Method and apparatus for completing multiple production zones from a single wellbore

Abstract

Method and apparatus for producing multiple zones from a single wellbore wherein a hollow whipstock is used to complete a lateral into an upper zone which lies above a lower producing zone. The whipstock has openings through its tapered face which, in turn, are sealed by dissolvable plugs (e.g. aluminum). Once the lateral has been completed, a reagent (e.g. hydrochloric acid) is pumped down the wellbore to dissolve the plugs and open the openings through the face of the whipstock thereby allowing the flow from the lower zone to pass through the whipstock to be produced up through the wellbore along with the flow from the upper production zone.

Description

DESCRIPTION[0001] 1. Technical Field[0002] The present invention relates to completing multiple production zones from a single wellbore and in one aspect relates to a whipstock which is used to drill a lateral well into an upper productive zone from a wellbore wherein the whipstock has openings therethrough which, in turn, can be opened after the lateral has been completed to allow flow from lower zones through the whipstock.[0003] 2. Background of the Invention[0004] Hydrocarbons (i.e. oil and gas) have been routinely produced by drilling and casing a single, main wellbore (e.g. a substantially vertical wellbore) downward from the surface into a lower, primary production subterranean formation or a zone within the formation. In doing so, the wellbore often passes through other lesser-productive formation(s) or zones (s) which lie above the primary production formation. By casing the wellbore substantially throughout its depth, production from these upper formations is initially blo...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Due to the low productivity expected from these upper formation(s), it is usually impractical from a commercial standpoint to merely perforate the casing adjacent these formations and commingle this production with that from the lower primary productive formation.

This may seriously affect the economics of the well since the lower, primary formation may still contain a significant amount of recoverable hydrocarbons.

However, this can be extremely difficult, if possible at all, to actually carry out commercially in the most wells.

However, since the target area or face of a typical whipstock is long but quite narrow, the proper positioning of the perforating gun in relation to the face of the whipstock would be extremely difficult, if possible at all, in most field applications.

Images