Junction-Fitting Lateral Completion Tooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current well completion methods for multilateral wells are inefficient due to the need for separate installation and removal of completion tools and strings, which increases operational time and expense.

Innovation Solution

A system and method where a lateral completion assembly, including a wye-shaped junction fitting and a completion tool assembly, is run as a unit into the lateral wellbore, allowing concurrent deployment and subsequent removal through the junction fitting, reducing the need for multiple trips and enhancing access for workover operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate installation and removal of completion tools and strings are performed, then proper completion operations can be executed, but operational time and expense increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompletion operation qualityVSAvoidoperational time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the completion tool assembly with the lateral completion string into a single integrated unit. The completion tool assembly is connected to the lateral completion string via a connector, allowing both components to be deployed together through the junction fitting in one operation, eliminating the need for separate installation and removal trips.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The junction fitting serves multiple functions: it connects the lateral completion string to the main completion string, provides a passage for the working string to convey the completion tool assembly, and enables both deployment and retrieval operations. This multi-functional design streamlines the overall completion process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If separate installation and removal of completion tools and strings are performed, then proper completion operations can be executed, but operational expense increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompletion operation qualityVSAvoidoperational expense

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If conventional completion methods are used, then standard procedures are followed, but efficiency in wellbore completion and maintenance activities decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocedure standardizationVSAvoidwellbore completion efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The completion tool assembly is pre-connected to the lateral completion string before deployment. This preliminary configuration allows the entire assembly to be conveyed through the junction fitting in a single operation, eliminating the need for subsequent trips to install or retrieve tools, thereby significantly improving wellbore completion efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10240434B2Junction-conveyed completion tooling and operations

Publication Date: 2019.03.26 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

An assembly and method for completion of lateral wellbores is disclosed. The completion assembly includes a junction fitting with main and lateral legs, and a lateral completion string and anchoring device connected to the downhole end of the lateral leg and the uphole end of the junction fitting, respectively. A working string, positioned within the lateral leg, anchoring device, and lateral completion string, includes a setting tool that is removably connected to the anchoring device and a completion tool assembly located within the lateral completion string. The completion assembly is run by the working string into the wellbore. After setting the anchoring device, the working string conveys the completion tool assembly within the lateral completion string for gravel packing, fracturing, frac-packing, acidizing, cementing, perforating, and inflating packers, for example. After wellbore completion, the completion tool assembly is removed through the lateral leg of the junction fitting.