Screened production sleeve for multilateral junctions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9574428-B2
Application number	US-201314138771-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 23, 2013
Priority date	Dec 23, 2013
Publication date	Feb 21, 2017
Grant date	Feb 21, 2017

Abstract

In one aspect, a wellbore system is disclosed that in one non-limiting embodiment includes a first wellbore capable of producing a fluid from a first formation, a second wellbore intersecting the first wellbore at a junction, wherein the second wellbore is an open hole and capable of producing a fluid from a second formation and a sand screen at the junction configured to inhibit particles larger than a selected size from flowing from the second wellbore and the junction into the first wellbore.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wellbore system, comprising:
a first wellbore;
a second wellbore intersecting the first wellbore at a junction;
a production tubular in the first wellbore having an opening facing the second wellbore at the junction;
a first sand screen configured to inhibit flow of particles larger than a selected size from the junction to one of the first wellbore and the second wellbore, wherein the first sand screen extends from an upper location above the junction to a lower location below the junction, wherein the first sand screen is deployed in the production tubular;
a second sand screen disposed within the second wellbore; and
a first seal between the production tubular and the first sand screen proximate to a lower end of the first sand screen and a second seal proximate to an upper end of the first sand screen.

2. The wellbore system of claim 1 , wherein the junction is exposed to a formation.

3. The wellbore system of claim 1 , wherein the first sand screen is disposed proximate to the junction.

4. The wellbore system of claim 1 , wherein the first sand screen is disposed as one of: in the first wellbore; in the second wellbore; and partially in the first wellbore and partially in the second wellbore.

5. The wellbore system of claim 1 further comprising a liner that directs flow of a fluid from the junction toward the first sand screen.

6. The wellbore system of claim 5 , wherein the liner is disposed as one of: from a location in the first wellbore to a location in the second wellbore; in the first wellbore; in the second wellbore; and partially in the first wellbore and partially in the second wellbore.

7. The wellbore system of claim 1 , wherein the second wellbore includes a flow control device that controls flow of a formation fluid into the second wellbore.

8. The wellbore system of claim 1 further comprising a first seal between a production tubular in the first wellbore and a casing in the first wellbore uphole of the junction and a second seal between the production tubular and the casing downhole of the junction to enable fluid from the second wellbore and the junction to flow through the first sand screen.

9. The wellbore system of claim 1 , wherein one of the first wellbore and the second wellbore is a cased wellbore and the other of the first wellbore and the second wellbore is an open hole.

10. The wellbore system of claim 1 further comprising a flow control device inside the first sand screen that controls flow of the fluid from the second wellbore into the first wellbore.

11. The wellbore system of claim 10 , wherein the flow control device is selected from a group consisting of: a valve, an inflow control device having a tortuous fluid flow path; and a device that inhibits flow of water compared to the flow of oil or gas.

12. A method of forming a wellbore, comprising:
forming a first wellbore;
forming a second wellbore intersecting the first wellbore at a junction;
placing a production tubular in the first wellbore having an opening facing the second wellbore at the junction; and
placing a first sand screen configured to inhibit particles larger than a selected size from flowing from the junction into one of the first wellbore and the second wellbore, wherein the first sand screen extends from an upper location above the junction to a lower location below the junction, wherein the first sand screen is deployed in the production tubular;
placing a second sand screen disposed within the second wellbore; and
providing a first seal between the production tubular and the first sand screen and a second seal between the production tubular and the first sand screen to inhibit flow of fluid from the second wellbore to outside of the first sand screen.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising providing a casing in the first wellbore and exposing the junction to a formation.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising: placing a liner that directs fluid to flow from the junction to one of the first wellbore and second wellbore.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising providing a first seal between the production tubular and the first wellbore uphole of the junction and a second seal between the production tubular and the first wellbore downhole of the junction to enable the fluid from the second wellbore and the junction to flow through the first sand screen.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second wellbore is an open hole.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising providing a flow control device inside the first sand screen that controls flow of the fluid from the second wellbore into the first wellbore.

18. The method of 17 , wherein the flow control device is selected from a group consisting of: a sleeve valve, an inflow control device having a tortuous fluid path; a device that inhibits flow of water compared to the flow of oil or gas.

Assignees

• Ramey Jr Mark E
• Pendleton Bryan P
• Sheehan Joseph
• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• Ramey Jr Mark E
• Pendleton Bryan P
• Sheehan Joseph

Classifications

• E21B41/0035

  Apparatus or methods for multilateral well technology, e.g. for the completion of or workover on wells with one or more lateral branches · CPC title

• E21B41/0042

  characterised by sealing the junction between a lateral and a main bore · CPC title

• E21B43/08 Primary

  Screens or liners {(expandable screens or liners E21B43/108)} · CPC title