Sand barrier for a level 3 multilateral wellbore junction

Abstract

A relatively thin walled sleeve having a premachined window is disposed at a casing window in a wellbore. The sleeve is set in place with the casing or on a separate run wherein the running tool also includes a dog to align the sleeve premachined window with the casing window both linearly and rotationally in the wellbore. The sleeve is swedged in place in part or completely and a subsequent run provides a lateral liner which extends through both the premachined window and the casing window and seals against the premachined window which will then prevent sand entering the wellbore.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A multilateral wellbore junction comprising: 
 a primary wellbore casing;    a window through said casing;    a lateral wellbore extending from said window;    a sleeve having a window therein oriented to said window through said casing; and    a lateral liner proximately disposed to said sleeve and extending into said lateral borehole.    
     
     
         2 . A multilateral wellbore junction as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said sleeve is a thin walled sleeve.  
     
     
         3 . A multilateral wellbore junction as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said sleeve further includes at least one band therearound.  
     
     
         4 . A multilateral wellbore junction as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said at least one band is elastomeric.  
     
     
         5 . A multilateral wellbore junction as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said sleeve is constructed of steel.  
     
     
         6 . A multilateral wellbore junction as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said sleeve is swaged against an ID of said casing.  
     
     
         7 . A multilateral wellbore junction as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said premachined window is of smaller dimensions than said window through said casing.  
     
     
         8 . A running tool having a dog thereon adapted to automatically move outwardly upon reaching a window in a casing of a wellbore and orient itself by finding a downhole vee in said window.  
     
     
         9 . A running tool as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said running tool carries a thin walled sleeve having a premachined window therein and said dog is located relative to said premachined window to orient said premachined window with said window in said casing.  
     
     
         10 . A running tool as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said running tool further includes a swage.  
     
     
         11 . A running tool as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said swage is an inflatable element.  
     
     
         12 . A running tool as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said dog is spring loaded.  
     
     
         13 . A running tool as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said spring load is via a torsion spring.  
     
     
         14 . A multilateral wellbore as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said primary wellbore casing includes a recess to receive said sleeve such that an ID of said sleeve when installed will substantially equal an ID of said primary casing.  
     
     
         15 . A multilateral wellbore as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said liner is sufficiently proximate said sleeve to induce bridging in particulate matter which would otherwise flow therebetween.  
     
     
         16 . A multilateral wellbore as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said lateral liner is sealed against said sleeve.  
     
     
         17 . A method for excluding particulate entry to a wellbore system at a lateral junction thereof comprising: 
 running a sleeve having a premachined window therein to a location within the wellbore where a casing window exists; and    installing a lateral liner through said premachined window and said casing window, the liner being proximately disposed to said premachined window in said sleeve.    
     
     
         18 . A method for excluding particulate entry to a wellbore system as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said method further includes, prior to running said sleeve, milling a window in a primary casing of said wellbore.  
     
     
         19 . A method for excluding particulate entry to a wellbore system as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said method further includes orienting said premachined window to said casing window.  
     
     
         20 . A method for excluding particulate entry to a wellbore system as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said method further includes installing said sleeve.  
     
     
         21 . A method for excluding particulate entry to a wellbore system as claimed in  claim 20  wherein said installing said sleeve includes swaging said sleeve into contact with an ID of said wellbore at one of an uphole end of said sleeve, a downhole end of said sleeve, and both an uphole and downhole end of said sleeve.  
     
     
         22 . A method for excluding particulate entry to a wellbore system as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said installing said liner includes facilitating bridging of particulate matter which otherwise would flow through said liner and said sleeve.  
     
     
         23 . A method for excluding particulate entry to a wellbore system as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said installing includes sealing said liner to said sleeve.  
     
     
         24 . A particulate matter exclusion device for completing a junction in a hydrocarbon well in cooperating with a liner, said device comprising: 
 a sleeve having a relatively thin wall thickness;    a window machined in said sleeve at a surface environment.    
     
     
         25 . A particulate matter exclusion device for completing a junction as claimed in  claim 24  wherein said device further includes at least one band disposed around a perimeter of said sleeve.  
     
     
         26 . A particulate matter exclusion device as claimed in  claim 24  wherein said wall thickness is about 0.125 inch to about 0.250 inch.  
     
     
         27 . A particulate matter exclusion device as claimed in  claim 24  wherein said band is elastomeric.