OA16521A - Gravel packing in lateral wellbore. - Google Patents

Abstract

A technique facilitates performance of a treatment application in a lateral wellbore. The technique may be employed in an open lateral wellbore and comprises deploying a completion within the open wellbore wall of the lateral wellbore. A service tool is used in cooperation with the completion to perform a gravel packing or other well treatment operation while maintaining hydrostatic pressure on the open lateral wellbore to prevent collapse of the open lateral wellbore. A variety of features may be incorporated into the completion or used in cooperation with the completion to facilitate the well treatment operation while maintaining the hydrostatic pressure until completion of the desired gravel pack.

Description

Hydrocarbon fluids, e.g. oïl and natural gas, are obtained from a subterranean géologie formation by drilling a well that pénétrâtes the hydrocarbon-bearing formation. Once a wellbore is drilled, various forms of well completion components may be installed to control and enhance the efficiency of producîng fluids from the subterranean géologie formation. In certain applications, the production of hydrocarbon fluids is enhanced by drilling and completing latéral wellbores extending from a primary wellbore, e.g. a generally vertical wellbore. Various gravel packing operations are employed to create grave! packs around the complétions in the latéral wellbores.

SUMMARY

In general, the present disclosure provides a methodology and system for treating, e.g. gravel packing, a latéral wellbore. The methodology and System may be employed in an open hole latéral wellbore and comprise a completion conveyed into the latéral wellbore. A service tool is used in coopération with the completion to perform the gravel packing or other well treatment operation while maintaining hydrostatic pressure on the open latéral wellbore to prevent collapse of the wellbore. A variety of features may be incorporated into the completion or used in coopération with the completion to facilitate the well treatment operation while maintaining the hydrostatic pressure until completion of the desired gravel pack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain embodiments will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanylng drawings, wherein like reference numerals dénoté like éléments. It should be understood, however, that the accompanying figures illustrate only the various Implémentations described herein and are not meant to limit the scope of various technologies described herein, and:

Figure 1 is an illustration of a well system having an example of a completion deployed in an open hole latéral wellbore, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

Figure 2 is an illustration similar to that of Figure 1 but showing completion of a junction which is coupled with the completion disposed in the open hole latéral wellbore, according to an embodiment of the disclosure:

Figure 3 is an illustration similar to that of Figure 2 but showing the addition of an Intermediate completion deployed in the primary wellbore, according to an alternate embodiment of the disclosure;

Figure 4 is an illustration similar to that of Figure 3 but showing deployment a work string and io service tool down to the completion disposed in the open hole latéral wellbore, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

Figure 5 is an illustration similar to that of Figure 4 in which a bail has been dropped to divert gravel slurry to an alternate path tubing separate from the main flow path of the completion, is according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

Figure 6 is an illustration of a completed gravel pack disposed around the completion in the open hole latéral wellbore, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

Figure 7 is an illustration similar to that of Figure 6 with the addition of an upper completion coupled to the intermediate completion, according to an embodiment of the disclosure; and

Figure 8 is an illustration of an example of the well system in a producing configuration, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of some 30 illustrative embodiments of the présent disclosure. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill In the art that the System and/or methodology may be practiced without these details and that numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments may be possible.

The disclosure herein generally relates to a system and methodology that facilitate performance of a treatment operation in a latéral wellbore. For example, the system and methodology facilitate gravel packing operations in open hole latéral wellbores. According to an embodiment of the well system, a completion is deptoyed in a latéral wellbore. Subsequently, a junction is completed and coupled to the completion in the latéral wellbore to form an enclosed flow path from a primary wellbore, e.g. a generally vertical wellbore, to the latéral wellbore. After completing the junction, a service tool may be used to facilitate formation of a gravel pack in the latéral wellbore while maintaïning hydrostatic pressure. The hydrostalic pressure is applied through the completion in the latéral wellbore and into contact with the open wellbore wall of the latéral wellbore to maintain the integrity of the latéral wellbore by, for example, preventing collapse. The hydrostatic pressure may be released once the gravel pack is completed.

The completion deployed in the latéral wellbore may comprise an alternate path System which directs gravel slurry, for performing the gravel packing operation, along an alternate flow path outside of the primary flow path extending through the completion. The alternate path system may comprise an alternate path tubing, such as a shunt tube, extending along the completion to a desired discharge location. For example, the grave! slurry may be directed along the alternate path tubing to an annular région surrounding one or more sand screens. In some applications, the entire grave! slurry used to form the gravel pack is directed down through an interior of the junction within the primary internai flow path until directed outwardly to the alternate path tubing via, for example, a shrouded port closure sleeve. Thus, the gravel slurry is completely contained, routed along the alternate path tubing, and discharged at the desired location with respect to the gravel pack.

The alternate path system may be employed when performing the gravel packing operation through the completed junction. However, the alternate path system also may be utilized in other types of applications. For example, the alternate path system may be used to facilitate formation of the desired gravel pack prior to completion of the junction between the primary wellbore and the latéral wellbore.

Depending on the spécifie parameters of a given well environment and well treatment operation, the components of the well system and the spécifie methodology may be adjusted. For example, the completion deployed in the latéral wellbore may be run with a variety of suitable packers, such as a packer/disconnect, an external casing packer, a swell packer, or a completion packer. The service tool may be designed to both maintain hydrostatic pressure when performing the gravel pack and to allow for a post job cleaning operation. Many other types of components and tools may be incorporated into the system to facilitate well treatment operations, e.g. gravel packing operations, in single or multiple latéral wellbores.

Referring generally to Figure 1, an example of one type of system and methodology for performing the treatment operation in a latéral wellbore is illustrated. The example is provided to facilitate explanation, and it should be understood that a variety of components and operational techniques may be utilized with the well system described herein. The various io complétions described may utîlize a variety of packers, valves, sliding sleeves, screens, tubing, engagement devices, crossover ports, and other components selected for use in many types of environments and applications.

In Figure 1, an embodiment of a well system 20 is illustrated as comprising a completion 22 is deployed in a well 24. In this example, completion 22 is deployed in a latéral wellbore 26 which extends from a primary wellbore 28, e.g. a generally vertical wellbore. In the example illustrated, the primary wellbore 28 is cased with a casing 30 and the latéral wellbore 26 is an open hole latéral wellbore defined by an open wellbore wall 32. Depending on the spécifie application, various well complétions may be used in the well 24 and well 24 may comprise 20 many types of wellbores, including deviated, e.g. horizontal, single bore, multilatéral, single zone, multi-zone, cased, uncased (open bore), or other types of wellbores.

In the example illustrated, completion 22 comprises a packer 34 which may be an open hole packer designed to seal off the latéral wellbore section extending from the packer 34 to the toe 25 of the latéral wellbore 26. By way of example, packer 34 may comprise an external casing packer, a swell packer, a completion packer or another packer suitable for the desired application, e.g. an open hole application. Completion 22 also may comprise a variety of other components, such as a sand screen 36 or a plurality of sand screens 36. The completion 22 also may comprise a pollshed bore réceptacle 38 or other suitable device for receiving the 30 service tool as described in greater detail below. A set down collar 40 also may be used in coopération with the polished bore réceptacle 38. Various other components, such as a flapper valve or other type of fluid loss device 42, may be further incorporated into the completion 22.

In the spécifie example illustrated, completion 22 is designed to route gravel slurry through an alternate path system 44. By way of example, the alternate path system 44 may comprise an alternate path tubing 46, e.g. at least one shunt tube 48, positioned to deiiver gravel slurry to a discharge location 50. The alternate path tubing 46 discharges the gravel slurry at the s discharge location 50 to croate the desired gravel pack in the annulus around, for example, sand screens 36. According to an example of the présent technique, the gravel slurry is directed downhole along a main flow path 52 which extends into the interior of completion 22. As explained in greater detail below, the gravel slurry may be directed through a work string and service tool deployed within the main flow path 52 and coupled with the completion 22. In such io an application, the work string and the service tool contain the gravel slurry within main flow path 52 until discharged to the exterior of the main flow path 52, e.g. to the alternate path system 44. In this embodiment, a director device 54 works in coopération with the service tool to direct gravel slurry into the alternate path tubing 46. During the gravel packing or other servicing operation, the gravel slurry may be directed along the main flow path 52 while is remaining fully enclosed within the work string and service tool until the gravel slurry is directed into the alternate path tubing 46 for delivery to the discharge location 50. This enables control and containment of 100% of the gravel slurry used in forming the desired gravel pack around completion 22. By way of example, the director device 54 may comprise a shrouded port closure sleeve 56.

In the example illustrated, a whipstock 58 or other suitable device may be used to facilitate formation of the latéral wellbore 26. The whipstock 58 also may be used to facilitate other completion activitles, such as completion of a junctlon used to couple the completion 22 with an intermediate completion in the région of transition between the primary wellbore 28 and the 25 latéral wellbore 26. The whipstock 58 may be designed as a retrievable component to enable access to possible additional latéral wellbores disposed beneath the illustrated latéral wellbore 26.

Referring generally to Figure 2, an illustration of well system 20 is provided in which a junction jo 60 has been completed and coupled with completion 22 via, for example, a connector 62, such as a disconnect sub. In this embodiment, the junction 60 is positioned above a template 64. Once the junction 60 is completed, an intermediate completion 66 may be run downhole via a suitable running tool 68 and coupled with junction 60 in primary wellbore 28, as illustrated in Figure 3. Depending on the application, the intermediate completion 66 may comprise a variety of components, such as a packer 70. In the embodiment illustrated, packer 70 is designed to form a seal with a casing 30 within primary wellbore 28. Additional packers 70 and other components may be deployed in primary wellbore 28 beneath junction 60.

Following placement of the intermediate completion 66, a service tool 72 is run downhole on a work string 74, as illustrated rn Figure 4. The service tool 72 is deployed down through intermediate completion 66 and junction 60 before being received within completion 22 via polished bore réceptacle 38. The service tool 72 is designed to engage and seal within polished bore réceptacle 38 to enable maintenance of hydrostatic pressure on the open hole latéral io wellbore 26 during a gravel packing operation. The hydrostatic pressure is maintained within completion 22 and within an annulus 76 between completion 22 and the surrounding open wellbore wall 32 to preserve the Integrity of the open hole latéral wellbore 26, e.g. to prevent collapse of the latéral wellbore. The design of service tool 72, completion 22, and junction 60 also serves to maintain sand exclusion within the junction 60 during the gravel packing is operation.

Service tool 72 may be designed with a variety of components and features to facilitate performance of a desired well treatment operation, ln the example illustrated, the service tool 72 is designed to facilitate a gravel packing operation and comprises a crossover port body 78 20 located to direct the gravel slurry out of the service tool 72, into the shrouded port closure sleeve 56, and then into the alternate path tubing 46 for delivery to the discharge location 50. By way of further example, the service tool 72 may comprise one or more flow contrai valves 80, a service tool collet 82, a fluid loss device 84, and suitable seals 86 for forming a seal with the surrounding polished bore réceptacle 38. However, these components are described and 2j illustrated to provide examples of components that may be included in the service tool 72, and other embodiments of the service tool may comprise additional, alternate, and/or modified components to facilitate the desired well treatment operation. The service tool 72 and completion 22 also may be used to perform a post gravel pack cleaning operation.

3o In Figure 5, a drop member, such as a bail 88, is moved down through work string 74 and service tool 72 until seated proximate crossover port body 78. When gravel slurry is delivered down through work string 74 and service tool 72 within main flow path 52, the bail 88 directs the flow of gravel slurry out through crossover port body 78. The gravel slurry then flows into the director device 54, e.g. into shrouded port closure sleeve 56, and along alternate path tubing 46 until discharged at discharge location 50. During the flow of gravel slurry, hydrostatic pressure is maintained in the latéral wellbore 26.

In this example, ail of the gravel slurry is discharged through the alternate path tubing 46 to create a gravel pack 90, as illustrated in Figure 6. The gravel pack 90 is located in the annulus 76 between completion 22 and the surrounding open wellbore wall 32. As well fluid fiows from a surrounding formation, the gravel pack 90 serves to filter the inflowing well fluid before entering completion 22 through sand screens 36. Following formation of gravel pack 90, the hydrostatic pressure may be released in latéral wellbore 26. After the gravel pack 90 is formed, the service io tool 72 may be withdrawn and fluid loss device 42 may be allowed to close, thus preventing any further down flow of fluid along main flow path 52.

Once lhe service tool 72 is withdrawn, an upper completion 92 may be delivered down through primary wellbore 28 for engagement with intermediate completion 66, as illustrated in Figure 7. is During deployment of the upper completion 92, a valve 94 in intermediate completion 66 may be used to prevent flow along the main flow path 52. However, once the well 24 is fully completed, valve 94 may be opened to a producing configuration which allows production fluids to flow upwardly through well 24, as illustrated in Figure 8.

In some applications, the ability to complété junction 60 and then to perform the gravel packing operation while maintaining hydrostatic pressure greatly facilitâtes formation of the desired gravel pack 90. In these applications, the alternate path system 44 may be employed to deliver the gravel slurry, however other grave! slurry delivery Systems also may be employed to direct the gravel slurry to a desired location along completion 22. The alternate path system 44 also 2$ may be used in a variety of applications to facilitate the gravel packing operation. In some of these applications, the alternate path system 44 is used to contain and deliver 100% of the gravel slurry for a controlled discharge of ail of the gravel slurry when formlng gravel pack 90. The alternate path system 44 may be used in applications which perform the gravel packing operation after completing junction 60 or prior to completing junction 60.

The spécifie configuration of well system 20 and completion 22 may vary depending on the parameters of a given application. Additionally, the junction 60, director device 54, alternate path system 44, and other components of the system may be formed in a variety of configurations and from a variety of materials suitable for a selected operation and environment.

Also, various types of service tools 72 and work strings 74 may be used to deliver gravel slurry or other treatment fluids down to completion 22 through main flow path 52.

Furthermore, several types of intermediate complétions and upper complétions may be employed depending on the spécifies of a given treatment application and/or production application. Additional complétions also may be employed in additional latéral wellbores. Each of the additional latéral wellbores may be gravel packed or otherwise treated as described above. For example, the gravel packing of each additional latéral wellbore can be conducted by completing the correspondîng junction and then forming the gravel pack while maintaining io hydrostatic pressure. The alternate flow path System also can be employed with each correspondîng completion located in the additional latéral wellbores.

Atthough only a few embodiments of the system and methodology hâve been described in detail above, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreclate that many modifications are u possible without materially departing from the teachings of this disclosure. Accordingly, such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the claims.

Claims (5)

1. What is claimed is:

   s 1. A method of treating a well (24), comprising:

   completing a junction (60) and connecting the junction (60) with a completion (22) located in an open hole latéral wellbore (26);

   deploying a service tool (72) into the completion (22); and io after completing the junction (60), using the service tool (72) to perform a gravel packing operation in the open hole latéral wellbore (26) while maintaining hydrostatic pressure in the open hole latéral wellbore (26) to prevent collapse of the open hole latéral wellbore (26).

   is
2. 2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising performing the gravel packing operation through an alternate path tubing (46) separate from a main flow path (52) of the completion (22).
3. 3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein performing comprises directing a gravel slurry

   20 along an enclosed path within an interior of the junction (60) and out into the alternate path tubing (46) for delivery to a desired discharge location (50).
4. 4. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein performing comprises directing a gravel slurry along an enclosed path within an interior of the junction (60) and out into the alternate

   25 path tubing (46) in the form on at least one shunt tube (48).

   5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising releasing the hydrostatic pressure after completing the gravel pack operation.

   6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising maintaining sand exclusion within

   30 the junction (60).

   7. The method as recited In claim 3, wherein directing comprises using a shrouded port closure sleeve (56) to direct the gravel slurry into the alternate path tubing (46).

   8. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising using the service tool (72) to perform a post gravel pack cleaning operation in the open hole latéral wellbore (26). 5 9. A well system (20), comprising: a completion (22) with a sand screen (36), a shrouded port closure sleeve (56), an alternate path tubing (46) extending from the shrouded port closure sleeve (56) to the sand screen (36), and a packer (34), the completion (22) enabling hydrostatic pressure to be maintained on the formation when the completion is placed in a latéral wellbore ΙΟ (26): a junction (60) which may be completed and joined with the completion (22) to enclose a primary flow path (52) between an intermediate completion (66) in a generally vertical wellbore (28) and the completion (22) in the latéral wellbore (26); and a service tool (72) selectively engaged with the completion (22) in a manner able 15 to maintain the hydrostatic pressure while a gravel slurry is delivered along the primary flow path (52) within the junction (60) and the completion (22) to form a grave! pack (90). 20 10. The well system as recited in claim 9, wherein the alternate path tubing (46) comprises at least one shunt tube (48). 11. The well system as recited in claim 9, wherein the packer (34) comprises an external casing packer. 25 12. The well system as recited in claim 9, wherein the packer (34) comprises a swell packer. 13. The well system is recited in claim 9, wherein the packer (34) comprises a completion packer. 14. The system as recited in claim 9, further comprising a disconnect sub (62) coupling the Î0 completion (22) to the junction (60). 15. A method, comprising:

   ΙΟ providing a completion (22) with a sand screen (36) and a packer (34) which seals against open wellbore wall (32) of a latéral wellbore (26);

   running the completion (22) downhole into the latéral wellbore (26);

   engaging a service tool (72) with the completion (22);
5. 5 performing a gravel packing operation to create a gravel pack (90) around the completion (22) via the service tool (72) by routing a gravel slurry from the service tool (72) and out to an altemate path tubing (46) separate from a main flow path (52) of the completion (22); and maïntaining hydrostatic pressure via the completion (22) and the service tool (72) io during the gravel packing operation.