IADC/SPE 151378

Multilateral History - Deepest Level 4 Cemented Junction Installation

An Wen Hua, Teng Xue Qing, Yang Xiang Tong, and Bai Deng Xiang, Tarim Oilfield Company; Calvin Ponton,
SPE, Justin Roberts, SPE, and Doug Durst, P.E., SPE, Halliburton

Copyright 2012, IADC/SPE Drilling Conference and Exhibition

This paper was prepared for presentation at the 2012 IADC/SPE Drilling Conference and Exhibition held in San Diego, California, USA, 6–8 March 2012.

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 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 does not necessarily
reflect any position of the International Association of Drilling Contractors or the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its officers, or members. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any
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Abstract
An operator was challenged with increasing production efficiencies from new single wellbores in the deep Tarim basin
reservoirs of China. To increase and optimize single well production performance, multilateral drilling and completion
technology were implemented on this initial pilot test well.
The remote location of the multilateral well in the Tarim Desert of the Xinjiang Province in northwestern China proved to
be an operational and logistical challenge in terms of time (4 to 5 days travel by vehicle) and distance (3600 kilometers) to
the nearest repair and maintenance facilities in Tanggu, Tianjin Province in eastern China. Critical planning, aggressive
project management oversight, and strong collaboration between the operator and service supplier resulted in the world’s
deepest TAML Level 4 cemented multilateral installation at 5082 m TVD junction depth and 5889 m MD at the lateral toe.
The well design was based on a vertical pilot well, or motherbore, drilled and cased into the reservoir. The multilateral
system was then installed to add an additional wellbore, thereby increasing reservoir exposure. The goals of this system were
to accelerate production, increase ultimate recovery and, for this particular operator, to qualify multilateral technology for this
particular field application. Because of the unprecedented depth of the proposed junction, thorough project management and
planning were required throughout, from the feasibility phase through the execution phase, to amplify risk mitigation and to
effect a successful project installation.
This project is the first multilateral installation for this client; it was the first cemented Level 4 multilateral in China, and
is the deepest Level 4 multilateral installed worldwide. This paper describes the objectives, challenges, best practices,
contingencies, logistics issues, results, and lessons learned from the implementation of this deep-set multilateral technology.

Introduction

The Tarim Basin. The Tarim basin is located in the southern part of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, in northwest
China (see Fig. 1). The central part of the basin is occupied by the Takelamagan Desert, which is the second largest moving
desert in the world and covers approximately 60% of the basin. The mountains to the north, south, and southeast of the basin
are Tian Shan, Kunlun, and Altun mountain ranges, respectively. The average elevation of the central part of the basin is
1000 m; the average elevation of the mountains around the basin is 2000 to 3000 m, with many peaks above 6000 m. All
rivers in the basin are inland rivers, and most of the rivers are seasonal. The longest river is the Tarim River; it is 2197 km
long and flows through the northern part of the basin (Guilin et al. 1991).
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Fig. 1—Tarim Desert basin.

Geological investigation of the Tarim basin began more than 100 years ago. In the late 1880s, a Russian exploration party
headed by U. B. Ignarch performed geological reconnaissance in the Kuche depression, north of the basin. After that, the
Chinese, Russian, and western geologists conducted geological investigations in the north and west marginal areas of the
basin. The Tarim basin is a giant superimposed and faulted intracratonic basin. The basin is characterized by three uplifts and
four depressions. The uplifts include the North Tarim uplift, the Central uplift, and the South Tarim uplift; the depressions
include the Kuche depressions, the North depression, the Southwest depression, and the Southeast depression. These uplifts
and depressions can be further divided (Guilin et al. 1991).
The North Tarim uplift, with a near east-west strike direction, is situated between the Kuche depression and the North
depression and covers an area of 36,600 km2. Paleozoic hydrocarbon generated in the North depression and Mesozoic
hydrocarbon from the Kuche depression migrated along regional unconformities and faults and accumulated in the traps of
the uplift. High levels of oil and gas production have been obtained from several of these traps (Guilin et al. 1991).

Tarim Oilfield Description. The assessment unit is characterized by structurally and stratigraphically controlled oil and gas
fields in Ordovician carbonate reservoirs, Carboniferous sandstone and carbonate reservoirs, and Mesozoic and Cenozoic
sandstone reservoirs accompanying central basin depressions and paleouplifts. Deeply buried pods of mature Ordovician,
Carboniferous, and Jurassic source rocks are located in the north (Manjaer-Awati) and southwest depressions of the basin.
The dominant source rocks are marine shelf shale and mudstone of Ordovician age deposited in an anoxic marine
environment. The thickness of the Ordovician source rock sequence is estimated at approximately 50 to 100 m. Total organic
carbon (TOC) values range from 1.2 to 2.8 percent and average approximately 1.9 percent. Secondary source rocks are
marine shelf shale and argillaceous carbonate of Carboniferous age, and coal and lacustrine shale of Jurassic age. Primary
reservoir rocks consist of Ordovician carbonate and Carboniferous sandstone and carbonate. Carbonate reservoirs contain
abundant karst-related fractures and caverns attributable to intense weathering accompanying regional unconformities. The
reservoir quality of the Carboniferous shoreface sandstone (Donghe sandstone) is generally good because of its quartzose
composition. Sandstone reservoirs of Mesozoic and Cenozoic age are fine- to medium-grained (Ryder 2000).
The Tarim oilfield is one of the younger CNPC oil fields that takes an important role toward attaining the goal of “Rapid
Development for the West.” Crude production has risen quickly during the last 20 years. The current annual output exceeds 6
million tons as a result of high efficiency and rapid development of the sandstone oil field. There are four major sandstone
oilfields, including Lunnan oilfield (LN), Tazhong4 oilfield (TZ4), Donghe oilfield (DH), and Hadexun oilfield (HD).
Geologic reserve production an annual output of the four major sandstone oilfields account for Tarim oilfields’ 52.3% and
54.6% overall performance respectively; consequently, they are crucial to sustainable development (Yu et al. 2010).
The four major oilfields are characterized by deep or ultra deep reservoirs, high pressure, high temperature, middle
porosity, middle permeability, low viscosity, and low oil/water viscosity ratios. The reservoirs are buried between 3600 to
3700 m, with initial permeability values that range from 63 to 297 mD; the average porosity values range from 12.2 to
18.4%, and the oil viscosity values range from 0.34 to 4.78 mps. The main reservoir type is edge and bottom water reservoir
oriented. Multi oil-bearing formations are distributed longitudinally with higher permeability variation coefficients (Yu et al.
2010).
As compared with domestic and foreign land reservoirs, the four major sandstone reservoirs have made satisfactory
progress. A set of “rapid and high efficiency development pattern” of middle or high permeability sandstone reservoirs has
been formed. After a period of high-yield and stabilized production, they have been at the stage of medium water cut and
IADC/SPE 151378 3

high degree of recovery, and have entered into a stage of comprehensive adjustment and slow but steady yield (Yu et al.
2010).

TAML Level 4 Multilateral Window System. During the course of drilling and completing a Level 4 multilateral well, a
drilling whipstock and/or completion window or deflector are required to be installed precisely across the casing window.
Later in the life of the well, workover whipstocks may also be deployed; each of these tools must be set at the same depth and
orientation.
To achieve this repeatable, reliable depth and orientation reference, an anchoring system in the form of a coupling with
landing profile, a latch coupling, is installed as an integral and therefore permanent part of the casing string immediately
below the casing window aperture. These couplings are modified casing collars machined with a landing profile intended to
receive milling, drilling, and completion devices during lateral construction activities and later, completion and workover
activities.
The latch coupling enables the repeatable setting of whipstocks and other components at exactly the same depth and
orientation for entry to, and for operations within, the lateral. It also provides unrestricted casing access to the lower
mainbore. The latch coupling maintains casing pressure integrity, which enables the well to be completed and produced in
virtually any manner.
In practice, any number of latch couplings can be installed in a well, and they are available in several sizes. The latch
coupling, depending on size, has several oriented internal profiles. It is used to preferentially orientate the latch assembly
used with subsequent multilateral tools, to be installed either temporarily or permanently in the well.
The latch coupling has a unique profile in which specialized slots are manufactured within the latch housing coupling;
these profiled slots match the corresponding latch keys of the latch, providing positive alignment for the latch in both the
axial and azimuthal axes. The keys are spring loaded and, at a pre-determined axial load, the latch is released and retrieved
from the latch coupling.
The latch assembly has several sprung keys to correspond with the latch coupling profile and will only match the latch
coupling profile at the specified orientation. By pushing the latch assembly through the latch coupling un-oriented, deeper
placed latch couplings can be reached.
The standard installation procedure is to run the tool with the latch assembly to a depth just above the latch coupling and
establish parameters, such as up and down weights with and without rotation, free rotating torque, and minimum non
fluctuating RPM. The latch assembly is then lowered to tag the latch coupling. Next, the string is marked and the latch
assembly pulled to approximately 1.5 m above the latch coupling. Having preset the torque limiter to 3,000 ft-lbf above free
rotating torque at minimum fluctuating RPM, the string is lowered with rotation until it stalls out. The weight and torque is
then set down to verify that it is correctly latched.
With a latch coupling installed in the casing of new wells, or with an anchor packer with an integral latch coupling in the
re-entry of existing wells, the next step in the window creation is to run a track-guided milling system (see Fig. 2). A track-
guided milling system is an engineered milling system in which the mill is guided down a track on a raised bed, which
ensures the creation of straight defined window geometry that is a slightly under-gauged hole. The track-guided milling
system incorporates a special window milling machine that enables a near-rectangular window to be created at a precise
depth and azimuth on a repeatable basis by using the latch coupling anchoring system. After this mill run, a second mill run is
performed that uses a drilling whipstock and attached mill assembly to open the window to full gauge and to provide a
suitable length of rathole to accommodate drilling bottomhole assemblies (BHAs).
The contact of the track guided mill with the steel casing differs from a conventional mill; rather than being oblique to the
casing at the same angle as the whipstock, the mill meets the steel horizontally and cuts square ends to the aperture. This
design eliminates the rolloff effect and renders a completion-friendly aperture geometry that is unlikely to tear away external
liner/screen components or damage the screens. To achieve this outcome, the mill design differs radically from the traditional
shape and includes the attributes of a flat-bottomed mill and of a section mill. The durable cutting structure incorporates
integral circulation paths to effectively remove milled debris and to cool the mill.
The length of milling machine produces a window that is significantly longer than those achieved with conventional
whipstocks. The elongated window enables a far smoother exit by stiff variable OD drilling BHAs, lateral screens, or
completion tools. The resultant dogleg is much lower than conventionally milled windows and in one plane, as opposed to a
spiral which, by its nature, will always be three dimensional (Ponton et al. 2010).
The track-guided milling system creates a longer window geometry, which is important for minimizing the dogleg
severity through the junction to make drilling and completions operations easier and more reliable. This control of the
window geometry and position makes the track-guided milled window particularly significant in wells that require lateral re-
entry and through tubing re-entry. In addition, the Level 4 multilateral system provides mechanical integrity at the junction
and isolation between zones using cement. The track-guided milling system has been used to successfully create hundreds of
casing windows that were completed as TAML Level 4 junctions with fully cemented full bore lateral liners. The milling
system creates either a Level 2 or Level 4 cemented multilateral junction that can be the basis for a Level 5 multilateral
completion system.
Typically for a planned level 4 installation all lateral legs will be completed with a cemented liner and transition near the
top or at top of the liner(s). After the window has been created and the lateral leg is fully drilled and cleaned a liner is
4 IADC/SPE 151378

installed and tripped to TD. As part of this upper lateral liner a transition joint is included and positioned at the top of this
liner with the transition joint just placed near the top of the whipstock. Cement is then displaced thru the liner and up the
annulus side of the casing with a calculated planned overage to allow for approximately 100 to 300 ft of cement above the
transition joint/whipstock in the mainbore. A hydraulic release tool utilized to install this upper lateral liner will be released
and tripped out of hole immediately after cement displacement. With cement cured the overage in the mainbore is drilled out
with a standard bit just to the top of the whipstock. Additional mill run(s) are made to clean out the remainder of the liner.
A washover/washover shoe assembly is then picked up then tagged to top of the whipstock; time milling is then initiated
to allow the washover shoe to slowly mill behind and over the whipstock. While milling over the whipstock a tangential
portion of transition joint is also cut. At completion of cut the washover assembly is latched into the bottom of the whipstock
via a set of wedge bearing slips which allows for removal of both the whipstock and the transition joint remnant. This
completes the construction of a level 4 junction.

Track-guided Milling System Benefits. The benefits of the track-guided milling system include the following:
• Maximize the reservoir exposure
• Increase production capability with full bore access to the mainbore and laterals; also enables re-entry to both the
lateral and the mainbore)
• Provide a high strength TAML Level 4 junction with sand control by using a patented washover system
• Applicable to new or existing wells
• Uses a latch coupling for permanent, repeatable depth reference and orientation
• Provides strong mechanical integrity of the junction using cement and casing
• Can complete as TAML Level 2, 4, or 5 junction
• Meets full casing burst and collapse specifications
• Provides precise window geometry
• Enables the lateral liner to be cemented fully or stage cemented
• Whipstock incorporates cement seals, which prevent debris from entering its release mechanism
• Multiple whipstock retrieval methods ensure reliable contingency is provided to regain full ID access to the
mainbore

Fig. 2—Track Guided Milling System

Well Design and Planning. Well design and targets were reviewed, analyzed for risk assessment/mitigation, and discussed
in extensive detail at a series of meetings between all parties involved. The depth required by Tarim was considered
technically achievable if proper planning and risk assessments were performed, including solutions and contingencies to
address the technical challenges that included but were not limited to the following:
• Logistical challenges: Equipment repair and maintenance facilities in Tanggu were 3600 km overland by vehicle (4
to 5 days travel by vehicle). Daily coordination and communication between wellsite engineers, project
coordinators, and company representatives was imperative.
• Phased installation and execution: Equipment was imported, assembled, tested, and made ready in Tanggu, then
trucked to the wellsite. Coordination and planning was required to address this challenge.
• Front end engineering design (FEED): A TAML 7-in. Level 4 had never been attempted at this depth, and the
execution of the project was carefully considered before beginning operations. A detailed analysis of the torque and
drag associated with milling, running a lateral liner, and stage cementation at depth were conducted. The extensive
and exhaustive FEED was completed in April 2010.
IADC/SPE 151378 5

Drilling Operations Summary. The well plan and design for Well YM33-H4 required a dual-lateral drain guide hole in the
vertical section, with a horizontal lateral. The well design consisted of a 7-in. 29 ft-lbf liner being set in the reservoir, with a
shoe at 5531 m MD, and a liner top set in the 9-5/8-in. casing at 4852 m MD (see Fig. 3 and Fig. 4).
While running the 7-in. production liner, a latch coupling was made up as an integral component in the 7-in. string. The
latch coupling was set at a predetermined depth to place the subsequently milled window at the center of the casing joint
directly above. Consequently, the position of the latch coupling in the liner string is critical in reaching the lateral targets.
• At initial spud-in, a 17 ½-in. hole was drilled to 1500 m; a 13 3/8-in. casing was set and cemented to surface.
• The 12-1/4-in. hole section was drilled to 5066 m; a 9 5/8-in. intermediate casing was then set and stage cemented.
• An 8 ½-in. hole was drilled to 5592 m TD.
• A 7-in. production liner was run and cemented; the top of the 7-in. liner was at 4852 m.
• The 7-in. production liner included a 7-in. latch coupling, positioned at 5089 m; a 7-in. shoe was positioned at
5531 m.
• A cement plug was set at 5547 m and tested.
• The interval from 5538 m to 5547 m was perforated with drillpipe.
• A 7-in. mechanical set retrievable bridge plug (RBP) was set at 5188 m and tested.

Fig. 3—Geological profile.

Fig. 4—Vertical completion of well.

MLT Operations Summary. A dual purpose landing and cleaning tool, combined with a universal bottomhole orientation
(UBHO) sub in the tool string, was run to depth to jet the latch coupling free of debris and latch into it to obtain the final
azimuthal orientation of the latch coupling, positioned at 5089 m. After it was latched in, a gyro was run on wireline,
surveyed and seated in the UBHO four times to confirm the final orientation. This reading is used to calculate the alignment
offset on the milling tools for the window to be milled at the planned exit azimuth. After the wireline was recovered, the tool
was then pulled out of hole and laid down.
6 IADC/SPE 151378

The track-guided milling tool was then picked up and aligned on the rig floor before running it in the hole. The milling
tool was then run through the rotary and the remainder of the BHA was made up. A PBL circulation sub was included further
up the drillstring, calculated to be near the 7-in. liner top after the window milling operation was completed. This process was
to enable jetting of the liner top after milling was completed and just before pulling the milling tool out of the hole.
The milling tool/whipstock BHA was run and set into the latch coupling to begin milling operations. The total milling
time was slightly more than six hours. The removal of the steel cuttings is essential for the proper functionality of the mill
and future operations through and around the junction. To achieve this, high viscosity sweeps were pumped at regular
intervals, which resulted in the majority of the steel debris being captured on magnets placed in the shale shakers. This
process was aided with the use of the PBL circulation sub, which was opened and circulated through at a high rate for 1.5
hours.
To optimize efficiency, the track-guided milling tool and setting tool are designed as one integrated assembly. This design
enables the tool to be set, operated, and pulled out of the hole in one trip. After the milling and sweeps were completed, the
tool was pulled out of the latch coupling and to surface, then inspected and laid down.
The track guided milling system creates a 5.2 inch window therefore a 2nd milling/whipstock run is made to open the
window to full gauge and drill a short rathole. The drilling whipstock is then run in the well with a tandem 6-in. window
opening mill assembly fastened with a shear bolt. The whipstock was set in the latch coupling, and the running string was
reciprocated to fatigue the shear bolt. After it sheared, the window was opened to full gauge, and a 6-in. rathole was drilled
into the formation to 5086 m MD. The total milling time was 9.3 hours, which includes the original 6 hours plus additional
3.3 hours to open to full gauge plus reaming time. The milling assembly was then pulled out of hole, inspected, and laid
down.
A rotary drilling assembly with a 6-in. tri-cone bit was first used to kick-off the whipstock and build angle in the
formation. This process proved to be difficult with this assembly. It was decided to make another attempt with the 6-in. tri-
cone bit using a bent housing mud motor. This process also encountered problems with building angle, so the assembly was
pulled out of the hole.
With the data obtained on these two bit runs and by reviewing the original mainbore casing cement bond logs again, it
was determined that the drilling BHA was tracking down along the outside of the 7-in. liner because the original mainbore
cement was inadequate, leaving a section of un-cemented annulus in the area of the window exit. . Additionally, it was
determined from re-evaluation of the prior trips in the well that the drilling whipstock had possibly become unlatched from
the latch coupling, hence the inability to drill the build for the two six inch bit runs that were previously attempted.
After attempts to retrieve the whisptock were unsuccessful, a decision was reached to run in the hole with a flat bottom
plug and to push the whipstock downhole to the previously set retrievable bridge plug. A cement plug was then pumped on
top of the whipstock and bridge plug, and then a conventional 6-in. bit and motor was run and a lower lateral hole drilled to
5544 m. A 4.5-in. liner was run to 5538 m and cemented followed by openhole perforations performed from 5544 to 5550 m.
During placement of the cement plug to allow for drillout of the lower lateral, additional cement was displaced in the
mainbore to a point above the original window and rathole created at 5086 m and also squeezed into the un-cemented annulus
that was not properly cemented during the mainbore well construction cementing ops (see Fig. 5). At this time a back up
drilling whipstock assembly was made up with another 6-in. milling assembly and run in the hole on a shear bolt to be
latched into the original latch coupling at 5089 m. The whipstock was latched in without difficulty and oriented to face the
window and rathole that had been previously created and squeeze cemented. The window and rathole were re-opened up to
6-in. and again reamed to 5089 m MD. The total milling time was slightly less than 3 hours because we were simply drilling
cement out of the original window and rathole that was created during the first run noted above. The mills were pulled to the
surface, inspected, and laid down.
A sidetracking BHA, consisting a 6-in. tri-cone bit, bent housing mud motor, and UBHO was run in the hole to whipstock
depth and orientated using a gyro orientation tool. The BHA successfully kicked off the whipstock and built substantial angle
into the formation. The 6-in. open hole lateral was then drilled to 5892 m MD.
To complete the upper lateral, a 4-1/2-in. slotted liner was landed in the pay zone. Because it was required that the
junction be cemented (TAML level 4), an inflatable annular casing packer (ACP) and stage cementer were planned between
the blank pipe and the slotted liner. The entire lateral completion string was run in the hole with a specialized running that
enabled cementation. Made up to the top of the liner was a transition joint that was positioned across the whipstock at the
junction. This placement plays an important role in the whipstock retrieval operation. After the string was landed on depth,
pressure was applied to inflate the ACP and the stage cementer. The blank pipe portion of the string could then be cemented
and the running tool released.
After waiting on the cement, the main bore and lateral string were cleaned out. A washover pipe assembly with a 6-in.
OD burnshoe was tripped in the hole to burn over the transition joint and whipstock assembly. The washover pipe was
designed specifically for this whipstock. The whipstock is centralized with a combination of easily millable indicator
centralizers, which are burned through with the burnshoe. While the washover pipe swallows the whipstock, it also mills
across the transition joint, removing the section protruding into the 7-in. mainbore liner and leaving the lateral liner top flush
with the ID of the mainbore wall. This transition joint remnant remains trapped inside the washover pipe barrel as it travels
further down the whipstock. The washover pipe engaged the whipstock and the whipstock was then pulled free from the latch
IADC/SPE 151378 7

coupling and pulled out of the hole. The drilling whipstock assembly and transition joint remnant were fully recovered to
surface in accordance with the program. The TAML Level 4 junction was completed (see Fig. 5).

Fig. 5—Final well schematic.

Lessons Learned. The lessons learned from this project include the following:
• FEED and planning are integral components of successful multilateral applications.  
• The cementation of the production casing/liner in and around the junction are key components to successful
departure from the vertical window.  
• A TAML Level 4 junction can be successfully constructed and tested beyond 5000 m depth.  
8 IADC/SPE 151378

Results
The well was completed with a 7-in. production packer positioned at 5139 m, and production has been ongoing. All primary
customer objectives were met, including doubling reservoir exposure, increasing initial production, and reducing drilling and
completions costs. In addition, the long, full gauge window of the track-guided milling system enables long BHAs, such as
swellable or inflatable packers, large diameter screens, and any type of remedial workover BHA to be easily run into the
lateral. A TAML level 4 cemented junction successfully installed at a record depth and in a near vertical wellbore and in
difficult remote conditions was an achievement for all those involved.

Acknowledgement
The authors of this paper would like to thank the management of both Tarim Oil Company and Halliburton for their
cooperation and support and for permission to publish this work. Thanks also to the entire Tarim Oil Company and to the
Halliburton team for their contributions and dedication.

References
Guilin, C., Xiaomu, W., and Xuezheng, J. 1991. Petroleum Geology and Oil Potential of Tarim Basin, West China. Paper 24102 presented
at 13th World Petroleum Conference, Buenos Aires, Brazil, 20-25 October.
Ponton, C., Roberts, J., Fipke, S, and Cuthbert, A. 2010. Are You on the Right Track with Casing Milling? Innovative Precision-Milled
Windows Offer Improved Casing Exit Reliability for Sidetracking and Multilateral Completions. Paper 127764-MS presented at
IADC/SPE Drilling Conference and Exhibition, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 2-4 February. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/127764-MS.
Ryder, R.T, U.S. Geological Survey World Petroleum Assessment 2000 – Description and Results, U.S. Geological Survey World Energy
Assessment Team
Yu, L., Zhang, S., Lian, Z., et al. 2010. Research on Development Rules and Strategies in the Low R/P of Tarim Major Sandstone
Reservoirs. Paper SPE 131333 presented at CPS/SPE International Oil & Gas Conference and Exhibition, Beijing, China, 8-10 June.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/131333-MS.