Apparatus and methods for isolating a wellbore junction
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsJoseph E. Hess, Benji Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A wellbore junction isolation method and associated apparatus provide convenient isolation of a wellbore junction while permitting certain operations to be performed in a wellbore below the junction. In a described embodiment, a formation intersected by a main wellbore below a wellbore junction is stimulated by fracturing after installing an assembly at the wellbore junction to isolate it from pressures applied during the fracturing operation. In this embodiment, the assembly is installed in a single trip into the main wellbore.
Claims16
A method of isolating a wellbore junction, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning an assembly in a first wellbore opposite an intersection between the first wellbore and a second wellbore, the assembly including an outer generally tubular structure and an inner generally tubular structure, a first flow passage being formed through the inner structure and a second flow passage being formed between the inner and outer structures, the first and second flow passages being isolated from the second wellbore;
- engaging sealing devices between the assembly and the first wellbore straddling the intersection;
- and
- flowing fluid, via the first flow passage, through the assembly between the sealing devices while returning circulation of the fluid, via the second flow passage, through the assembly between the sealing devices.
A method of treating a formation intersected by a first wellbore below an intersection between the first wellbore and a second wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning an assembly in the first wellbore, the assembly including first and second sealing devices, one of the first and second sealing devices being positioned at each opposite end of an elongated section of the assembly, the assembly further including an outer generally tubular structure and an inner generally tubular structure, a first flow passage being formed through the inner structure and a second flow passage being formed between the inner and outer structures;
- sealingly engaging the first and second sealing devices in the first wellbore straddling the intersection between the first and second wellbores;
- and
- flowing a well treatment fluid through the first flow passage and into the formation.
A wellbore isolation system, comprising:
- an assembly including an elongated section having first and second sealing devices at opposite ends of the section, the first and second sealing devices sealingly engaging a first wellbore straddling an as intersection between the first wellbore and a second wellbore, the assembly further including an outer generally tubular structure and an inner generally tubular structure, a first flow passage being formed through the inner structure and a second flow passage being formed between the inner and outer structures;
- and
- fluid flowing through the section via the first flow passage, the first flow passage being isolated from the second wellbore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.