Sliding Tubular Window Assembly for Mill-Free Wellbore Sidetracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing method of forming lateral wellbores requires milling a window in the primary wellbore, which is time-consuming and resource-intensive, and involves operational delays due to the need to switch between milling and directional drilling assemblies.
Innovation Solution
A tubular assembly is used in the primary wellbore, comprising a stationary tubular with a soft material and a moving tubular that can translate relative to the stationary tubular, allowing a directional drilling assembly to form a window without milling, guided by a whipstock.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a milling assembly is used to form a window in the primary wellbore, then a lateral wellbore can be created, but the operation becomes time-consuming and resource-intensive due to the need to switch between milling and directional drilling assemblies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the window formation function and directional drilling function into a single integrated bottomhole assembly. The milling elements and directional drilling components are merged into one tool string, eliminating the need to switch between separate milling and directional drilling assemblies, thereby reducing operational delays and improving efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The bottomhole assembly is designed with multi-functionality, capable of both milling a window through the casing and drilling the lateral wellbore through the window in sequence. This universal tool performs multiple operations that previously required separate specialized assemblies, reducing the number of trips and operational steps required
2Ease of manufacture
If a milling assembly is deployed to create a window, then the lateral wellbore can be formed, but the process requires switching between different assemblies which increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the milling assembly and directional drilling assembly into a single integrated bottomhole assembly. This combination eliminates the operational complexity of deploying, setting, and retrieving separate milling and directional drilling assemblies, simplifying the overall sidetracking process while maintaining the capability to perform both window formation and lateral drilling
Data Source
AI summary
A well tool assembly to sidetrack a wellbore without a milling tool assembly includes a tubular assembly that can be installed within a primary wellbore. The tubular assembly includes a stationary tubular including a wall. A portion of the wall is made of a soft material. The stationary tubular is formed as an outer layer of the tubular assembly. The tubular assembly includes a moving tubular formed as an inner layer of the tubular assembly. The moving tubular can translate relative to the stationary tubular to cover or expose the soft material. The well tool assembly includes a shifting tool that can engage the moving tubular and to translate the moving tubular relative to the stationary tubular until the soft material is exposed.