Downhole Toolstring Lateral Wellbore Entry Without Whipstock

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wellbore servicing methods require the use of a whipstock to access lateral wellbores, which is inefficient and requires multiple trips, especially when the precise depth and angular orientation of windows into lateral wellbores are unknown.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing a toolstring with a controllable rotating sub-assembly and a pressure-activated bendable sub-assembly that allows for rotation and bending of the toolstring to stab into lateral wellbores without a whipstock, maintaining continuous contact with the wellbore wall and enabling wellbore servicing operations in a single trip.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a whipstock is used to access lateral wellbores, then the toolstring can be guided into the lateral wellbore, but multiple trips are required and operational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to lateral wellboreVSAvoidnumber of trips

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The toolstring incorporates a bendable sub-assembly that can dynamically change its configuration from a straight state during run-in to a bent state during lateral wellbore access. This dynamic flexibility allows the toolstring to adapt to the lateral wellbore geometry without requiring whipstock intervention and multiple trips, thereby improving ease of operation while reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the geometric parameters of the toolstring by actuating the bendable sub-assembly to achieve the desired angle for entering the lateral wellbore. This parameter change enables direct access to the lateral wellbore in a single trip, eliminating the need for whipstock and multiple trips, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and time efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If a whipstock is used to access lateral wellbores, then directional control is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirectional controlVSAvoidwhipstock requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the whipstock from the system by integrating the directional control function directly into the toolstring through the bendable sub-assembly. This removal of the external whipstock device simplifies the overall system complexity while maintaining ease of operation for directional control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The bendable sub-assembly serves multiple functions: it provides directional control, enables lateral wellbore access, and eliminates the need for separate whipstock equipment. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity while maintaining operational ease, resolving the technical contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If the precise depth and angular orientation of windows are unknown, then wellbore servicing cannot be performed accurately, but using traditional methods requires multiple trips to locate and access windows

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewindow location accuracyVSAvoidnumber of trips

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The bendable sub-assembly's dynamic flexibility allows the toolstring to adapt to unknown window locations by bending at various angles during the single trip. This dynamic adjustment capability enables accurate access to lateral wellbores even when precise window depth and orientation are unknown, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and time efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 method allows for efficient and precise access to lateral wellbores without the need for a whipstock, reducing the number of trips and overcoming issues related to unknown window locations, thereby enhancing wellbore servicing efficiency and reducing operational complexity.

Implementation Method 1

activating a pressure activated bendable sub-assembly of the toolstring to bend

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

bendable sub-assembly of the toolstring to bend

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Deformation

Implementation Method 3

actuating a controllably rotating sub-assembly of the toolstring to rotate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotational motion:

Data Source

PatentUS8061426B2System and method for lateral wellbore entry, debris removal, and wellbore cleaning

Publication Date: 2011.11.22 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

A method of servicing a wellbore comprises running a toolstring into a wellbore to a first depth, actuating a controllably rotating sub-assembly of the toolstring to rotate, and activating a pressure activated bendable sub-assembly of the toolstring to bend, wherein actuating the controllably rotating sub-assembly to rotate and activating the pressure activate bendable sub-assembly are performed in any sequence or concurrently. The method also comprises running the toolstring into the wellbore beyond the first depth and stabbing the toolstring into a window in a wall of the wellbore to enter a lateral wellbore, wherein no whipstock is used to facilitate stabbing into the window. The method further includes running the toolstring into the lateral wellbore and performing a wellbore servicing operation in the lateral wellbore.