Lining well bore junctions

• US 7,373,984 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Effective Exploration LLC
• Original Assignee: CDX Gas LLC (EnerVest Ltd.)
• Inventors: Walter, Bruno H., Pratt, Christopher A.
• Primary Examiner(s): WRIGHT, GIOVANNA COLLINS
• Application Number:
  US11/020,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20060131032A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,245 Days
• Field of Search: 166/50, 166/313, 166/117.5
• US Class Current: 166/313
• 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 43/10 Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells

Abstract

A well bore liner is carried on a working string into a main bore of a well. A well bore liner is directed from the main bore into an auxiliary bore of the well with a whipstock. The whipstock is coupled to a working string without withdrawing the working string from the main bore. The whipstock is then relocated in the well using the working string.

Claims

1. A method of positioning a well bore liner in a well, comprising:

receiving the well bore liner carried on a working string in a main bore of the well;

directing the well bore liner from the main bore into an auxiliary bore of the well with a whipstock, the whipstock being fixed in a first location;

coupling the whipstock and the working string without withdrawing the working string from the main bore; and

relocating the whipstock within the mainbore to a second fixed location in the well bore using the working string.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the whipstock is located about the auxiliary bore and relocating the whipstock comprises relocating the whipstock about another location for an auxiliary bore.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a drilling sting in the well bore and directing the drilling string using the whipstock to drill the auxiliary bore into a wall of the main bore.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the well bore liner carried on a working string comprises receiving the well bore liner coupled with a running tool of the working string;

and

wherein coupling the whipstock and the working string comprises coupling the whipstock with the running tool.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the main bore comprises a main liner and the well bore liner comprises an auxiliary liner adapted for receipt in the auxiliary bore and a junction liner adapted to span between the main liner and the auxiliary liner.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein directing a well bore liner from the main bore into an auxiliary bore comprises passing the auxiliary liner and junction liner through a lateral opening in the main liner.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the junction liner has a junction shield extending outward therefrom adapted to substantially cover the lateral opening;

and

wherein the junction shield is contracted inward while the junction liner passes through the lateral opening and expands in the auxiliary bore.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising directing a second well bore liner from the main bore into a second auxiliary bore with the whipstock.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary bore at least partially coincides with a coal seam.

10. A device for depositing a well bore liner in a well, comprising:

an assembly that carries the well bore liner into the well, deposits the well bore liner in the well, engages a whipstock residing at a first location in the well, carries the whipstock to a second location in the well, and releases the whipstock at the second location in the well.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the device comprises:

a well bore liner engaging portion adapted to carry the well bore liner in the well bore and deposit the liner in the well; and

whipstock engaging portion adapted to carry the whipstock in the well bore and deposit the whipstock in the well.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the well bore liner engaging portion comprises locking pins selectively extendable to engage and carry the well bore liner.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein the well bore liner engaging portion comprises outwardly extending locking pins adapted to engage the well bore liner when the well bore liner is contracted about the locking pins.

14. The device of claim 11 wherein the whipstock engaging portion is adapted to be received within the well bore liner when the well bore liner is carried by the well bore liner engaging portion.

15. The device of claim 10 wherein the well bore liner comprises an auxiliary liner adapted for receipt in an auxiliary well bore deviating from a main well bore.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein well bore liner further comprises a junction liner adapted to span between the auxiliary liner a liner in the main well bore.

17. A method of positioning a well bore liner in a well, comprising:

receiving a well bore liner carried on a working string in a main bore of the well;

directing the well bore liner from the main bore into an auxiliary bore of the well with a whipstock;

coupling the whipstock and the working string without withdrawing the working string from the main bore;

relocating the whipstock, using the working string, without removing the working string from the main bore; and

releasing the whipstock from the working string within the main bore.

18. A device for depositing a well bore liner in a well, comprising:

an assembly that carries the well bore liner into the well, deposits the well bore liner in the well, engages a whipstock residing at a first location in the well, carries the whipstock to a second location in the well, and releases the whipstock, the assembly comprising;

a well bore liner engaging portion that carries the well bore liner in the well bore and deposits the liner in the well, the well bore liner engaging portion comprising outwardly extending locking pins that engage the well bore liner when the well bore liner is contracted about the locking pins; and

a whipsiock engaging portion that carries the whipstock in the well bore and deposits the whipstock in the well.

19. A method of positioning a well bore liner in a well, comprising:

receiving the well bore liner carried on a working string in a main bore of the well, the main bore comprising a main liner and the well bore liner comprising an auxiliary liner adapted for receipt in an auxiliary bore of the well and a junction liner adapted to span between the main liner and the auxiliary liner;

directing the well bore liner from the main bore into the auxiliary bore with a whipstock, passing the auxiliary liner and junction liner through a lateral opening in the main liner, wherein the junction liner has a junction shield extending outward therefrom adapted to substantially cover the lateral opening and the junction shield is contracted inward while the junction liner passes through the lateral opening and expands in the auxiliary bore;

coupling the whipstock and the working string without withdrawing the working string from the main bore; and

relocating the whipstock using the working string.