Performing a wellbore tieback operation

Abstract

A wellbore completion system and method having a tieback string and a seal system. The tieback string includes a receptacle end defining an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of a liner. The liner is configured to be disposed within a wellbore and defines an annulus between an external surface of the liner and a wall of the wellbore. The receptacle end is configured to be disposed within the annulus to receive a portion of the liner. The seal system is coupled to an internal surface of the receptacle end. The seal system includes an annular seal configured to swell inwardly upon contact to a wellbore fluid having an oil-based fluid to form, with the portion of the liner inserted within the receptacle end, a seal with the external surface of the liner. The tieback string is fluidly coupled, with the seal formed, to the liner to receive production fluid from the liner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wellbore completion system, comprising:
 a tieback string comprising a receptacle end defining an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of a liner configured to be disposed within a wellbore, the liner configured to define an annulus between an external surface of the liner and a wall of the wellbore, the receptacle end configured to be disposed within the annulus to receive a portion of the liner; and   a seal system coupled to an internal surface of the receptacle end, the seal system comprising an annular seal configured to swell inwardly upon contact to a wellbore fluid comprising an oil-based fluid to form, with the portion of the liner inserted within the receptacle end, a seal with the external surface of the liner, the tieback string fluidly coupled, with the seal formed, to the liner to receive production fluid from the liner.   
     
     
         2 . The wellbore completion system of  claim 1 , wherein the wellbore extends from a terranean surface to a geological formation comprising a hydrocarbon reservoir, the tieback string comprises a tubular body extending from the terranean surface through the wellbore to the receptacle end, the tubular body defining an inner diameter substantially equal to or greater than an inner diameter of the liner. 
     
     
         3 . The wellbore completion system of  claim 1 , wherein the annular seal comprises at least one swellable seal configured to swell upon contact to the wellbore fluid comprising the oil-based fluid to form the seal. 
     
     
         4 . The wellbore completion system of  claim 3 , wherein the one swellable seal swells responsive to the wellbore fluid at a temperature of between 150 and 350 degrees Fahrenheit touching the at least one swellable seal. 
     
     
         5 . The wellbore completion system of  claim 3 , wherein an elastomer of the at least one swellable seal is configured to swell over a time period of 3 to 5 days to form the seal responsive to absorbing the wellbore fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The wellbore completion system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one swellable seal is configured to swell absent mechanical movements of the tieback string and absent fluid pumped downhole through the tieback string. 
     
     
         7 . The wellbore completion system of  claim 1 , wherein the liner is partially cemented in the wellbore, the annulus extending from an uphole inlet of the liner to a liner hanger or cement disposed between the liner and a wall of the wellbore. 
     
     
         8 . The wellbore completion system of  claim 1 , wherein the liner comprises a monobore completion liner, and the portion of the liner comprises an uphole fluid inlet formed upon cutting the liner and retrieving a second portion of the liner uphole of the portion of the liner. 
     
     
         9 . The wellbore completion system of  claim 1 , wherein the wellbore fluid comprising the oil-based fluid comprises at least one of a diesel fluid, an oil-based drilling mud, a diesel-based drilling mud, a production fluid extracted from a hydrocarbon reservoir into the wellbore, an oil-based emulsion mixture, or an oil-based completion fluid. 
     
     
         10 . A wellbore assembly, comprising:
 a casing pipe comprising an external surface, the casing pipe configured to be disposed within a wellbore comprising a wall, the external surface of the casing pipe and the wall of the wellbore defining an annulus; and   a wellbore string, the wellbore string comprising a downhole end defining an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of an uphole end of the casing pipe, the downhole end comprising an internal annular seal configured to expand upon contact to a wellbore fluid comprising an oil-based fluid to form, with the uphole end of the casing pipe inserted within the downhole end of the wellbore string, a seal with the external surface of the casing pipe, the wellbore string fluidly coupled, with the seal formed, to the casing pipe to flow fluid between the wellbore string and the casing pipe.   
     
     
         11 . The wellbore assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the wellbore string comprises a tubular body extending from a terranean surface of the wellbore to the downhole end, the tubular body defining an inner diameter equal to or greater than an inner diameter of the casing pipe. 
     
     
         12 . The wellbore assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the internal annular seal comprises at least one swellable seal configured to swell upon contact to the wellbore fluid comprising an oil-based fluid to form the seal. 
     
     
         13 . The wellbore assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one swellable seal swells responsive to the wellbore fluid at a temperature of between 150 and 350 degrees Fahrenheit when the wellbore fluid touching the at least one swellable seal. 
     
     
         14 . The wellbore assembly of  claim 12 , wherein an elastomer of the at least one swellable seal swells responsive to absorbing the wellbore fluid over a period of time to form a seal with an unpolished or uneven surface of the casing pipe. 
     
     
         15 . The wellbore assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the wellbore string further comprises a plurality of internal grooves positioned at the downhole end of the wellbore string, each swellable seal is disposed within a respective internal groove of the plurality of internal grooves, each swellable seal comprising a compliant external surface configured to swell from the respective internal groove toward the external surface of the casing pipe. 
     
     
         16 . The wellbore assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the casing pipe is partially cemented in the wellbore, the annulus extending from an uphole inlet of the casing pipe to a casing pipe hanger, packer, or cement disposed between the casing pipe and a wall of the wellbore. 
     
     
         17 . The wellbore assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the seal fluidly isolates the annulus from a bore of the wellbore string and a bore of the casing pipe. 
     
     
         18 . The wellbore assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the casing pipe comprises a monobore completion casing pipe, and a portion of the casing pipe comprises an uphole fluid inlet formed upon cutting the casing pipe and retrieving a second portion of the casing pipe uphole of the portion of the casing pipe. 
     
     
         19 . The wellbore assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the wellbore fluid comprising the oil-based fluid comprises at least one of a diesel fluid, an oil-based drilling mud, a diesel-based drilling mud, a production fluid extracted from a hydrocarbon reservoir into the wellbore, an oil-based emulsion mixture, or an oil-based completion fluid. 
     
     
         20 . A method, comprising:
 running a tieback string within a wellbore to a liner positioned in the wellbore, the tieback string comprising a receptacle end comprising an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the liner, the receptacle end comprising an annular seal configured to swell inwardly upon contact to a wellbore fluid comprising an oil-based fluid to form, with a portion of the liner inserted within the receptacle end, a seal with an external surface of the liner;   positioning the receptacle end around a portion of the liner about the external surface of the liner; and   upon contact to the wellbore fluid comprising the oil-based fluid, activating the annular seal to form, with the external surface of the liner, a seal, the tieback string fluidly coupled, with the seal formed, to the liner to receive production fluid from the liner.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising, before running the tieback string within the wellbore, cutting the liner and retrieving an upper portion of the liner to form the portion of the liner. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein activating the annular seal comprises flowing, from a terranean surface of the wellbore and through the tieback string, the wellbore fluid comprising an oil-based fluid, wherein the annular seal is configured to swell responsive to contact with the wellbore fluid comprising the oil-based fluid at a temperature of between 150 and 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the wellbore fluid comprising the oil-based fluid comprises at least one of a diesel fluid, an oil-based drilling mud, a diesel-based drilling mud, a production fluid extracted from a hydrocarbon reservoir into the wellbore, an oil-based emulsion mixture, or an oil-based completion fluid.