Expandable Tubular Junction for Open Hole Lateral Wells
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Solution Overview
Problem
In open hole wellbore environments, maintaining stability and zonal isolation for lateral wellbore formation is challenging due to erosion at the junction, which complicates depth control and production, especially without a completely cased design.
Innovation Solution
A method involving lowering a tubular member into a cased section of the wellbore, expanding it to anchor it, forming a window in the sidewall, and drilling a lateral wellbore through the window, using expandable tubular members with anchor sections and seals to stabilize the wellbore and create a known sealing surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a completely cased hole design is used to maintain stability and zonal isolation, then wellbore integrity is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tubular member is divided into multiple functional segments: an anchor section with expansion capability for stability, a window section for lateral wellbore formation, and sealing elements for zonal isolation. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function optimally without requiring a completely cased design throughout the entire wellbore.
Solution Approach 2:
The tubular member transitions from a collapsed state during installation to an expanded state at the target location. This dynamic transformation allows the tubular to be easily deployed through the wellbore and then expanded to provide stability and isolation only where needed, reducing overall complexity compared to full casing.
2Device complexity
If no tubular member is used in open hole environment, then device complexity is reduced, but stability and depth control deteriorate due to erosion at the junction
Solution Approach 1:
The tubular member is deployed and expanded at the junction location before lateral wellbore formation occurs. This preliminary action creates a stable platform and known sealing surface in advance, preventing erosion-related instability and depth control issues that would otherwise occur in the open hole environment.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a tubular member is expanded in open hole section, then stability and anchoring are improved, but the required device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tubular member features a nested structure where the anchor section is positioned within or alongside the window section. This nesting allows multiple functions (anchoring and lateral formation) to be integrated into a single deployable unit, reducing the number of separate components needed while maintaining stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the integrity of the wellbore, facilitates stable lateral wellbore formation, and maintains zonal isolation without the need for complex cased hole designs, improving depth control and production efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
expanding the tubular member in an open hole section of the wellbore, thereby anchoring the tubular member in the wellbore
Data Source
AI summary
A method for forming a lateral junction in an open hole section of a wellbore includes lowering a tubular member through a cased section of the wellbore. Thereafter, the tubular member is expanded in an open hole section of the wellbore, thereby anchoring the tubular member in the wellbore in a manner that leaves an open hole section of the wellbore between the expanded, tubular member and the cased section. Thereafter, a window is formed in a sidewall of the tubular member, and a lateral wellbore is drilled through the window.