Completion method and apparatus for a well having two or more lateral bores

Abstract

A method of well completion includes: introducing a hydraulic set liner hanger assembly into a cased main bore, the hydraulic set liner hanger assembly comprising a first pipe assembly and a second pipe assembly coupled to the hydraulic set liner hanger assembly, the first pipe assembly comprising a first seal coupled to a distal end of a first pipe, the second pipe assembly comprising a second seal coupled to a distal end of a second pipe, the second pipe being longer than the first pipe and the second seal having a larger outer diameter than the first seal; advancing the hydraulic set liner hanger assembly through the cased main bore, the second seal abutting a deflecting surface of a hollow diverter located in the cased main bore and being directed into a second lateral bore to provide a seal between a second liner received in the second lateral bore and the second pipe, the first seal passing through the hollow diverter to provide a seal between a first liner received in a first lateral bore and the first pipe, the deflecting surface of the hollow diverter being located adjacent to the second lateral bore; and setting the hydraulic set liner in the cased main bore.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of well completion for a well comprising a first lateral bore and a second lateral bore, comprising:
 introducing a hydraulic set liner hanger assembly into a cased main bore, the hydraulic set liner hanger assembly comprising a first pipe assembly and a second pipe assembly coupled to the hydraulic set liner hanger assembly, the first pipe assembly comprising a first seal coupled to a distal end of a first pipe, the second pipe assembly comprising a second seal coupled to a distal end of a second pipe, the second pipe being longer than the first pipe and the second seal having a larger outer diameter than the first seal;   advancing the hydraulic set liner hanger assembly through the cased main bore, the second seal abutting a deflecting surface of a hollow diverter located in the cased main bore and being directed into the second lateral bore to provide a seal between a second liner received in the second lateral bore and the second pipe, the first seal passing through the hollow diverter to provide a seal between a first liner received in the first lateral bore and the first pipe, the deflecting surface of the hollow diverter being located adjacent to the second lateral bore;   and setting the hydraulic set liner in the cased main bore.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a dual crossover is coupled to the hydraulic set hanger, the dual crossover comprising a first bore and a second bore extending therethough, the first bore being aligned with the first pipe and the second bore being aligned with the second pipe, the dual crossover being oriented to locate the second bore at a lower depth than the second bore. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising feeding a first measurement string though the dual crossover into the first pipe. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising feeding a second measurement string through the dual crossover into the second pipe. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first measurement string comprises a distributed temperature sensing (DTS) system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the second measurement string comprises a distributed temperature sensing (DTS) system. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the difference in length between the first pipe and the second pipe is determined based on the landing depth of a first polished bore receptacle (PBR) coupled to the first liner and a second polished bore receptacle coupled to the second liner. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 introducing a second hydraulic set liner hanger assembly into the cased main bore, the second hydraulic set liner hanger assembly comprising a third pipe assembly and a fourth pipe assembly coupled to the second hydraulic set liner hanger assembly, the third pipe assembly comprising a third seal coupled to a distal end of a third pipe, the fourth pipe assembly comprising a fourth seal coupled to a distal end of a fourth pipe, the fourth pipe being longer than the third pipe and the fourth seal having a larger outer diameter than the third seal;   advancing the second hydraulic set liner hanger assembly through the cased main bore, the fourth seal abutting a second deflecting surface of a second hollow diverter located in the cased main bore and being directed into the third lateral bore to provide a seal between a third liner received in the third lateral bore and the fourth pipe, the third seal passing through the hollow diverter to provide a seal between the hydraulic set liner hanger assembly and the third pipe, the second deflecting surface of the second hollow diverter being located adjacent to the third lateral bore; and   setting the second hydraulic set liner in the cased main bore.   
     
     
         9 . A method of operating a well completed by the method of  claim 1 , comprising circulating a hot fluid through the first lateral bore and the second lateral bore. 
     
     
         10 . A method of operating a well completed by the method of  claim 1 , comprising injecting steam into the first lateral bore and the second lateral bore. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising installing a pump and pumping fluids from the first lateral bore and the second lateral bore. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for well completion comprising:
 a hydraulic set liner hanger assembly for deployment and setting in a cased main bore, the hydraulic set liner hanger assembly comprising a first pipe assembly and a second pipe assembly coupled to the hydraulic set liner hanger assembly, the first pipe assembly comprising a first seal coupled to a distal end of a first pipe, the second pipe assembly comprising a second seal coupled to a distal end of a second pipe, the second pipe being longer than the first pipe and the second seal having a larger outer diameter than the first seal; and   a hollow deflector for deployment downhole of the hydraulic set liner hanger assembly, the hollow deflector comprising a deflecting surface located at an uphole end;   wherein the second seal is deflectable into a second lateral bore for forming a seal with a second liner received in the second lateral bore by a deflecting surface of the hollow deflector and the first seal is receivable through the hollow deflector for forming a seal with a first liner received in the first lateral bore.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , comprising a whipstock packer for supporting the hollow diverter. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , comprising a whipstock packer for selectively receiving a whipstock, the whipstock being received during drilling of the second lateral bore and removed prior to deployment of the hollow deflector. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein a dual crossover is coupled to the hydraulic set hanger, the dual crossover comprising a first bore and a second bore extending therethough, the first bore being aligned with the first pipe and the second bore being aligned with the second pipe, the dual crossover being oriented to locate the second bore at a lower depth than the second bore. 
     
     
         16 . A method of operating a well completed by the method of  claim 8 , comprising circulating a hot fluid through the first lateral bore, the second lateral bore and the third lateral bore. 
     
     
         17 . A method of operating a well completed by the method of  claim 8 , comprising injecting steam into the first lateral bore, the second lateral bore and third lateral bore. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 8 , comprising installing a pump and pumping fluids from the first lateral bore, the second lateral bore and the third lateral bore.