Chamber Junction Bore Selection Tool for Multi-Well Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for operating multiple wells require extensive above-ground equipment and conduits, leading to high costs and environmental concerns, especially in harsh environments, and are limited in their ability to access and manage wells with unrestricted spacing and near-surface operations.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a single main bore with chamber junctions and a bore selection tool to enable fluid communication and selective access to multiple wells, reducing the need for above-ground equipment and allowing operations across a wider area without moving rigs, using chamber junctions with orifices and a bore selection tool for rotatable access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional methods are used to operate multiple wells, then each well can be accessed independently, but extensive above-ground equipment and conduits are required, leading to high costs and environmental concerns
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple well conduits are merged into a single shared main bore, allowing multiple wells to be accessed through one common access point rather than requiring separate above-ground equipment for each well. The chamber junction enables this merging by providing a common chamber where multiple conduits converge and can be selectively accessed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a two-dimensional surface layout with multiple separate conduits to a three-dimensional subsurface configuration where conduits are routed through a shared main bore at different depths and angles, allowing wells to be accessed vertically and laterally through the same surface location.
2Ease of operation
If above-ground valve trees and equipment are used for each well, then well operations can be controlled, but costs increase and environmental regulations are violated due to negative environmental impact
Solution Approach 1:
The valve trees and control equipment are extracted from above-ground locations and relocated to subsurface chamber junctions. This extraction removes the harmful visual and environmental impact of above-ground equipment while maintaining full operational control over each well through the subsurface valve assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
A single subsurface chamber junction serves multiple functions that would traditionally require separate above-ground equipment: it houses valves for multiple wells, provides selective access to individual conduits, enables flow control for each well, and acts as a central hub for all well operations, replacing numerous individual valve trees with one multi-functional subsurface structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If rigs are moved to each successive well for operations, then drilling and completion can be performed, but time and costs increase due to erection, disassembly, and relocation
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple conduits and chamber junctions are installed and configured in advance during a single drilling operation, preparing the entire well system before production begins. This preliminary action eliminates the need for subsequent rig movements, as all drilling, completion, and intervention operations can be performed through the already-established single main bore and chamber junction system.
4Device complexity
If multilateral wells with lateral branches are used, then the number of above-ground conduits is reduced, but the distance between wells is limited by the achievable branch lengths
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of being constrained to lateral branching within limited distances, the system uses vertical and angled conduits extending from the chamber junction at various depths, allowing wells to be positioned much farther apart horizontally while still connecting to the same main bore through three-dimensional routing beneath the surface.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods usable to operate on a plurality of wells through a single main bore are disclosed herein. One or more chamber junctions are provided in fluid communication with one or more conduits within the single main bore. Each chamber junction includes a first orifice communicating with the surface through the main bore, and one or more additional orifices in fluid communication with individual wells of the plurality of wells. Through the chamber junctions, each of the wells can be individually or simultaneously accessed. A bore selection tool having an upper opening and at least one lower opening can be inserted into the chamber junction such that the one or more lower openings align with orifices in the chamber junction, enabling selected individual or multiple wells to be accessed through the bore selection tool while other wells are isolated from the chamber junction.