COMPLETING SLIM-HOLE HORIZONTAL WELLBORES

• US 20200131861A1
• Filed: 10/24/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Inventors: EL-HAYEK, SOHA OMAR, ALYAN, ESSAM M.
• Granted Patent: US 11,125,026 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/20 Flexible or articulated drilling pipes , e.g. flexible or articulated rods, pipes or cables
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/203 with plural fluid passages
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/22 Handling reeled pipe or rod units, e.g. flexible drilling pipes lifting or hauling appliances using two or more cooperating endless chains B66D3/003
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1208 characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means E21B33/1277 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/12 Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/14 Obtaining from a multiple-zone well

Abstract

A length of coiled tubing is installed into a horizontal side-track wellbore. The coiled tubing has a pre-perforated section that defines perforations between a first end of the perforated section and a second end of the perforated section. The perforated section is positioned to align with a zone of interest within the horizontal side-track wellbore. A first isolation packer surrounds the length of coiled tubing. The first isolation packer is attached to the length of coiled tubing at the first end of the pre-perforated section. A second isolation packer surrounds the length of coiled tubing. The second isolation packer is attached to the length of coiled tubing at the second end of the pre-perforated section.

Claims

1. A coiled tubing wellbore completion comprising:

a length of coiled tubing installed into a horizontal side-track wellbore, the coiled tubing having a pre-perforated section defining perforations between a first end of the perforated section and a second end of the perforated section, the perforated section positioned to align with a zone of interest within the horizontal side-track wellbore;

a first pre-installed isolation packer surrounding the length of coiled tubing, the first isolation packer attached to the length of coiled tubing at the first end of the pre-perforated section; and

a second pre-installed isolation packer surrounding the length of coiled tubing, the second isolation packer attached to the length of coiled tubing at the second end of the pre-perforated section.

2. The coiled tubing wellbore completion of claim 1, wherein the pre-perforated section is a first pre-perforated section, and the zone of interest is a first zone of interest, the coiled tubing wellbore completion further comprising:

a second pre-perforated section within the length of coiled tubing, the second pre-perforated section defining perforations between a first end of the second pre-perforated section and a second end of the second end of the second pre-perforated section, the second pre-perforated section being positioned to align with a second zone of interest within the horizontal side-track wellbore;

a third isolation packer surrounding the length of coiled tubing, the third isolation packer attached to the length of coiled tubing at the a first end of the second pre-perforated section; and

a fourth isolation packer surrounding the length of coiled tubing, the fourth isolation packer attached to the length of coiled tubing at the second end of the second pre-perforated section.

3. The coiled tubing wellbore completion of claim 2, wherein the first pre-perforated section and the second pre-perforated section both fluidically connect the first zone of interest and the second zone of interest, respectively, to an interior flow path defined by the length of coiled tubing.

4. The coiled tubing wellbore completion of claim 1, wherein the first isolation packer and the second isolation packer each comprise a swell packer that is pre-installed on the length of coiled tubing prior to installation.

5. A method comprising:

inserting a length of coiled tubing into a horizontal side-track wellbore to a desired distance, wherein the length of coiled tubing comprises;

a pre-perforated section defining perforations between a first end of the perforated section and a second end of the perforated section, the perforated section positioned to align with a zone of interest within the horizontal side-track wellbore;

a first pre-installed isolation packer surrounding the length of coiled tubing, the first isolation packer attached to the length of coiled tubing at the first end of the pre-perforated section; and

a second pre-installed isolation packer surrounding the length of coiled tubing, the second isolation packer attached to the length of coiled tubing at the second end of the pre-perforated section.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising expanding the first isolation packer and the second isolation packer once the length of coiled tubing is inserted to the desired distance.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the coiled tubing is installed in an overbalanced condition.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising flowing a production fluid through the pre-perforated section and through the length of coiled tubing to a topside facility.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the pre-perforated section is a first pre-perforated section, and the zone of interest is a first zone of interest, the length of coiled tubing further comprising:

a second pre-perforated section within the length of coiled tubing, the second pre-perforated section being positioned to align with a second zone of interest within the horizontal side-track wellbore;

a third isolation packer surrounding the length of coiled tubing, the third isolation packer attached to the length of coiled tubing at the a first end of the second pre-perforated section; and

a fourth isolation packer surrounding the length of coiled tubing, the fourth isolation packer attached to the length of coiled tubing at the second end of the second pre-perforated section; and

wherein the method further comprises commingling a flow from the first pre-perforated section and the second pre-perforated section.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising flowing an injection fluid from a topside facility, through the length of coiled tubing, and out the pre-perforated section.

11. The method of claim 5, further comprising abandoning the horizontal side-track wellbore.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein abandoning comprises:

removing the length of coiled tubing from the horizontal side-track wellbore; and

leaving the packers within the horizontal side-track wellbore.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the horizontal side-track wellbore is a first horizontal side-track wellbore, the method further comprising:

installing the removed length of coiled tubing into a second horizontal side-track wellbore that is separate and distinct from the first horizontal side-track wellbore.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein abandoning comprises:

leaving the length of coiled tubing within the horizontal side-track wellbore; and

leaving the packers within the horizontal side-track wellbore.

15. A well system comprising:

a wellhead with vertical production tubing;

a coiled tubing hanger within the vertical production tubing;

a length of coiled tubing supported by the coiled tubing hanger, the length of coiled tubing installed into a horizontal side-track wellbore, the coiled tubing having a pre-perforated section defining perforations between a first end of the perforated section and a second end of the perforated section, the perforated section positioned to align with a zone of interest within the horizontal side-track wellbore;

a first pre-installed isolation packer surrounding the length of coiled tubing, the first isolation packer attached to the length of coiled tubing at the a first end of the pre-perforated section; and

a second pre-installed isolation packer surrounding the length of coiled tubing, the second isolation packer attached to the length of coiled tubing at the second end of the pre-perforated section.

16. The well system of claim 15, further comprising a vertical well fluidically coupled to the wellhead.

17. The well system of claim 15, wherein the coiled tubing hanger is a first coiled tubing hanger, the length of coiled tubing is a first set of coiled tubing, the horizontal side-track wellbore is a first horizontal side-track wellbore, and the pre-perforated section is a first pre-perforated section, the well system further comprising:

a second coiled tubing hanger within the wellhead;

a second length of coiled tubing supported by the second coiled tubing hanger, the second length of coiled tubing installed into a second horizontal side-track wellbore, the second length of coiled tubing having a second pre-perforated section defining perforations between a first end of the second pre-perforated section and a second end of the second pre-perforated section, the second pre-perforated section positioned to align with a second zone of interest within the second horizontal side-track wellbore;

a third isolation packer surrounding the second length of coiled tubing, the third isolation packer attached to the second length of coiled tubing at the a first end of the second pre-perforated section; and

a fourth isolation packer surrounding the second length of coiled tubing, the fourth isolation packer attached to the second length of coiled tubing at the second end of the second pre-perforated section.

18. The well system of claim 15, wherein the pre-perforated section is a first pre-perforated section, and the zone of interest is a first zone of interest, the well system further comprising:

a second pre-perforated section within the length of coiled tubing, the second pre-perforated section being positioned to align with a second zone of interest within the horizontal side-track wellbore;

a third isolation packer surrounding the length of coiled tubing, the third isolation packer attached to the length of coiled tubing at the a first end of the second pre-perforated section; and

a fourth isolation packer surrounding the length of coiled tubing, the fourth isolation packer attached to the length of coiled tubing at the second end of the second pre-perforated section.

19. The well system of claim 18, wherein the first pre-perforated section and the second pre-perforated section both fluidically connect the first zone of interest and the second zone of interest, respectively, to an interior flow path defined by the length of coiled tubing.

20. The well system of claim 15, wherein the first isolation packer and the second isolation packer each comprise a swell packer that is pre-installed on the length of coiled tubing prior to installation.