[0001] The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for forming a lateral wellbore
in a well, more particularly the invention relates to the formation of lateral wellbores
with greater efficiency and with fewer trips into the wellbore.
[0002] The formation of lateral wellbores from a central cased wellbore is well known in
the art. Lateral wellbores are typically formed to access an oil bearing formation
adjacent the existing wellbore; to provide a perforated production zone at a desired
level; to provide cement bonding between a small diameter casing and the adjacent
formation; or to remove a loose joint of surface pipe. Lateral wellbores are advantageous
because they allow an adjacent area of the formation to be accessed without the drilling
of a separate wellbore from the surface. Any number of lateral wellbores may be formed
in a well depending upon the needs and goals of the operator and the lateral wellbores
can be lined with tubular like the main wellbore of the well from which they are formed.
[0003] The most well known method of forming a lateral wellbore uses a diverter or whipstock
which is inserted into the main wellbore and fixed therein. The whipstock includes
a concave, slanted portion which forms a surface for gradually directing a cutting
device from the main wellbore of the well towards the wall of the wellbore where the
lateral wellbore will be formed. The cutter is fixed at the end of a string of rotating
pipe. Thereafter, an opening or "window" is formed in the wellbore casing as the cutter
is guided through the wall by the whipstock. Forming a lateral wellbore with a whipstock
assembly typically proceeds as follows: a whipstock assembly including an anchor portion
therebelow is lowered into the well to the area below the point where the window is
to be formed. The assembly is then fixed in the well with the anchor securely held
within the wellbore casing. A drill string with a cutting tool disposed at the end
thereof is then lowered into the well and the drill string and cutter are rotated
in order to form the window in the wellbore. In some instances, the drill string and
cutter can be installed in the well at the same time as the whipstock assembly by
attaching the two with a shearable mechanical connection between the whipstock and
the cutter. Thereafter, the cutter and drill string are removed from the well and
the cutter is replaced with a drill bit. The drill string and drill bit are then lowered
once more into the wellbore and the lateral wellbore is drilled using the conventional
drill bit. After the lateral wellbore is formed, it is typically lined with its own
casing which is subsequently cemented in place.
[0004] As the foregoing demonstrates, the formation of a lateral wellbore requires several
separate pieces of equipment and more importantly, requires several trips into the
well to either install or remove the downhole apparatus used to form the window or
the lateral wellbore.
[0005] There are a number of apparatuses currently available which are designed to simplify
or save time when performing operations in a wellbore. For example, a "mill/drill"
is a special bit specifically designed to both mill through a casing and drill into
a formation. Use of a mill/drill can eliminate the use of a separate mill and drill
bit in a lateral wellbore operation and therefore eliminate the need to pull the mill
out of the wellbore after forming the window in order to install the drill bit to
form the lateral wellbore. Typically, the mill/drill includes materials of different
physical characteristics designed to cut either the metallic material of the wellbore
casing to form a window or designed to cut rock in formation material as the lateral
wellbore is formed. In one example, inserts are installed in the drill bit whereby
one set of inserts includes a durable cutting structure such as tungsten carbide for
contacting and forming the window in the wellbore casing and a second set of inserts
is formed of a harder material better suited for drilling through a subterranean formation,
especially a rock formation. The first cutting structure is positioned outwardly relative
to the second cutting structure so that the first cutting structure will mill through
the metal casing while shielding the second cutting structure from contact with the
casing. The first cutting structure can wear away while milling through the casing
and upon initial contact with the rock formation, thereby exposing the second cutting
structure to contact the rock formation. Combination milling and drill bits such as
the foregoing are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,979,571 and 5,887,668 and those
patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
[0006] Another recent time saving improvement for downhole oil well operations involves
the drilling of a wellbore using the tubular, or liner which will subsequently form
the casing of the wellbore. This method of "drilling with liner" avoids the subsequent
procedure of inserting liner into a previously drilled wellbore. In its simplest form,
a drill bit is disposed at the end of a tubular that is of a sufficient diameter to
line the wall of the borehole being formed by the drill at the end thereof. Once the
borehole has been formed and the liner is ready to be cemented in the borehole, the
drill bit at the end thereof is either removed or simply destroyed by the drilling
of a subsequent, smaller diameter borehole.
[0007] Drilling with liner can typically be performed two ways: In the first method, the
liner string itself with the drill bit fixed at the end thereof rotates. In a second
method, the liner string is non-rotating and the drill bit, disposed at the end of
the liner string and rotationally independent thereof, is rotated by a downhole motor
or by another smaller diameter drill stem disposed within the liner that extends back
and is rotated from the surface. In one example of a non-rotating liner, the bit includes
radially extendable and retractable arms which extend outwards to a diameter greater
than the tubular during drilling but are retractable through the inside diameter of
the tubular whereby, when the wellbore is completed, the bit can be completely removed
from the wellbore using a wireline device. The foregoing arrangement is described
in U.S. Patent No. 5,271,472 and that reference is incorporated herein in its entirety.
[0008] In another example of drilling with liner, a non-rotating tubular is used with a
two-part bit having a portion rotating within the end of the tubular and another portion
rotating around the outer diameter of the tubular. The rotation of each portion of
the bit is made possible either by a downhole motor or by rotational force supplied
to a separate drill stem from the surface of the well. In either case, the central
portion of the bit can be removed after the wellbore has been formed. The liner remains
in the wellbore to be cemented therein. A similar arrangement is described in U.S.
Patent No. 5,472,057 and that patent is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0009] Yet another emerging technology offering savings of time and expense in drilling
and creating wellbores, relates to rotary steerable drilling systems. These systems
allow the direction of a wellbore to be changed in a predetermined manner as the wellbore
is being formed. For example, in one well-known arrangement, a downhole motor having
a joint within the motor housing can create a slight deviation in the direction of
the wellbore as it is being drilled. Fluid-powered motors have been in use in drilling
assemblies in the past.
[0010] These designs typically utilise a fixed stator and a rotating rotor, which are powered
by fluid flow based on the original principles developed by Moineau. Typical of such
single-rotor, progressive cavity downhole motor designs used in drilling are U.S.
Patent Nos. 4,711,006 and 4,397,619, incorporated herein in their entirety. The stator
in Moineau motors is built out of elastic material like rubber. Other designs have
put single-rotor downhole power sections in several components in series, with each
stage using a rotor connected to the rotor of the next stage. Typical of these designs
are U.S. Patent Nos. 4,011,917 and 4,764,094, incorporated herein in their entirety.
[0011] Another means of directional drilling includes the use of rotary steerable drilling
units with hydraulically operated pads formed on the exterior of a housing near the
drill bit. The mechanism relies upon a MWD device (measuring while drilling) to sense
gravity and use the magnetic fields of the earth. The pads are able to extend axially
to provide a bias against the wall of a borehole or wellbore and thereby influence
the direction of the drilling bit therebelow. Rotary steerable drilling is described
in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,553,679, 5,706,905 and 5,520,255 and those patents are incorporated
herein by reference in their entirety.
[0012] Technology also exists for the expansion of tubulars in a wellbore whereby a tubular
of a first diameter may be inserted into a wellbore and later expanded to a greater
inside and outside diameter by an expansion tool run into the wellbore on a run-in
string. The expansion tool is typically hydraulically powered and exerts a force on
the inner surface of the tubular when actuated.
[0013] Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of the expansion tool 100 and Figure 3 is an
exploded view thereof. The expansion tool 100 has a body 102 which is hollow and generally
tubular with connectors 104 and 106 for connection to other components (not shown)
of a downhole assembly. The connectors 104 and 106 are of a reduced diameter (compared
to the outside diameter of the longitudinally central body part 108 of the tool 100),
and together with three longitudinal flutes 110 on the central body part 108, allow
the passage of fluids between the outside of the tool 100 and the interior of a tubular
therearound (not shown). The central body part 108 has three lands 112 defined between
the three flutes 110, each land 112 being formed with a respective recess 114 to hold
a respective roller 116. Each of the recesses 114 has parallel sides and extends radially
from the radially perforated tubular core 115 of the tool 100 to the exterior of the
respective land 112. Each of the mutually identical rollers 116 is near-cylindrical
and slightly barrelled. Each of the rollers 116 is mounted by means of a bearing 118
at each end of the respective roller for rotation about a respective rotational axis
which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tool 100 and radially offset therefrom
at 120-degree mutual circumferential separations around the central body 108. The
bearings 118 are formed as integral end members of radially slidable pistons 120,
one piston 120 being slidably sealed within each radially extended recess 114. The
inner end of each piston 120 (Figure 3) is exposed to the pressure of fluid within
the hollow core of the tool 100 by way of the radial perforations in the tubular core
115. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1-3, the expander tool is designed to be inserted
in a tubular string. It can however, also be used at the end of a tubular string with
fluid passing through it via ports formed in its lower end.
[0014] After a predetermined section of the tubular has been expanded to a greater diameter,
the expansion tool can be deactivated and removed from the wellbore. Methods for expanding
tubulars in a wellbore are described and claimed in Publication No. WO 00/37766 and
that publication is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
[0015] There is a need therefore for methods and apparatus for forming a lateral wellbore
whereby subsequent trips into the main wellbore are minimised and wherein the wellbore
can be formed in a faster, more efficient manner utilising less time, equipment and
personnel. There is a further need for a method of forming a lateral wellbore which
utilises various apparatus which have been developed for unrelated activities in a
wellbore.
[0016] The present invention generally provides a method and system of coupling a steerable
system, such as a rotary steerable system, to a mill/drill to drill a lateral wellbore.
The mill/drill is suitable for milling through a casing, such as a steel casing, and
drilling through an underground formation. The method and system can include a diverter,
such as a whipstock, for directing the mill/drill toward the casing on the wellbore.
[0017] In one aspect, a method of drilling a lateral hole with a liner is provided, comprising
inserting a liner coupled to a rotary steerable system and a mill/drill into a wellbore
having a casing disposed therein, directing the mill/drill toward a wall of the casing,
cutting a window in the casing with the mill/drill, drilling into a formation using
the mill/drill to form a lateral hole while advancing the liner attached to the mill/drill
into the lateral hole, and leaving at least a portion of the liner in the lateral
hole after the lateral hole is drilled.
[0018] Further preferred features are set out in claims 2 to 14.
[0019] In another aspect, a method of drilling a lateral with a liner is provided, comprising
inserting a liner coupled to a mill/drill into a wellbore having a casing inserted
therein, directing the mill/drill toward a wall of the casing, cutting a window in
the casing with the mill/drill, drilling into a formation using the mill/drill to
form a lateral hole while advancing the liner attached to the mill/drill into the
lateral hole, and leaving at least a portion of the liner in the lateral hole after
the lateral hole is drilled. In another aspect, a method of drilling a lateral hole
in a wellbore is provided, comprising inserting a rotary steerable system coupled
to a mill/drill into a wellbore, the wellbore having a casing inserted therein, directing
the mill/drill toward a wall of the casing, cutting a window in the casing with the
mill/drill, and drilling into a formation using the mill/drill to form a lateral hole
while advancing the rotary steerable system attached to the mill/drill into the lateral.
Further preferred features are set out in claims 16 to 26.
[0020] In another aspect, a system for drilling a lateral hole in a wellbore is provided,
comprising a means for inserting a rotary steerable system attached to a mill/drill
into a wellbore having a casing disposed therein, a means for directing the mill/drill
toward a wall of the casing, a means for cutting a window in the casing with the mill/drill,
a means for drilling into a formation using the mill/drill to form a lateral hole
while advancing the rotary steerable system into the lateral hole, and a means for
leaving at least a portion of the rotary steerable system in the lateral hole after
the lateral hole is drilled. Further, in another aspect, a system for drilling a lateral
hole in a wellbore is provided, comprising a means for inserting a liner attached
to a mill/drill into a wellbore having a casing inserted therein, a means for directing
the mill/drill toward a wall of the casing, a means for cutting a window in the casing
with the mill/drill, a means for drilling into a formation using the mill/drill to
form a lateral hole while advancing the liner attached to the mill/drill into the
lateral hole, and a means for leaving at least a portion of the liner in the lateral
hole after the lateral hole is drilled.
[0021] Some preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example
only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an expansion tool;
Figure 2 is a perspective end view in section thereof;
Figure 3 is an exploded view of the expansion tool;
Figure 4A is a section view of a cased wellbore having a liner inserted therein with
a mill/drill disposed on the end thereof, the mill/drill connected by a shearable
connection to a whipstock and anchor assembly therebelow;
Figure 4B is a section view of a wellbore illustrating a window formed in the wellbore
casing by the rotating liner and the mill/drill;
Figure 4C is a section view of a wellbore depicting a lateral wellbore having been
formed and the liner having lined the interior thereof;
Figure 5A is a section view of a wellbore with a liner therein and an independently
rotating, two-part mill/drill disposed thereupon, rotation of the mill/drill provided
by a motor thereabove;
Figure 5B is a section view of a wellbore with a liner therein and an independently
rotating two-part mill/drill disposed thereupon;
Figure 6A is a section view of a wellbore with a selective expansion tool disposed
therein;
Figure 6B is a section view of the wellbore with the liner having been expanded into
and sealing the window of the well casing;
Figure 7A is a section view of a wellbore having a drill stem with a MWD device, rotary
steerable mechanism and a mill/drill disposed thereon;
Figure 7B is a section view of a wellbore illustrating the rotary steerable mechanism
having biased the mill/drill to form a window in the casing wall of the wellbore;
Figure 8 is a section view of a wellbore showing a non-rotating, bent liner with a
rotationally independent, two-piece mill/drill disposed thereon; and
Figure 9 is a section view of a wellbore with a rotating liner disposed therein, the
rotating liner having a rotary steerable unit and a mill/drill disposed at the end
thereof.
[0022] Figure 4A is a section view of a cased wellbore 10 having a liner 15 disposed therein
and a mill/drill 20 disposed at the end thereof. A shearable connection 25 between
the mill/drill and a diverter, in this case a whipstock 30, therebelow allows the
entire assembly, including an anchor 35, to be run into the wellbore at once. The
anchor 35 is located below the whipstock and fixes the whipstock in place allowing
the mill/drill 20 to form a window at a predetermined point in the wall of the casing
40 as it rotates along a concave portion 42 of the whipstock 30. After the assembly
is run into the wellbore and the whipstock 30 and anchor 35 are fixed in place, a
downward force is applied to the liner 15 and mill/drill 20 to cause the shearable
connection 25 between the mill/drill and the whipstock to fail. The mill/drill can
then be rotated and formation of the window can begin. In the embodiment shown in
Figure 4A, the mill/drill 20 is rotationally fixed to the end of the liner 15 and
rotational force is applied to the liner at the well surface.
[0023] Figure 4B is a section view of the wellbore illustrating a window 45 that has been
formed in the casing wall 40 by the rotating mill/drill 20. Figure 4B also illustrates
the liner 15 having advanced through the window 45 and into the lateral wellbore.
Figure 4C, a section view of the wellbore 10, shows the lateral wellbore 50 formed
and lined with the liner 15 which was inserted into the lateral wellbore as it was
formed. In the embodiment illustrated, the mill/drill 20 remains at the end of the
liner 15 after the lateral wellbore 50 is formed and can be subsequently destroyed
by additional drilling. To complete the lateral wellbore, portions of the liner extending
into the central wellbore from the window may be removed. Techniques for cutting off
that portion of a liner extending into and blocking a vertical wellbore are described
in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,301,760 and 5,322,127 and those patents are incorporated herein
by reference in their entirety.
[0024] In an alternative embodiment of the arrangement depicted in Figures 4A-C, the liner
15 with the mill/drill disposed thereupon can be non-rotating and a two-piece drill/mill
55 rotates independently of the liner 15 with rotational forces supplied by a downhole
motor within the liner or by a rotational device located at the surface of the well.
For example, Figure 5A is a section view of a two-piece mill/drill 55 with rotational
force provided thereto by a downhole motor 60 and Figure 5B is a view of the two-piece
mill/drill 55 with rotational force provided from the well surface (not shown). A
first portion 65 of the two-piece mill/drill 55 has an outer diameter smaller than
the inside diameter of the liner and a second portion 70 of the mill/drill 55 extends
around the perimeter of the liner and is rotationably coupled to the first portion
65. After the lateral wellbore has been formed, the portions 65, 70 of the mill/drill
55 can be disconnected from each other and the first portion 65 may be removed from
the lateral wellbore with a wireline or any other well-known technique for recovering
downhole devices from a wellbore.
[0025] When drilling a lateral wellbore with liner, undersized liner may be used during
the formation of the lateral wellbore to facilitate the operation and thereafter,
when the wellbore is formed, the liner can be expanded to increase its diameter to
more closely match the inside diameter of the lateral wellbore. Enlargement of the
liner is typically accomplished by insertion of a selective expansion device into
the lateral wellbore and subsequent actuation of the device which places an outward
force on the wall of the liner. Moving the actuated device axially in the liner creates
a section of enlarged liner. Figure 6A is a section view of a lateral wellbore 10
drilled with liner 300 and having a selective expansion tool 310 inserted therein
on a separate tubular string 312 for enlarging the diameter of the liner. In the figure,
the selective expansion tool 310 is run into the lateral wellbore where it is then
actuated and urged towards the window 315 of the wellbore, enlarging the liner to
a size adequate to line the lateral wellbore for cementing therein. Compliant rollers
116 (Figure 1) of the expansion tool 310 may alternatively be cone-shaped to facilitate
a gradual enlargement of the liner as the expansion tool moves therethrough. In Figure
6B, another section view of a lateral wellbore 10, the undersized liner 312 has been
expanded up to and through the window in the vertical casing in a manner that has
sealed an annular area 320 between the exterior of the liner and the window opening.
After removal of the selective expansion tool 310, the liner 312 can be severed at
the window leaving a sealed lateral wellbore extending from the central wellbore.
[0026] Figure 7A is a section view of a wellbore 10 having a conventional drill stem 75
for providing rotational force to a mill/drill 78 disposed at the end thereof. A rotary
steerable mechanism 80 is installed above the mill/drill and includes selectively
radially extendable pads 85 which can transmit a force against the casing wall causing
the mill/drill therebelow to be diverted towards the opposite wall of the casing.
A measurement while drilling device (MWD) 90 is installed within the tubular string
to provide orientation.
[0027] As illustrated in Figure 7B, the assembly including the MWD 90, steerable mechanism
80 and mill/drill 78 is run into the wellbore 10 to a predetermined depth and, thereafter,
at least one pad 85 of the rotary steerable mechanism 80 is actuated to urge the mill/drill
78 against that area of the casing wall 87 where the window will be formed. After
the window has been formed by the mill/drill 78, the assembly extends into the window
and the lateral wellbore is formed. Upon completion of the lateral wellbore the assembly
is removed from the well and the new lateral wellbore may be lined with tubular liner
in a conventional manner well known in the art.
[0028] Figure 8 is a section view of a wellbore 10 wherein a liner 100 is provided with
a two-piece mill/drill 105 disposed at the end thereof, the liner having a bent portion
115 at the lower end which directs the mill/drill 105 to a predetermined area of the
wellbore casing 120 where a window will be formed. In this embodiment, the liner is
non-rotating and the mill/drill 105 rotates independently thereof, powered by either
a downhole motor 110 thereabove or a rotary unit located at the surface of the well
(not shown). To cooperate with the bent liner portion, downhole motor 110 may have
a bent housing. As described herein, the mill/drill is a two-piece assembly with a
centre portion 107 that can be removed when the formation of the lateral wellbore
is complete.
[0029] In another embodiment, depicted in Figure 9, a non-rotating straight liner 200 is
provided with a rotary steerable mechanism 205 and a mill/drill 210 disposed at a
lower end thereof. The mill/drill 210 rotates independently of the non-rotating liner
and is powered either with a downhole motor disposed within the liner in a separate
string or a rotating unit at the surface of the well. The rotary steerable mechanism
205, like those described herein has selectively extendable pads 207 which exert a
force against the casing wall 120, of the central wellbore, biasing the mill/drill
210 therebelow in a direction where the window is to be formed in the casing wall
and formation of the lateral wellbore is to begin.
[0030] In this embodiment, the assembly is lowered into the well to a predetermined depth
and thereafter, the 200 liner and mill/drill 210 rotate as the mill/drill 210 is urged
against the wall of the casing 220 biased by the rotary steerable mechanism 207. The
mill/drill 210 forms a window in the casing and then the assembly, including the rotating
liner 200, is urged through the window and the lateral wellbore is formed. After the
wellbore is formed, an MWD device (not shown) which is located on a separate tubular
string within the liner is removed and the fixed mill/drill is left in the lateral
wellbore.
[0031] While foregoing is directed to the preferred embodiment of the present invention,
other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from
the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.
1. A method of expanding a liner extending into a lateral wellbore through a window in
casing disposed in a wellbore, comprising:
providing an expander having at least one radially extendable expander member disposed
about a body, each expander member having a retracted and an extended position and
each expander member having motive means for moving the expander member to the extended
position, wherein, in the extended position, the expander members are biased to permit
radially inward movement due to inwardly directed forces from surfaces surrounding
the liner; and
expanding the liner at least across a portion of the liner proximate the window with
the expander.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motive means on each member comprises
a piston surface on the expander member for moving the member to the extended position
with a pressurised fluid.
3. A method of expanding a liner extending into a lateral wellbore through a window in
casing disposed in a wellbore, comprising:
locating an expander inside the liner, the expander having at least one radially extendable
member movable between a first extended position and a second lesser extended position,
wherein a biasing mechanism biases the at least one radially extendable member toward
the first extended position;
operating the expander to the first extended position; and
moving the expander axially within the liner to expand a length of the liner across
the window.
4. A method of forming a lateral wellbore, comprising:
inserting a liner having a mill/drill disposed at one end into a cased wellbore having
a casing therein;
cutting a window in a wall of the casing with the mill/drill;
drilling into a formation proximate the window with the mill/drill while advancing
the liner to form the lateral wellbore; and
expanding the liner through the window.
5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the liner and mill/drill are rotationally
coupled.
6. A method as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the cutting and the drilling include
rotating the mill/drill with a rotational force provided at a surface of the well.
7. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the liner and mill/drill are rotationally
independent and rotation of the mill/drill for the cutting and the drilling is provided
by a downhole motor disposed thereabove.
8. A method as claimed in any of claims 4 to 7, wherein the mill/drill comprises an inner
portion and an outer portion, the inner portion being selectively removable from the
outer portion of the mill/drill.
9. A method as claimed in any of claims 4 to 8, further comprising directing the mill/drill
towards the wall with a diverter fixed in the cased wellbore therebelow.
10. A method as claimed in any of claims 4 to 8, further comprising directing the mill/drill
using a bent liner.
11. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising expanding a portion
of the liner disposed in the wellbore.
12. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising expanding a portion
of the liner disposed in the lateral wellbore.
13. A method of expanding a liner extending into a lateral wellbore through a window in
casing disposed in a wellbore, comprising:
providing an expander having at least one radially extendable member, the radially
extendable member having a first unextended position, a second fully extended position
and a range of positions between the first and second positions wherein the radially
extendable member moves from the first position upon application of a force to the
radially extendable member;
locating the expander inside the liner;
applying the force to the radially extendable member;
engaging the radially extendable member with an inner diameter of the liner; and
expanding the liner across the window, wherein the radially extendable member is positioned
within the range for at least a portion of the expansion.
14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein expanding the liner across the window includes:
expanding a first portion of the liner disposed in the wellbore having a first set
of characteristics to a first diameter and shape;
expanding a second portion of the tubular disposed in the window having a second set
of characteristics to a second diameter and shape.
15. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein expanding the liner across the window includes:
expanding a first portion of the liner disposed in the lateral wellbore having a first
set of characteristics to a first diameter and shape;
expanding a second portion of the tubular disposed in the window having a second set
of characteristics to a second diameter and shape.
16. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising removing at least a
portion of the liner extending into the wellbore from the window.
17. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising inserting the liner
through the window.
18. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising disposing a material
between an interface of the liner and the window to enhance a seal.
19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the material disposed between the interface
of the liner and the window prevents movement between an outer surface of the liner
and the window.
20. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the liner is expanded into a contacting
relationship with the window.
21. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the liner is expanded into a sealing
relationship with the window.
22. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising cementing the liner
in the lateral wellbore.
23. A method of using a liner to drill a lateral wellbore of a well, comprising:
a) inserting the liner having a mill/drill disposed at one end into a wellbore having
a wall therein;
b) directing the mill/drill towards a pre-selected area of the wall;
c) cutting an opening in the wall with the mill/drill;
d) drilling into a formation proximate the opening while advancing the liner to form
the lateral wellbore; and
e) leaving at least a portion of the liner in the lateral wellbore.
24. A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the wall is cased with a casing.
25. A method as claimed in claim 23 or 24, wherein the liner and the mill/drill are rotationally
coupled.
26. A method as claimed in claim 23 or 24, wherein the liner and mill/drill are rotationally
independent and rotation of the mill/drill is provided by a downhole motor disposed
thereabove.
27. A method as claimed in any of claims 23 to 26, wherein the mill/drill comprises an
inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portion being selectively removable
from an outer portion of the mill/drill.
28. A method as claimed in claim 27, further comprising:
a) removing at least one portion of the mill/drill;
b) replacing the portion of the mill/drill;
c) inserting the replaced portion in the liner; and
d) continuing to advance the liner.
29. A method as claimed in any of claims 23 to 28, wherein the rotation of the- mill/drill
is provided by a rotational force at a surface of the well.
30. A method as claimed in any of claims 23 to 29, wherein directing the mill/drill towards
the pre-selected area of the wall is performed by a diverter fixed in the wellbore
therebelow.
31. A method as claimed in claim 30, wherein directing the mill/drill toward the wall
comprises:
a) selectively coupling the diverter to the mill/drill;
b) fixing the diverter at a predetermined location in the wellbore;
c) disengaging the coupling between the diverter and the mill/drill; and
d) diverting the mill/drill along a slanted surface of the diverter toward the wall
to cut the opening.
32. A method as claimed in any of claims 23 to 31, further comprising removing at least
a portion of the liner extending into the wellbore from the opening.
33. A method as claimed in any of claims 23 to 32, further comprising expanding at least
a portion of the liner within the lateral wellbore.
34. A method as claimed in claim 33, wherein the liner is expanded into a contacting relationship
with the opening.
35. A method as claimed in claim 33 or 34, wherein the liner is expanded into a sealing
relationship with the opening.
36. A method as claimed in any of claims 23 to 29, further comprising directing the mill/drill
by using a bent liner.
37. A method of drilling a lateral wellbore in a wellbore, comprising:
a) inserting a rotary steerable system coupled to a mill/drill into a wellbore having
a wall therein;
b) directing the mill/drill towards a pre-selected area of the wall;
c) cutting an opening in the wall with the mill/drill; and
d) drilling into a formation proximate the opening while advancing the rotary steerable
system to form the lateral wellbore.
38. A method as claimed in claim 37, further comprising coupling the rotary steerable
system and mill/drill to a liner and leaving at least a portion of the liner in the
lateral wellbore after the lateral wellbore is drilled.
39. A method as claimed in claim 38, wherein the liner and the mill/drill are rotationally
coupled.
40. A method as claimed in claim 38 or 39, further comprising removing at least a portion
of the liner extending into the wellbore from the opening.
41. A method as claimed in claim 38, 39 or 40, further comprising leaving the mill/drill
in the lateral wellbore and drilling out the mill/drill for insertion of a subsequent
cutting tool coupled to a subsequent liner.
42. A method as claimed in any of claims 38 to 41, further comprising cutting an opening
in the liner advanced in the lateral wellbore and drilling a branch wellbore at an
angle to the lateral wellbore.
43. A method as claimed in any of claims 38 to 42, further comprising coupling an MWD
tool to the liner.
44. A method as claimed in claim 43, further comprising disposing the MWD tool radially
inward from an outside surface of the liner.
45. A method as claimed in claim 43 or 44, wherein the MWD tool is retrievable while the
liner remains in the wellbore.
46. A method as claimed in any of claims 37 to 42, wherein directing the mill/drill toward
the wall comprises using a diverter.
47. A method of substantially sealing a liner in a lateral wellbore to a casing disposed
in a wellbore, comprising:
a) inserting a liner through an opening in the casing; and
b) expanding the liner through the opening into a substantially sealing relationship
with the opening.
48. A method as claimed in claim 47, further comprising removing at least a portion of
the liner extending into the wellbore from the opening.
49. A system for using a liner to drill a lateral wellbore of a well, comprising:
a) an apparatus for inserting the liner having a mill/drill disposed at one end into
a wellbore having a wall therein;
b) an apparatus for directing the mill/drill towards a pre-selected area of the wall;
c) an apparatus for cutting an opening in the wall with the mill/drill; and
d) an apparatus for drilling into a formation proximate the opening while advancing
the liner to form the lateral wellbore.
50. A system for drilling a lateral wellbore of a well, comprising:
a) an apparatus for inserting a rotary steerable system coupled to a mill/drill into
a wellbore having a wall therein;
b) an apparatus for directing the mill/drill towards a pre-selected area of the wall;
c) an apparatus for cutting an opening in the wall with the mill/drill; and
d) an apparatus for drilling into a formation proximate the opening while advancing
the rotary steerable system to form the lateral wellbore.
51. A system as claimed in claim 50, further comprising:
a) an apparatus for coupling the rotary steerable system and mill/drill to a liner;
and
b) an apparatus for leaving at least a portion of the liner in the lateral wellbore
after the lateral wellbore is drilled.
52. A system for drilling a lateral wellbore in a wellbore, comprising:
a) a liner;
b) a rotary steerable system coupled to the liner; and
c) a mill/drill coupled to the rotary steerable system.
53. The system of claim 52, further comprising an MWD tool coupled to the liner.
54. A system for drilling a lateral wellbore in a wellbore, comprising:
a) a liner;
b) a mill/drill coupled to the liner; and
c) a diverter coupled to the mill/drill.
55. The system of claim 54, further comprising a downhole motor coupled to the mill/drill.
56. A system for drilling a lateral wellbore in a wellbore, comprising:
a) a liner having a bent portion;
b) a mill/drill coupled to the liner; and
c) a downhole motor coupled to the mill/drill.