CONTAMINANT EXCLUDING JUNCTION AND METHOD
A junction selective contaminant exclusion tool includes a tubular positionable within the junction and having an opening through a wall thereof, a material disposed on an outside surface of the tubular, the material being capable of increasing a radial dimension between a surface of the material in contact with the tubular and an opposite surface of the material upon exposure to a selected species. A method for excluding selected contaminants from a wellbore junction is also disclosed. The method includes: disposing a junction at a wellbore casing window; disposing a tubular member having at least one opening through a wall thereof at the junction, the tubular member including an exclusion material thereon capable of existing in a first configuration and a second configuration, the second configuration obtainable upon exposure to a selected species; and exposing the material to the selected species.
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In the downhole drilling and completion art, extensive use is made of multilateral borehole systems for reasons such as reduced cost and reduced surface footprint. More specifically, it is far more economically prudent to drill a single surface-down primary borehole and then multiple lateral boreholes therefrom than it is to drill the same number of total boreholes (primary and laterals) from the surface. A multilateral borehole system allows access to various zones of a hydrocarbon containing formation while minimizing the total length of boreholes as duplicative length is avoided.
One consideration to be addressed in multilateral borehole systems is the one or more junctions and the exclusion of contaminants from the borehole system at that point. Because milling a window in a casing is imprecise with respect to exact window shape, and potential damage to the material at the edge of the window, exclusionary means such as sealing or filtering thereagainst is difficult and sometimes impossible to accomplish. This leaves the junction vulnerable to influx of debris, sand or other particulate material or other contaminant that can deleteriously affect equipment installed in the borehole system or surface equipment or could reduce quality of produced fluids. Thus it is normally common to utilize particulate resistant borehole tools capable of continued function in the presence of the particulate laden fluid flow and other exclusionary or purification type devices but these are expensive and in the case of particulate contaminants the expected working life is still necessarily reduced over that of equipment in non particulate-laden flows. Junction technology resulting in the exclusion of particulate matter and or other contaminants from the flow of fluid through the borehole system would therefore be well received by the art.
SUMMARYA junction selective contaminant expandable exclusion tool includes a tubular positionable within the junction and having one or more opening therein at least one being a window through a wall thereof, the tubular being expandable into contact with a wall of a borehole in which the tool is to be set, and one or more end rings constructed of a material different than the material of the tubular attached at one or more openings thereof.
An exclusion system includes an expansion tool; an expandable LEM configured to respond to the expansion tool.
A sealed junction includes a junction; a tubular disposed at the junction, the tubular having one or more openings at least one of which being a window through a wall thereof the tubular being expanded into contact with adjoining structures; and one or more end rings at openings of the expanded tubular.
A method for excluding selected contaminants from a wellbore junction includes disposing a junction at a wellbore casing window; disposing a tubular member having one or more openings at least one of which being a window through a wall thereof at the junction; and expanding the tubular into contact with the junction.
Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several Figures:
Referring to
The final component illustrated in
LEM 22 is similar in function to commercially available products from Baker Oil Tools, Houston, Tex. under part number H28918 but may include differences in structure as desired for particular applications.
Referring to
To illustrate the seal or sieve material reference is made to
For swellable materials, the material configuration will be such that it does not significantly impede run-in while at the same time having sufficient swelling ability to bridge between surface 36 of LEM 22 and a surface 44 of flange 20 (see
In any of the above cases, the material is intended when deployed to extend from surface 36 to a surface 44 (see
Referring now to
In yet another embodiment hereof, an expansion system for debris exclusion at a junction is disclosed. The sealing or sieving duty of the foregoing embodiments is primarily taken up by a direct expansion of the LEM itself. For embodiments where the expansion is sufficient to create a fully sealed interface between the junction and the LEM, a pressure rated Junction can be created even without cement. Referring to
Components included in the expansion tool 100 beginning from an uphole end of the tool are a stroker 102, a fluid loss control valve 104, a secondary expansion configuration such as a variable expansion cone 106, a primary expansion configuration such as a variable expansion cone 108, an LEM running tool 110 and a hydraulic anchor 112. The tool 100 will be connected to the LEM system 120 for run in and will remain connected to the same throughout the expansion process after which the expansion tool 100 will be disengaged from the system 120 and tripped out of the hole.
One of skill in the art may note from the drawing
Returning for a moment to the expansion tool 100, it will be appreciated that the hydraulic anchor 112 and LEM running tool 110 operate as they have in the embodiments hereinbefore described and in the prior art to run the expandable LEM to depth and to anchor in that location prior to the expansion step. Once the hydraulic anchor is anchored in place, the primary variable expansion cone is driven through the LEM. It will be understood that the cone size is selected at a surface location or a variable cone may be used. The cone size will be between the unexpanded size of the LEM and the size of the secondary cone. The secondary cone then will further expand the LEM to the desired sealed size. After the cones 108 and 106 are adjusted, the stroker 102 is actuated to push the cones 108/106 through the expandable LEM 120. The first contact of the cone 108 with the LEM 120 is at end effect ring 122. Ring 122 comprises a malleable material that will tend to “splay open” following expansion to assist in maintaining drift of the LEM post expansion. In one embodiment, there are end effect rings 122, 130 on each end of the LEM 120 and at the window 132. The end effect ring at the window is identified by the numeral 134 and comprises a brass material or other malleable material such as aluminum, platinum, gold, woven polycarbonate, lead, etc. having similar or otherwise suitable material properties to maintain window drift post expansion. Further, it is to be noted that at the immediate vicinity of the window 132, it is not important to actually stretch the expandable material but rather it is important to expand a portion of the LEM identified with numeral 136 uphole of the window and the portion identified with numeral 138 downhole of the window 132. The section of the LEM in which the window is actually formed need only splay open to allow an edge of the window 132 to be pushed into contact with an adjoining structure of the junction (not shown) in order to create a seal or debris exclusion sieve effect. Because expanded materials tend to roll back on themselves post expansion, the end effect ring 134 on the window edge is beneficial to the arrangement. During the expansion operation, expandable hanger 124 is expanded into contact with a casing or open hole to hang the LEM 126 and the expandable lower anchor 128 is expanded against the casing or open hole to anchor the expandable LEM 120 in place. Each of the hanger and the anchor include packers and wickers as is known to the art.
Due to the combined action of the elongated primary variable expansion cone 108, secondary cone 106 and the end rings 122, 130 and 134, the post expansion expandable LEM 120 is properly deployed to produce a TAML level 3 junction without the need for cement. Further the expandable LEM provides hydraulic isolation and maintains maximum flow areas through the junction.
In one embodiment of the expandable LEM, the LEM window portion 126 is coated with a sealing material such as a polymeric material, for example, rubber (be it swellable rubber or nonswellable rubber), lead, copper or other soft metal or other sealing type material.
While the discussion regarding the expandable LEM has been focused primarily on a mechanical swaging arrangement, this is not intended to be limiting. The swages are but one way to create the desired expansion. It is indeed contemplated that inflatables may be used to expand the expandable LEM system 120 with similar beneficial results.
In another embodiment of the expandable LEM a plate is added to the window prior to expansion to reduce the potential for a swage or inflatable to preferentially move through the widow rather than expand it. The plate, which is simply in the shape of the widow and covers the window from the inside is positioned at the inside surface of the LEM 126 overlapping the edge of the window 132 so that upon an expansive load, the plate will be pushed into the LEM at the edge of the window transferring the load applied to the plate area to the edge of the window to assist in expansion rather than that force being lost through the window 132.
In another embodiment referring back to
Finally it is important to note that the LEM 126 can be employed in a borehole by itself and without the balance of the components of the expandable LEM system 126.
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 selective contaminant expandable exclusion tool comprising:
- a tubular positionable within the junction and having one or more opening therein at least one being a window through a wall thereof, the tubular being expandable into contact with a wall of a borehole in which the tool is to be set; and
- one or more end rings constructed of a material different than the material of the tubular attached at one or more openings thereof.
2. The exclusion tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tubular further includes a sealing material coating thereon.
3. The exclusion tool as claimed in claim 2 wherein the sealing material is a metal.
4. The exclusion tool as claimed in claim 2 wherein the sealing material is a polymeric material.
5. The exclusion tool as claimed in claim 2 wherein the one or more end rings include an end ring positioned about a periphery of the window of the tubular.
6. The exclusion tool as claimed in claim 2 wherein the one or more end rings include an end ring positioned at least one axial end of the tubular.
7. The exclusion tool as claimed in claim 2 wherein the one or more end rings include an end ring positioned at both axial ends of the tubular.
8. An exclusion system comprising:
- an expansion tool; and
- an expandable LEM configured to respond to the expansion tool.
9. The exclusion system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the expansion tool includes an expansion configuration.
10. The exclusion system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the expansion configuration is a swage.
11. The exclusion system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the expansion configuration is an inflatable.
12. The exclusion system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the expandable LEM includes one or more end rings.
13. The exclusion system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the one or more end rings are constructed of a material different than that of the expandable LEM.
14. The exclusion system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the expansion tool includes at least one elongated swage.
15. The exclusion system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the elongated swage is longer than an LEM it is intended to expand.
16. The exclusion system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the system further includes a secondary swage.
17. A sealed junction comprising:
- a junction;
- a tubular disposed at the junction, the tubular having one or more openings at least one of which being a window through a wall thereof the tubular being expanded into contact with adjoining structures; and
- one or more end rings at openings of the expanded tubular.
18. A method for excluding selected contaminants from a wellbore junction comprising:
- disposing a junction at a wellbore casing window;
- disposing a tubular member having one or more openings at least one of which being a window through a wall thereof at the junction; and
- expanding the tubular into contact with the junction.
19. A method for excluding selected contaminants from a wellbore junction as claimed in claim 18 further including expanding one or more end rings located at one or more openings of the tubular.
20. A method for excluding selected contaminants from a wellbore junction as claimed in claim 18 wherein the expanding is by driving a swage having a length greater than the tubular through the tubular.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 9, 2009
Publication Date: Dec 9, 2010
Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED (HOUSTON, TX)
Inventors: BARTON F. SPONCHIA (CYPRESS, TX), AMY L. FARRAR (HOUSTON, TX), AUBREY C. MILLS (MAGNOLIA, TX), DOUGLAS J. MURRAY (MAGNOLIA, TX), JOHN J. JOHNSON (MONTGOMERY, TX), JAMES L. MCGOWIN (CYPRESS, TX)
Application Number: 12/481,329
International Classification: E21B 33/12 (20060101); E21B 43/00 (20060101);