ZERS Research and Development Center

Multilateral wells
with a single maintained borehole
 Well development stages
STAGE 1
Running a liner into the well

After drilling the first borehole, a liner with filters and a liner hanger is run
into the well. The top part of the liner is a hollow whipstock that can freely
rotate about the liner axis. An orienter device is installed directly above the
liner hanger and used to set the direction of the second borehole drilling
prior to the run.
 Well development stages
STAGE 2
Orientation

The whipstock is oriented in a set direction:

The drill string is rotated at a certain angle (30 degrees), then the circulation flow is increased.
Once the well pressure starts to rise, it means that the whipstock has been oriented in the set
direction
 Well development stages
STAGE 3
Anchoring and detachment

The whipstock is oriented in a set direction:

The drill string is rotated at a certain angle (30 degrees), then the circulation flow is increased.
Once the well pressure starts to increase, it means that the whipstock has been oriented in
the set direction. By a progressive pressure increase, the liner is anchored and then
disengaged with a pressure of 16 MPa from the setting tool. After that, the drilling tool is
pulled out. The liner with the whipstock (diameter of 74 mm/ 2,91’’ inch) remains in the hole.
 Well development stages
STAGE 4
Second hole drilling

Kicking-off and drilling the second borehole to the design depth

Liner with filters and liner hanger is run into the well
 Well development stages
STAGE 4
second hole drilling

Standard non-cemented liner hanger is used to run the liner into the well

Inflatable packers are installed above the point of borehole junction

 Equipment used
Liner hangers
PHN-KO2
Liner hanger with whipstock and anchor

- maximum effective axial load of 50 tons per pipe running meter

- anchor packer opening pressure: 120 atm.
Equipment used
Liner hangers
PHN-KO2
Application procedure

Using UOKS device to

orientate the whipstock

Increasing pressure to 200 atm to trigger

the anchoring unit

Separating the whipstock

by pulling the string up
 Equipment used
Liner hangers
PHN-KO2
Main specifications
Value
№ Parameter
PHN-KO2.143 PHN-KO2.153

1 Device maximum outer diameter, mm (inch) 138 (5,43’’) 140,5 (5,5’’)

2 Device inner diameter, mm (inch) 70 (2,75”) 70 (2,75”)

3 Drill diameter for kicking-off the 2nd borehole, mm (inch) 142.9 (5,625”) 152.4 (6”)

4 Running bolt shearing force*, kN (mt) 15÷30 15÷30

5 Anchoring pressure, Mpa 20 20

6 Maximum borehole diameter for anchoring, mm (inch) 165 (6,49”) 175 (6,88”)

7 Maximum load capacity, Kn (mt) 25÷50 25÷50

8 Whipstock azimuth angle, degrees 2 deg 30 min 2 deg 30 min

9 Overall device length, mm (inch), no more than 5770 5700

10 Top coupling thread З-86 З-86

 Equipment used
Liner hangers
PHN-KO5
Liner hanger with whipstock and anchor (hydraulic)

During the run, the hanger rotates freely relative to the liner.
Once the whipstock is oriented and the pressure is supplied to the hanger, the packer
anchor inflates and the downhole tool is disconnected at a pressure of 160 atm.
 Equipment used
Liner hangers
PHN-KO5
Main specifications
№ Parameter Value
1. Maximum tensile force at which body parts stress reaches the yield strength, mt 60

2. Maximum outer diameter, mm (inch) 146 (5,74”)

3. Whipstock drift diameter, mm (inch) 74 (2,91)
4. Separation pressure, atm 160
5. Nominal borehole diameter, mm (inch) 152.4-155.6
(6” – 6,12”)
6. Maximum inner diameter in which the device is installed, mm, no more than 170 (6,69”)

7. Length, mm 7526 (296,29”)

8. Corrugation length, mm 2500 (98,42”)
9. Suspending capacity, mt, no more than 50
10. Weight, kg 499.2
11. Coupling thread: - top З-86
- bottom OTTM 114
 Used equipment
Orienter device
UOKS
Assembly orienter device

The device consists of a throttle on-off valve, which closes when a certain flow of liquid
is pumped through it. In the open state, the circulation goes through the side openings,
while in the closed state the side openings are closed and pressure is applied to the
lower sub of the device.
In addition, the valve can be closed only in one set position. The valve is closed in a
horizontal position only when it is oriented in a set direction (toward the center of the
earth).
The valve is screwed directly onto the hanger. The internal part of the valve is
removable and has 10 set positions. Once the required azimuthal direction of the
whipstock relative to the center of the earth is set before the run, the liner is descended
to the target depth. After the circulation is restored, the flow of the fluid pumped through
it increases and the drill string is turned until the valve closes under the closing
pressure.
 Equipment operation procedure

Record the weight indications when moving up and down. Use the weight indicator to set the load
level corresponding to the zero bore at the hanger depth. To do this, move the tool down to achieve
a load when moving the entire assembly down, then stretch the string to the level when the boring
tool begins moving up, as set earlier when preparing the wellbore for the liner running, making an
adjustment for the drill collar.
After making a mark on the boring tool, perform a test rotation with the same number of revolutions
as previously performed when making the depth-weight check of the boring tool. Check the readings
of the torque meter, the readings should increase steadily and then remain at the same level. If
there are any sudden changes in the rotation, reset the weight by increasing or decreasing the
stretch by 2-3 metric tons. Stop the rotation. Apply marks with 30° intervals to the rotor.
Orientate PHN-KO hanger whipstock. To do this, enable circulation with the surface equipment flow
rate under 4 l/s. Set the nominal pressure (about 5 MPa). Increase flow rate to 6-8 l/s, and if the
pressure begins to increase rapidly above 5 MPa, then the whipstock is set in the correct planned
direction. Without stopping the injection, proceed to the hanger activation with a further increase in
the pressure. To do this, increase the pressure in increments of 15-20 atm, with intervals of 2-3
minutes up to 16 MPa to anchor the hanger, then raise the pressure to 200 atm. Check if the
separation is successful.
 Equipment operation procedure

If the orientation is set but the pressure does not increase in a minute, interrupt the circulation.
Rotate the casing string using the top drive and the assembly (taking into account the residual
torque) by 30°. Turn on the circulation and increase surface equipment flow rate to 8 l/s. If the
pressure does not increase in a minute, interrupt the circulation. Rotate the assembly with the top
drive, taking into account the residual torque, by another 30°. Repeat similar attempts until the
indications peak and the pressure increases to the nominal level > 5 Mpa.
 Experience
2016: 3 multilateral wells
2017: 9 multilateral wells
2018: 18 multilateral wells
(9 months)
 Achievements
Quadruple borehole at Novoportovskoye
oil and gas condensate field

Casing shoe 178 mm (2345 m)

Whipstock 1 (2451 m)
Whipstock 2 (2553 m)
South(-) North(+) 300 m/inch

Whipstock 3 (2779 m)

Lateral 2
(bottom 3544 m)

Lateral 1 (bottom 3423 m)

Lateral 3 (bottom 3649 m)

Lateral 4 – main (bottom 3923 m)