IADC/SPE 59209
A New Selective Lateral Re-Entry System
W. Mark Rivenbark, SPE, Halliburton Energy Services Inc; Mohammed I. Al-Sowayigh, SPE,
Yousef A. Al-Furaidan, SPE, SAUDI ARAMCO
Copyright 2000, IADC/SPE Drilling Conference
This paper was prepared for presentation at the 2000 IADC/SPE Drilling Conference held in
New Orleans, Louisiana, 23–25 February 2000.
This paper was selected for presentation by an IADC/SPE Program Committee following
review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the
paper, as presented, have not been reviewed by the International Association of Drilling
Contractors or the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to correction by the
author(s). The material, as presented, does not necessarily reflect any position of the IADC or
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Abstract
Since the mid-1990's, a major Middle Eastern operator has
been exploiting short-radius horizontal technology to
maximize oil recovery from existing wells. Although the use
of this technology has resulted in significant production
increases, the operators recovery efforts were somewhat
hampered by not having through-tubing access to the short-
radius lateral. This problem has been solved with the
introduction of a new selective lateral re-entry system.
Short-radius recompletion involves reentering an existing
well, opening a window through the casing, and recompleting
the well as a horizontal well within 100 ft (lateral
displacement) of the re-entry point. This technology is
typically used in wells that still contain zones with thin oil
columns in place but are no longer able to flow because of
high water cut. In wells in which this technology has been
applied, production rates have generally been higher, water cut
has been reduced, and recovery has improved.
The new system allows for re-entry into the lateral via
wireline or coiled tubing. Utilizing isolation and commingling
sleeves, the operator can control production from both the
main bore and the lateral. Re-entry whipstocks (deployed by
wireline or coiled tubing) allow logging, acidizing, and any
other coil tubing intervention to be accomplished in the lateral
with relative ease.
This paper describes the deployment and operation of the
new system and presents field examples of its use. The paper
also discusses applications under development that will
require entry into multiple laterals within the same main bore.
Introduction
Short oil columns of 50 feet or less in thickness are frequently
found in producing wells of the fields in question. Most of
these wells are located in mature areas of the field where the
water cut tends to be high. These wells are vertical in
completion. Many of them cease to sustain natural flow and
become dead because of their high water cut.
This paper presents the application of short-radius
recompletion of vertical to horizontal wells as it relates to the
installation of a Selective Lateral Re-entry System. Several
workovers of this type have been carried out in 1998 and
1999. These recompletions represent some of the earliest
applications of this new technology.
Short-radius drilling has application in a reservoir called
the “Arab-D reservoir.” The horizontal borehole is normally
kicked off below an upper reservoir called the “Arab-C
reservoir.” The Arab-D reservoir has an advantage: it provides
a longer horizontal target section in the pay zone of interest for
a given lateral displacement. Targeted zones are typically
short, remaining-oil columns at the top of the Arab-D and
underlain by well-swept intervals. The remaining oil is not
recoverable from the existing vertical completions.
As of October 1999, nine wells have been completed with
the Selective Lateral Re-entry System in both 7-in. and 4 ½-in.
casing.
Incentives
As the fields in question are quite mature, maximizing oil
production and ultimate oil recovery are key factors to insure
that the objectives of these short-radius horizontal holes are
achieved. Production and recovery maximization requires that
evaluation and remedial work tools, such as logging and CT
acid stimulation, can access the laterals. Drilling and
completion challenges in these fields also require that new
approaches to achieve such objectives remain economical.
Existing multilateral technology was reviewed and
factored into the new approach that was required to meet the
objectives of the client in these fields. It was important to be
able to utilize solutions that incorporated standard completion
techniques. It was also imperative that conventional slickline
and coiled tubing tools and techniques be applicable.
Fortunately, the required system was already under
development for another customer.
2 W. MARK RIVENBARK, MOHAMMED I. AL-SOWAYIGH, AND YOUSEF A. AL-FURAIDAN
Engineering Design Work
During 1997 and 1998 design and testing of the tools
comprising the Selective Lateral Re-Entry System was
ongoing. The system is designed to allow though-tubing
access from the main bore to a short-radius lateral section. The
system utilizes a torque-locked retrievable production packer
and pre-milled window joint run on drill pipe. A wireline
retrievable isolation sleeve provides pressure integrity
between both sections of the wellbore during completion
operations to insure well control at all times. The isolation
sleeve is equipped with a patented crimp seal that allows for
maximum inside diameter through the sleeve. Once the
completion is landed and the Christmas tree flanged up, the
isolation sleeve can be retrieved on slickline. Its retrieval
allows for immediate communication from the lateral borehole
section.
System Development
Packers previously used in both typical and multilateral
completions have no torque-through capability. The Selective
Lateral Re-entry System, however, requires that both the
packer and its setting tool have such capability. Also, the pre-
milled window joint must be able to pass easily through a liner
top yet locate positively and accurately in the milled casing
window. For the Selective Lateral Re-entry System, a pre-
milled window joint incorporates a feature that insures proper
orientation and location in the milled casing window. The re-
entry whipstocks can be installed with conventional slickline
or coiled tubing tools and techniques.
The Selective Lateral Re-entry System (including packer,
window joint and isolation sleeve) is run as a single assembly.
Once on depth, the window joint is oriented and landed in the
milled casing window. The packer is set and the completion is
pressure tested. The setting tool is released from the packer
and pulled from the borehole on the drillstring.
System Application
The installation of this equipment involves several critical
steps. After the casing window is milled and the lateral
borehole section drilled, it is time to install the completion.
Step 1 (Fig. 1) involves running the tailpipe assembly on a
permanent production packer and hydraulic setting tool. After
setting the packer, the setting tool is released and pulled back
to surface on the workstring. At this point, a retrievable test
packer is run in on the workstring and set below the milled
casing window. The workstring is then pressure-tested against
a plug pre-installed in the tailpipe to insure pressure integrity
of the lower permanent packer.
In step 2 (Fig. 2), the seal assembly for the lower packer is
run in on the workstring along with the pre-milled window
joint and a torque-locked retrievable packer. After stinging
into the lower packer and properly locating the window joint
in the milled casing window, the upper torque-locked
retrievable packer is set with pressure applied through tubing.
After testing this packer, the setting tool is released with
annular pressure and retrieved on the workstring (Fig. 3).
IADC/SPE 59209
In step 3 (Fig. 4), the seal assembly and production tubing
are run and landed in the upper retrievable packer. The tubing
is then spaced out as required and a pressure test is performed
on the tubing and annulus as per operator requirements. Next,
the seal assembly is unstung from the packer and the tubing is
displaced with completion fluid. The remaining tasks are as
follows.
• Sting back into the packer with the seals and pressure test
the tubing and annulus again as required.
• Install a back pressure valve (BPV) and nipple down the
BOP stack.
• Nipple up the production tree and orient valves in the
proper direction.
• Retrieve the BPV and pressure test the tree as specified by
the operator.
Step 4 involves rigging up slickline and then carrying out
the following tasks: pressure test the lubricator and run in the
borehole with the appropriate tool and retrieve the isolation
sleeve from the pre-milled window joint.
At this point, the operator may or may not choose to install
a tubing-exit-whipstock to gain access to the lateral borehole
section for remedial work. For informational purposes, it is
assumed that the operator does want lateral access and is ready
to proceed to step 5. Step 5 requires that the tubing-exit-
whipstock be run in the borehole on slickline and set in the
pre-milled window joint. The pre-milled window joint
incorporates an orienting sleeve. An orienting guide on the
whipstock interfaces with the sleeve. Together, they
automatically face the whipstock in the direction of the milled
casing window. After setting the whipstock, the running tool is
retrieved to surface and the slickline and lubricator are rigged
down. (See Fig. 5.)
In step 6, coiled tubing is rigged up and run out into the
lateral borehole section to perform remedial work as required.
(See Fig. 5) After completion of the coiled tubing operations,
the coiled tubing is pulled back to surface and the unit is
rigged down. Slickline is then rigged up and the whipstock is
retrieved with the appropriate pulling tool. At this point, the
isolation sleeve can be installed so that the lateral borehole
section can be shut off. (See Fig. 6.) Or, it can be left out,
allowing simultaneous production from both the main bore
and lateral borehole section.
It should be noted that in the example given above the
installation and retrieval of the tubing exit whipstock was done
on slickline. However, these operations are done equally as
well with coiled tubing. The method of installation and or
retrieval is based on downhole conditions and operator
preference.
Case History
As of October 1999, nine wells have been recompleted as
short-radius wells utilizing the Selective Lateral Re-entry
System in the fields in question. The sections below discuss
the performance of some of these wells.
IADC/SPE 59209 A NEW SELECTIVE LATERAL RE-ENTRY SYSTEM
Uthmaniyah Well-A. This well was drilled and completed in
December 1993 as an Arab-D-reservoir, vertical producer. The
well was drilled to a total depth of 7425 feet and was
completed openhole with 4 1/2-in. tubing and packer. During
completion, resistivity logs showed that the well has
approximately 80 feet of oil column.
The well was put on initial production in January 1995.
The initial production rates for the well were an oil rate of 4
thousand BOPD, a water rate of 10 thousand BWPD and a 71
% water cut. After 3 years of production, the well rate
declined to 1.6 thousand BOPD; and the water cut increased to
85 %. Based on the performance of other wells in the area, it
was expected that the well would shortly cease to flow and
then die. A production log run in the well showed that the
remaining oil column was 65 ft and that there was a high
water flow interval in the middle of the reservoir at the bottom
of the oil column. Due to the thinning oil column and in order
to keep away from the high water flow streak, it was decided
to recomplete the well as a short-radius horizontal well. The
target would be the top 5 ft of the reservoir.
It was also necessary to insure — when targeting the top
— that the sweep of the remaining interval of the reservoir be
monitored. Therefore, it was necessary to maintain the vertical
borehole for production log monitoring. This requirement
necessitated installation of a system to provide access to both
the vertical and the horizontal sections of the borehole, as well
as to isolate either section when necessary. The Selective
Lateral Re-entry System was selected as the tool to satisfy
these requirements.
The well was worked over in October 1998. A 600-ft,
horizontal borehole was drilled while still maintaining the
vertical borehole. A 7-in. Selective Lateral Re-entry System
was installed across the window and the well was completed
with 4 ½-in. tubing. A trial test was conducted because this
installation was the first installation done in this operator’s
wells. The test was designed to insure that the horizontal
borehole could be accessed. This insurance was provided in
two ways: (1) by installing a tubing exit whipstock on
slickline and (2) by running coiled tubing into the lateral. All
of these steps were carried out with no problems. In fact the
coiled tubing was passed in and out of the casing window six
times and run six hundred feet into the lateral. Also, an
isolation sleeve was set opposite the window and retrieved
later without problem.
After the well recompletion, the well was put on
production and was able to flow at a rate of 3.6 thousand
BOPD oil with a 20 % water cut. The well has produced
663,000 bbl since recompletion and has significantly increased
the production and recovery from that area. The vertical
borehole of the well will be logged at a later date to monitor
the sweep efficiency.
Hawiyah Well-A. This well was drilled and completed in
November 1974 as an Arab-D-reservoir vertical producer. The
well was drilled to a total depth of 6701 feet. The reservoir
had an oil column of more than 150 feet.
3
The well was put on initial production in December 1974.
The initial production rate of the well showed an oil rate of 15
thousand BOPD with a 0 % water cut. During the later years,
several workovers were performed for maintenance reasons,
which resulted in slimming the original 7-in. wellbore to 4 ½
inches. After 19 years of production, the well rate declined to
1.5 thousand BOPD; and the water cut increased to 60 %. The
decline in production and the increase in water cut called for
remedial action. A water shutoff using polymer was performed
on the well. Injection of the polymer isolated a high water
flow streak, and the well was livened. However, the well
flowed intermittently and died frequently, events that called
for numerous livening attempts by flaring the well. The well
then expired; apparently it could not be livened again.
However, inspection of a previous production log showed that
a 50-ft oil column remained. The thinning oil column and the
desire to restore production from this well lead to a decision to
recomplete the well as a short-radius horizontal. The target
would be the top 5 feet of the reservoir. As with the
Uthmaniyah Well-A well, it was necessary to insure that the
sweep of the remaining interval of the reservoir be monitored.
Therefore, it was necessary to maintain the vertical borehole
for monitoring. Again, as with the Uthmaniyah well, there was
a need to provide access to both the vertical and horizontal
section of borehole as well as to isolate either of them when
necessary. Hence, the Selective Lateral Re-entry System was
chosen to meet these needs.
The well was worked over in July 1999. A 1000-ft
horizontal borehole was drilled while still maintaining the
vertical borehole. A 4 1/2-in. Selective Lateral Re-entry
System was installed, because this well had a slim wellbore
across the milled casing window and the well was completed
with 4 1/2-in. x 2 7/8-in. tubing.
After recompletion, the well was put on production and
was able to flow at a rate of 4 thousand BOPD oil with a 0 %
water cut. The well has produced 346,000 bbl since
completion and has significantly increased production and
recovery from that area.
Haradh Well-A. This well was drilled in July 1998 as an
Arab-D-reservoir vertical well. The well was drilled to a total
depth of 6840 ft. The drilling rig was released without
completing the well after suspending the well with cement.
The resistivity logs showed that the well had approximately
100 feet of oil column.
As a result of the poor performance of other vertical wells
in this field, it was decided to convert the well to a short-
radius horizontal design. The plans were to move back onto
the well with a workover rig and to recomplete it with a short-
radius horizontal extension into the top of the reservoir. Again,
it was necessary to insure that, when targeting the reservoir
top, the sweep of the remaining interval of the reservoir be
monitored. Monitoring was seen as particularly important
because this well had a very thick oil column. Again, it was
necessary to maintain the vertical borehole for future
monitoring. Again, plans provided access to both the vertical
and horizontal sections of the borehole and also provided
4 W. MARK RIVENBARK, MOHAMMED I. AL-SOWAYIGH, AND YOUSEF A. AL-FURAIDAN IADC/SPE 59209

isolation of either section when necessary. The Selective
Lateral Re-entry System was again selected to meet these
objectives.
The well was worked over in March 1999. A 2300-ft
horizontal borehole was drilled while still maintaining the
vertical borehole. A 7-in. Selective Lateral Re-entry System
was installed across the window, and the well was completed
with 4 1/2-in. tubing. The well is currently producing at a rate
of 3 thousand BOPD oil with a 13 % water cut. This well,
along with other wells in this field, is still under evaluation.
The vertical borehole on this well will be logged at a later date
to monitor the sweep efficiency.
Future Plans
To date, operations in the fields mentioned have been so
completely successful that there are now plans to install two
Selective Lateral Re-entry Systems in a single well. This
design will allow independent access to two lateral sections of
the well in addition to the main bore. However, the design will
require that the tubing-exit-whipstock and the isolation sleeve
pass through an upper window and locate in the lower
window. Other operators have expressed an interest in placing
as many as six Selective Lateral Re-entry Systems in a single
well. Testing is ongoing to insure these objectives can be
achieved.
Summary
The Selective Lateral Re-entry System as described in this
paper has met the objectives of allowing through-tubing
access to both the lateral and main bore sections of the wells
in question. Additionally, the operator is meeting the
company’s operational and economic objectives. Operations in
the fields mentioned in the text have been completely
successful and are encouraging the use of multiple Selective
Lateral Re-entry System technology applications in the same
well.
TL SETTING
TOOL

7” TL
PACKER

CASING

PRE-MILLED WINDOW JOINT

CASING WINDOW
CASING WINDOW SELF LOCATING
7” CASING
KEY
5 7/8” OPEN
5 7/8” OPEN HOLE LATERAL
HOLE LATERAL

SEALASSEMBLY

7” LOWER PACKER

7” LOWER PACKER

TAILPIPE NIPPLE
TAILPIPE NIPPLE

Fig. 1—Running the tailpipe assembly on a permanent Fig. 2—Seal assembly, pre-milled window joint, and a
production packer and hydraulic setting tool. torque-locked retrievable packer.
IADC/SPE 59209 A NEW SELECTIVE LATERAL RE-ENTRY SYSTEM 5

COMPLETION TUBING

‘TL’ SETTING
UPPER COMPLETION
TOOL
SE
A SA
S LE M B L Y
7” ’ TL
PACKER

C A S IN G W I N D O W CASING WINDOW

P R E - M IL L E D
W I N D O W J O IN T 5 7/8” OPEN 5 7/8” OPEN
HOLE LATERAL HOLE LATERAL

SELF LOCATING
KEY

SEAL ASSEMBLY

7” LOWER PACKER

TAILPIPE NIPPLE

Fig. 3—The seal assembly and production tubing are run and Fig. 4—Upper seal assembly is stung into the torque locked
landed in the lower packer. Pre-milled window joint is aligned and packer.
the torque locked packer is set.
6 W. MARK RIVENBARK, MOHAMMED I. AL-SOWAYIGH, AND YOUSEF A. AL-FURAIDAN IADC/SPE 59209

COILED TUBING ISOLATION SLEEVE

W H IPSTOCK

WIRELINE
MEMORY GAUGES

Fig. 5—Running the tubing-exit-whipstock in the borehole on Fig. 6—Isolation sleeve installed.
slickline and setting it in the pre-milled window joint. Coiled
tubing run into the lateral.