Y-TOOL SYSTEM FOR USE IN PERFORATION AND PRODUCTION

OPERATION

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present document is based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional

Application Serial No.: 62/182,972, filed June 22, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Oil and gas wells utilize a borehole drilled into an earth formation and subsequently completed with equipment to facilitate production of the desired fluids from a reservoir. After drilling the borehole, the earth formation often is perforated to facilitate flow of desired well fluids, e.g. oil and gas, into the borehole. The well fluids may then be produced to the surface or to another desired location. However, perforation of the formation and subsequent production of the well fluids can involve multiple trips downhole into the borehole. The multiple trips tend to be relatively costly and time- consuming.

SUMMARY

[0003] In general, a system and methodology facilitate perforation and production of desired well fluids from a subterranean reservoir. A well system is deployed in a wellbore and comprises a Y-tool coupled with a tubing and having a first branch and a second branch opposite the tubing. A bypass tube is coupled with the first branch and a perforating gun assembly extends below the second branch. The perforating gun assembly is disposed adjacent, e.g. laterally offset from, the bypass tube. Additionally, the perforating gun assembly has a plurality of perforating charges, e.g. shaped charges, oriented to create perforations into a surrounding formation without perforating the bypass tube.

[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] Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an example of a well system deployed in a wellbore and comprising a Y-tool, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0007] Figure 2 is an illustration of another example of a well system utilizing a

Y-tool, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0008] Figure 3 is an illustration of another example of a well system utilizing a

Y-tool, according to an embodiment of the disclosure; [0009] Figure 4 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of a methodology for utilizing the well system to facilitate production of well fluid, according to an

embodiment of the disclosure; and

[0010] Figure 5 is a flow diagram illustrating another example of a methodology for utilizing the well system to facilitate production of well fluid, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] 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.

[0012] The present disclosure generally relates to a system and methodology which facilitate formation perforation and production of desired well fluids from a subterranean reservoir. A well system is deployed in a wellbore and comprises a Y-tool coupled with and deployed downhole by a tubing. The Y-tool has a first branch and a second branch disposed generally opposite the tubing. A bypass tube is coupled with the first branch and a perforating gun assembly extends below the second branch. The perforating gun assembly is disposed adjacent the bypass tube, e.g. laterally offset from the bypass tube such that the bypass tube and the perforating gun assembly extend alongside each other.

[0013] Additionally, the perforating gun assembly has a plurality of perforating charges, e.g. shaped charges, oriented to create perforations into a surrounding formation. The perforating gun assembly is oriented and the perforating charges are arranged to create the perforations without perforating the bypass tube. In some embodiments, a pump, e.g. a rod pump, is deployed in the bypass tube. This allows the pump and the perforating gun assembly to be deployed downhole in a single trip by using the Y-tool.

[0014] Referring generally to Figure 1, an embodiment of a well system 20 utilizing a bypass system 22 is illustrated as deployed in a borehole 24, e.g. a wellbore. By way of example, the wellbore 24 may be cased with a casing 26. In the illustrated example, the bypass system 22 of overall well system 20 comprises a Y-tool 28 which may be deployed downhole via a tubing 30, e.g. production tubing. For example, the tubing 30 may be coupled with the Y-tool 28 above the Y-tool 28. Additionally, the Y- tool 28 comprises a first branch 32 and a second branch 34 which may be positioned and oriented generally on an opposite side of Y-tool 28 relative to tubing 30. In the illustrated example, the first branch 32 is generally, linearly aligned with tubing 30.

[0015] In this embodiment, the well system 20 further comprises a bypass tube 36 connected to the first branch 32 of Y-tool 28. As illustrated, a perforating gun assembly 38 may be deployed from, e.g. beneath, the second branch 34 of Y-tool 28. The first branch 32 and the second branch 34 of Y-tool 28 are arranged such that the perforating gun assembly 38 is adjacent the bypass tube 36 and in some applications may be laterally offset from the bypass tube 36. The perforating gun assembly 38 comprises a plurality of perforating charges 40, e.g. shaped charges, oriented to form perforations through casing 26 and into a surrounding formation 42. The formation 42 may contain desirable fluids for production, such as oil, gas, and/or other hydrocarbon-based fluids. The perforating charges 40 are arranged and the perforating gun assembly 38 is oriented such that upon detonation of the perforating charges 40 the bypass tube 36 is not perforated.

[0016] Depending on the application, the perforating gun assembly 38 may comprise a single perforating gun 44 or a plurality of perforating guns 44. In some embodiments, the perforating gun assembly 38 is in the form of a tubing conveyed perforating (TCP) gun assembly which may be deployed down through Y-tool 28 and through first branch 32 via coiled tubing or other suitable conveyance. In the embodiment illustrated, however, the perforating gun assembly 38 may be deployed downhole with Y-tool 28 while suspended from second branch 34.

[0017] In the embodiment illustrated, the well system 20 further comprises a pumping system 48 deployed into bypass tube 36 and mounted in place by a suitable fixture 50. In this example, tubing 30, first branch 32, and bypass tube 36 are generally aligned. In some applications, the pumping system 48 comprises a pump 52, e.g. a rod pump. In a specific application, pump 52 is a rod pump powered by a suitable rod 54 extending from pump 52 to a suitable power source at the surface. However, a variety of other types of pumps 52 may be deployed in bypass tube 36.

[0018] Depending on the parameters of a given well operation, the pumping system 48 may be deployed down through tubing 30 and bypass tube 36 after well system 20 is positioned in wellbore 24. However, the pumping system 48 also may be positioned in bypass tube 36 first and then deployed downhole with the overall system 20. In some applications, the rod pump 52 or other type of pumping system 48 may be deployed downhole with perforating gun assembly 38 in a single trip via Y-tool 28.

[0019] For some applications, a packer 56 may be installed along tubing 30 to isolate the portion of wellbore 24 below packer 56 during, for example, a perforation procedure. Additionally, a valve 58, e.g. an annular vent valve (AAV), or other similar tool may be installed on the packer 56. In some applications, the valve 58 may be combined with a hydraulic control line to the surface and may be selectively held in an open valve position via pressure applied to the hydraulic control line. This allows venting of produced gases from the formation 42, which gases may then flow to surface facilities. The valve 58 can be closed when desired by, for example, reducing pressure in the hydraulic control line. It should be noted that other types of valves 58 may be combined with packer 56. Similarly, packer 56 may have a variety of configurations and may be set according to suitable techniques. For example, the packer 56 may be set by using hydraulic pressure applied against a plug temporarily positioned in a nipple above the Y-tool 28. This latter configuration also enables pressure testing along tubing 30. [0020] Referring generally to Figure 2, another embodiment of a well system 20 is illustrated. In this embodiment, bypass system 22 is deployed into wellbore 24 with well system 20. The bypass system 22 may comprise a variety of components, such as a handling sub 60, a top nipple 62, and Y-tool 28. By way of example, the Y-tool 28 may be in the form of the Y-Tool Sub Assembly available from Schlumberger Technology Corporation of Houston Texas.

[0021] As illustrated in Figure 2, the Y-tool 28 may be coupled with tubing 30 via top nipple 62 so that it is in fluid communication with bypass tubing 36 (as with the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1). The lower portion of bypass tubing 36 may be in the form of a tail pipe 64 and may be combined with a check valve 66 which allows well fluid to flow into the bypass tubing 36. For example, the check valve 66 may be used to prevent down flow of fluid while allowing well fluid to flow into bypass tubing 36 from wellbore 24 for pumping via pumping system 48.

[0022] In this embodiment, pump 52 is in the form of a rod pump disposed in tail pipe 64 and may be operated via rod 54 to pump well fluid to the surface in the direction of arrow 68. In some applications, the pump 52 may be conveyed downhole through tubing 30 and inserted into bypass tubing 36 after deployment of the bypass system 22 but before perforation, e.g. before detonation of perforation charges 40. The second branch 34 of Y-tool 28 may be connected to perforating gun assembly 38 and/or permit the routing of perforating gun assembly 38 to a position adjacent the bypass tube 36, e.g. a positioned laterally offset from bypass tube 36.

[0023] Perforating gun assembly 38 may again comprise one or more perforating guns 44 which may be selectively detonated via a firing head 70. Additionally, a clamp 72 (or a plurality of clamps 72) may be used to secure the perforating gun assembly 38 to the bypass tubing 36. In some applications, the pumping system 48 and the perforating gun assembly 38 may be placed at their respective positions beneath Y-tool 28; and then the well system 20 may be deployed downhole with the pumping system 48 and perforating gun assembly 38 in a single trip. In such an application, the clamps 72 may be used to secure the perforating gun assembly 38 to the bypass tube 36 prior to being deployed to the desired downhole location. However, the Y-tool 28 enables later change out and/or deployment of the pumping system 48 in some operational embodiments.

[0024] In some applications, the perforating gun assembly 38 may be in the form of a tubing conveyed perforating gun utilizing firing head 72 selectively to detonate perforation charges 40. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 (as with the

embodiment illustrated in Figure 1), the perforation charges 40 may be oriented so that upon detonation they fire in a desired pattern which avoids perforating bypass tubing 36. For example, the perforation charges 40 may be in the form of shaped charges arranged to fire into formation 42 in an arc which avoids bypass tubing 36 when perforating gun assembly 38 is properly oriented. Following perforation, well fluids may flow into wellbore 24 and into bypass tube 36 through the lower end of the bypass tube 36, e.g. through check valve 66, for pumping via pumping system 48. The pumping system 48 can be deployed with bypass tube 36. Or, the pumping system 48 and/or other service tools may be deployed downhole in a separate run in hole without having to control the resulting influx of well fluid.

[0025] Some formations 42 can be difficult or cost prohibitive to control once the formation 42 is opened to the wellbore 24 via detonation of perforation charges 40. In these types of applications, it may not be possible or desirable to access the wellbore 24 to install artificial lift systems or other completion products or tools. Embodiments of bypass assembly 22 enable both the artificial lift/pumping system 48 and the tubing conveyed perforating gun assembly 38 to be run in a single intervention, provided there is adequate surface well control. This technique facilitates safe access to the producing formation 42 as well as economic production of hydrocarbons.

[0026] In some applications, the well system 20 is initially deployed downhole in wellbore 24 with bypass tubing 36. The perforating gun assembly 38 is deployed downhole simultaneously or subsequent to placement of bypass system 22 at a desired location in wellbore 24. A test plug is then delivered downhole toward Y-tool 28 to enable, for example, pressure testing of production tubing 30. The test plug may then be readily removed to enable installation of other tools down through Y-tool 28.

[0027] For example, pumping system 48 may be deployed in bypass tube 36 or other tools may be deployed downhole through bypass tube 36. In one embodiment, pump 52 is a rod pump which is inserted down into bypass tube 36 via a rod string. The rod string may be inserted through a stuffing box located on the surface. This allows the well to be pressured up against the check valve 66 at the bottom of the bypass tube 36 and against the firing head 70. The applied pressure and/or other techniques may be used to energize the perforating guns 44, detonate perforating charges 40, and perforate the surrounding formation 42. The hydrocarbon production fluids can then either be free- flowed for a period of time if possible, or the rod pump 52 may be hooked up to the topside facilities and operated to lift fluids to the surface along production tubing 30. Other types of pumping systems 48 also may be operated to lift fluids to the surface.

[0028] The Y-tool 28 also enables deployment of other types of tools and systems to desired positions downhole. For example, the bypass tube 36 may be used to pass various tools to wellbore locations beneath well system 20. Additionally, the perforating gun assembly 38 may be operated to form the desired perforations and then removed, e.g. released. In some applications, the perforating gun assembly 38 may be replaced or substituted with other systems.

[0029] As illustrated in Figure 3, for example, the perforating gun assembly 38 has been replaced by an electric submersible pumping system 74 and bypass tube 36 remains open for the passage of tools, e.g. a tubing conveyed perforating gun assembly, treatment fluids, or other items. In this embodiment, the electric submersible pumping system 74 is coupled to Y-tool 28 at the second branch 34 via a pump sub 76. By way of example, the electric submersible pumping system 74 comprises a submersible motor 78, a motor protector 80, and a submersible pump 82 powered by the submersible motor 78. The pumping system 74 also may comprise other components, such as a motor base plug 84, a gauge system 86, a discharge pressure sub 88, a discharge head 90, and/or other components appropriate for a given operation.

[0030] The overall system 20 may comprise other components to accommodate parameters of a given application. For example, the bypass tube 36 may be coupled with Y-tool 28 via a tele-swivel 92. A wireline re-entry guide 94 may be disposed at the lower end of bypass tube 36 to facilitate reentry of, for example, wireline deployed components which are routed downhole through the bypass tube 36. In some applications, clamps 72 or other mounting components may be utilized to secure the electric submersible pumping system 74 in a position adjacent bypass tube 36. This type of embodiment enables the bypass tube 36 to be used as a conduit through which tools and services can be deployed and activated. For example, the bypass tube 36 may be used to provide a conduit past the electric submersible pumping system 74 to enable wireline and/or coiled tubing intervention work to be carried out downhole of electric submersible pumping system 74.

[0031] Referring generally to Figure 4, a flow diagram is provided to illustrate an example of a methodology utilizing system 20. In this example, the Y-tool 28 is initially deployed downhole in wellbore 24 with the bypass system 22, as represented by block 96. The perforating gun assembly 38 may be deployed downhole with Y-tool 28 or deployed through the second branch 34 of Y-tool 28 to enable perforation of wellbore 24, as represented by block 98. Once the formation 42 is perforated, well fluids flow into wellbore 24 and are produced from wellbore 24 up through bypass tube 36, as represented by block 100.

[0032] A slightly different embodiment of the methodology is illustrated by the flow diagram of Figure 5. In this embodiment, the Y-tool 28 is initially assembled with bypass tube 36 and perforating gun assembly 38, as represented by block 102. The Y- tool assembly is then located at a desired position in wellbore 24, as represented by block 104. Pumping system 48 is then lowered into position within bypass tube 36, as represented by block 106. However, the pumping system 48 may be deployed with bypass tube 36 when the bypass system 22 is deployed downhole.

[0033] Once the Y-tool 28 and perforating gun assembly 38 are in position in wellbore 24 (before or after deployment of pumping system 48) the shaped charges 40 of the perforating gun assembly 38 are detonated in a direction which avoids perforating the bypass tube 36, as represented by block 108. The pumping system 48 may then be operated to produce well fluids, as represented by block 110. The well fluids may be produced up through bypass tube 36, Y-tool 28, and tubing 30 to a desired collection location, such as a surface collection location.

[0034] However, the methodology described herein as well as the system configuration can be adjusted according to the parameters of a given application and/or environment. For example, the well system 20 may comprise a variety of other and/or additional components. The pumping system 48 may comprise a rod pump or other suitable pumps deployed down into bypass tube 36. Or, the pumping system may be in the form of electric submersible pumping system 74 deployed on second branch 34. Similarly, many types of perforating gun assemblies with different numbers of perforating guns and perforating charges may be employed to perforate the surrounding formation 42 without damaging the perforating tube 36. The Y-tool 28 also may be configured to accommodate many types of tools and systems. For example, the Y-tool 28 may be used to deploy various tools through bypass tube 36 and/or to accommodate placement of other tools and systems via the second branch 34 in combination with perforating gun assembly 38 or as a substitute for the perforating gun assembly.

[0035] 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.