Construction of a Tubular at a Downhole Location

Abstract

A method for constructing a lateral hole ( 303 ) departing from a main well ( 302 ) at a determined depth, the lateral hole ( 303 ) having a direction of elongation forming a determined angle with the main well ( 302 ), comprises positioning a drilling machine ( 301 ) at the determined depth in the main well ( 302 ), drilling the lateral hole ( 303 ) departing from a wall of the main well ( 302 ), in substantially the direction of elongation forming the determined angle with the main well ( 302 ), using the drilling machine ( 301 ), constructing a tubular ( 305 ) for the lateral hole ( 303 ) at a downhole location, and positioning the constructed tubular ( 305 ) into the lateral hole ( 303 ).

1 . A method for constructing a lateral hole departing from a main well at a determined depth, the lateral hole having a direction of elongation forming a determined angle with the main well, the method comprising:
 positioning a drilling machine at the determined depth in the main well ( 21 );   drilling the lateral hole departing from a wall of the main well, in substantially the direction of elongation forming the determined angle with the main well, using the drilling machine ( 22 );   constructing a tubular for the lateral hole at a downhole location ( 23 );   positioning the constructed tubular into the lateral hole ( 24 ).   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 positioning the constructed tubular ( 305 ,  905 ,  1005 ) into the lateral hole ( 303 ,  903 ,  1003 ) during the drilling;   connecting a drill bit ( 307 ,  907 ,  1007 ) at an end of the constructed tubular ( 305 ,  905 ,  1005 ); and   using the constructed tubular ( 305 ,  905 ,  1005 ) as a drill string ( 305   a ) to drill the lateral hole ( 303 ,  903 ,  1003 ).   
   
   
       3 . The method according to any one of  claims 1  to  2  wherein
 the direction of elongation is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the main well ( 302 ,  602 ,  902 ,  1002 ).   
   
   
       4 . The method according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , further comprising:
 constructing the tubular ( 305 ) at the downhole location from a band of metal ( 314 );   unwrapping the band of metal ( 314 ,  614 ,  914 ,  1014 ) from a storage roll ( 306 ,  606 ,  906 ,  1006 );   wrapping the band of metal ( 314 ,  614 ,  914 ,  1014 ) following a spiral to obtain the tubular ( 305 ,  605 ,  905 ,  1005 ).   
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 storing the storage roll ( 316 ,  306 ,  606 ,  906 ) at the downhole location in the drilling machine ( 301 ,  601 ,  901 ).   
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 storing the storage roll ( 1006 ) at a surface location.   
   
   
       7 . The method according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the tubular ( 305 ,  905 ) is constructed at the downhole location from a reserve of material, the reserve of material having a size adapted to be stored in the drilling machine ( 301 ,  901 ). 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the reserve of material contains at least a rolled band of metal ( 306 ,  906 ), and wherein the constructing of the tubular ( 305 ,  905 ) is performed by wrapping the band of metal ( 314 ,  914 ) following a spiral. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 jointing the wrapped band of metal.   
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the jointing is performed by spot welding. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the jointing is performed by permanent plastic lip pressing. 
   
   
       12 . The method according to any one of  claims 9  to  11  further comprising:
 constructing a strippable slotted liner ( 618 ) along a zone of communication ( 619 ) with a reservoir ( 617 );   pumping a cement fluid behind the tubular ( 605 ) along a determined portion of the tubular, the determined portion of the tubular being distinct from the zone of communication ( 619 ) with the reservoir ( 617 ).   
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12  wherein:
 the strippable slotted liner is constructed from a slotted band of metal ( 74 );   the slotted band of metal ( 74 ) comprises a slotted layer ( 75 ) and a thin layer ( 72 ), the thin layer ( 72 ) covering the slotted layer ( 75 );   the forming of the strippable slotted layer is performed by peeling off the thin layer ( 72 ).   
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein the peeling is performed by pulling on a cable ( 76 ) attached to an end of the thin layer ( 72 ). 
   
   
       15 . The method according to any one of  claims 4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13  or  14  further comprising:
 applying a left-hand torque ( 83 ) onto the wrapped band of metal ( 82 ) in order to expand the tubular.   
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein
 the reserve of material comprises a plurality of short pipes;   and further comprising:   jointing the short pipes together to obtain the tubular.   
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein the jointing of the short pipes is performed by screwing the short pipes to each other by threads. 
   
   
       18 . A drilling machine ( 301 ,  601 ,  901 ,  1001 ) for constructing a lateral hole ( 303 ,  603 ,  903 ,  1003 ) departing from a main well ( 302 ,  602 ,  902 ,  1002 ) at a determined depth, the lateral hole ( 303 ,  603 ,  903 ,  1003 ) having a direction of elongation forming a determined angle with the main well ( 302 ,  602 ,  902 ,  1002 ), the drilling machine ( 301 ,  601 ,  901 ,  1001 ) comprising:
 drilling means ( 307 ,  607 ,  907 ,  1007 ) to drill the lateral hole ( 303 ,  603 ,  903 ,  1003 ), departing at the determined depth from a wall of the main well ( 302 ,  602 ,  902 ,  1002 ), in substantially the direction of elongation forming the determined angle with the main well ( 302 ,  602 ,  902 ,  1002 );   constructing means ( 315 ,  616 ,  915 ,  1015 ) to construct a tubular ( 305 ,  605 ,  905 ,  1005 ) for the lateral hole ( 303 ,  603 ,  903 ,  1003 ) at a downhole location;   positioning means ( 313 ,  613 ,  913 ,  1013 ) to position the constructed tubular in the lateral hole ( 303 ,  603 ,  903 ,  1003 ).   
   
   
       19 . The drilling machine ( 301 ,  601 ,  901 ,  1001 ) of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a drill bit ( 307 ,  607 ,  907 ,  1007 ) at an end of the constructed tubular ( 305 ,  605 ,  905 ,  1005 ) to drill the lateral hole.   
   
   
       20 . The drilling machine ( 301 ,  901 ,  1001 ) of  claim 19 , further comprising a reserve of material from which the tubular is constructed. 
   
   
       21 . The drilling machine ( 301 ) of  claim 20 , wherein
 the reserve of material is stored inside the drilling machine ( 301 );   the reserve of material comprises an active rolled band of metal ( 306 ), the active rolled band of metal ( 306 ) being oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of elongation;   the drilling machine ( 301 ) further comprises:   a short shaft ( 313 ) between the active rolled band of metal ( 306 ) and the constructed tubular ( 305 ).   
   
   
       22 . The drilling machine ( 301 ) of any one of  claims 18  to  21 , the drilling machine ( 301 ) further comprising:
 a motor ( 309 ) to generate a rotation;   a transmission shaft ( 310 ) to transmit the rotation to the drill bit ( 307 );   a pushing system ( 311 ) to generate an axial force;   a lever system ( 312 ) to transmit the axial force to the drill bit ( 307 );   
   
   
       23 . The drilling machine ( 901 ) of  claim 20 , wherein
 the reserve of material is stored in the drilling machine ( 901 );   the reserve of material comprises an active rolled band of metal ( 906 ), the active rolled band of metal ( 906 ) being oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the main well ( 902 );   the drilling machine ( 901 ) further comprises:   a motor ( 909 ) to generate a rotation force;   a pushing system ( 911 ) to generate an axial force;   a short shaft ( 913 ) that is bended between the active rolled band of metal ( 906 ) and the constructed tubular ( 905 ), the short shaft ( 913 ) transmitting the rotation force and the axial force to the drill bit ( 907 );   a guidance system ( 915 ) to guide the short shaft ( 913 ).   
   
   
       24 . The drilling machine of any one of  claims 21  to  23  further comprising
 wrapping means to wrap the band of metal ( 314 ,  614 ,  914 ,  1014 ) following a spiral;   a jointing device ( 315 ,  616 ,  915 ,  1015 ) to joint the wrapped band of metal ( 314 ,  614 ,  914 ,  1014 ).   
   
   
       25 . A system for constructing a lateral hole ( 303 ,  603 ,  903 ,  1003 ) departing from a main well ( 302 ,  602 ,  902 ,  1002 ) at a determined depth, the lateral hole ( 303 ,  603 ,  903 ,  1003 ) having a direction of elongation forming a determined angle with the main well ( 302 ,  602 ,  902 ,  1002 ), the system comprising
 a drilling machine ( 301 ,  601 ,  901 ,  1001 ) according to any one of  claims 18  to  24 ; and   positioning means ( 304 ) to position the drilling machine ( 302 ,  602 ,  902 ,  1002 ) at the determined depth.   
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 25  further comprising:
 a strippable slotted liner ( 618 ) in the lateral hole ( 603 ), the strippable slotted liner ( 618 ) allowing a communication between the lateral hole ( 603 ) and a reservoir ( 617 ) along a zone of communication with the reservoir ( 617 );   pumping means to pump a cement fluid behind the tubular ( 605 ) along a determined portion of the tubular ( 605 ), the determined portion of the tubular being distinct from the zone of communication ( 619 ) with the reservoir ( 617 ).   
   
   
       27 . The drilling machine of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the reserve of material comprises a plurality of short pipes.