U.S. patent application number 11/408635 was filed with the patent office on 2006-12-28 for lateral control system.
Invention is credited to Douglas Murray.
Application Number | 20060289156 11/408635 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36860757 |
Filed Date | 2006-12-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060289156 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Murray; Douglas |
December 28, 2006 |
Lateral control system
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a lateral monitoring and/or control system.
The system includes at least one splitter having a lateral bore and
a main bore, at least one control line at the splitter and at least
one of a choke module, monitoring module, flow venturi module and a
control module disposed in operable communication with the lateral
bore and outside of the main bore. Further disclosed herein is a
method for controlling and/or monitoring of a multi-lateral well
system. The method includes installing one or more splitter in a
borehole, installing at least one control line to communicate
remotely with each of the one or more splitters selectively
communicating with one or more of at least one of a monitoring
module, control module, choke module and flow venturi module.
Inventors: |
Murray; Douglas; (Humble,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CANTOR COLBURN, LLP
55 GRIFFIN ROAD SOUTH
BLOOMFIELD
CT
06002
US
|
Family ID: |
36860757 |
Appl. No.: |
11/408635 |
Filed: |
April 21, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60673529 |
Apr 21, 2005 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
166/250.01 ;
166/313; 166/319; 166/375; 166/50 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 43/12 20130101;
E21B 41/0035 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/250.01 ;
166/313; 166/375; 166/050; 166/319 |
International
Class: |
E21B 47/00 20060101
E21B047/00; E21B 34/10 20060101 E21B034/10 |
Claims
1. A lateral monitoring and/or control system comprising: at least
one splitter having a lateral bore and a main bore; at least one
control line at the splitter; and at least one of a choke module,
monitoring module flow venturi module and a control module disposed
in operable communication with the lateral bore and outside of the
main bore.
2. A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in claim 1
wherein the splitter further includes at least one ancillary
bore.
3. A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in claim 2
wherein at least one of the monitoring module and control module is
disposed at the at least one ancillary bore.
4. A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in claim 2
wherein the choke module or flow venturi module is disposed in the
lateral bore and at least one of the monitoring module and the
control module is disposed at the at least one ancillary bore.
5. A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in claim 4
wherein the at least one ancillary bore is two ancillary bores.
6. A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in claim 4
wherein the choke module or flow venturi module is disposed in the
lateral bore and at least one of the monitoring module and the
control module is disposed at one of the two ancillary bores.
7. A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in claim 6
wherein the other of the monitoring module and the control module
is disposed at the other of the two ancillary bores.
8. A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in claim 2
wherein the at least one ancillary bore includes a pressure
transmissive connection to at least one of the lateral bore and the
main bore.
9. A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in claim 8
wherein the pressure transmissive connection is a fluid
transmissive connection.
10. A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in claim
1 wherein the monitoring module monitors at least one of pressure,
flow, temperature, chemical constituency and flow direction.
11. A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in claim
1 wherein the splitter includes two ancillary bores each having at
least one of the monitoring module and the control module and the
lateral leg containing the choke module or the flow venturi
module.
12. A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in claim
1 wherein the choke module is remotely adjustable with respect to
flow therethrough.
13. A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in claim
1 wherein the system further comprises at least one control line
accessing the at least one splitter.
14. A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in claim
13 wherein the control line accesses a plurality of splitters.
15. A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in claim
13 wherein the control line is at least one of fiber optic based,
hydraulic based and electric based.
16. A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in claim
14 wherein the control line is at least one of fiber optic based,
hydraulic based and electric based.
17. A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in claim
13 wherein the control line accesses each lateral bore and is
disposed outside of the at least one splitter.
18. A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in claim
13 wherein the control line is in operable communication with a
plurality of addressable modules in a plurality of splitters for
selective communication with such modules.
19. A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in claim
2 wherein the at least one ancillary bore contains a dummy module
to protect the at least one ancillary bore.
20. A method for controlling and/or monitoring of a multi-lateral
well system comprising: installing one or more splitters in a
borehole; installing at least one control line to communicate
remotely with each of the one or more splitters; and selectively
communicating with one or more of at least one of a monitoring
module, a control module, a choke module and a flow venturi
module.
21. The method for controlling and/or monitoring of a multi-lateral
well system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the method further
includes installing at least one of said at least one of a
monitoring module, a control module, a choke module and a flow
venturi module in a position outside a main bore of the one or more
splitters.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/673,529 filed Apr. 21, 2005, the contents of
which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In the hydrocarbon industry it is becoming more and more
common to employ multiple branches known as laterals from a main
leg of a wellbore. Wells having this characteristic are known as
multilateral wellbores. Multilateral wellbores are advantageous
because they, by definition, access different areas of a
hydrocarbon bearing formation from a single surface location. This
is desirable from a cost standpoint for capital expenditure as well
as having a much lesser impact on the surface environment.
[0003] Important with respect to multilateral wellbores is control
and/or monitoring of fluids produced. It is desirable to monitor
produced fluids to optimize production or so that action might be
taken to avoid contamination of the well due to, for example, early
water breakthrough in one of the laterals.
[0004] One of the problems associated with current monitoring and
control schemes is that a large number of devices may need to be
pulled from the well if entry to a more downhole portion of the
well is required. Alternatively, entry may be had to remote portion
of the well by using a device small enough to be run through the
completion tubing but such devices are inherently small in size. In
some cases, devices small enough to be run through the completion
string are insufficient desirably address whatever issue prompted
the run.
SUMMARY
[0005] Disclosed herein is a lateral monitoring and/or control
system. The system includes at least one splitter having a lateral
bore and a main bore, at least one control line at the splitter and
at least one of a choke module, monitoring module, flow venturi
module, and a control module disposed in operable communication
with the lateral bore and outside of the main bore.
[0006] Further disclosed herein is a method for controlling and/or
monitoring of a multi-lateral well system. The method includes
installing one or more splitter in a borehole, installing at least
one control line to communicate remotely with each of the one or
more splitters selectively communicating with one or more of at
least one of a monitoring module, control module, choke module and
flow venturi module.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are
numbered alike in the several Figures:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective partial cutaway view of a stackable
splitter portion of the system disclosed herein with two auxiliary
ports for monitoring and controlling modules;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a leg and an auxiliary bore
that is parameter transmissively connected; and
[0010] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a leg and an auxiliary bore
that is fluid transmissively connected.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the lateral control and
monitoring system 10 comprises a stackable splitter 12 having an
uphole main bore 14, a downhole main leg 16, and a downhole lateral
leg 18. The splitter may be embodied as a casing segment or tubing
segment. Where the splitter is a casing segment, it is cementable
in the hole. It is important to note that the concept hereof
provides for one or more of control (decision-type control or
flow-type control) and monitoring of a lateral leg of the splitter
while leaving the main leg of the splitter (and hence the junction
itself) fully open. The method for providing such
control/monitoring while leaving the main bore open can be
practiced using the splitter illustrated herein either with
ancillary bores (described hereunder) or without the ancillary
bores, the overriding consideration being the leaving of the main
bore patent so that access to laterals and their controls can be
gained without pulling a large number of completion string
components from the main bore simply to "get to the lateral". There
are clear benefits to arrangements facilitating the ability to
reach target laterals from uphole without pulling monitoring or
control modules from uphole splitters to gain access thereto.
Further, one embodiment the disclosed splitter further provides for
a location (which would otherwise be unused space) in which to
place components of a downhole system and from which location
(referred to herein as the "ancillary bore(s)") the installed
components are retrievable. Since in this embodiment too, the main
bore is left open, access to individual control or monitoring
modules whether in the lateral leg or in the ancillary bore of
splitters that are farther downhole than the subject splitter does
not require removal of such components from splitters farther
uphole than the subject splitter.
[0012] The concept hereof provides for arrangement of modules and
control lines in different configurations for different
applications all of which maintain an open main bore. This can be
in a tubing string and/or a casing string in different systems with
differing overall properties. As noted above, control and/or
monitoring modules are to be placed so as to interact with a target
lateral (or potentially monitor parameters of the main bore) but
not occlude the main bore. Thereby, greater access and tighter
controls simultaneously with easier maintenance, repair or
replacement of components is achieved. In some of the embodiments,
components are located directly in the lateral. For example, a
choke intended to control flow from a particular lateral or a flow
venturi intended to measure flow from or to a particular lateral
would be positioned in that lateral. A monitoring or control system
however might be located in an ancillary bore and merely have
sensors located in the lateral, or may simply have sensors exposed
to the lateral (or the main bore) while not being directly in the
lateral (or main bore). More particularly (see FIGS. 2 and 3),
ancillary bores may be configured with a parameter transmissive
interface 40 (temperature, pressure, etc.) or fluid transmissive
interface 42 providing for communication with the lateral bore,
main bore, or both. In one example a connective opening (interface
40) between the ancillary bore and lateral bore or main bore
includes a flexible barrier 44 therein and as such is not fluid
transmissive but is parameter transmissive. In another example
(FIG. 3), the connective opening (interface 40) is free of a
barrier and so in addition to being transmissive to parameters such
as temperature and pressure it is also fluid transmissive. It is
noted however that each of the devices utilized for a particular
application could be placed in the lateral and no ancillary bore
provided while remaining in keeping with the unifying principle of
this disclosure, which is to maintain the patency of the main bore.
In applications utilizing one or more ancillary bores, referring to
FIG. 1, the ancillary bores 20, 22 are located in what would
otherwise be dead space in a splitter. That is, the space along a
diametric line perpendicular to (and in the same plane of) a
diametric line, which bisects lateral leg 18 and main leg 16. The
ancillary bore(s) 20, 22 are configured to provide signal
transmitting capability to other well components including
intelligent components, such as monitors, controllers, sensors,
etc. and control components such as chokes and other downhole
tools. Moreover the ancillary bore(s) may be configured to receive
a controller configured to communicate with multiple addressable
devices or individual control and monitoring modules. In the event
two ancillary bores are provided as illustrated, it is to be
understood that they need not both be used. Indeed neither of the
bores need be used. They may stay plugged with, for example, dummy
modules, indefinitely. One or both may be employed at will for
monitoring, control or combination equipment. In the prior art this
would have been unused space and is beneficially utilized according
hereto to house control and/or monitoring modules(s) 30, 32 in a
retrievable manner. Such control and monitoring modules 30, 32 are
operably connected to surface or other remote location via control
line(s) 34 which may be hydraulic, electric, optic or otherwise or
may be combinations of any of these. In one embodiment, the control
lines are run outside of the casing segment and penetrate the
casing splitter at the ancillary bore or lateral bore or even the
main bore to provide communication and/or power for a module of
some kind stabbed therein from within the string.
[0013] Whether or not ancillary bores are utilized, the disclosure
hereof specifically facilitates well control and monitoring
control. These can be done alone or in combination. With these two
concepts in place, any well configuration is handleable. Where
multiple splitters are stacked, flows come from several different
regions of a host formation, through lateral bores that extend
thereinto. Because of the configuration taught herein, all of these
flows are quantified, which then provides a true picture of one
condition in the entire well. Where it is known, as in the system
of this disclosure, (through monitor, control or both) what
condition is prevailing at each of the laterals of a well the
condition of the entire well must necessarily be known because it
is the sum of its parts. In some embodiments hereof, each downhole
control unit installed is addressable so that fewer or even one
control line need be installed to communicate with one or more
control and/or monitoring units or modules downhole.
[0014] Installation of the described device includes running the
splitter 12 and cementing it in the wellbore (if a casing segment).
If the particular splitter includes ancillary bore(s), dummy
modules 30, 32 (as shown) may be installed therein to prevent
debris from entering the ancillary bore(s), which might otherwise
present difficulties with respect to installation of modules. A
straddle wiper plug (not shown), as known in the art, may be
employed to prevent cement entrance to profiles in the splitter if
the splitter is a casing segment and intended to be cemented in
place. In the casing splitter embodiment, once the splitter 12 is
at depth it is cemented in place. A lateral bore may be drilled and
lined, etc. and suitable device(s) installed. The device(s) may be,
as noted above, a controller module, a monitoring module, an
adjustable choke 24, a venturi, a combination of the foregoing or
other downhole tools. These are installed in leg 18 to control flow
between lateral leg 18 and the main bore. These can alternatively
be installed in ancillary bores as noted above, in which case, not
only will they not impede access down the main bore, but they also
will not impede access down the lateral bore. Modules 30, 32 if
used, may be installed with such tools as a diverter or kick over
tool to replace one or both dummys. It should be noted that the
splitter could be configured to accept two or more modules in a
single module receptacle, if desired.
[0015] A very significant advantage of this system is that access
to more downhole laterals of the well may be had without the need
to remove devices connected with more uphole laterals.
[0016] The choke 24, which may be an adjustable choke and in one
embodiment is variable from fully open to fully closed (thereby
shutting off the lateral), is configured to land and be retained in
lateral leg 18. Choke 24 is also retrievable. The configuration, in
one embodiment employs a profile (see FIG. 2) 26 at an uphole end
28 of lateral leg 18 to receive choke 24. Choke 24 may be installed
at any time in the well construction program. The profile 26
comprises, in one embodiment, an existing nipple configuration such
as for example that utilized in Baker Oil Tools Product Number
H80185, a Model AF Seating Nipple.
[0017] While preferred embodiments have been shown and described,
modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly,
it is to be understood that the present invention has been
described by way of illustrations and not limitation.
* * * * *