Pressure Relieving Transition Joint

• US 20110174480A1
• Filed: 03/29/2011
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Fipke, Steven Ronald, Renshaw, William Shaun
• Granted Patent: US 8,171,995 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/117.5
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1208 characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means E21B33/1277 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0042 characterised by sealing the junction between a lateral and a main bore
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/08 Screens or liners expandable screens or liners E21B43/108

Abstract

A method of completing a wellbore having a branch wellbore extending outwardly from a window in a parent wellbore is provided. The method comprises positioning a tubular string in the window, wherein the positioning comprises deflecting the tubular string from the parent wellbore into the branch wellbore. The method also comprises providing a particulate barrier outside and against the tubular string proximate the window, the particulate barrier substantially excluding transport of particulate matter from the branch wellbore into the parent wellbore outside of the tubular string through the window. The method also comprises the tubular string passing fluid into the tubular string proximate the window from a formation proximate to the window while substantially excluding transport of particulate matter from the formation proximate to the window into the tubular string.

Claims

1. A transition joint seal for coupling a parent wellbore to a branch wellbore extending outwardly from a window in the parent wellbore, comprising:

a metal pipe having a wall opening along a first side of the metal pipe and a plurality of apertures along a second side of the metal pipe; and

a swell seal coupled to a middle portion of the metal pipe, the swell seal being swellable in the branch wellbore by increasing in a volume of the swell seal to promote sealing between the window and the metal pipe, and the swell seal having a plurality of apertures,

wherein at least one of the apertures in the metal pipe align with at least one of the apertures in the swell seal, and

wherein the apertures in the metal pipe comprise a structure configured to substantially block transport of particulate matter from a formation proximate to the window into the parent wellbore while allowing fluid flow from the formation proximate to the window into the parent wellbore, and the structure is further configured to substantially block crossflow of fluid into the formation proximate to the window.

2. The transition joint of claim 1, wherein the swell seal is adhered to the metal pipe.

3. The transition joint of claim 1, wherein the swell seal is designed to swell when exposed to at least one of water and hydrocarbons.

4. The transition joint of claim 3, wherein the swell seal is comprised at least in part of a rubber material.

5. The transition joint of claim 1, wherein the transition joint is about 40 feet long and wherein the length of the swell seal is in the range of about 20 feet to about 30 feet.

6. The transition joint of claim 1, wherein the structure is a pressure relief valve that is installed in each of the apertures in the metal pipe, wherein the pressure relief valves are configured to allow fluid flow from the formation proximate to the window into the parent wellbore when a pressure differential between the formation proximate to the window and the parent wellbore exceeds a predefined threshold.

7. A completion tool for a well having a branch wellbore extending outwardly from a window in a parent wellbore, comprising:

a metal pipe comprising an upper end configured to be contained in the parent wellbore upwards from the window, a lower end configured to be contained in the branch wellbore, and a plurality of apertures configured to allow fluid flow into the metal pipe from a formation proximate to the window while blocking transport of particulate matter into the metal pipe; and

a swellable seal coupled to the metal pipe and comprising a plurality of apertures, the swellable seal configured to block transport of particulate matter from the formation into the parent wellbore, wherein at least one of the plurality of apertures in the swellable seal is aligned with at least one of the plurality of apertures in the metal pipe, and wherein the at least one of the apertures in the swellable seal is sized to avoid closing the aligned at least one of the apertures in the metal pipe when the swellable seal swells.

8. The completion tool of claim 7, wherein the plurality of apertures in the metal pipe are provided by slots in the metal pipe.

9. The completion tool of claim 8, wherein the slots are in the range of about 0.01 inches wide to about 0.04 inches wide.

10. The completion tool of claim 7, wherein the swellable seal is configured to swell in volume when exposed to at least one of hydrocarbons and water.

11. The completion tool of claim 7, further comprising a screen attached to the metal pipe at each of the apertures to block transport of particulate matter into the metal pipe.

12. The completion tool of claim 7, wherein the plurality of apertures in the metal pipe are arranged along a half of the metal pipe configured to face a pressure gradient between the formation and the parent and branch wellbores.

13. A transition joint seal for coupling a parent wellbore to a branch wellbore extending outwardly from a window in the parent wellbore, comprising:

a tubular string comprising an upper portion configured to be contained in the parent wellbore upwards from the window, a lower portion configured to be contained in the branch wellbore, and a plurality of apertures configured to allow fluid flow into the tubular string from a formation proximate to the window, wherein the plurality of apertures are arranged on the tubular string along a half of the tubular string configured to face a pressure gradient between the formation and the branch wellbore.

14. The transition joint seal of claim 13, further comprising:

a blocking member in association with at least one of the plurality of apertures, the blocking member configured to block transport of particulate matter into the tubular string, the blocking member selected from the group consisting of a sand screen coupled to the tubular string, a permeable filter coupled to the tubular string, a pressure relief valve coupled to the tubular string, and slotted tubing.

15. The transition joint seal of claim 14, further comprising:

a seal coupled to the tubular string at the junction of the parent wellbore and the branch wellbore configured to block transport of particulate matter from the formation proximate to the window into the parent wellbore, the seal selected from the group consisting of an injection foam, and injection gel, and a swellable seal.

16. The transition joint seal of claim 15, wherein the seal is the swellable seal and the swellable seal comprises a plurality of apertures, wherein at least one of the plurality of apertures in the swellable seal is aligned with at least one of the plurality of apertures in the tubular string, and wherein the at least one of the apertures in the swellable seal is sized to avoid closing the aligned at least one of the apertures in the tubular string when the swellable seal swells.

17. The transition joint seal of claim 16, wherein the swellable seal is configured to swell in volume when exposed to at least one of hydrocarbons and water.

18. The transition joint seal of claim 15, wherein the blocking member is the pressure relief valve, the pressure relief valve configured to allow fluid flow from the formation proximate to the window into the tubular string and further configured to substantially block crossflow of fluid into the formation proximate to the window.

19. The transition joint seal of claim 15, wherein the tubular string is a metal pipe.

20. The transition joint seal of claim 13, wherein the tubular string further comprises a wall opening along a half of the tubular string opposite the half of the tubular string on which the plurality of apertures are arranged, the wall opening configured to provide fluid communication between the parent wellbore below the window and the interior of the tubular string.