JUNCTION HAVING IMPROVED FORMATION COLLAPSE RESISTANCE AND METHOD
A junction includes a borehole casing having a window therein; a diverter disposed within the casing and aligned and oriented with the window, the diverter having at least one profile along a longitudinal edge thereof; and a hanger assembly having a window therein, the window having an edge receivable by the at least one profile, the profile supporting the hanger assembly and method.
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In the hydrocarbon recovery industry, multilateral wells have become more and more used over the last decade or so. In each case of a lateral borehole extending from a primary borehole or from another lateral borehole, a natural junction is necessarily created in the formation. In the vernacular of the hydrocarbon recovery industry, the term “junction” usually refers to the man-made part of the well structure that is built into the natural junction to convey the targeted hydrocarbon to the surface. In some cases, the junction is intended to be a pressure competent structure, while in others there is no reason for the junction to contain pressure. In either type, there is an interest in the junction to be capable of withstanding formation collapse so that the well will function for its intended purpose, regardless of the collapse. Different materials have been used with inherent expense and thicker materials have been used, again with inherent expense. While such configurations can be effective in alleviating the effects of formation collapse to some extent, the added expense is undesirable and alternate configurations and methods are always well received by the art.
SUMMARYA junction includes a diverter having profiled longitudinal edges; and a hanger assembly configured to engage the profiled longitudinal edges.
A method for improving collapse resistance of a junction includes disposing a diverter having a profiled longitudinal edge in a borehole at an intersection with a lateral borehole; and engaging a hanger assembly with the profiled longitudinal edge.
A junction includes a borehole casing having a window therein; a diverter disposed within the casing and aligned and oriented with the window, the diverter having at least one profile along a longitudinal edge thereof; and a hanger assembly having a window therein, the window having an edge receivable by the at least one profile, the profile supporting the hanger assembly.
Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several Figures:
Initially, it will be helpful to point out that a part of the teaching hereof is to provide for support of a hanger assembly by a seal bore diverter instead of by a casing structure through which the hanger extends. Such a configuration allows one to take advantage of the excess strength that exists in the invariably thicker material of the seal bore diverter. Such support can be accomplished in several ways, the following embodiments being representative but not limiting.
Referring to
The surfaces 22 and 24 are dimensioned to approximately the thickness of a hanger assembly 26, intended to be engaged therewith. This can be appreciated most easily by viewing
The dimensions of surfaces 22 and 24 are a product of the annular dimension of the sealbore diverter 14 at the cross sections point at which a sectional view is taken. In the
With the arrangement as illustrated in
In another embodiment, referring to
In yet another alternate embodiment, referring to
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.
Claims
1. A junction comprising:
- a diverter having profiled longitudinal edges; and
- a hanger assembly configured to engage the profiled longitudinal edges.
2. The junction as claimed in claim 1 wherein the profiled edges comprise a radial support surface.
3. The junction as claimed in claim 1 wherein the profiled edges comprise a hoop support surface.
4. The junction as claimed in claim 1 wherein the profiled edges each comprise a recess.
5. The junction as claimed in claim 1 wherein the profiled edges comprise a ramped surface.
6. The junction as claimed in claim 1 wherein the profiled edges comprise a flat face.
7. The junction as claimed in claim 1 wherein the profiled edges comprise at least a radial support surface and a hoop support surface.
8. The junction as claimed in claim 7 wherein the radial and hoop support surfaces intersect one another.
9. The junction as claimed in claim 8 wherein the intersection is at an acute angle.
10. The junction as claimed in claim 8 wherein the intersection is at an obtuse angle.
11. The junction as claimed in claim 9 wherein the acute angle is about 30 degrees to about 89.9 degrees.
12. A method for improving collapse resistance of a junction comprising:
- disposing a diverter having a profiled longitudinal edge in a borehole at an intersection with a lateral borehole; and
- engaging a hanger assembly with the profiled longitudinal edge.
13. A junction comprising:
- a borehole casing having a window therein;
- a diverter disposed within the casing and aligned and oriented with the window, the diverter having at least one profile along a longitudinal edge thereof, and
- a hanger assembly having a window therein, the window having an edge receivable by the at least one profile, the profile supporting the hanger assembly.
14. The junction as claimed in claim 13 wherein the supporting is radial.
15. The junction as claimed in claim 13 wherein the supporting is in hoop.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 25, 2008
Publication Date: Jul 30, 2009
Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED (HOUSTON, TX)
Inventors: Jobby T. Jacob (Houston, TX), Bryan P. Pendleton (Cypress, TX), Daniel T. Craig (Fulshear, TX)
Application Number: 12/020,095
International Classification: E21B 17/18 (20060101);