US20140174740A1 - Method of intersecting a first well bore by a second well bore - Google Patents
Method of intersecting a first well bore by a second well bore Download PDFInfo
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- US20140174740A1 US20140174740A1 US14/191,054 US201414191054A US2014174740A1 US 20140174740 A1 US20140174740 A1 US 20140174740A1 US 201414191054 A US201414191054 A US 201414191054A US 2014174740 A1 US2014174740 A1 US 2014174740A1
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 30
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 41
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 41
- 239000004568 cement Substances 0.000 claims description 42
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 16
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000003698 laser cutting Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000003801 milling Methods 0.000 abstract description 53
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 23
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 23
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 23
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 17
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 12
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 7
- 238000005755 formation reaction Methods 0.000 description 7
- 230000000149 penetrating effect Effects 0.000 description 6
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 description 6
- 239000011435 rock Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000004873 anchoring Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 2
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- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
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- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
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Classifications
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
- E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
- E21B33/13—Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices, or the like
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B29/00—Cutting or destroying pipes, packers, plugs, or wire lines, located in boreholes or wells, e.g. cutting of damaged pipes, of windows; Deforming of pipes in boreholes or wells; Reconditioning of well casings while in the ground
- E21B29/002—Cutting, e.g. milling, a pipe with a cutter rotating along the circumference of the pipe
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
- B23K26/36—Removing material
- B23K26/38—Removing material by boring or cutting
- B23K26/382—Removing material by boring or cutting by boring
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B29/00—Cutting or destroying pipes, packers, plugs, or wire lines, located in boreholes or wells, e.g. cutting of damaged pipes, of windows; Deforming of pipes in boreholes or wells; Reconditioning of well casings while in the ground
- E21B29/02—Cutting or destroying pipes, packers, plugs, or wire lines, located in boreholes or wells, e.g. cutting of damaged pipes, of windows; Deforming of pipes in boreholes or wells; Reconditioning of well casings while in the ground by explosives or by thermal or chemical means
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B29/00—Cutting or destroying pipes, packers, plugs, or wire lines, located in boreholes or wells, e.g. cutting of damaged pipes, of windows; Deforming of pipes in boreholes or wells; Reconditioning of well casings while in the ground
- E21B29/06—Cutting windows, e.g. directional window cutters for whipstock operations
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B7/00—Special methods or apparatus for drilling
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B7/00—Special methods or apparatus for drilling
- E21B7/04—Directional drilling
- E21B7/06—Deflecting the direction of boreholes
- E21B7/061—Deflecting the direction of boreholes the tool shaft advancing relative to a guide, e.g. a curved tube or a whipstock
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- B23K2101/00—Articles made by soldering, welding or cutting
- B23K2101/04—Tubular or hollow articles
- B23K2101/10—Pipe-lines
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
Abstract
In some general aspects, methods for intersecting a first, cased well bore include drilling a second well bore that has a distal end proximal to the first, cased well bore to be intersected, disposing a mill guiding device in the second well bore near a casing of the first, cased well bore, the mill guiding device being configured to direct a mill of a milling assembly away from a central axis of the second well bore and towards the first, cased well bore, inserting the milling assembly into the second well bore, operating the mill of the mill assembly and guiding the milling assembly along the mill guide and into the casing of the first well bore, and removing material from the casing of the first well bore until the first, cased well bore and the second well bore are fluidly connected.
Description
- This disclosure relates to a method of intersecting a first well bore by a second well bore and plugging methods for the first well bore.
- Well bores can be drilled into the earth to tap into underground reservoirs of oil or gas. Such well bores can be lined with a casing (e.g., a metal casing) to add structural stability to the well bores. Well bores are typically abandoned after use. In some cases, a well bore may be abandoned and closed after the volume of oil or gas produced by the well drops below suitably economical levels. Alternatively, in some cases, a well bore is abandoned and closed as a result of a loss of control (blowout) in a well bore. Different regulatory bodies have different requirements for such abandoning operations. Some regulatory bodies require that the abandoned well bore be plugged (e.g., with cement plugs).
- The present disclosure relates methods and systems for intersecting well bores. In a general aspect, a method for intersecting a first, cased well bore includes drilling a second well bore that has a distal end proximal to the first, cased well bore to be intersected, disposing a mill guiding device in the second well bore near a casing of the first, cased well bore, the mill guiding device being configured to direct a mill of a milling assembly away from a central axis of the second well bore and towards the first, cased well bore, inserting the milling assembly into the second well bore, operating the mill of the mill assembly and guiding the milling assembly along the mill guide and into the casing of the first well bore, and removing material from the casing of the first well bore until the first, cased well bore and the second well bore are fluidly connected.
- In another general aspect, a method for intersecting a first, cased well bore includes forming a second well bore that extends to a region of the first, cased well bore to be intersected, arranging a mill guiding device in the second well bore near a casing coupling of a casing of the first, cased well bore, inserting a milling assembly into the second well bore, guiding the milling assembly along the mill guiding device and operating a mill of the mill assembly so that the mill first removes material from an upper surface of the casing coupling, and removing material from the casing coupling and the adjacent casing until the first, cased well bore and the second well bore are fluidly connected.
- In another general aspect, a method for intersecting a first, cased well bore includes forming a second well bore that extends to a region of the first, cased well bore to be intersected, inserting a milling assembly into the second well bore, where the milling assembly has a mill guide, a mill, and a mill alignment device to align the mill and the mill guide as the mill advances along the mill guide, operating the mill and guiding the mill along the mill guide and into a casing of the first, cased well bore, and removing material from the casing until the first, cased well bore and the second well bore are fluidly connected.
- In more specific aspects, the methods may further include removing the milling assembly from the second well bore.
- The methods may further include inserting a plugging material into the first, cased well bore from the second well bore to form an obstruction. In some cases, the plugging material may include cement. In some cases, the obstruction limits an amount of fluid that can pass through the first, cased well bore. In some cases, the fluid is a gas.
- The methods may further include running and setting an anchor packer assembly in the second well bore below the mill guiding device.
- Disposing the mill guiding device may include running and positioning the mill using a drill string.
- The mill guiding device may include a wedge-like member that is arranged in the second well bore to force the mill towards the casing of the first well bore as the mill is inserted into the second well bore.
- The milling assembly may include the mill guiding device and the mill guiding device may include a wedge-like mill guiding device that is arranged in the second well bore to force the mill towards the casing of the first well bore as the mill is inserted into the second well bore.
- The mill may include a rotating drill bit. In some cases, the rotating drill bit may be powered hydraulically.
- The methods may further include running and setting an anchor packer assembly in the second well bore below the mill guide.
- The mill alignment device may include one or more grooved rails disposed longitudinally along the mill guiding device that force the mill towards the casing as the mill is inserted into the second well bore. The mill may include one or more tabs that are sized to slide within the grooved rails. In some cases, as the mill moves along the mill guide device, the grooved guide rails limit the extent to which the mill may move transverse to the longitudinal direction of the mill guide.
- In another general aspect, a method for intersecting a first, cased well bore includes forming a second well bore that extends to a region of the first, cased well bore to be intersected, inserting a laser tool assembly into the second well bore and aligning the laser tool assembly with the region of the first, cased well bored to be obstructed, operating the laser tool assembly and forming an opening in a casing of the first, cased well bore, and removing material from the casing until the first, cased well bore and the second well bore are fluidly connected.
- In more specific aspects, the method may further include removing the laser tool assembly from the second well bore.
- The laser tool assembly may include a laser perforator having a laser beam generator that generates a laser beam, and a focusing array through which the laser beam passes.
- In another general aspect, a system for intersecting a first, cased well bore includes a drilling assembly that is configured to drill a second well bore having a distal end proximal to the first, cased well bore, a milling assembly, and a mill guiding device. The drilling assembly includes a drill string, and a drill bit disposed at an end of the drill string. The milling assembly includes a mill drill string and a mill disposed at an end of the mill drill string, the mill having a mill drill bit that is configured to cut and remove material from a casing wall of the first, cased well bore. The mill guiding device is configured to direct the mill drill bit towards the casing wall of the first, cased well bore.
- In more specific aspects, the system may further include a plugging material delivery device that is configured to deliver a plugging material into the first, cased well bore. In some cases, the plugging material may be cement.
- The system may further include an anchor packer assembly that is configured to be disposed at the distal end of the second well bore.
- The mill guiding device may include a wedge-like member.
- In another general aspect, a system for intersecting a first, cased well bore includes a drilling assembly that is configured to drill a second well bore having a distal end proximal to a casing coupling of the first, cased well bore, a milling assembly, and a mill guiding device. The drilling assembly includes a drill string and a drill bit disposed at an end of the drill string. The milling assembly includes a mill drill string and a mill disposed at an end of the mill drill string, the mill having a mill drill bit that is configured to rest along a surface of a casing coupling of the first, cased well bore and cut and remove material from a casing wall of the first, cased well bore and the casing coupling of the first, cased well bore. The mill guiding device is configured to direct the mill drill bit towards the casing wall of the first, cased well bore.
- In more specific aspects, the surface of the casing coupling is an upper, generally flat surface along which the mill drill bit can rest while beginning a cut into the casing wall.
- The mill guiding device may include a wedge-like member.
- The system may further include a plugging material delivery device that is configured to deliver a plugging material into the first, cased well bore. In some cases, the plugging material is cement.
- The system may further include an anchor packer assembly that is configured to be disposed at the distal end of the second well bore.
- In another general aspect, a system for intersecting a first, cased well bore includes a drilling assembly that is configured to drill a second well bore having a distal end proximal to the first, cased well bore, a milling assembly, and a mill guiding device. The drilling assembly includes a drill string and a drill bit disposed at an end of the drill string. The milling assembly includes a mill drill string and a mill disposed at an end of the mill drill string, the mill having a mill drill bit that is configured to cut and remove material from a casing wall of the first, cased well bore. The mill guiding device is configured to direct the mill drill bit towards the casing wall of the first, cased well bore, the mill guiding device comprising alignment features that are configured to limit the relative motion of the mill drill bit relative to the mill guiding device as the mill drill bit moves longitudinally along the mill guiding device.
- In more specific aspects, the alignment features may include one of more grooved guide rails disposed longitudinally along the mill guiding device. The mill drill bit may include one or more tabs that are sized to slide within the grooved rails. In some cases, as the mill drill bit moves along the mill guiding device, the grooved guide rails limit the extent to which the mill drill bit can move transverse to the longitudinal direction of the mill guiding device.
- The system may further include a plugging material delivery device that is configured to deliver a plugging material into the first, cased well bore. In some cases, the plugging material is cement.
- The system may further include an anchor packer assembly that is configured to be disposed at the distal end of the second well bore.
- The mill guiding device may be a wedge-like member.
- In another general aspect, a system for intersecting a first, cased well bore includes a drilling assembly that is configured to drill a second well bore having a distal end proximal to the first, cased well bore, and a laser tool assembly. The drilling assembly includes a drill string and a drill bit disposed at an end of the drill string. The laser tool assembly includes a laser perforator that is configured to emit a laser cutting beam that can penetrate a casing wall of the first, cased well bore and form an opening between the first, cased well bored and the second well bore.
- In more specific aspects, the system may further include a plugging material delivery device that is configured to deliver a plugging material into the first, cased well bore. In some cases, the plugging material is cement.
- The laser tool assembly may further include a first, cased well bore detector. The first, cased well bore detector may include an ultrasonic tool that is configured to detect noise from fluid flow within the first, cased well bore.
- The laser perforator may include a laser beam generator that generates the laser beam, and the laser tool assembly may include a focusing array through which the laser cutting beam passes.
- The laser tool assembly may further include a laser alignment device that is configured to detect the orientation of the laser perforator relative to the casing wall. The laser alignment device may include a metal detector. The metal detector may include a magnetic sensor.
- A portion of the second well bore, where the laser tool assembly will be positioned for emitting a laser cutting beam, is substantially parallel to the first, cased well bore.
- Embodiments may include one or more of the following advantages.
- Using the methods and systems described herein, a cased well bore can be intersected, and in some cases obstructed, more easily than some other intersection methods by reducing the likelihood that a mill cutting into a casing of the cased well bore will walk laterally along the casing during cutting.
- In some embodiments, a mill cutting into a casing of the cased well bore can begin removing material from the casing in a more controlled manner by seating along a generally flat surface of a casing coupling.
- In some embodiments, the cased well bore is more easily intersected by using a laser tool which can be used to cut material from the casing in a more controlled manner than some other intersection methods.
- The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
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FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a first, cased well bore. -
FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional schematic diagram of the first well bore ofFIG. 1 showing well bore casings connected by a casing coupling. -
FIG. 3A illustrates a schematic diagram of an example milling assembly disposed in an second, intersecting well bore that is being drilled proximal to the first well bore ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3B illustrates a schematic diagram of the milling assembly ofFIG. 3A anchoring a whipstock in the second well bore. -
FIG. 3C illustrates a schematic diagram of a mill of the milling assembly ofFIG. 3A released from the whipstock. -
FIG. 3D illustrates a schematic diagram of the mill ofFIG. 3C disposed in a second well bore wherein the mill is seated on a well bore casing coupling and is milling a hole in the casing wall above and through the casing collar of the first well bore. -
FIG. 3E illustrates a schematic diagram of the mill ofFIG. 3C penetrating the casing wall and coupling of the first well bore ofFIG. 3A and intersecting the first well bore ofFIG. 3A . -
FIG. 3F illustrates the milling assembly ofFIG. 3A being removed from the second well bore. -
FIG. 3G illustrates a cement plugging assembly inserted into the second well bore and pumping a plugging material into the first well bore ofFIG. 3A . -
FIG. 4A is a side view of a milling assembly including a mill and whipstock. -
FIG. 4B is a top view of the milling assembly ofFIG. 4A . -
FIG. 4C is a cross-section view of the milling assembly ofFIG. 4A taken at Section C-C. -
FIG. 4D is an open hole anchor assembly. -
FIG. 4E is an open hole packer assembly. -
FIGS. 4F and 4G are cross-sectional side views, shown in segments, of an exemplary milling assembly. -
FIG. 4H is a cross-sectional front view of a milling guide of the milling assembly ofFIG. 4A . -
FIG. 4I is a cross-sectional front view of a mill of the milling assembly ofFIG. 4A . -
FIG. 5A illustrates a schematic diagram of an example of forming a second, adjacent well bore adjacent to the first, cased well bore ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 5B illustrates a schematic diagram of a laser tool being lowered in the second well bore ofFIG. 5A . -
FIG. 5C illustrates the laser tool ofFIG. 5B penetrating a casing of the first well bore ofFIG. 1 . - Well bores, such as those used to deliver oil or gas from wells within the earth are periodically abandoned, for example, once a suitable amount of oil or gas has been withdrawn from the well or in the event of a well bore blowout. In some cases, a well bore is filled with a material (e.g., plugged with cement) to stop or prevent oil or gas from being inadvertently expelled from the well bore.
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FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a cased well bore (e.g., a first well bore) 10 arranged in aformation 12. For example, the first well bore 10 can be a well bore to be abandoned. The well bore 10 includes acasing 14 that adds structural integrity, as well acts as a conduit to deliver oil or gas from a well. As shown inFIG. 2 , thecasing 14 is typically made ofmultiple casing segments 16 that are connected by casingcouplings 18. In some cases, it is necessary to penetrate the well bore to be abandoned in order to pump a filling material, such as cement, to form an obstruction and plug the well bore. The obstruction formed in the well bore limits oil or gas from being inadvertently expelled from the well bore.FIG. 2 illustrates an example region of the well bore 10 to be intersected near one of thecasing couplings 18. -
FIG. 3A illustrates a schematic diagram of an example drilling assembly 50 (e.g., having adrill bit 52 and drill string 54) forming an intersecting second well bore 20 adjacent to the first well bore 10 ofFIG. 1 . The intersecting well bore 20 is typically arranged at an angle of about 0 degrees to about 90 degrees (e.g., about 0 degrees to about 6 degrees, e.g., about 3 degrees) relative to the cased well bore 10 to be intersected. - The intersecting well bore 20 can be formed by any of various suitable conventional well bore drilling techniques. In some embodiments, a drill rig includes a series of drill string segments that have a drill bit attached to a distal end of the drill string. The drill bit drills (e.g., cuts) through subterranean geologic formations. Drilling fluid (e.g., drilling mud) is pumped down a bore inside of the drill pipe and exits through nozzles in the drill bit. Drilling mud can be a mixture of fluids, solids, and chemicals that are designed to have suitable physical and chemical characteristics to safely drill into the ground material and deliver removed material from the drilled well bore. For example, the drilling mud can be used to remove heat from the drill bit, to lift rock cuttings from the well bore to the surface, to reduce destabilization of the rock in the well bore walls, and to overcome the pressure of fluids inside the rock so that these fluids do not enter the well bore during drilling.
- The rock cuttings generated during drilling are removed by the drilling mud as it circulates to surface outside of the drill string. The drilling mud can then be circulated through filters (e.g., shakers) that strain the rock cuttings from the drilling mud. The filtered drilling mud can then be returned to the well bore being drilled.
- The drilling rig rotates the drill pipe at the surface and rotational torque is transmitted down the drill string to the bit. The bit is rotated and drills through the geologic formations. In other embodiments, the drill string is not rotated by the drilling rig but a down hole mud motor is installed at the distal end of the drill string and drilling mud is pumped down the drill string and passes through the down hole motor. The mud drives the motor as known in the art. The down hole motor provides rotational torque to the drill bit enabling the drill bit to drill through the formations. The drill bit is typically drilled through the formations and towards the first, cased well bore until it is within a desired distance away from the first well bore 10. Any of various suitable distance, depth, and/or location measurement techniques and devices can be used to monitor and control the position of the drill bit (i.e., and the profile of the intersecting well bore) relative to the first, cased well bore. For example, in some embodiments, sensors (e.g., magnetic sensors) arranged on or near the drill bit can detect the drill bit's proximity to a location through which the first, cased well bore is to be penetrated. The sensors are connected (e.g., wirelessly or via a wired connection) to a control unit of the drilling rig so that the trajectory of the drill bit can be properly controlled.
- When the sensors determine that the drill bit is at a suitable position relative to the first well bore 10, the drilling rig can stop rotating the drill bit and withdraw the
drill bit 52 and thedrill string 54 from the newly formed second, intersecting well bore. A milling assembly is then connected to the lower end of the drill string and inserted into the second well bore 20 for penetrating the first cased well bore 10. -
FIG. 3B illustrates a schematic diagram of amilling assembly 100 anchoring a mill guide (e.g., a whipstock) 102 and ananchor packer 104 into the intersecting well bore 20. The intersecting well bore 20 is formed so that itsend 22 is proximal to one of thecasing couplings 18 along thecasing 16 of the first well bore 10. - The milling
assembly 100 includes adrill string 106 that is connected to amill 108 having a mill that is configured to, when operated, cut away material surrounding themill 108. Like thedrilling assembly 50, thedrill string 106 can include a down hole mud motor installed at the distal end of thedrill string 106 and drilling fluid (e.g., drilling mud) can be pumped down thedrill string 106 and pass through the down hole motor. The drilling mud drives the down hole motor, as known in the art. The down hole motor provides rotational torque to the mill drill bit enabling the drill bit to drill through theformations 12 or thecasing 16. - The
anchor packer 104 andwhipstock 102 are set into the intersecting well bore 20. For example, theanchor packer 104 andwhipstock 102 are run into the intersecting well bore 20 on the distal end of thedrill string 106 and may be connected to and positioned below the millingassembly 100. - The
whipstock 102 is a wedge-like structure having an angled wedge-like surface 110 to create a taper within the intersecting well bore 20. In some embodiments, thewhipstock 102 has a concave surface formed along the angled wedge-like surface 110 that is shaped to accommodate the outer diameter of themilling 108. Thewhipstock 102 is arranged within the intersecting well bore 20 so that the angled wedge-like surface 110 directs amill 108 of the millingassembly 100 towards a portion of the cased well bore above acasing coupling 18.FIGS. 4A to 4C illustrate amilling assembly 100 that includes amill 108 on a hydraulic running tool log and awhipstock 102. - The
anchor packer 104 andwhipstock 102 are typically positioned into (e.g., run into) the intersecting well bore 20 as an assembly that is released from thedrill string 106 once theanchor packer 104 contacts a surface, such as theend 22 of the intersecting well bore 20. Once released, theanchor packer 104 is expanded and contacts the walls of the ground surrounding the intersecting well bore 20 to provide structural stability to theanchor packer 104 and thewhipstock 102. In some embodiments, theanchor packer 104 and thewhipstock 102 are each run into the intersecting well bore 20 individually on separate trips of the drill string. In some embodiments, theanchor packer 104 is ananchor assembly 101 and apacker assembly 103.FIG. 4D illustrates anopen hole anchor 101 available from Halliburton under model no. 635.69.FIG. 4E illustrates anopen hole packer 103 available from Halliburton as model no. 630.345. -
FIG. 3C illustrates a schematic diagram of amill 108 of the millingassembly 100 ofFIG. 3B released from thewhipstock 102. Once theanchor packer 104 is set into the intersecting well bore 20, the milling assembly 100 (e.g., themill 108 of the milling assembly 100) is released from thewhipstock 102. - Typically, the
mill 108 is connected to thewhipstock 102 by connecting bolts that can be sheared due to axial force applied to thedrill string 106 or due to torque applied to rotate themill 108 and shear the connecting bolts. Once disconnected from thewhipstock 102, themill 108 can be rotated. For example, hydraulic drilling fluid (e.g., drilling mud) is pumped down thedrill string 106 which drives a down hole motor that provides rotational torque to themill 108 to begin cutting into theformation 12 between the intersecting well bore 20 and the cased well bore 10 and, due to the orientation of thewhipstock 102, themill 108 is directed towards the cased well bore 10. When themill 108 is proximal to thecasing 16 of the cased well bore 10, themill 108 may drill though a cement sheath surrounding thecasing 16 in the first well bore 10 (i.e., if thecasing 16 has been cemented into the cased well bore 10). After milling though the cement sheath themill 108 will contact thecasing 16 of the cased well bore 10. -
FIG. 3D illustrates a schematic diagram of themill 108 ofFIG. 3C milling a well bore casing 16 above thecasing coupling 18. Due to the arrangement of the intersecting well bore 20 and theset anchor packer 104 andwhipstock 102, themill 108 rides on an upper end of thecasing collar 18 and cuts away thecasing 16 above thecollar 18 and begins to also cut away thecollar 18. The relatively flat upper surface of thecollar 18 provides an engaging surface that themill 108 is able to begin cutting from. Themill 108 will preferentially cut into thecasing wall 16 above thecollar 18 and also cut collar. Thewhipstock 102, and its curved angular surface, also helps to guide themill 108 and reduce the likelihood that themill 108 will walk laterally along the outer surface of thecasing 16. -
FIG. 3E illustrates a schematic diagram of themill 108 ofFIG. 3C penetrating the well borecasing wall 16 and grinding off the upper portion of thecoupling 18 ofFIG. 3D and intersecting the cased well bore 10 ofFIG. 3B . Themill 108 continues to operate and cuts through thecasing wall 16 and thecoupling 18 until it penetrates them to hydraulically connect the cased well bore 10 and the intersecting well bore 20. - The cutting path of the
mill 108 within intersecting well bore 20 can depend on various factors, such as, for example, the size of the intersecting well bore 20, and the design and shape of thewhipstock 102 andmill 108. For example, in some embodiments, depending on the desired size (e.g., the width) of the hole to be formed in thecasing 16 being intersected and the taper angle of theinclined whipstock 102, the length of the cut can be estimated according to the following formula, Tan(x)=(w)/(2*L), where x is the taper angle of the whipstock (in degrees), w is the width of themill 108 and L is the length of the cut. As shown, w is divided by 2 because themill 108 would typically only need to travel a distance that is half of its diameter inward to fully penetrate thecasing 16. In some implementations, the whipstock has a taper angle of 3 degrees (x=3 degrees). When forming holes using such whipstocks, if a mill with an 8.5 inch outer diameter is used, and therefore a hole that is generally a maximum of 8.5 inches wide would be formed in thecasing 16 when the mill travels halfway into the casing then the length that the cut can be estimated by, Tan(3 deg)=8.5/(2*L). The length, L, would be about 81 inches. Therefore, in order to fully penetrate thecasing 16 andcasing coupling 18, themill 108 travels about 81 inches longitudinally while being driven into the casing by thewhipstock 102. - The width and length of the cut to be formed in the
casing 16 is generally determined based on the processes to be performed following intersection of the cased well bore 10. For example, in some cases, tubing or piping may be inserted into the cased well bore 10 to pump mud or cement into the cased well bore 10. In such cases, the width of the opening would likely be large enough to insert the tubing or piping, including a margin of error. Alternatively, in some cases, a long and wide enough opening is preferred to pump cement or mud directly into the intersecting well bore 20 in order to obstruct the cased well bore 10 without needing to insert tubing or piping directly into the cased well bore 10. - Typically, an opening is cut that has a greater flow area that the flow area of the tubing or piping used to pump the mud or cement so that the opening would not restrict the flow of the mud or cement being pumped. However, an even larger opening can be cut if needed, for example, if there was a need to insert something directly into the cased well bore 10 being intersected or to avoid a significant pressure loss through the opening if a large volume and/or high velocity of fluid is to be pumped through the opening.
- While cutting, the
mill 108 is rotates and cuts away thecasing wall 16 and thecasing coupling 18 until the cased well bore 10 is fully penetrated and ahole 24 is formed according to the desired hole parameters (as discussed above). Full penetration of thecasing coupling 18 and the well borecasing wall 16 can be detected using any of various suitable techniques and devices. For example, the resisting torque at themill 108 can be measured and monitored to predict (e.g., determine) the material through which themill 108 is cutting. The resisting torque typically increases when themill 108 begins cutting themetal casing wall 16 orcasing coupling 18. Monitoring the amount the milling string advances (i.e., the depth of the milling string) from this point would give an indication of how wide an opening is being created. -
FIG. 3F illustrates the millingassembly 100 ofFIG. 3B being removed from the intersecting well bore 20. The millingassembly 100 is removed from the intersecting well bore 20 so that a plugging material (e.g., cement) can be delivered from the intersecting well bore 20 through the penetratedhole 24 and into the cased well bore 10. - Typically, the
anchor packer 104 andwhipstock 102 are left in the intersecting well bore 20 during cement delivery. In some embodiments, thewhipstock 102 andanchor packer 104 are removed prior to pumping cement. -
FIG. 3G illustrates acement delivery assembly 150 inserted into the intersecting well 20 and pumping a plugging material (e.g., cement) into the cased well bore 10. Once the penetratedhole 24 is formed and the cased well bore 10 and the intersecting well bore 20 are fluidly connected, thecement delivery assembly 150 pumps cement into the cased well bore 10. For example, cement can be pumped from the intersecting well bore 20 through the penetratedhole 24 formed in thecasing wall 16 and thecoupling 18 and into the cased well bore 10. - Cement is pumped until an amount of cement that is sufficient for forming a structurally suitable barrier within the cased bore 10 is delivered. For example, in some cases, cement is pumped into the cased well bore 10 until a barrier is formed that can prevent a gas or oil from exiting the cased well bore 10. The volume of cement that is pumped is typically dependent upon the conditions of the well bore and, in some cases, regulatory requirements. In some embodiments, the
cement delivery assembly 150 includes a check valve that permits cements to flow into the well bores while reducing the likelihood that fluid in either of the well bores (e.g., gas or oil) can flow upward in the drill string located in the intersecting well bore 20 and out of the intersecting well bore 20. For example, check valves can be used when intersecting and delivering cement to a well bore that has suffered a blowout. In some embodiments, cement is delivered using other systems. For example, cement can be pumped through thedrill string 106 of the millingassembly 100. - In some embodiments, other types of equipment are used to deliver and guide a mill within the intersecting well bore 20. For example, milling assemblies can include alignment features to constrain the path of a mill along a mill guide. For example, referring to
FIGS. 4F-4I , a millingassembly 200 can include atapered mill guide 202 that engages with corresponding features of themill 208 to help reduce the likelihood of themill 208 from walking away from themill guide 202, for example moving laterally along the well bore casing 16 of the cased well bore 10 during milling. For example, as shown, the MillRitestyle milling assembly 200 from Halliburton includes amill guide 202 havingalignment grooves 212 that span longitudinally along themill guide 202 and help to align themill 208 with themill guide 202 and reduce the likelihood that themill 208 will walk along thecasing 16. Themill 208 includestabs 214 that are sized and configured to be received within thegrooves 212 of themill guide 202. - The
MillRite milling assembly 200 can be inserted into an intersecting well bore 20 until seated against theend 22 of the intersecting well bore 20 (e.g., using an anchor packer 104) (shown inFIG. 3B ). Once in position near the cased well bore 20, hydraulic fluid (e.g., drilling mud) can be pumped down the drill string of the millingassembly 200, as discussed above with reference toFIGS. 3B-3E . Hydraulic pressure applied can be used to release ahydraulic mill 208 running tool from themill guide 202 and themill 208 can begin rotating and advancing along the wedge-like mill guide 202. Due the shape of themill guide 202, themill 208 slowly advances into and against thecasing 16 of the cased well bore 10 and a hole can be cut that fluidly connects the cased well bore 10 and the intersecting well bore 20. Plugging material (e.g., cement) can then be inserted into the cased well bore 10 to obstruct the cased well bore 10, as discussed above and illustrated inFIG. 3G . - Laser Perforation
- While mechanical machining devices have been described as forming the opening in the cased well bore 10, other techniques are possible.
-
FIG. 5A illustrates a schematic diagram of anexample drilling assembly 50 forming a second, adjacent well bore 20 proximal to the first, cased well bore 10 ofFIG. 1 . Thedrilling assembly 50 includes any of various suitable conventional drilling devices, such as the drilling rig discussed above. The adjacent well bore 20 is arranged so that a laser tool can be lowered downward generally vertically into the adjacent well bore 20. For example, the adjacent well bore 20 can be arranged relative to the cased well bore 10 so that a laser tool (e.g., a wireline laser tool) can be deployed at an angle of about 0 degrees to about 65 degrees relative to a vertically oriented cased well bore 10. The adjacent well bore 20 extends to a depth that at least reaches a desired location for penetrating the cased well bore 10. Once the adjacent well bore 20 is formed to the desired depth, the drilling assembly 50 (e.g., adrill bit 52 and drill string 54) can be raised and removed from the adjacent well bore 20. -
FIG. 5B illustrates a schematic diagram of alaser tool 300 being lowered in the adjacent well bore 20 ofFIG. 4A . Thelaser tool 300 is lowered to the desired depth where a perforation in the casing of the cased well bore 10 is to be formed. Various techniques and devices can be used to determine the depth that thelaser tool 300 has been lowered into the adjacent well bore 20. For example, a wire line measurement could be monitored as acable 302 supporting thelaser tool 300 is spooled off at the surface. However, in some cases, these measurements may have errors associated with stretching of thecable 302. In some embodiments, a magnetic ranging tool is used to detect the proximity of thelaser tool 300 relative to the cased well bore 10. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, thelaser tool 300 includes an ultrasonic tool is arranged above alaser perforator 304, where the ultrasonic tool can detect the noise from the gas and/or fluid flow in the cased well bore 10 when thelaser tool 300 reaches an area proximal to the cased well bore 10. - Once at the desired depth to form a perforation, the
laser perforator 304 of thelaser tool 300 is aligned with thecasing 16 of the cased well bore 10. For example, thelaser tool 300 can include metal detectors (e.g., magnetic sensors) so that as thelaser tool 300 is rotated, it can detect when thelaser perforator 304 is aimed at themetal casing 16. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, ultrasonic tools are used to detect the orientation of thelaser perforator 304 relative to the cased well bore 10 and for aiming thelaser perforator 304 at themetal casing 16. -
FIG. 4C illustrates alaser perforator 304 of thelaser tool 300 ofFIG. 4B penetrating thecasing 16 of the cased well bore 10. Once aligned with the desired portion of the cased well bore 10, the laser of thelaser perforator 304 can be operated to laser cut (e.g., perforate) an opening in thecasing wall 16 of cased well bore 10. While thelaser perforator 304 emits a laser cutting beam, thelaser perforator 304 can be moved relative to thecasing 16 to create an opening. Various devices can be used to move thelaser perforator 304 and therefore also the emitted laser to form the opening. For example, hydraulic or electromechanical devices or system can be used to articulate the laser tool within the adjacent well bore to cut an opening. Prior art devices and systems that may be used to articulate a laser tool are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,938,175. - Once the opening is formed in the
casing wall 16 of the casedwellbore 10, thelaser tool 300 can be removed from the adjacent well bore 20. As discussed above, a cement pumping assembly can then be lowered down into the adjacent well bore 20 to the region of the opening formed along thecasing wall 16 of the cased well bore 10 by thelaser tool 300. Cement is then pumped from a cement pumping head of the cement pumping assembly into the opening. Cement is pumped until an amount of cement that is sufficient for forming a structurally suitable barrier within the cased well bore 10. For example, in some cases, cement is pumped into the cased well bore 10 until a barrier is formed that can prevent a gas or oil from exiting the cased well bore 10. - A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
Claims (19)
1.-30. (canceled)
31. A method for intersecting a first, cased well bore, the method comprising:
forming a second well bore that extends to a region of the first, cased well bore to be intersected;
inserting a laser tool assembly into the second well bore and aligning the laser tool assembly with the region of the first, cased well bored to be obstructed;
operating the laser tool assembly and forming an opening in a casing of the first, cased well bore; and
removing material from the casing until the first, cased well bore and the second well bore are fluidly connected.
32. The method according to claim 31 , further comprising removing the laser tool assembly from the second well bore.
33. The method according to claim 31 , further comprising inserting a plugging material into the first, cased well bore from the second well bore to form an obstruction.
34. The method according to claim 33 , wherein the plugging material is cement.
35. The method according to claim 33 , wherein the obstruction limits an amount of fluid that can pass through the first, cased well bore.
36. The method according to claim 35 , wherein the fluid is a gas.
37. The method according to claim 31 , wherein the laser tool assembly comprises a laser perforator having a laser beam generator that generates a laser beam, and a focusing array through which the laser beam passes.
38.-56. (canceled)
57. A system for intersecting a first, cased well bore, the system comprising:
a drilling assembly that is configured to drill a second well bore having a distal end proximal to the first, cased well bore, the drilling assembly comprising:
a drill string; and
a drill bit disposed at an end of the drill string;
a laser tool assembly comprising:
a laser perforator that is configured to emit a laser cutting beam that can penetrate a casing wall of the first, cased well bore and form an opening between the first, cased well bored and the second well bore.
58. The system of claim 57 , further comprising a plugging material delivery device that is configured to deliver a plugging material into the first, cased well bore.
59. The system of claim 58 , wherein the plugging material is cement.
60. The system of claim 57 , wherein the laser tool assembly further comprises a first, cased well bore detector.
61. The system of claim 60 , wherein the first, cased well bore detector comprises an ultrasonic tool that is configured to detect noise from fluid flow within the first, cased well bore.
62. The system of claim 57 , wherein the laser perforator comprises a laser beam generator that generates the laser beam, and the laser tool assembly comprises a focusing array through which the laser cutting beam passes.
63. The system of claim 57 , wherein the laser tool assembly further comprises a laser alignment device that is configured to detect the orientation of the laser perforator relative to the casing wall.
64. The system of claim 63 , wherein the laser alignment device comprises a metal detector.
65. The system of claim 64 , wherein the metal detector comprises a magnetic sensor.
66. The system of claim 57 , wherein a portion of the second well bore, wherein the laser tool assembly will be positioned for emitting a laser cutting beam, is substantially parallel to the first, cased well bore.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US14/191,054 US20140174740A1 (en) | 2012-07-03 | 2014-02-26 | Method of intersecting a first well bore by a second well bore |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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PCT/US2012/045418 WO2014007809A1 (en) | 2012-07-03 | 2012-07-03 | Method of intersecting a first well bore by a second well bore |
US14/191,054 US20140174740A1 (en) | 2012-07-03 | 2014-02-26 | Method of intersecting a first well bore by a second well bore |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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PCT/US2012/045418 Continuation WO2014007809A1 (en) | 2012-07-03 | 2012-07-03 | Method of intersecting a first well bore by a second well bore |
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US20140174740A1 true US20140174740A1 (en) | 2014-06-26 |
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US14/191,054 Abandoned US20140174740A1 (en) | 2012-07-03 | 2014-02-26 | Method of intersecting a first well bore by a second well bore |
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Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20140216744A1 (en) * | 2012-07-03 | 2014-08-07 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Method of intersecting a first well bore by a second well bore |
WO2015010034A1 (en) * | 2013-07-19 | 2015-01-22 | Scientific Drilling International, Inc. | Method and apparatus for casing entry |
US10125561B2 (en) * | 2013-08-28 | 2018-11-13 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Method for hydraulic communication with target well from relief well |
US11339626B2 (en) * | 2017-07-14 | 2022-05-24 | Bp Corporation North America Inc. | Systems and methods for mitigating an uncontrolled fluid flow from a target wellbore using a relief wellbore |
-
2014
- 2014-02-26 US US14/191,054 patent/US20140174740A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20140216744A1 (en) * | 2012-07-03 | 2014-08-07 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Method of intersecting a first well bore by a second well bore |
US8919441B2 (en) * | 2012-07-03 | 2014-12-30 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Method of intersecting a first well bore by a second well bore |
WO2015010034A1 (en) * | 2013-07-19 | 2015-01-22 | Scientific Drilling International, Inc. | Method and apparatus for casing entry |
GB2531191A (en) * | 2013-07-19 | 2016-04-13 | Scient Drilling Int Inc | Method and apparatus for casing entry |
GB2531191B (en) * | 2013-07-19 | 2018-03-07 | Scient Drilling Int Inc | Method and apparatus for casing entry |
US10018004B2 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2018-07-10 | Scientific Drilling International, Inc. | Method and apparatus for casing entry |
US10125561B2 (en) * | 2013-08-28 | 2018-11-13 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Method for hydraulic communication with target well from relief well |
US11339626B2 (en) * | 2017-07-14 | 2022-05-24 | Bp Corporation North America Inc. | Systems and methods for mitigating an uncontrolled fluid flow from a target wellbore using a relief wellbore |
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Owner name: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC., TEXAS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:PARLIN, JOSEPH DEWITT;REEL/FRAME:033078/0168 Effective date: 20120417 |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
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