Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
Anchor for branch wellbore liner |
| Document Number: |
20050241831 |
| Publication Date: |
November 3, 2005 |
| Appl. No: |
10/838109 |
| Application Filed: |
May 03, 2004 |
| Abstract: |
An anchor for a branch wellbore liner. In a described embodiment, a system is used to anchor between an upper portion of a window formed through a sidewall of a first tubular string and an upper end of a second tubular string extending outwardly from the window. The system includes a first anchoring device at the upper portion of the window, and a second anchoring device at the upper end of the second tubular string. The first and second anchoring devices are operative to secure the upper end of the second tubular string to the upper portion of the window. |
| Inventors: |
Steele, David J. (Irving, TX, US); McGlothen, Jody R. (Waxahachie, TX, US); Restarick, Henry L. (Carrollton, TX, US); Bailey, Ernest (Lake Dallas, TX, US) |
| Claim: |
1. A system for anchoring between an upper portion of a window formed through a sidewall of a first tubular string and an upper end of a second tubular string extending outwardly from the window, the system comprising: a first anchoring device at the upper portion of the window; and a second anchoring device at the upper end of the second tubular string, the first and second anchoring devices being operative to secure the upper end of the second tubular string to the upper portion of the window. |
| Claim: |
2. The system of claim 1, wherein engagement between the first and second anchoring devices prevents the upper end of the second tubular string from displacing inwardly relative to the first tubular string. |
| Claim: |
3. The system of claim 1, wherein engagement between the first and second anchoring devices prevents the upper end of the second tubular string from displacing outwardly relative to the first tubular string. |
| Claim: |
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second anchoring device is rigidly attached to the upper end of the second tubular string. |
| Claim: |
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second anchoring device is installed in the first tubular string after the second tubular string is conveyed through the window. |
| Claim: |
6. The system of claim 1, wherein engagement between the first and second anchoring devices produces tension in an upper portion of the second tubular string. |
| Claim: |
7. The system of claim 1, wherein engagement between the first and second anchoring devices suspends the second tubular string from the upper end of the second tubular string. |
| Claim: |
8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a seal between the second tubular string and the window. |
| Claim: |
9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third anchoring device on the second tubular string, the first and third anchoring devices being operative to secure the second tubular string to the upper portion of the window. |
| Claim: |
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first anchoring device is formed in a portion of the sidewall of the first tubular string having an increased wall thickness. |
| Claim: |
11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first anchoring device is formed at least partially on a member attached to the first tubular string. |
| Claim: |
12. The system of claim 1, wherein engagement between the first and second anchoring devices rotationally aligns the first and second tubular strings. |
| Claim: |
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the second tubular string is secured at a lower end of the window. |
| Claim: |
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the second tubular string is secured at an upper end of the window. |
| Claim: |
15. A system for anchoring a branch wellbore liner string to a casing string in a parent wellbore, the system comprising: a first anchoring device of the casing string; and a second anchoring device of the liner string, engagement between the first and second anchoring devices preventing an upper end of the liner string from displacing inwardly relative to the casing string. |
| Claim: |
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first anchoring device comprises a keyway formed in a sidewall of the casing string. |
| Claim: |
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the keyway is formed in an increased wall thickness portion of the casing string sidewall. |
| Claim: |
18. The system of claim 16, wherein the second anchoring device comprises a key at an upper end of the liner string. |
| Claim: |
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the key is attached at an upper end of a transition joint of the liner string. |
| Claim: |
20. The system of claim 19, wherein the transition joint is complementarily shaped relative to a window formed through the sidewall of the casing string. |
| Claim: |
21. The system of claim 18, wherein the key engages a shoulder of the keyway to thereby prevent outward displacement of the liner string relative to the casing string. |
| Claim: |
22. The system of claim 18, wherein a locking device prevents disengagement of the key from the keyway. |
| Claim: |
23. The system of claim 15, wherein the second anchoring device is free of any protrusion into a longitudinal flow passage of the casing string when the first and second anchoring devices are operatively engaged. |
| Claim: |
24. The system of claim 15, wherein the first and second anchoring devices are operatively engaged by relative axial displacement between the first and second anchoring devices. |
| Claim: |
25. The system of claim 15, wherein the first and second anchoring devices are operatively engaged by relative rotational displacement between the first and second anchoring devices. |
| Claim: |
26. The system of claim 15, wherein the first and second anchoring devices rotationally align the liner string relative to the casing string. |
| Claim: |
27. The system of claim 15, further comprising a locking device which prevents disengagement of the first and second anchoring devices after the first and second anchoring devices are engaged. |
| Claim: |
28. The system of claim 15, wherein the second anchoring device is rigidly attached to the upper end of the liner string. |
| Claim: |
29. The system of claim 15, wherein the second anchoring device is installed in the casing string after the liner string is conveyed through a window formed through a sidewall of the casing string. |
| Claim: |
30. The system of claim 15, wherein engagement between the first and second anchoring devices produces tension in an upper portion of the liner string. |
| Claim: |
31. The system of claim 15, wherein engagement between the first and second anchoring devices suspends the liner string from the upper end of the liner string. |
| Claim: |
32. The system of claim 15, further comprising a seal between the liner string and the casing string about a window formed through a sidewall of the casing string. |
| Claim: |
33. The system of claim 32, wherein the seal is carried on the liner string as the liner string is conveyed through the casing string. |
| Claim: |
34. The system of claim 32, wherein the seal is carried on the casing string. |
| Claim: |
35. The system of claim 32, wherein the seal is positioned between the liner and casing strings after the liner string is conveyed through the casing string. |
| Claim: |
36. The system of claim 32, wherein the seal is a hardenable fluid flowed between the liner and casing strings after the liner string is conveyed through the casing string. |
| Claim: |
37. The system of claim 32, wherein the seal is made of a material which swells between the liner and casing strings. |
| Claim: |
38. The system of claim 37, wherein the material swells when contacted by fluid in a wellbore. |
| Claim: |
39. The system of claim 32, wherein the seal is formed by expanding the liner string after the liner string is conveyed through the casing string. |
| Claim: |
40. The system of claim 15, further comprising a third anchoring device on the liner string below the second anchoring device, the first and third anchoring devices being operative to secure the liner string to the casing string. |
| Claim: |
41. The system of claim 15, wherein the first anchoring device is formed in a portion of a sidewall of the casing string having an increased wall thickness. |
| Claim: |
42. The system of claim 41, wherein the first anchoring device is a keyway formed in the increased wall thickness sidewall portion, and wherein the second anchoring device is a key cooperatively engageable with the keyway. |
| Claim: |
43. The system of claim 15, wherein the casing string includes multiple first anchoring devices, and wherein each of multiple liner strings has a respective second anchoring device engaged with a corresponding one of the first anchoring devices. |
| Claim: |
44. The system of claim 43, wherein each of the second anchoring devices is configured for selective engagement with only the corresponding one of the first anchoring devices. |
| Claim: |
45. The system of claim 15, wherein the first anchoring device is formed in an increased wall thickness portion of a sidewall of the casing string. |
| Claim: |
46. The system of claim 15, wherein the first anchoring device is formed at least partially on a member attached to the casing string. |
| Claim: |
47. The system of claim 15, wherein the liner string is secured at a lower end of a window formed through a sidewall of the casing string. |
| Claim: |
48. The system of claim 47, wherein the liner string is secured at an upper end of the window. |
| Claim: |
49. The system of claim 15, wherein the second anchoring device is free of any protrusion into a longitudinal flow passage of the liner string when the first and second anchoring devices are operatively engaged. |
| Claim: |
50. The system of claim 15, further comprising a running tool for installing the liner string, the running tool being operative to bias the second anchoring device into engagement with the first anchoring device. |
| Claim: |
51. A method of anchoring a liner string to a casing string, the method comprising the steps of: conveying the liner string through a window formed through a sidewall of the casing string; and engaging a first anchoring device of the casing string with a second anchoring device of the liner string, thereby anchoring an upper terminal end of the liner string to the casing string. |
| Claim: |
52. The method of claim 51, wherein the engaging step further comprises displacing the second anchoring device with the liner string as the liner string is conveyed through the window. |
| Claim: |
53. The method of claim 51, wherein the first anchoring device is a keyway recessed into a sidewall of the casing string, wherein the second anchoring device is a key, and wherein the engaging step further comprises displacing the key at least partially through the keyway. |
| Claim: |
54. The method of claim 53, further comprising the steps of providing the casing string sidewall having an increased wall thickness portion, and forming the keyway in the increased wall thickness portion. |
| Claim: |
55. The method of claim 51, wherein the engaging step further comprises displacing the second anchoring device axially relative to the first anchoring device. |
| Claim: |
56. The method of claim 51, wherein the engaging step further comprises displacing the second anchoring device rotationally relative to the first anchoring device. |
| Claim: |
57. The method of claim 51, further comprising the step of preventing disengagement of the first and second anchoring devices after the engaging step. |
| Claim: |
58. The method of claim 51, further comprising the step of rotationally aligning the first and second anchoring devices prior to the engaging step. |
| Claim: |
59. The method of claim 58, wherein the rotationally aligning step further comprises engaging a shoulder on the second anchoring device with a circumferentially extending profile formed in the casing string. |
| Claim: |
60. The method of claim 51, further comprising the step of sealing between the liner string and the casing string. |
| Claim: |
61. The method of claim 60, wherein the sealing step further comprises positioning a seal between the liner and casing strings. |
| Claim: |
62. The method of claim 60, wherein the sealing step further comprises flowing a hardenable fluid between the liner and casing strings. |
| Claim: |
63. The method of claim 60, wherein the sealing step further comprises swelling a material between the liner and casing strings. |
| Claim: |
64. The method of claim 60, wherein the sealing step further comprises expanding the liner string within the window. |
| Claim: |
65. The method of claim 51, wherein the anchoring step further comprises preventing the upper terminal end of the liner string from displacing inwardly relative to the casing string. |
| Claim: |
66. The method of claim 51, wherein the anchoring step further comprises preventing the upper terminal end of the liner string from displacing outwardly relative to the casing string. |
| Claim: |
67. The method of claim 51, further comprising the step of positioning the second anchoring device in the casing string after the conveying step. |
| Claim: |
68. The method of claim 67, wherein the positioning step is performed after cutting off an upper portion of the liner string in the casing string. |
| Claim: |
69. The method of claim 51, wherein the engaging step further comprises securing the upper terminal end of the liner string to an upper portion of the window, and further comprising the step of after the engaging step expanding the liner string within the window using a selected one or more of mechanical and hydraulic expansion tools. |
| Claim: |
70. The method of claim 69, wherein the expanding step further comprises expanding a selected one or more of a sand control screen, an annular isolation barrier and a solid tubular section included in the liner string. |
| Claim: |
71. The method of claim 51, further comprising the steps of forming the first anchoring device at least partially on a member, and attaching the member to the casing string. |
| Claim: |
72. The method of claim 51, further comprising the step of cutting off a portion of the liner string extending into the casing string, after the engaging step. |
| Claim: |
73. The method of claim 51, further comprising the step of securing the liner string at a lower end of the window. |
| Claim: |
74. The method of claim 73, wherein the engaging step further comprises securing the liner string at an upper end of the window. |
| Claim: |
75. The method of claim 51, wherein after the engaging step, the casing string is free of any protrusion of the first and second anchoring devices into a longitudinal flow passage of the casing string. |
| Claim: |
76. The method of claim 51, wherein after the engaging step, the liner string is free of any protrusion of the first and second anchoring devices into a longitudinal flow passage of the liner string. |
| Claim: |
77. The method of claim 51, further comprising the step of biasing the second anchoring device into engagement with the first anchoring device. |
| Claim: |
78. The method of claim 77, wherein the biasing step is performed by a running tool used in the conveying step to install the liner string. |
| Current U.S. Class: |
166313/000 |
| Accession Number: |
edspap.20050241831 |
| Database: |
USPTO Patent Applications |
