CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/689,639, filed June 25, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0001] Gravel packs are used in wells for removing particulates from inflowing hydrocarbon fluids. In a variety of applications, gravel packing is performed in long horizontal wells by pumping gravel slurry, e.g. gravel suspended in a carrier fluid, down the annulus between the wellbore and a screen assembly. The carrier fluid is returned to the surface after depositing the gravel in the wellbore annulus. To return to the surface, the carrier fluid flows through the screen assembly, through base pipe perforations, and into a production tubing which routes the returning carrier fluid back to the surface. Alternate path systems are sometimes used to help form a desirable gravel pack. The alternate path systems utilize various types of shunt tubes, which help distribute the gravel slurry.

[0002] In various operations, alternate path systems are used to facilitate open hole gravel packs. In such alternate path open hole gravel packs, the shunt tubes, e.g. transport tubes, provide a secondary flow path to carry the gravel slurry to the open hole section being gravel packed in case of a partial blockage that prevents the gravel slurry from being carried along the primary circulation path during the open hole gravel pack. Entry ports for the shunt tubes are normally at the entrance of a Y-manifold or other suitable component. The sequential sections of shunt tubes are connected to each other between the different components of the completion of equipment (e.g between shunted screen joints, shunted blank pipes, Y-manifolds) by sections of shunt tubes referred to as jumper tubes. The jumper tubes may be used to form such connections from, for example, the Y-manifold to the bottom of the screen assemblies to cover the entire open hole section. If, however, this secondary flow path becomes plugged or otherwise fails to activate, the result may be an incomplete gravel pack in the well. The incomplete gravel pack may impact production of well fluid or even lead to well integrity problems due to sand production.

SUMMARY

[0003] In general, a system and methodology are provided for facilitating a gravel packing operation in a well. According to an embodiment, the system may utilize a Y- manifold having a manifold body through which or along which a gravel slurry may be flowed. A plurality of exit end shunt connectors extends from the manifold body to enable connection with corresponding exit end shunt tubes at a position separated from the manifold body. Additionally, a plurality of entrance end shunt connectors extends from the manifold body in a direction generally opposite the exit end shunt connectors. The extended entrance end shunt connectors enable connection with corresponding entrance end shunt tubes at a position separated from the manifold body. By forming the entrance end connection at a position separated from the manifold body, the risk of forming a plug along the alternate flow path is substantially reduced.

[0004] However, many modifications are possible without materially departing from the teachings of this disclosure. Accordingly, such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Certain embodiments of the disclosure will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements. It should be understood, however, that the accompanying figures illustrate the various implementations described herein and are not meant to limit the scope of various technologies described herein, and:

[0006] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a standard equipment configuration used to facilitate formation of a gravel pack;

[0007] FIG. 2 is a top view of a standard Y-manifold;

[0008] FIG. 3 is a side view of the standard Y-manifold illustrated in Figure 2;

[0009] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional illustration taken at an entrance of the Y- manifold illustrated in FIG. 3;

[0010] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional illustration taken at an exit of the Y-manifold illustrated in FIG. 3;

[0011] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional illustration of the standard Y-manifold disposed within a casing to show the reduced area open to flow at the entrance of the shunting system which tends to increase the risk of plugging during gravel packing;

[0012] FIG. 7 is a top view of a double end shunts connection Y-manifold, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0013] FIG. 8 is a side view of the double end shunts connection Y-manifold illustrated in FIG. 7, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0014] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken at the entrance of the double end shunts connection Y-manifold illustrated in FIG. 8, according to an embodiment of the disclosure; [0015] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken at the exit of the double end shunts connection Y-manifold illustrated in FIG. 8, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 11 is an illustration of the double end shunts connection Y-manifold disposed in a gravel packing shunt tube system, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0017] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken generally at the entrance of the double end shunts connection Y-manifold illustrated in FIG. 11, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 13 A is a perspective view of a double end shunts connection Y- manifold disposed in a gravel packing shunt tube system, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 13B is a zoomed in view of alternate path entrances of the gravel packing shunt tube system shown in FIG. 13 A, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 13C is a zoomed in view of the double end shunts connection Y- manifold shown in FIG. 13 A, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 14 is an illustration of the double end shunts connection Y-manifold disposed in the gravel packing shunt system, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 15 is a cross-section view taken near the alternate path entrances of the gravel packing shunt tube system along A-A shown in FIG. 14, according to an embodiment of the disclosure; [0023] FIG. 16 is a cross-section view taken near the entrance of the double end shunts connection Y-manifold along B-B shown in FIG. 14, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0024] FIG. 17A is a perspective view of a double end shunts connection Y- manifold disposed in a gravel packing shunt tube system made up with an OptiPac XL shunted blank pipe and covered with a shroud, according to an embodiment of the disclosure; and

[0025] FIG. 17B is the perspective view of the double end shunts connection Y- manifold disposed in the gravel packing shunt tube system made up with the OptiPac XL shunted blank pipe of FIG. 17A with the shroud partially cut away, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

PET ATT, ED DESCRIPTION

[0026] In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the system and/or methodology may be practiced without these details and that numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments may be possible.

[0027] The disclosure herein generally involves a system and methodology to facilitate a gravel packing operation in a well. The technique enables use of, for example, shunted blank pipes on both ends of a manifold, e.g. on the bottom and the top of a manifold, used in an alternate path gravel packing operation.

[0028] According to an embodiment, the system may utilize a Y-manifold having a manifold body through which or along which a gravel slurry may be flowed. A plurality of exit end shunt connectors extends from the manifold body to enable connection with corresponding exit end shunt tubes at a position separated from the manifold body. Additionally, a plurality of entrance end shunt connectors extends from the manifold body in a direction generally opposite the exit end shunt connectors. The extended entrance end shunt connectors enable connection with corresponding entrance end shunt tubes at a position separated from the manifold body.

[0029] By forming the entrance end connection at a position separated from the manifold body, the risk of forming a plug along the alternate flow path is substantially reduced. For example, in some applications the extended entrance end shunt connectors of the Y-manifold may be connected with an ALLFRAC blank pipe (available from Schlumberger), thus effectively distancing the shunting entry ports from the main body of the Y-manifold. This distance helps reduce blocking/plugging of the alternate path transport tubes which increases the chances of a complete gravel pack in the well. This type of embodiment effectively forms an extended entry ports shunting system with a double end shunts connection Y-manifold.

[0030] Referring generally to Figures 1-6, an example of a standard alternate path open hole gravel packing system 10 is illustrated to facilitate an understanding of the blocking/plugging risk associated with standard systems. As illustrated in Figure 1, a standard blank pipe 12 is connected above the standard Y-manifold 14. The standard Y- manifold 14 has a gravel slurry entrance formed by entry ports 15 in the main body 16 of the standard Y-manifold 14, as illustrated in Figures 2-4.

[0031] During a standard gravel packing operation, the gravel slurry travels along, e.g. through, the standard Y-manifold 14 and exits through bottom connectors 17, which extend from the main body of the standard Y-manifold 14, as illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 5. With additional reference to Figure 1, the gravel slurry travels to transport tubes 18 of a shunted blank pipe 20 via jumper tubes 22 coupled between the bottom connectors 17 and the transport tubes 18. With this configuration, however, the entrance to the shunting system is simply at the face of the standard Y-manifold 14, which creates a reduced area open to flow 24, as illustrated in FIG. 6. [0032] In fact, due to the limited clearance between the surrounding casing 26 and the outer diameter (OD) 28 of the standard Y-manifold 14 as shown in FIG. 6, the area open to flow 24 of the gravel slurry is substantially reduced just at the entrance of the shunting system. This mechanical restriction can lead to gravel deposition at the face of the standard Y-manifold 14. The gravel deposition considerably increases the chances of plugging/blocking the entrance of one or more shunting transport tubes which can lead to an unsuccessful gravel pack job.

[0033] Referring generally to FIGS. 7-10, an embodiment is illustrated which is able to overcome this potential failure mode. According to this embodiment, a Y- manifold 30 is provided in the form of a double end shunts connection Y-manifold, which has extended entry ports. In this example, the Y-manifold 30 has a main manifold body 32 along which, e.g. through which, the gravel slurry is able to flow during gravel packing of a wellbore.

[0034] A plurality of exit end shunt connectors 34 extends from the body 32 to enable connection with corresponding exit end shunt tubes, e.g. jumper tubes 36 coupled with corresponding transport tubes 38 of a shunted blank pipe 40, as illustrated in Figure 11. The coupling between the exit end shunt connectors 34 and the corresponding exit end shunt tubes, e.g. jumper tubes 36, occurs at a position separated from the manifold body 32.

[0035] Additionally, a plurality of entrance end shunt connectors 42 extends from the body 32 to enable connection with corresponding entrance end shunt tubes, e.g. jumper tubes 44 coupled with corresponding shunt tubes 46. The corresponding shunt tubes 46 may be transport tubes of a shunted blank pipe 48, as further illustrated in FIG. 11. By way of example, the shunted blank pipe 48 may be in the form of an ALLFRAC blank pipe available from Schlumberger company. The coupling between the entrance end shunt connectors 42 and the corresponding entrance end shunt tubes, e.g. jumper tubes 44, occurs at a position separated from the manifold body 32. It should be noted the plurality of entrance end shunt connectors 42 may be in fluid communication with the plurality of exit end shunt connectors 34 via conduits extending through the main manifold body 32.

[0036] FIG. 11 effectively illustrates an embodiment of an overall extended entry ports shunting system 50 with a double end shunts connection Y-manifold 30. According to the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of exit end shunt connectors 34 may comprise two exit end shunt connectors 34, as shown in FIG. 10, for example, although other numbers may be utilized. As further illustrated, the plurality of entrance end shunt connectors 42 may comprise four entrance end shunt connectors 42, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 12, although other numbers may be utilized.

[0037] Referring now to FIG. 13 A, a perspective view of a double end shunts connection Y-manifold disposed in a gravel packing shunt tube system, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. Specifically, FIG. 13 A shows another embodiment of an extended entry port shunting system 50 including a shunted blank pipe 48 with a plurality of shunt tubes 46 having a plurality of alternate path entrances 52. A zoomed in view of the plurality of alternate path entrances 52 is shown in FIG. 13B. Referring now to FIGS. 13A and 13C, a Y-manifold 30 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is also shown. As further shown in FIG.

13A, a plurality of entrance end shunt connectors 42 extends from the body 32 of the Y- manifold 30 to enable connection with the corresponding entrance end shunt tubes 46. Because the plurality of alternate path entrances 52 is distanced from the body 32 of the Y-manifold 30, the chances of getting the entrances 52 of the shunts system plugged by gravel deposition on the face of the Y-manifold 30 is substantially decreased. FIG. 13C more clearly shows a plurality of entrance end shunt connectors 42 in the body 32 of the Y-manifold 30 and exit end shunt connectors 34 extending from the body 32 to enable connection with corresponding exit end shunt tubes, e.g., jumper tubes 36 coupled with corresponding transport tubes 38 (not shown). [0038] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, FIG.

13 A shows that the plurality of shunt tubes 46 may be twisted along the length of the shunted blank pipe 48. In one or more embodiments, the plurality of shunt tubes 46 may be welded to the Y-manifold 30, extend along the shunted blank pipe 48 in an uphole direction, and twist around the shunted blank pipe 48 to achieve full circumference spacing for slurry entry into the extended entry port shunting system 50. Further, FIGS. 13A-13C show that the plurality of shunt tubes 46, including the plurality of alternate path entrances 52 and the plurality of entrance end shunt connectors 42, may be progressively smaller shunt tubes 46, i.e., progressively decrease in flow through area, to accommodate the eccentric configuration of the extended entry port shunting system 50.

[0039] Referring now to FIG. 14, an illustration of the double end shunts connection Y-manifold disposed in the gravel packing shunt system, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Similar to FIG. 13 A, FIG. 14 shows an extended entry port shunting system 50 including a shunted blank pipe 48 with a plurality of shunt tubes 46 having a plurality of alternate path entrances 52. A Y-manifold 30 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is also shown. As further shown in FIG. 14, a plurality of entrance end shunt connectors 42 extends from the body 32 of the Y-manifold 30 to enable connection with the corresponding entrance end shunt tubes 46. Because the plurality of alternate path entrances 52 is distanced from the Y-manifold body 32, the chances of getting the entrances 52 of the shunts system plugged by gravel deposition on the face of the Y-manifold 30 is substantially decreased. FIG. 14 also shows a plurality of entrance end shunt connectors 42, which may extend to the body 32 of the Y-manifold 30 and exit end shunt connectors 34 extending from the body 32 to enable connection with corresponding exit end shunt tubes, e.g., jumper tubes 36 coupled with corresponding transport tubes 38 (not shown). During gravel packing, the slurry may enter the transport tubes of a 2x2 OptiPac system, for example, as further described below.

[0040] Referring now to FIG. 15, a cross-section view taken near the alternate path entrances of the gravel packing shunt tube system along A-A shown in FIG. 14, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. As shown, the cross-section view of FIG. 15 more clearly depicts the plurality of alternate path entrances 52 referred to with respect to FIGS. 13A and 13B. Indeed, as more clearly shown in FIG. 15, the plurality of alternate path entrances 52 spaced around the annulus may be associated with progressively smaller shunt tubes 46 to accommodate the eccentric configuration of the extended entry port shunting system 50.

[0041] Referring now to FIG. 16, a cross-section view taken near the entrance of the double end shunts connection Y-manifold along B-B shown in FIG. 14, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. As shown, the cross- section view of FIG. 16 more clearly depicts the plurality of entrance end shunt connectors 42 in the body 32 of the Y-manifold 30 as described with respect to FIG. 13C. As further shown in FIG. 16, the plurality of entrance end shunt connectors 42 in the body 32 of the Y-manifold 30 may be associated with progressively smaller shunt tubes 46 to accommodate the eccentric configuration of the extended entry port shunting system 50. Further, the placement of the plurality of entrance end shunt connectors 42 in the body 32 of the Y-manifold 30, as shown in FIG. 16, further illustrates the twisted configuration of the plurality of shunt tubes 46 along the shunted blank pipe 48 when compared with the placement of the plurality of alternate path entrances 52 spaced around the annulus as shown in FIG. 15, for example.

[0042] Referring now to FIG. 17 A, a perspective view of the double end shunts connection Y-manifold disposed in the gravel packing shunt tube system made up with an OptiPac XL shunted blank pipe and covered with a shroud, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. Further, FIG. 17B shows the perspective view of FIG. 17A with the shroud partially cut away, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Specifically, FIGS. 17A and 17B show how the slurry may enter the transport tubes of a 2x2 OptiPac system, as previously described with respect to FIG. 14, for example. According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the 2x2 OptiPac system is a shunt system having two transport tubes and two packing tubes for use during a gravel packing operation. As shown, FIGS. 17A and 17B show an extended entry port shunting system 50 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure having a plurality of alternate path shunt tubes 46 and the associated plurality of entrance end shunt connectors 42 in the body 32 of the Y- manifold 30 as previously described with respect to FIG. 16. In some embodiments, a shroud 54 may be positioned around the OptiPac XL shunted blank pipe 56. Each shroud 54 may contain perforations 58 to accommodate fluid flow therethrough. Sequential joints may be connected together via a suitable coupler 60, e.g. a box and pin end style connection.

[0043] As more specifically shown in FIG. 17B, exit end shunt connectors 34 extending from the body 32 of the Y-manifold 30 via a pin end 61 of the joint enable connection with corresponding exit end shunt tubes, e.g., jumper tubes 36 coupled with corresponding transport tubes (not shown) through a transport tube section 62 that feeds into a 2x2 manifold 64 via a box end 66 of the joint. As further shown in FIG. 17B, jumper tubes 36 may traverse the OptiPac XL shunted blank pipe 56 longitudinally.

These jumper tubes 36 facilitate the transport of the slurry from the Y-manifold 30 to the transport tubes of the 2x2 OptiPac system via the 2x2 manifold 64. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the Y-manifold 30 may be configured to have two independent commingling volumes, where each volume feeds into one of two transport tubes of the 2x2 OptiPac system. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the Y- manifold 30 may be configured to have a single commingling volume, which feeds into both transport tubes of the 2x2 OptiPac system.

[0044] During gravel packing operations, the use of extended entry ports shunting system 50 with the double end shunts connection Y-manifold 30 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure decreases the chances of having the shunts/transport tubes blocked/plugged during execution of the gravel pack pumping operations. The decreased chance of blocking/plugging is because the shunting entry ports will be spaced out from the main body 32 of the Y-manifold 30 by shunted blank pipe 48, e.g. a 4xShunts Shunted Blank Pipe. By moving the entrance for the shunts system away from the Y-manifold body 32, the chances of getting the entrances of the shunts system plugged by gravel deposition on the face of the Y-manifold 30 is substantially decreased. The uniquely designed Y-manifold 30 also reduces the possibility of having gravel deposition inside the main body 32 of the Y-manifold 30 before substantial flow is diverted within.

[0045] Although a few embodiments of the disclosure have been described in detail above, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the teachings of this disclosure. Accordingly, such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the claims.