MULTILATERAL WELL DRILLING

By: Titus N. Ofei

Petroleum Engineering Department

Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS

Malaysia

2015
 Learning Objectives (CO1)

• At the end of the lecture, students should be able to:

• Explain the various multilateral well terminologies.

• List the various multilateral well configurations.

• Explain the areas of applications for drilling multilateral wells.

• Describe the classification systems of multilateral wells.

 Introduction
 A Multilateral well is typically a well connecting two or
more standard well types.

 The technology of drilling multiple wellbores from a

single well began since 1920’s. However, there was
widespread use in the industry in the late 1980’s with
directional drilling improvement.

 Multilaterals can be drilled from existing wells or drilled

as a new well using special multilateral equipment.

 The complexity of drilling multilateral wells depends on:

(a) formation integrity (b) prevention of water or gas
coning (c) requirements to reenter each lateral for
workover (d) requirements to isolate production from
the laterals.
 Terminologies
 Laterals: wellbores drilled from the main wellbore. Not all
multilateral wells are horizontal, they may only be
deviated.

 Branches: wellbores drilled from a horizontal lateral into

the horizontal plane.

 Splays: wellbores drilled from a horizontal lateral into the

vertical plane.

 Junctions: these are the intersections of the laterals with

the main wellbore or of the branches and splays with the
laterals.
 Multilateral Configurations
The configurations of
multilateral wells are, but not
limited to:
Stacked Dual Opposing Crows foot

1. Stacked
2. Dual-opposing
3. Crows foot
4. Trilateral fork
5. Herringbone Lateral into
Trilateral fork Herringbone vertical hole
6. Laterals into vertical hole
Applications of Multilaterals
 Multilateral Classification System
The TAML (Technology Advancement of Multilaterals)
classifies multilaterals based on the type of junction
used.

There are six types of junctions: Level 1 through Level

6.

As the level increases, the complexity of the junction

increases and the cost and risks also go up.
 Level 1 Junction
 Level 1 junction has the main wellbore and the lateral left
uncased (open hole). It is one of the simplest and least
expensive multilaterals.

 Since it is open hole completion, it can only be used in

consolidated formation, else, there will be borehole collapse
or excessive sand production.

 Open hole laterals have limited reentry capabilities.

 No isolation of the laterals, hence, production must be

commingled.
 Level 2 Junction
 Level 2 junction has the main wellbore cased and cemented,
while the lateral or at least the junction, is left uncased.

 They can be drilled from an existing well using a whipstock to

sidetrack out of the existing casing.

 The junction allows limited reentry capabilities. Open hole

laterals must be located in consolidated formations, and are
not isolated.

 Thru tubing reentry is possible with the aid of orienting

packer or liner hanger.
 Level 3 Junction
 Level 3 junction has the main wellbore cased and
cemented while the laterals are only cased but not
cemented.

 It is mechanically stable at the junction but has no

hydraulic isolation.

 Level 3 is suitable for unconsolidated formations at

the junction and where water and gas production
into the junction are not problematic.

 Selective reentry may or may not be possible

 Level 4 Junction
 Level 4 junction has both the main wellbore and the laterals
cased and cemented.

 It involves running a whipstock, drilling a lateral, and running a

cement and liner in the lateral.

 It is mechanically stable at the junction but assumed to have

no pressure integrity since cement alone cannot provide
pressure integrity.

 Reentry is possible in most cases through the main bore or

tubing
 Level 5 Junction
 Level 5 junction build upon Level 4 system by providing
pressure integrity at the junction.

 The pressure integrity is achieved in the completion by running

tubing and isolation packers.

 If a problem develops in the tubular above the packer, the

pressure integrity is lost.

 Reentry is possible in most cases through both the main bore

and laterals.

 Disadvantage: It is much more expensive and more risky to run

 Level 6 Junction
 Level 6 junction achieves full pressure integrity with the main
casing string.

 It consists of two types: (a) expandable metal junction and (b)

splitter.

 The expandable metal junction requires under-reaming the

hole where the junction will be placed so that the junction can
be expanded before setting cement.

 The splitter junction requires drilling much larger diameter

hole from the surface down so that the splitter can be run,
usually at shallower depths.
Level 6 Junction Cont’d.
 Summary

• Now, students should be able to:

• Explain the various multilateral well terminologies.

• List the various multilateral well configurations.

• Explain the areas of applications for drilling multilateral wells.

• Describe the classification systems of multilateral wells.

End of Presentation