Patent Publication Number: US-11661822-B2

Title: Telescoping transition joint for the protection of control lines and other tools and components

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     In order to provide communications, control, and monitoring in lateral wellbores, control lines may need to be positioned in the lateral wellbores. When running the control lines through a junction (e.g., a casing window), the control lines may be inclined to rub against the junction. For example, sides of the junction (e.g., a milled edge of the casing window) may cut or abrade the control lines. In addition, the need to pick up on a completion string with the control lines fastened may cause the control lines to rub against a top edge of the junction causing the control lines to be pinched, crushed, cut, or otherwise damaged. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These drawings illustrate certain aspects of some examples of the present disclosure and should not be used to limit or define the disclosure. 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a retractable transition joint (RTJ), in accordance with examples of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    illustrates deployment of the RTJ into a downhole environment including primary and secondary wellbores, in accordance with examples of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    illustrates moving the RTJ into the secondary wellbore, in accordance with examples of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    illustrates moving a multilateral junction toward a window between the primary and secondary wellbores, in accordance with examples of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  5    illustrates contacting the RTJ with the multilateral junction, in accordance with examples of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  6    illustrates retracting the RTJ within the secondary wellbore to allow full internal diameter (ID) access to the primary wellbore, in accordance with examples of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  7    illustrates an operative flow chart for the RTJ, in accordance with examples of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure generally relates to techniques for protecting a control line passing through a junction in a downhole environment. In some examples, the junction may include a milled casing exit/window, pre-milled casing exit, earthen junctions, and/or twigs. 
     In particular examples, a tubular guide may span the junction while the control line is being deployed from a primary wellbore out into a secondary wellbore (e.g., a lateral wellbore). The tubular guide may include a retractable transition joint (RTJ) that may be operable to retract (e.g., collapse) such that a component of the completion string, a running tool for the completion string, and/or a tool located above/up-hole to the completion string (e.g., a junction or lateral liner tool) may retract a portion of the RTJ into the secondary wellbore. This retraction of the RTJ into the secondary wellbore may allow full inner diameter (ID) access to the primary wellbore. The RTJ may include a first member movably disposed within a second member. In some examples, the first and second members may include tubulars. The first member may include an outer diameter (OD) that is less than an ID of the second member and may be operable to retract within the second member (e.g., telescopic members). In some examples, the first member may be concentrically disposed within the second member. 
     The RTJ may be sized to pass into the secondary wellbore without issue. In some examples, the first member (e.g., an up-hole portion of the RTJ) may include an end with a tapered profile (e.g., concave or a scoop-head) to gradually guide the control lines and/or related equipment into the RTJ without causing damage to the control lines and the related equipment. 
     In some examples, an extension lock may secure the first member within the second member, in an extended position, and prevent retraction of the first member into the second member. An extension lock release mechanism may unlock the first member from the second member to allow retraction of the first member into the second member. In some examples, the first member may be shifted from an extended position to a retracted position upon actuation of the extension lock release mechanism. In additional examples, a retraction lock may secure the first member within the second member, in a retracted position. A separate device may control locking aspects. 
     In particular examples, the RTJ may be run as a 1-piece assembly at the top of a lateral liner assembly; or the RTJ may be run as a 2-piece assembly. In other examples, the RTJ may include multiple pieces such as shear screws, collets, etc. The lower piece may be run on the lateral liner assembly and the upper piece may be run on the lower portion of a completion string. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates an RTJ  100  in accordance with examples of the present disclosure. The RTJ  100  may be disposed on a tubular  101  or a series of tubulars. The tubular  101  may be operable for use in a subterranean environment. The RTJ  100  may include a first member  102  movably disposed within a second member  104 . In some examples, the first member  102  and the second member  104  may each include a tubular. The first member  102  may include an outer diameter (OD) that is less than an ID of the second member  104  and may be operable to retract within the second member  104  in an axial direction. In some examples, the first member  102  may be concentrically disposed within the second member  104 . In some examples, the RTJ  100  may be sealed. In some examples, the RTJ  100  may have wiper seals to prevent debris from entering between the two members. 
     A proximal end  106  of the first member  102  may include a tapered profile  108 . The tapered profile  108  may extend in an axial direction. In some examples, the tapered profile may be concave or include a scoop. The tapered profile  108  may include more than one material. For example, an aluminum bronze insert may line the guide to prevent a softer control line from wearing due to contact with a harder surface/material (e.g., 41XX steel typically used in making oilfield tubulars). The tapered profile  108  may be operable to gradually guide the control lines and related equipment into the RTJ without causing damage to the control lines and the related equipment. The proximal end  106  may also be utilized to retract (e.g., guide) the first member  102  into the second member  104  upon unlocking of an extension lock  110 . 
     The extension lock  110  may secure the first member  102  within the second member  104 , in an extended position, and prevent retraction of the first member  102  into the second member  104 . In other examples, the extension lock  110  may releasably secure the first member  102  within the second member  104 , but release the first member  102  from the second member  104  when a proper tool (or tool&#39;s profile) engages the extension lock  110 . The extension lock  110  may allow the first member  102  into the second member  104  repeatedly locked in the extended and retracted positions. An extension lock release mechanism may unlock the first member  102  from the second member  104  to allow retraction of the first member  102  into the second member  104 . In some examples, the proximal end  106  may be utilized to shift the first member  102  from an extended position to a retracted position, upon actuation of the extension lock release mechanism. In some examples, the first member  102  may be re-extended back up into the primary wellbore and the tubing string (with control lines) may be re-run back out into the secondary wellbore. In some examples, the first member  102  may be re-extended due to failure of equipment (e.g., inflow control equipment) during installation. 
     In some examples, a distal end  112  of the second member  104  may include a collet  114  for securing the second member  104  into a liner. The second member  104  may be removably coupled (e.g., locks  115 ) to a distal end  116  of the tubular  101 . In some examples, the distal end  116  may include a convex portion (e.g., a bullnose). 
       FIG.  2    illustrates a well system  200  in accordance with examples of the present disclosure. A primary wellbore  202  extends through a subterranean formation  204 . The wellbore  202  may include a substantially vertical section and a deviated section. The deviated section may be substantially horizontal. A portion of the primary wellbore  202  may be lined with a casing string  204 , which may be secured in place with cement  205 . The primary wellbore  202  may include a completion assembly  206  and a deflector  207  operable to deflect the RTJ  100  into a secondary wellbore  208 . 
     The secondary wellbore  208  may extend from the primary wellbore  202  via a casing window  209 . A liner  210  may be disposed within the secondary wellbore  206 . The liner  210  may include a latch  212  (e.g., at an upper end) for attachment to the RTJ  100 . The tubular  101  with the RTJ  100  may be run into the primary wellbore  202  and into the secondary wellbore  208  via the deflector  207 . The tubular  101  may also include equipment  214  such as an inflow control valve, gauges, and/or other associated devices, coupled to a control line  216  extending along a portion of the tubular  101 . 
       FIG.  3    illustrates the well system  200  with the RTJ  100  attached to the liner  210 , in accordance with examples of the present disclosure. The RTJ  100  may be run into the secondary wellbore  208  via the deflector  207 . The second member  104  of the RTJ  100  may be removably coupled to a top of the liner  210  via the latch  212  and the collet  114 . The proximal end  106  of the RTJ  100  may be disposed up-hole from the window  209 . 
       FIG.  4    illustrates the well system  200  with the distal end  116  of the tubular  101  released from the second member  104  of the RTJ  100 , in accordance with examples of the present disclosure. The tubular  101  may move forward to release the distal end  116  (e.g., bull nose) from the second member  104 . The tubular  101  may also include a multilateral junction  400  (e.g., a shifting device) which may be attached to a downhole tool  402  (e.g., MWD tool or a liner hanger). The control line  216  may extend from the multilateral junction  400  through the first member  102  and the second member  104  of the RTJ  100  to the inflow control valve  214 . The control line  216  is protected from the window  209 , as shown. 
     In some examples, equipment that may be run on/with completion assembly  206 , liner  210 , tubing string, deflector  207 , multilateral junction  400  and upper completion eventually located above 400 may include: Halliburton&#39;s Fuzion™-EH Electro-Hydraulic Downhole Wet-Mate Connector, Fuzion™-E Electric Downhole Wet-Mate Connector, Fuzion™-H Hydraulic Downhole Wet-Mate Connector, and/or Fuzion™-L Electro-Hydraulic/Electric Downhole Wet-Mate Connector, Fiber Optic Wet-Mate, a Inductive Coupler Wet-Mate, an Energy Transfer Mechanism (ETM), a Wireless Energy Transfer Mechanism (WETM), and/or an inductive coupler, sensors, recorders, actuators, choking mechanisms, flow restrictors, pressure-drop devices, and/or venturi tube containing devices. This equipment may be connected to a control line, a production and reservoir management system with in-situ measurements of pressure, temperature, flow rate, and water cut across the formation face in each zone of each lateral wellbore. Sensors may be packaged in one station with an electric flow control valve (FCV) that has infinitely variable settings controlled from the surface through one or more electrical, fiber optic, and/or hydraulic control lines. Multiple stations may be used to maximize hydrocarbon sweep and recovery with fewer wells, reducing capex, opex, and surface footprint. 
       FIG.  5    illustrates the well system  200  with the multilateral junction  400  being attached to the proximal end  106  (e.g., concave or scoop head) of the RTJ  100 , in accordance with examples of the present disclosure. The extension locks  110  may be unlocked to release the first member  102  from the second member  104  to allow the tubular  101  including the multilateral junction  400  and the downhole tool  402  to move forward against the proximal end  106  to retract the first member  102  into the second member  104 , while the control line  216  is disposed within the RTJ  100  and thereby prevented from contacting boundaries  502  defining the window  209 . The profile of the proximal end  106  may correspond to a shape of a distal end  500  of a portion  502  of the multilateral junction  400  to allow guided retraction of the first member  102  into the second member  104 . For example, a convex shape of the distal end  500  may correspond (e.g., complement) to a concave shape of the proximal end  106  to allow a precise fit. 
       FIG.  6    illustrates the well system  200  with the first member  102  retracted into the second member  104  in the secondary wellbore  208 , in accordance with examples of the present disclosure. The multilateral junction  400  has landed such that the portion  500  passes through the window  209  into the proximal end  106  of the first member  102  of the RTJ  100  that is disposed and secured to the liner  210  in the secondary wellbore  208 . A second portion  600  of the multilateral junction  400  is disposed within a bore  602  of the deflector  207  in the primary wellbore  202 . This retraction of the RTJ  100  in the secondary wellbore may allow full ID access to the primary wellbore  202 . 
       FIG.  7    illustrates an operative flow chart for the RTJ  100 , in accordance with examples of the present disclosure. At step  700 , the RTJ  100  may be disposed in a downhole environment including primary and secondary wellbores (e.g., see  FIG.  2   ). At step  702 , the RTJ  100  may be disposed in the secondary wellbore (e.g., see  FIG.  3   ). At step  704 , a multilateral junction  400  may move toward a window between the primary and secondary wellbores (e.g., see  FIG.  4   ). At step  706 , the RTJ may contact the multilateral junction (e.g., see  FIG.  5   ). At step  708 , the RTJ  100  may retract within the secondary wellbore to allow full internal diameter (ID) access to the primary wellbore (e.g., see  FIG.  6   ). 
     Accordingly, the systems and methods of the present disclosure may allow for safe passage of control lines through junctions that may be encountered in a downhole environment. The systems and methods may include any of the various features disclosed herein, including one or more of the following statements. 
     Statement 1. A retractable transition joint (RTJ) for passing a control line from a primary wellbore to a secondary wellbore, the RTJ comprises at least two members; wherein a first member is operable to retract into a second member; and a tubular extending through the first and second members, the tubular comprising a distal end removably attached to a distal end of the second member, wherein the first and second members are operable to receive the control line. 
     Statement 2. The RTJ of the statement 1, wherein the first member comprises a proximal end opposite to the distal end of the second member, the proximal end operable to receive a portion of a multilateral junction. 
     Statement 3. The RTJ of the statement 2, wherein a portion of the first member is disposed and locked to the second member. 
     Statement 4. The RTJ of any of the preceding statements, wherein the first member is movably disposed within the second member. 
     Statement 5. The RTJ of any of the preceding statements, wherein the distal end of the tubular is removably attached to the second member. 
     Statement 6. The RTJ of any of the preceding statements, wherein a portion of the distal end projects outward from the second member. 
     Statement 7. The RTJ of any of the preceding statements, wherein the distal end comprises a bull nose. 
     Statement 8. The RTJ of any of the preceding statements, wherein a distal end of the second member comprises a collet operable to latch to a liner. 
     Statement 9. A system for passing a control line from a primary wellbore to a secondary wellbore, the system comprising: a retractable transition joint (RTJ) comprising: at least two members; wherein a first member is operable to retract into a second member; a tubular extending through the first and second members, the tubular comprising a distal end removably attached to a distal end of the second member; a shifting device, wherein the first member of the RTJ is operable to receive a portion of the shifting device, wherein the first and second members of the RTJ are operable to receive the control line. 
     Statement 10. The system of the statement 9, further comprising a liner. 
     Statement 11. The system of the statement 9 or the statement 10, wherein a distal end of the second member comprises a latching mechanism operable to latch to the liner. 
     Statement 12. The system of any of the statements 9-11, wherein the first and second members are disposed between the liner and the multilateral junction. 
     Statement 13. The system of any of the statements 9-12, wherein the first member comprises a scoop operable to receive a portion of the multilateral junction. 
     Statement 14. The system of any of the statements 9-13, wherein a portion of the distal end of the tubular comprises a bull nose that projects outward from the second member. 
     Statement 15. The system of any of the statements 9-14, wherein the first member is operable to unlock from the second member. 
     Statement 16. A method for passing a control line from a primary wellbore to a secondary wellbore, the method comprising: disposing a retractable transition joint (RTJ) into the primary wellbore; moving the RTJ from the primary wellbore into the secondary wellbore through a window that is disposed between the primary wellbore and the secondary wellbore; passing the control line through the RTJ; and retracting the RTJ within the secondary wellbore. 
     Statement 17. The method of the statement 16, further comprising latching the RTJ to a liner. 
     Statement 18. The method of the statement 16 or the statement 17, further comprising unlocking telescopic members of the RTJ to allow the retracting. 
     Statement 19. The method of any of the statements 16-18, further comprising receiving with the RTJ a multilateral junction. 
     Statement 20. The method of any of the statements 16-19, further comprising unlocking a distal end of the RTJ. 
     Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. The preceding description provides various examples of the systems and methods of use disclosed herein which may contain different method steps and alternative combinations of components. It should be understood that, although individual examples may be discussed herein, the present disclosure covers all combinations of the disclosed examples, including, without limitation, the different component combinations, method step combinations, and properties of the system. It should be understood that the compositions and methods are described in terms of “comprising,” “containing,” or “including” various components or steps, the compositions and methods can also “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the various components and steps. Moreover, the indefinite articles “a” or “an,” as used in the claims, are defined herein to mean one or more than one of the element that it introduces. 
     For the sake of brevity, only certain ranges are explicitly disclosed herein. However, ranges from any lower limit may be combined with any upper limit to recite a range not explicitly recited, as well as, ranges from any lower limit may be combined with any other lower limit to recite a range not explicitly recited, in the same way, ranges from any upper limit may be combined with any other upper limit to recite a range not explicitly recited. Additionally, whenever a numerical range with a lower limit and an upper limit is disclosed, any number and any included range falling within the range are specifically disclosed. In particular, every range of values (of the form, “from about a to about b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a to b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a-b”) disclosed herein is to be understood to set forth every number and range encompassed within the broader range of values even if not explicitly recited. Thus, every point or individual value may serve as its own lower or upper limit combined with any other point or individual value or any other lower or upper limit, to recite a range not explicitly recited. 
     Therefore, the present examples are well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those that are inherent therein. The particular examples disclosed above are illustrative only and may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Although individual examples are discussed, the disclosure covers all combinations of all of the examples. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. Also, the terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary meaning unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the patentee. It is therefore evident that the particular illustrative examples disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of those examples. If there is any conflict in the usages of a word or term in this specification and one or more patent(s) or other documents that may be incorporated herein by reference, the definitions that are consistent with this specification should be adopted.