Multilateral well system and method
OwnerAllan Albertsoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of forming a sealed junction between wellbores includes first enlarging a length of a first wellbore to form an enlarged wellbore segment. Then installing casing in the first wellbore and in the enlarged wellbore segment. After the casing is installed, material is pumped into the enlarged wellbore segment and allowed to harden to form a hardened material. After hardening, the first wellbore is reestablished. And then a second wellbore is formed by drilling out a lateral passage through the casing and the hardened material. A liner is then run into the second wellbore with an end of the liner covered with a swellable elastomer. The swellable elastomer is allowed to expand and seal against the surface of the lateral passage forming a sealed junction between the first wellbore and the second wellbore.
Claims10
A method of forming a junction between wellbores, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) enlarging a length of a first wellbore to form an enlarged wellbore segment;
- b) installing casing in said first wellbore and in said enlarged wellbore segment;
- c) pumping material into said enlarged wellbore segment and allowing said material to harden to form a hardened material;
- d) reestablishing said first wellbore;
- e) forming a second wellbore by drilling out a lateral passage through said casing and said hardened material;
- f) positioning a liner in said second wellbore with an end of said liner covered with a swellable elastomer being disposed in said lateral passage;
- and
- g) allowing said swellable elastomer to expand and seal against the surface of said lateral passage in direct contact with said casing, said hardened material, and said formation, forming a sealed junction between said first wellbore and said second wellbore.
A method of forming a multilateral well system, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) drilling a first wellbore through a formation;
- b) enlarging a length of said first wellbore to form an enlarged wellbore segment;
- c) installing casing in said first wellbore and in said enlarged wellbore segment with said casing being disposed eccentrically within said enlarged wellbore segment;
- d) pumping material into said enlarged wellbore segment and allowing said material to harden to form a hardened material having a thickness greater along one side of said casing than an opposite side of said casing;
- e) reestablishing said first wellbore by drilling through said hardened material;
- and
- f) forming a second wellbore by drilling out a lateral passage through said casing and through the greater thickness of said hardened material.
A sealed junction between a first wellbore and a second wellbore, said sealed junction comprising:
- an enlarged wellbore segment of the first wellbore;
- a casing disposed within and along both the first wellbore and said enlarged wellbore segment;
- hardened material disposed in and filling said enlarged wellbore segment and encircling said casing;
- a lateral passage extending through both said casing and said hardened material and joining the second wellbore with the first wellbore;
- a liner disposed within said lateral passage and the second wellbore;
- and
- a swellable elastomer disposed along a length of said liner that is disposed within said lateral passage, said swellable elastomer being expanded and making sealing contact with the surface of said lateral passage in direct contact with said casing, said hardened material, and said formation, thereby sealing the first wellbore from the second wellbore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.