Pressure relieving transition joint

• US 8,251,145 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2012
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• 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: Renshaw, William Shaun, Fipke, Steven Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Gay, Jennifer H
• Application Number:
  US13/366,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20120132427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 204 Days
• Field of Search: 166/313, 166/278, 166/50, 166/234, 166/227
• US Class Current: 166/313
• 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 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 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; and

a plurality of pressure relief valves coupled to the apertures in the tubular string, wherein each of the pressure relief valves is configured to be autonomously actuating, and wherein the plurality of pressure relief valves are configured to reduce propagation of particulate matter into the parent wellbore and the branch wellbore when the plurality of pressure relief valves are open.

2. The transition joint of claim 1, wherein the pressure relief valves block propagation of particulate matter into the parent wellbore and the branch wellbore when the pressure relief valves are open.

3. The transition joint of claim 1, 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.

4. The transition joint of claim 3, 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.

5. The transition joint of claim 4, wherein the swellable seal is configured to swell in volume when exposed to at least one of hydrocarbons and water.

6. The transition joint of claim 1, wherein the pressure relief valves are 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.

7. The transition joint of claim 1, wherein the tubular string is a metal pipe.

8. The transition joint of claim 1, 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.

9. The transition joint of claim 1, wherein a second half of the tubular string opposite the half of the tubular string configured to face a pressure gradient between the formation and the branch wellbore does not comprise any of the plurality of apertures.

10. A transition joint 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; and

a plurality of pressure relief valves coupled to the apertures in the tubular string, wherein the pressure relief valves are configured to reduce propagation of particulate matter into the parent wellbore and the branch wellbore when the pressure relief valves are open.

11. The transition joint of claim 10, wherein the pressure relief valves block propagation of particulate matter into the parent wellbore and the branch wellbore when the pressure relief valves are open.

12. The transition joint of claim 10, 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.

13. The transition joint of claim 12, 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.

14. The transition joint of claim 10, wherein the pressure relief valves are 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.

15. The transition joint of claim 10, wherein the tubular string is a metal pipe.

16. The transition joint of claim 10, 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.

17. A method of completing a wellbore having a branch wellbore extending outwardly from a window in a parent wellbore, the method comprising:

positioning a transition joint in the window, wherein the positioning comprises deflecting the transition joint from the parent wellbore into the branch wellbore, wherein the transition joint comprises a tubular string 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 only along a half of the tubular string configured to face a pressure gradient between the formation and the branch wellbore, and where in the transition joint further comprises a plurality of pressure relief valves coupled to the apertures in the tubular string, wherein each of the pressure relief valves is configured to be autonomously actuating; and

the transition joint 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.

18. Method of claim 17, wherein the transition joint further comprises a seal coupled to the tubular string at a junction of the parent wellbore and the branch wellbore, wherein the seal is 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.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the pressure relief valves are 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.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the pressure relief valves reduce propagation of particulate matter into the parent wellbore and the branch wellbore when the pressure relief valves are open.