Lateral control system

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a lateral monitoring and/or control system. The system includes at least one splitter having a lateral bore and a main bore, at least one control line at the splitter and at least one of a choke module, monitoring module, flow venturi module and a control module disposed in operable communication with the lateral bore and outside of the main bore. Further disclosed herein is a method for controlling and/or monitoring of a multi-lateral well system. The method includes installing one or more splitter in a borehole, installing at least one control line to communicate remotely with each of the one or more splitters selectively communicating with one or more of at least one of a monitoring module, control module, choke module and flow venturi module.

1 . A lateral monitoring and/or control system comprising: 
 at least one splitter having a lateral bore and a main bore;    at least one control line at the splitter; and    at least one of a choke module, monitoring module flow venturi module and a control module disposed in operable communication with the lateral bore and outside of the main bore.    
   
   
       2 . A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the splitter further includes at least one ancillary bore.  
   
   
       3 . A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in  claim 2  wherein at least one of the monitoring module and control module is disposed at the at least one ancillary bore.  
   
   
       4 . A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the choke module or flow venturi module is disposed in the lateral bore and at least one of the monitoring module and the control module is disposed at the at least one ancillary bore.  
   
   
       5 . A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the at least one ancillary bore is two ancillary bores.  
   
   
       6 . A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the choke module or flow venturi module is disposed in the lateral bore and at least one of the monitoring module and the control module is disposed at one of the two ancillary bores.  
   
   
       7 . A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the other of the monitoring module and the control module is disposed at the other of the two ancillary bores.  
   
   
       8 . A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the at least one ancillary bore includes a pressure transmissive connection to at least one of the lateral bore and the main bore.  
   
   
       9 . A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the pressure transmissive connection is a fluid transmissive connection.  
   
   
       10 . A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the monitoring module monitors at least one of pressure, flow, temperature, chemical constituency and flow direction.  
   
   
       11 . A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the splitter includes two ancillary bores each having at least one of the monitoring module and the control module and the lateral leg containing the choke module or the flow venturi module.  
   
   
       12 . A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the choke module is remotely adjustable with respect to flow therethrough.  
   
   
       13 . A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the system further comprises at least one control line accessing the at least one splitter.  
   
   
       14 . A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the control line accesses a plurality of splitters.  
   
   
       15 . A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the control line is at least one of fiber optic based, hydraulic based and electric based.  
   
   
       16 . A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the control line is at least one of fiber optic based, hydraulic based and electric based.  
   
   
       17 . A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the control line accesses each lateral bore and is disposed outside of the at least one splitter.  
   
   
       18 . A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the control line is in operable communication with a plurality of addressable modules in a plurality of splitters for selective communication with such modules.  
   
   
       19 . A lateral monitoring and/or control system as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the at least one ancillary bore contains a dummy module to protect the at least one ancillary bore.  
   
   
       20 . A method for controlling and/or monitoring of a multi-lateral well system comprising: 
 installing one or more splitters in a borehole;    installing at least one control line to communicate remotely with each of the one or more splitters; and    selectively communicating with one or more of at least one of a monitoring module, a control module, a choke module and a flow venturi module.    
   
   
       21 . The method for controlling and/or monitoring of a multi-lateral well system as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the method further includes installing at least one of said at least one of a monitoring module, a control module, a choke module and a flow venturi module in a position outside a main bore of the one or more splitters.