Multilateral wellbore stimulation

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for positioning an isolation device within a multilateral well to isolate a live wellbore from other wellbores in the well system. The isolation device can be changed from an open position to a closed position substantially contemporaneously to the wellbore becoming a live wellbore. Another procedure can be performed on the other wellbore of the multilateral well while the isolation device is in the closed position. A tubing string or a short or intermediate completion string can isolate a wellbore from pressure applied to another wellbore within the multilateral system. The tubing string or the short or intermediate completion string may also isolate a junction area of the multilateral well system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wellbore system comprising:
 a subsurface isolation device having an open position and a closed position to temporarily close off an active lateral wellbore in a multilateral well by isolating the active lateral wellbore from at least one other wellbore in the multilateral well.   
     
     
         2 . The wellbore system of  claim 1 , wherein the subsurface isolation device is positionable within a casing string or a liner string of the active lateral wellbore. 
     
     
         3 . The wellbore system of  claim 1 , wherein the subsurface isolation device is positionable within a short or an intermediate completion string, and
 wherein the short or the intermediate completion string is positionable within the active lateral wellbore.   
     
     
         4 . The wellbore system of  claim 1 , wherein the subsurface isolation device is a plug device that is positionable within a liner string of the active lateral wellbore. 
     
     
         5 . The wellbore system of  claim 1 , further comprising a wellbore string that includes a sealing assembly, the wellbore string being positionable within the wellbore system for isolating the at least one other wellbore from a pressure applied to the active lateral wellbore. 
     
     
         6 . The wellbore system of  claim 5 , wherein the wellbore string includes an extension device for shifting the subsurface isolation device from the open position to the closed position. 
     
     
         7 . The wellbore system of  claim 5 , wherein the wellbore string includes a short or an intermediate completion string having a seal assembly on a first end and an anchor device on a second end. 
     
     
         8 . A method, comprising:
 positioning an isolation device within a multilateral well;   performing a procedure on a wellbore of the multilateral well to cause the wellbore to be a live wellbore;   substantially contemporaneously to the wellbore becoming the live wellbore, changing the isolation device from an open position to a closed position at which the isolation device isolates the wellbore from at least one other wellbore of the multilateral well; and   performing another procedure on the at least one other wellbore of the multilateral well while the isolation device is in the closed position.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein isolating the wellbore from the at least one other wellbore of the multilateral well comprises preventing production and pressure from the wellbore from exiting the wellbore and entering the at least one other wellbore. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein performing the procedure on the wellbore of the multilateral well to cause the wellbore to be the live wellbore comprises stimulating the wellbore of the multilateral well. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein positioning the isolation device within the multilateral well comprises positioning a plug device within the multilateral well. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein changing the isolation device from the open position to the closed position comprises removing a wellbore string having an extension device from the multilateral well, the extension device shifting the isolation device from the open position to the closed position. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising positioning a wellbore string having a sealing assembly on an end into the wellbore for isolating the at least one other wellbore from a pressure applied to the wellbore while performing the procedure on the wellbore of the multilateral well to cause the wellbore to be the live wellbore. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein positioning the wellbore string having the sealing assembly on the end into the wellbore for isolating the at least one other wellbore from the pressure applied to the wellbore while performing the procedure on the wellbore of the multilateral well comprises positioning a short or an intermediate completion string that also includes an anchor device on another end within the wellbore. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising re-opening the isolation device and allowing production from the wellbore and the at least one other wellbore to comingle. 
     
     
         16 . A multilateral wellbore system, comprising:
 a wellbore;   at least one other wellbore; and   a subsurface isolation device having an open position and a closed position to isolate the wellbore from the at least one other wellbore substantially contemporaneous to the wellbore becoming a live wellbore.   
     
     
         17 . The multilateral wellbore system of  claim 16 , further comprising a wellbore string having a sealing assembly on an end for isolating the at least one other wellbore from a pressure applied to the wellbore while stimulating the wellbore. 
     
     
         18 . The multilateral wellbore system of  claim 16 , wherein the subsurface isolation device is positioned within a casing string or a liner string of the wellbore. 
     
     
         19 . The multilateral wellbore system of  claim 16 , wherein the subsurface isolation device is positioned within a short or an intermediate completion string including a sealing assembly on a first end and an anchor device on a second end and positionable within the wellbore. 
     
     
         20 . The multilateral wellbore system of  claim 16 , wherein the subsurface isolation device includes a valve for positioning the subsurface isolation device in the open position and the closed position.