Sealed multilateral junction system
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsRay C. Smith, Terry A. Schroter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sealed multilateral junction system provides fluid isolation between intersecting wellbores in a subterranean well. In a described embodiment, a method of forming a wellbore junction includes the steps of sealing a tubular string in a branch wellbore to a tubular structure in a parent wellbore. The tubular string may be secured to the tubular structure utilizing a flange which is larger in size than a window formed in the tubular structure. The flange may be sealed to the tubular structure about the window by a metal to metal seal or by adhering the flange to the tubular structure.
Claims34
A method of forming a wellbore junction in a subterranean well, the method comprising the steps of:
- drilling a first wellbore;
- installing a casing string in the first wellbore;
- drilling a second wellbore extending outwardly from the first wellbore;
- aligning a window formed through a sidewall of the casing string with the second wellbore;
- installing a liner string through the window and into the second wellbore, an end portion of the liner string extending inwardly through the window;
- and
- then radially outwardly deforming the liner string end portion to form a flange thereon, the flange preventing outward displacement of the liner string through the window, and wherein the deforming step further comprises conveying a deflection device and mandrel into the casing string, and displacing the mandrel relative to the deflection device, thereby laterally deflecting the mandrel to deform the liner string end portion.
A method of forming a wellbore junction in a subterranean well, the method comprising the steps of:
- drilling a first wellbore;
- installing a casing string in the first wellbore;
- drilling a second wellbore extending outwardly from the first wellbore;
- aligning a window formed through a sidewall of the casing string with the second wellbore;
- installing a liner string through the window and into the second wellbore, an end portion of the liner string extending inwardly through the window;
- then radially outwardly deforming the liner string end portion to form a flange thereon, the flange preventing outward displacement of the liner string through the window;
- and
- expanding a member within the casing string, thereby preventing the flange from displacing inwardly in the casing string.
A method of forming a wellbore junction in a subterranean well, the method comprising the steps of:
- drilling a first wellbore;
- installing a casing string in the first wellbore;
- drilling a second wellbore extending outwardly from the first wellbore;
- aligning a window formed through a sidewall of the casing string with the second wellbore;
- providing an end surface on an end portion of a liner string, the end surface being parallel with a longitudinal axis of the casing string;
- installing the liner string through the window and into the second wellbore, the end portion of the liner string extending inwardly through the window;
- and
- then radially outwardly deforming the liner string end portion to form a flange thereon, the flange preventing outward displacement of the liner string through the window,
- wherein the providing step further comprises forming the end surface on the liner string end portion after the liner string installing step, and wherein the forming step further comprises milling off the liner string end portion in the casing string to form the end surface.
A method of forming a wellbore junction in a subterranean well, the method comprising the steps of:
- drilling a first wellbore;
- installing a casing string in the first wellbore;
- drilling a second wellbore extending outwardly from the first wellbore;
- aligning a window formed through a sidewall of the casing string with the second wellbore;
- providing an end surface on an end portion of a liner string, the end surface being parallel with a longitudinal axis of the casing string;
- installing the liner string through the window and into the second wellbore, the end portion of the liner string extending inwardly through the window;
- and
- then radially outwardly deforming the liner string end portion to form a flange thereon, the flange preventing outward displacement of the liner string through the window, and
- wherein the providing step further comprises forming the end surface on the liner string end portion before the liner string installing step.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.