Lateral junction assembly

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lateral junction assembly ( 1 ) for providing a lateral junction in a wellbore by being inserted into a casing ( 60 ) having an opening ( 61 ) and defining a longitudinal axis ( 52 ), the lateral junction assembly ( 1 ) having a longitudinal direction ( 50 ) which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis ( 52 ) and comprising a pipe module ( 10 ) comprising a pipe section ( 12 ) for being inserted through the opening ( 61 ) in the casing and a flange ( 11 ), wherein the lateral junction assembly further comprises a fixation element ( 25 ) adapted for being connected with the flange ( 11 ) to fixate the pipe module ( 10 ) in a predetermined location with the pipe section extending through the opening ( 61 ) in the casing ( 60 ).

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A lateral junction assembly ( 1 ) for providing a lateral junction in a wellbore by being inserted into a casing having an opening ( 61 ) and defining a longitudinal axis ( 52 ), the lateral junction assembly having a longitudinal direction ( 50 ) which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and comprising:
 a pipe module ( 10 ) comprising a pipe section ( 12 ) for being inserted through the opening in the casing and a flange ( 11 ,  111 ),   wherein the lateral junction assembly further comprises a fixation element ( 25 ,  125 ) adapted for being connected with the flange to fixate the pipe module in a predetermined location with the pipe section extending through the opening in the casing.   
     
     
         28 . A lateral junction assembly according to  claim 27 , wherein the pipe section extends from a first surface ( 13 ) of the flange, and the fixation element, when connected to the flange, extends from a second surface ( 19 ) of the flange opposite the first surface of the flange. 
     
     
         29 . A lateral junction assembly according to  claim 27 , further comprising a sealing element ( 14 ) arranged at the first surface of the flange. 
     
     
         30 . A lateral junction assembly according to  claim 27 , wherein the assembly comprises two or more fixation elements ( 21 ,  22 ,  24   a,    24   b,    24   c,    24   d,    25 ). 
     
     
         31 . A lateral junction assembly according to  claim 30 , wherein the one or more fixation elements are sections of a hollow cylinder. 
     
     
         32 . A lateral junction assembly according to  claim 27 , wherein a cross-section of the flange constitutes a first part of a circular ring and the one or more fixation elements constitute a second and remaining part of the circular ring. 
     
     
         33 . A lateral junction assembly according to  claim 27 , comprising one or more fixation elements distributed in the longitudinal direction of the lateral junction assembly. 
     
     
         34 . Lateral junction assembly according to  claim 27 , wherein the fixation element is a flexible member for pushing the pipe section through an opening ( 117 ) in the flange. 
     
     
         35 . A lateral junction assembly according to  claim 34 , wherein the flexible member is a sheet of spring steel. 
     
     
         36 . A lateral junction assembly according to  claim 27 , wherein the fixation element comprises multiple spring members for pushing the pipe section through an opening ( 117 ) in the flange. 
     
     
         37 . A lateral junction assembly according to  claim 27 , further comprising one or more locking devices ( 115 ) extending from the pipe section and being adapted to fixate the pipe section in an activated position wherein the pipe section extends through the opening in the flange. 
     
     
         38 . A lateral junction system for providing a lateral junction in a wellbore, the lateral junction system comprising:
 a primary casing ( 60 ) having an inner surface ( 62 ) and at least one opening ( 61 ), the primary casing defining a longitudinal axis ( 52 ), and   a lateral junction assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 27 ,   wherein the pipe module is positioned such that the pipe section extends through the opening of the casing and the one or more fixation elements pushes the first surface of the flange towards the inner surface of the casing, whereby the pipe module is secured in a predetermined location.   
     
     
         39 . A lateral junction system according to  claim 38 , wherein the pipe module has an extension in a transverse plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the extension being smaller than an inner diameter of the casing. 
     
     
         40 . A lateral junction system according to  claim 38 , wherein a cross-section of the flange constitutes a first part of a circular ring, and the one or more fixation elements constitute a second and remaining part of the circular ring, an outer periphery of the ring being substantially equal to or slightly larger than an inner periphery of the casing. 
     
     
         41 . A wireline tool for transporting, positioning and assembling a lateral junction assembly according to  claim 27  in a casing, the wireline tool comprising:
 an electronic unit for powering to the wireline tool, 
 a motor unit, 
 a pump unit, 
 a driving unit moving the wireline tool downhole, 
 a logging unit for determining the position in a casing downhole, 
 a transportation unit for transporting and positioning the pipe module and the one or more fixation elements, and 
 an assembly unit for assembling the lateral junction assembly downhole. 
 
     
     
         42 . A method of installing a lateral junction assembly in a wellbore having a casing with at least one opening, the method comprising the steps of:
 lowering a pipe module comprising a pipe section and a flange into a wellbore,   lowering one or more fixation elements adapted for being connected with the flange into a wellbore,   positioning the pipe module in the casing with the pipe section extending through the opening of the casing,   joining the flange of the pipe module with the one or more fixation elements, thereby fixating the lateral junction assembly in a predetermined location.   
     
     
         43 . A method according to  claim 42 , wherein side edges of the flange of the pipe module and side edges of the one or more fixation elements are joined by cold welding caused by the side edges being pressed against each other. 
     
     
         44 . A wireline tool for transporting, positioning and activating a lateral junction assembly according to  claim 34  in a casing, the wireline tool comprising:
 an electronic unit for powering to the wireline tool, 
 a motor unit, 
 a pump unit, 
 a driving unit moving the wireline tool downhole, 
 a logging unit for determining the position in a casing downhole, 
 a transportation unit for transporting and positioning the lateral junction assembly, and 
 an activation unit for activating the lateral junction assembly downhole by removing one or more activation members ( 116 ) of the lateral junction assembly. 
 
     
     
         45 . A wireline tool according to  claim 44 , further comprising an expander cone ( 88 ) for pushing the pipe section of the lateral junction assembly through the opening in the flange and the opening in the casing. 
     
     
         46 . A method of installing a lateral junction assembly in a wellbore having a casing with at least one opening, the method comprising the steps of:
 lowering a lateral junction assembly according to  claim 34  into a wellbore,   positioning the lateral junction assembly in the casing with the pipe section aligned with the opening of the casing,   activating the lateral junction assembly downhole by removing one or more activation members, so that the pipe section extends through the opening in the casing, and   fixating the lateral junction assembly in a predetermined location by means of the one or more locking devices.