RU2575197C2 - Gravel pack in branch hole - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: oil and gas industry.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions is referred to oil and gas producing industry, in particular, to formation of gravel filters in branch hole. The method includes completion of interface node and connection of interface node with completion, deployment of downhole equipment in completion, completion of interface node by means of downhole equipment for performance of gravel packing operation through engagement of the equipment with polished receiving connector, ball movement to the downhole equipment and usage of ball in order to direct flow of gravel slurry through a frame of transit port to a guide unit and through bypass channel until its drainage. Hydrostatic pressure is maintained in uncased branch hole by means of downhole equipment near the wall of branch hole during operation of gravel packing in order to preserve integrity of the branch hole; pressure is released upon completion of gravel packing operation.

EFFECT: simplified operation of the hole treatment before ending the required gravel packing.

18 cl, 8 dwg

Description

BACKGROUND

[001] Hydrocarbon fluids, such as oil and natural gas, are obtained from an underground geological formation by drilling a well that passes through a hydrocarbon-bearing formation. After the well has been drilled, various forms of completion elements can be installed to control and increase the efficiency of obtaining fluids from the underground geological formation. In some systems, the production of hydrocarbon fluids is increased by drilling and completing the sidetracks of wells leaving the main well, such as a vertical well. To obtain gravel packs around completions in the sidetracks, various gravel pack operations are used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[002] In general, the present invention provides a methodology and system for processing, for example, gravel packs, sidetracks. This methodology and system can be used in an open-hole lateral well and includes completion flowing into the lateral wellbore. Downhole equipment is used in conjunction with completion to perform gravel packing or other well treatment operations while maintaining hydrostatic pressure on an uncased side well to prevent collapse of the wellbore. Various functions can be integrated into completions or used together with completions to facilitate well processing operations while maintaining hydrostatic pressure until the desired gravel pack is completed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[003] Some embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which reference signs indicate components. However, it should be understood that the accompanying drawings illustrate only the various embodiments described herein and are not intended to limit the scope of the various technologies described herein.

[5] Figure 1 shows a wellbore system with an example of completion deployed in an open hole lateral wellbore according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[6] FIG. 2 shows a drawing similar to that shown in FIG. 1, but showing the completion of a mating assembly that is connected to a completion located in a side well with an open hole, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[7] Figure 3 shows a drawing similar to that shown in figure 2, but showing the addition of intermediate completion deployed in the main wellbore, in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention.

[8] Fig. 4 is a drawing similar to that shown in Fig. 3, but showing the deployment of the casing and downhole equipment down to a completion located in an open hole lateral well according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[9] FIG. 5 shows a drawing similar to that shown in FIG. 4, in which a ball is lowered to deflect gravel cuttings into a bypass channel separate from the main completion flow path in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[10] FIG. 6 is a drawing of a finished gravel pack located around a completion in an open hole lateral wellbore according to an embodiment of the invention.

[11] FIG. 7 shows a drawing similar to that shown in FIG. 6, with the addition of an upper completion connected to an intermediate completion, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[12] FIG. 8 shows an example of a downhole system in a production configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[13] The following description provides details that help to understand the essence of the shown embodiments of the present invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the system and / or methodology can be practiced without these details and that numerous changes or modifications are possible to the described embodiments.

[14] The invention described herein generally relates to a system and methodology that facilitate a processing operation in a side wellbore. For example, a system and methodology facilitates gravel packing operations in open hole lateral wells. In accordance with one embodiment of a well system, completion is deployed in a side wellbore. The interface then ends and connects to completion in the side wellbore to form a fenced flow path from the main wellbore, such as a vertical well, to the side wellbore. After completion of the interface, the downhole equipment can be used to facilitate the formation of gravel packing in the side wellbore while maintaining hydrostatic pressure. Hydrostatic pressure is applied through completion in the lateral wellbore to the wall of the uncased lateral wellbore to maintain the integrity of the lateral wellbore by, for example, preventing collapse. Hydrostatic pressure can be relieved after gravel packing is completed.

[15] The completion deployed in the side wellbore may include a bypass conductive system that directs the gravel slurry to perform gravel packing operations on the bypass flow path outside the main flow path through the completion. The bypass conduction system may include a bypass channel, for example a shunt tube, which extends to a desired discharge location. For example, gravel slurry may be directed along a bypass channel into an annular region surrounding one or more sand filters. In some systems, all gravel sludge is used to form gravel packs directed downward through the inside of the interface in the main internal flow path until they are directed out of it into the bypass channel through, for example, a protected port closure sleeve. Thus, the gravel slurry is completely retained, directed along the bypass channel and discharged at the desired location with respect to the gravel pack.

[16] A bypass conductive system can be used to perform gravel packing operations through a finished interface. However, a bypass conductive system can also be used in other types of systems. For example, a bypass conductive system can be used to facilitate the formation of the desired gravel pack prior to completion of the interface between the main wellbore and the lateral wellbore.

[17] Depending on the specific environmental parameters of a given well and the operation of processing a well, elements of the well system and a specific methodology may be adjusted. For example, a completion deployed in a lateral wellbore may be started with various suitable packers, such as a disconnector packer, an annular packer, a swellable packer, and an end packer. Downhole equipment can be designed to maintain hydrostatic pressure during gravel packing and for postoperative cleaning. To facilitate well processing operations, many other types of elements and tools can be included in the system, for example gravel packing operations, in one or more sidetracks of wells.

[18] Figure 1 shows an example of one type of system and a methodology for performing a processing operation in a side wellbore. An example may serve to facilitate explanation, but it should be understood that various elements and operational methods may be used for the downhole system described herein. The various terminations described may use various packers, valves, sliding sleeves, shields, pipelines, hooking devices, adapter ports, and other elements selected for use in many types of environments and systems.

[19] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a borehole system 20, including completion 22 deployed in well 24. In this example, completion 22 is deployed in a lateral wellbore 26 that extends from a main well 28, such as a substantially vertical well. In the example shown, the main well 28 is cased by a pipe 30, and the lateral wellbore 26 is a lateral well with an uncased well defined by the uncased wall of the well 32. Depending on the particular application, different well completions may be used in well 24 and well 24 may include many types of wells , including deviated, for example, horizontal, with one hole, multi-hole, single-zone, multi-zone, cased, uncased (open hole) or other types of wells.

[20] In the example shown, completion 22 includes a packer 34, which may be an open-hole packer designed to seal a portion of a sidetrack emerging from the packer 34 to the bottom of a sidetrack 26. As an example, the packer 34 may be a packer for annulus , a swellable packer, an end packer, or other packer for the desired application, for example an open hole application. In addition, completion 22 may also include various other elements, such as a sand filter 36 or a series of sand filters 36. Completion 22 may also include a polished receptacle 38 or other suitable device for receiving downhole equipment, as described in more detail below. In addition, an installable sleeve 40 may be used in conjunction with a polished receptacle 38. Various other elements, such as a plate valve or other type of fluid leakage device 42, may be further included in termination 22.

[21] In the specific example shown, completion 22 is for guiding the gravel slurry through the bypass conductive system 44. For example, the bypass conductive system 44 may include a bypass channel 46, for example at least one shunt pipe 48 arranged to deliver gravel slurry to the discharge site 50. The bypass channel 46 discharges the gravel slurry at the discharge site 50 to obtain the desired gravel packing in the annular space around, for example, sand screens 36. According to an example of the presented method Ki gravel slurry is directed along the main path of stream 52, which passes into the inner part of completion 22. As explained in more detail below, gravel slurry can be directed along the work string and downhole equipment deployed in the main path of stream 52 and connected to completion 22. In such a system the working string and downhole equipment contain gravel slurry in the main flow path 52 until it is discharged outside the main flow path 52, for example, bypass conductive system 44.

In this embodiment, the guiding device 54 works in conjunction with downhole equipment to direct the gravel slurry to the bypass channel 46. During gravel packing or other operations, the gravel slurry may be directed along the main flow path 52 while remaining completely enclosed in the work string and downhole equipment until the gravel slurry is directed to the bypass channel 46 for delivery to the dumping site 50. This makes it possible to control and retain 100% of the gravel slurry used to form the desired gravel pack completion around 22. As an example, the guide device 54 may include a secure closing sleeve 56 ports.

[22] In the example shown, a diverter 58 or other suitable device may be used to facilitate the formation of a lateral wellbore 26. In addition, a diverter 58 may be used to facilitate other completion operations, such as the completion of the interface assembly used to connect the completion 22 to the intermediate completion in the area of transition between the main well 28 and the lateral well bore 26. The diverter 58 may be made in the form of a recoverable element to gain access to possible complementary lnym lateral boreholes located below the illustrated lateral wellbore 26.

[23] Figure 2 shows a downhole system 20 in which the interface 60 was completed and connected to completion 22 through, for example, a connector 62, such as a disconnecting sub. In this embodiment, the interface 60 is located above the slab 64. Once the interface 60 is completed, the intermediate completion 66 can be lowered into the well through a corresponding drain device 68 and connected to the interface 60 in the main well 28, as shown in FIG. .3. Depending on the specific application, intermediate completion 66 may include various elements, such as packer 70. In the shown embodiment, the packer 70 is designed to form a seal with casing 30 in the main well 28. Additional packers 70 and other elements may be deployed in the main well 28 below the interface 60.

[24] After placement of the intermediate completion 66, the downhole equipment 72 is lowered along the wellbore at the production string 74, as shown in FIG. 4. Downhole equipment 72 is deployed downward through intermediate completion 66 and interface 60 before being received at completion 22 through a polished receiving socket 38. Downhole equipment 72 is designed to engage and seal in a polished receiving socket 38 to maintain hydrostatic pressure in an open hole sidehole barrel 26 during gravel packing operation. Hydrostatic pressure is maintained in the completion 22 and in the annular channel 76 between the completion 22 and the surrounding wall of the open hole 32 to maintain the integrity of the side well with open hole 26, for example, to prevent collapse of the side well. In addition, the design of downhole equipment 72, completion 22, and interface 60 ensures that sand does not enter the interface 60 during gravel packing.

[25] The downhole equipment 72 may have a variety of elements and functions to facilitate the execution of a required well treatment operation. In the example shown, downhole equipment 72 is intended to facilitate gravel packing operations and includes a transition port housing 78 for guiding gravel cuttings from the downhole equipment 72 into a sheltered port closure sleeve 56 and then to a bypass channel 46 for delivery to a discharge site 50. in one example, the downhole equipment 72 may include one or more flow control valves 80, a conical clip of the downhole equipment 82, a fluid leak device 84, and suitable seals 86 to provide a seal with an surrounding polished receptacle 38. These elements are described and shown as examples of elements that can be included in downhole equipment 72, but other embodiments of downhole equipment may include additional, alternative and / or modified elements to facilitate the required operation well treatment. In addition, downhole equipment 72 and completion 22 may be used to perform the cleaning operation after gravel packing.

[26] In FIG. 5, a lowering member, such as ball 88, moves downstream of production string 74 and downhole equipment 72 until it drops next to the transition port housing 78. When gravel slurry flows downstream of production string 74 and downhole equipment 72 in transit of the main stream 52, ball 88 directs the flow of gravel slurry through the body of the transition port 78. Then, the gravel slurry enters a guiding device 54, for example, a sheltered port closure sleeve 56, and is discharged at the discharge site 50 through the bypass channel 46. During the flow I gravel slurry hydrostatic pressure is maintained in the lateral wellbore 26.

[27] In this example, all gravel slurry is discharged through a bypass channel 46 to produce gravel pack 90, as shown in FIG. 6. The gravel pack 90 is located in the annular space 76 between completion 22 and the surrounding wall of the open hole 32. When the well fluid flows from the surrounding formation, the gravel pack 90 serves to filter the incoming well fluid before entering the completion 22 through sand filters 36. After the formation of the gravel pack 90 hydrostatic pressure can be relieved in the lateral wellbore 26. After formation of the gravel pack 90, downhole equipment 72 can be removed and the fluid leakage device 42 can be closed, thereby preventing further fluid flow along the main flow path 52.

[28] After removing the downhole equipment 72, the upper completion 92 may be brought down through the main well 28 to engage with the intermediate completion 66, as shown in FIG. 7. During deployment of the upper completion 92, the valve 94 in the intermediate completion 66 can be used to prevent flow along the main flow path 52. However, as soon as the well 24 is completely completed, the valve 94 can be opened to obtain a configuration that allows the produced fluid to flow up the well 24, as shown in FIG.

[29] In some systems, the ability to complete the interface unit 60 and then perform the gravel packing operation while maintaining hydrostatic pressure greatly facilitates obtaining the desired gravel pack 90. In these systems, a bypass conductive system 44 may be used to deliver gravel slurry, but others gravel sludge delivery systems can also be used to direct the gravel sludge to the desired location at the end of 22. In addition, to facilitate the operation of gravel packing can be A bypass conduction system 44 has been used in various applications. In some of these systems, a bypass conduit system of channel 44 is used to store and deliver 100% gravel slurry for the controlled discharge of all gravel slurry during formation of gravel pack 90. A bypass system 44 can be used in applications that perform gravel packing operations after the completion of the interface unit 60 or before the completion of the interface unit 60.

[30] The specific configuration of the well system 20 and completion 22 may vary depending on the parameters of a particular system. In addition, the interface unit 60, the guiding device 54, the system with a detour 44 and other elements of the system can form different configurations and from various materials suitable for the selected operation and environment. In addition, various types of downhole equipment 72 and workstations 74 can be used to deliver gravel slurry or other processing fluids prior to completion 22 along main flow path 52.

[31] In addition, depending on the specifics of the particular application, several types of intermediate completions and upper completions can be used for processing and / or production. In addition, additional completions can be deployed in additional lateral wellbores. Each of the additional sidetracks can be gravelled or otherwise processed as described above. For example, gravel packing of each additional side wellbore may be accomplished by completing the corresponding mating assembly and then forming gravel packing while maintaining hydrostatic pressure. In addition, a system with a bypass flow path can be used with each corresponding completion located in additional wellbores.

[32] Although only a few embodiments of the system and methodology have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many modifications are possible within the scope of the ideas of this invention. Therefore, such modifications should be included in the scope of the present invention, as defined in the claims.

Claims (18)

1. A method of processing a well, including:
the completion of the interface node and the connection of the interface node with the completion located in the side well with an open hole;
deployment of downhole equipment in completion;
the subsequent completion of the interface node using downhole equipment to perform gravel packing operations in a side well with an open hole by engaging the downhole equipment with a polished receiving socket;
moving the ball into the downhole equipment and using the ball to ensure the direction of the flow of gravel slurry through the transition port housing to the guiding device and along the bypass channel until it is discharged;
maintaining hydrostatic pressure in the open hole borehole through downhole equipment and near the open hole borehole wall during gravel packing at a level to maintain the integrity of the open hole borehole; and
discharge of hydrostatic pressure after completion of gravel packing operation. 2. The method according to p. 1, characterized in that it further includes performing the operation of gravel packing through a bypass channel, separated from the main path of the completion stream. 3. The method according to p. 2, characterized in that the implementation includes the direction of gravel slurry along a fenced path inside the inner part of the interface unit and a pass to the bypass channel for delivery to the desired discharge site. 4. The method according to p. 2, characterized in that the implementation includes the direction of gravel slurry along a fenced path inside the inner part of the interface node and a pass into the bypass channel in the form of at least one shunt pipe. 5. The method according to p. 1, characterized in that it further includes preventing sand from entering the interface. 6. The method according to p. 3, characterized in that the direction includes the use of a protected sleeve to close the port to direct gravel slurry into the bypass channel. 7. The method according to p. 1, characterized in that it further includes the use of downhole equipment to perform the cleaning operation after gravel packing in a side well with an open hole. 8. A downhole system, including:
termination with a sand filter, a protected port closure sleeve, a bypass channel exiting from the protected port closure sleeve to the sand filter, and a packer,
moreover, the completion allows hydrostatic pressure to remain in the formation when the completion is placed in the side wellbore;
an interface unit that can be completed and connected to completion to enclose the main flow path between intermediate completion in a generally vertical wellbore and completion in a lateral wellbore; and
downhole equipment configured to selectively engage and seal with a specified completion in a polished receiving socket, while gravel slurry enters through the downhole equipment and to the ball, which provides direction of the flow of gravel sludge through the transition port body to the guide device and through the bypass channel to its discharge, and downhole equipment is configured to maintain hydrostatic pressure through downhole equipment while gravel slurry enters the main flow path at the interface and completion unit to form a gravel pack, while downhole equipment is movable to relieve hydrostatic pressure after the formation of the gravel pack. 9. The downhole system according to claim 8, characterized in that the bypass channel includes at least one shunt pipe. 10. The downhole system according to claim 8, characterized in that the packer is a packer for the annulus. 11. The downhole system according to claim 8, characterized in that the packer is a swellable packer. 12. The borehole system of claim 8, wherein the packer is a completion packer. 13. The system according to p. 8, characterized in that it further includes a disconnecting sub, connecting the termination with the interface node. 14. A method comprising:
providing completion with an anti-sand filter and a packer that seals against the uncased wall of the side wellbore;
launch completion down the well into the side wellbore;
downhole engagement with completion by placing a seal in a polished receiving receptacle;
moving the ball into the downhole equipment and using the ball to ensure the direction of the flow of gravel slurry through the transition port housing to the guiding device and along the bypass channel until it is discharged;
performing a gravel packing operation to create gravel packing around the completion through the downhole equipment by directing the gravel cuttings from the downhole equipment and discharging through the bypass channel separately from the main completion flow path,
the completion of the interface node and the connection of the interface node with the completion before the operation of gravel packing;
maintaining hydrostatic pressure in the side well through downhole equipment sealed in a polished receiving socket and at the wall of the open hole of the side well during gravel packing operations at a level to maintain the integrity of the side well; and
discharge of hydrostatic pressure after completion of gravel packing operation. 15. The method according to p. 14, further comprising maintaining the stability of the open hole in the side wellbore. 16. The method according to p. 14, characterized in that it further includes performing a cleaning operation after gravel packing. 17. The method according to p. 14, characterized in that the implementation includes the direction of gravel slurry along a fenced path inside the inner part of the interface unit and a pass to the bypass channel for delivery to the desired discharge site. 18. The method according to p. 14, characterized in that the operation of gravel packing includes the delivery of gravel through a bypass channel in the form of at least one shunt pipe.

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