Contaminant excluding junction and method

Abstract

A junction selective contaminant exclusion tool includes a tubular positionable within the junction and having an opening through a wall thereof, a material disposed on an outside surface of the tubular, the material being capable of increasing a radial dimension between a surface of the material in contact with the tubular and an opposite surface of the material upon exposure to a selected species. A method for excluding selected contaminants from a wellbore junction is also disclosed. The method includes: disposing a junction at a wellbore casing window; disposing a tubular member having at least one opening through a wall thereof at the junction, the tubular member including an exclusion material thereon capable of existing in a first configuration and a second configuration, the second configuration obtainable upon exposure to a selected species; and exposing the material to the selected species.

1 . A junction selective contaminant expandable exclusion tool comprising:
 a tubular positionable within the junction and having one or more opening therein at least one being a window through a wall thereof, the tubular being expandable into contact with a wall of a borehole in which the tool is to be set; and   one or more end rings constructed of a material different than the material of the tubular attached at one or more openings thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The exclusion tool as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the tubular further includes a sealing material coating thereon. 
     
     
         3 . The exclusion tool as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the sealing material is a metal. 
     
     
         4 . The exclusion tool as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the sealing material is a polymeric material. 
     
     
         5 . The exclusion tool as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the one or more end rings include an end ring positioned about a periphery of the window of the tubular. 
     
     
         6 . The exclusion tool as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the one or more end rings include an end ring positioned at least one axial end of the tubular. 
     
     
         7 . The exclusion tool as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the one or more end rings include an end ring positioned at both axial ends of the tubular. 
     
     
         8 . An exclusion system comprising:
 an expansion tool; and   an expandable LEM configured to respond to the expansion tool.   
     
     
         9 . The exclusion system as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the expansion tool includes an expansion configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The exclusion system as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the expansion configuration is a swage. 
     
     
         11 . The exclusion system as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the expansion configuration is an inflatable. 
     
     
         12 . The exclusion system as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the expandable LEM includes one or more end rings. 
     
     
         13 . The exclusion system as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the one or more end rings are constructed of a material different than that of the expandable LEM. 
     
     
         14 . The exclusion system as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the expansion tool includes at least one elongated swage. 
     
     
         15 . The exclusion system as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the elongated swage is longer than an LEM it is intended to expand. 
     
     
         16 . The exclusion system as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the system further includes a secondary swage. 
     
     
         17 . A sealed junction comprising:
 a junction;   a tubular disposed at the junction, the tubular having one or more openings at least one of which being a window through a wall thereof the tubular being expanded into contact with adjoining structures; and   one or more end rings at openings of the expanded tubular.   
     
     
         18 . A method for excluding selected contaminants from a wellbore junction comprising:
 disposing a junction at a wellbore casing window;   disposing a tubular member having one or more openings at least one of which being a window through a wall thereof at the junction; and   expanding the tubular into contact with the junction.   
     
     
         19 . A method for excluding selected contaminants from a wellbore junction as claimed in  claim 18  further including expanding one or more end rings located at one or more openings of the tubular. 
     
     
         20 . A method for excluding selected contaminants from a wellbore junction as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the expanding is by driving a swage having a length greater than the tubular through the tubular.