Surface controlled subsurface lateral branch safety valve

• US 7,337,846 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2005
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Restarick, Henry L., McGlothen, Jody R.
• Primary Examiner(s): DANG, HOANG C
• Application Number:
  US11/170,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20060000614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 166/313, 166/50, 166/117.6, 166/242.1, 166/115
• US Class Current: 166/313
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/08 responsive to flow or pressure of the fluid obtained E21B34/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/10 operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0035 Apparatus or methods for multilateral well technology, e.g. for the completion of or workover on wells with one or more lateral branches
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0042 characterised by sealing the junction between a lateral and a main bore
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/14 Obtaining from a multiple-zone well

Abstract

A surface controlled subsurface lateral branch safety valve provides flow control for each branch wellbore in a multilateral well. In a described embodiment, a completion system for a well having an intersection between parent and branch wellbores includes an apparatus having multiple passages formed therethrough. One passage provides fluid communication between opposite ends of the apparatus in the parent wellbore, and another passage provides guidance for drilling the branch wellbore. The apparatus further includes a flow control device, such as a surface controlled subsurface safety valve, which selectively controls fluid communication with the branch wellbore.

Claims

1. A completion system for a well having an intersection between first and second wellbores, the system comprising:

multiple apparatuses, each apparatus having first and second passages formed therethrough, the first passage providing fluid communication between opposite ends of the apparatus in the first wellbore, and the second passage providing guidance for drilling the second wellbore extending laterally from the first wellbore, each apparatus further including a flow control device selectively controlling fluid communication with the second passage, fluid being produced from the second wellbore via a first one of the apparatuses, while a third wellbore is drilled via a second one of the apparatuses.

2. An apparatus for use in completing a well having intersecting first and second wellbores, the apparatus comprising:

an elongated mandrel configured for interconnection in a casing string in the well, the mandrel having intersecting first and second passages formed therethrough, the first passage extending longitudinally through the mandrel, and the second passage extending laterally relative to the first passage;

a flow control device selectively permitting and preventing fluid communication with the second passage, and the flow control device selectively permitting and preventing flow between the first and second passages; and

a plug blocking flow directly between the first and second passages, the flow control device selectively permitting and preventing flow between the first and second passages via a third passage extending between the first and second passages.

3. An apparatus for use in completing a well having intersecting first and second wellbores, the apparatus comprising:

an elongated mandrel configured for interconnection in a casing string in the well, the mandrel having intersecting first and second passages formed therethrough, the first passage extending longitudinally through the mandrel, and the second passage extending laterally relative to the first passage; and

a flow control device selectively permitting and preventing fluid communication with the second passage, the flow control device selectively permitting and preventing flow between the second passage and a third passage extending to the earth'"'"'s surface, and the flow control device being an openable and closeable valve.

4. An apparatus for use in completing a well having intersecting first and second wellbores, the apparatus comprising:

an elongated mandrel configured for interconnection in a casing string in the well, the mandrel having intersecting first and second passages formed therethrough, the first passage extending longitudinally through the mandrel, and the second passage extending laterally relative to the first passage; and

a flow control device selectively permitting and preventing fluid communication with the second passage, the flow control device selectively permitting and preventing flow between the second passage and a third passage extending to a remote location, the flow control device being an openable and closeable valve, and wherein the first passage is not in fluid communication with the third passage when the flow control device is open.

5. An apparatus for use in completing a well having intersecting first and second wellbores, the apparatus comprising:

multiple elongated mandrels configured for interconnection in a casing string in the well, each mandrel having intersecting first and second passages formed therethrough, the first passage extending longitudinally through the mandrel, and the second passage extending laterally relative to the first passage; and

for each mandrel a corresponding flow control device selectively permitting and preventing fluid communication with the second passage, the flow control devices being openable and closeable valves, and wherein the mandrel first passages form portions of a casing string flow passage, and at least one of the flow control devices selectively permits and prevents flow between the respective second passage and a third passage extending to the earth'"'"'s surface.