liners adapted to contact peripheries of respective one of said windows in said sidewall;
• pressure-bearing seals between said peripheries of said windows and said interface ends of said liners to thereby provide for (a) connectivity among said main wellbore and said lateral wellbores, (b) pressure-bearing sealing of joints to allow selective isolation of a portion of said lateral wellbores and (c) subsequent selective access to said lateral wellbores;
• and
• a helical guide therein for orienting a tool with respect to one of said plurality of said lateral wellbores.

A subterranean multilateral well structure, comprising:

• a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore, a sidewall of said main well flow conductor including a plurality of windows having a particular shape distributed along a length of said main well flow conductor, said windows having lateral orientations;
• a plurality of lateral wellbores formed in material surrounding said main wellbore, said lateral wellbores extending from respective ones of said plurality of windows;
• liners having interface ends cemented within each of said lateral wellbores, said interface ends of said liners adapted to contact peripheries of respective one of said windows in said sidewall;
• pressure-bearing seals between said peripheries of said windows and said interface ends of said liners to thereby provide for (a) connectivity among said main wellbore and said lateral wellbores, (b) pressure-bearing sealing of joints to allow selective isolation of a portion of said lateral wellbores and subsequent selective access to said lateral wellbores;
• and
• a joint composed of a composite material.

A subterranean multilateral well structure, comprising:

• a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore, a sidewall of said main well flow conductor including a plurality of windows having a particular shape distributed along a length of said main well flow conductor, said windows having lateral orientations;
• a plurality of lateral wellbores formed in material surrounding said main wellbore, said lateral wellbores extending from respective ones of said plurality of windows;
• liners having interface ends cemented within each of said lateral wellbores, said interface ends of said liners adapted to contact peripheries of respective one of said windows in said sidewall;
• pressure-bearing seals between said peripheries of said windows and said interface ends of said liners to thereby provide for (a) connectivity among said main wellbore and said lateral wellbores, (b) pressure-bearing sealing of joints to allow selective isolation of a portion of said lateral wellbores and subsequent selective access to said lateral wellbores;
• and
• a preformed window member having a preformed window of a prescribed shape formed therein in said main well flow conductor.

A subterranean multilateral well structure, comprising:

• a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore, a sidewall of said main well flow conductor including a plurality of windows having a particular shape distributed along a length of said main well flow conductor, said windows having lateral orientations;
• a plurality of lateral wellbores formed in material surrounding said main wellbore, said lateral wellbores extending from respective ones of said plurality of windows;
• liners having ends cemented within each of said lateral wellbores;
• pressure-bearing seals between said peripheries of said windows and said interface ends of said liners to thereby provide for (a) connectivity among said main wellbore and said lateral wellbores, (b) pressure-bearing sealing of joints to allow selective isolation of a portion of said lateral wellbores and subsequent selective access to said lateral wellbores;
• and
• ports located in said liners.

A subterranean multilateral well structure, comprising:

• a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore, a sidewall of said main well flow conductor including a plurality of windows having a particular shape distributed along a length of said main well flow conductor, said windows having lateral orientations;
• a plurality of lateral wellbores formed in material surrounding said main wellbore, said lateral wellbores extending from respective ones of said plurality of windows;
• liners having ends cemented within each of said lateral wellbores;
• pressure-bearing seals between said peripheries of said windows and said interface ends of said liners to thereby provide for (a) connectivity among said main wellbore and said lateral wellbores, (b) pressure-bearing sealing of joints to allow selective isolation of a portion of said lateral wellbores and subsequent selective access to said lateral wellbores;
• and
• ports located in said main well flow conductor.

A subterranean multilateral well structure, comprising:

• a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore, a sidewall of said main well flow conductor including a plurality of windows having a particular shape distributed along a length of said main well flow conductor, said windows having lateral orientations;
• a plurality of lateral wellbores formed in material surrounding said main wellbore, said lateral wellbores extending from respective ones of said plurality of windows;
• liners having ends cemented within each of said lateral wellbores;
• pressure-bearing seals between said peripheries of said windows and said interface ends of said liners to thereby provide for (a) connectivity among said main wellbore and said lateral wellbores, (b) pressure-bearing sealing of joints to allow selective isolation of a portion of said lateral wellbores and subsequent selective access to said lateral wellbores;
• and
• slidable flow control devices having ports therein proximate said plurality of windows, said flow control devices movable within said well flow conductor to expose said windows thereby allowing access to said liners by a tool.

A subterranean multilateral well structure, comprising:

• a main well flow conductor located within a main wellbore, a sidewall of said main well flow conductor including a plurality of windows having a particular shape distributed along a length of said main well flow conductor, said windows having lateral orientations;
• a plurality of lateral wellbores formed in material surrounding said main wellbore, said lateral wellbores extending from respective ones of said plurality of windows;
• liners having ends cemented within each of said lateral wellbores;
• pressure-bearing seals between said peripheries of said windows and said interface ends of said liners to thereby provide for (a) connectivity among said main wellbore and said lateral wellbores, (b) pressure-bearing sealing of joints to allow selective isolation of a portion of said lateral wellbores and subsequent selective access to said lateral wellbores;
• and
• slidable flow control devices proximate said windows, said flow control devices adapted to assume a position substantially blocking a flow of fluid between said liners and said main well flow conductor.