Pressure Control System and Optional Whipstock Repositioning System for Short Radius Lateral Drilling

Abstract

An apparatus and method for pressure control of a tool string and for repositioning of a whipstock that includes an upper sealing mechanism capable of sealing around a control-line used to manipulate a tool-string used to form a lateral borehole, a chamber connected to the upper sealing mechanism, the chamber having a length greater than the tool string and positioned at least partially within a wellbore and a lower valve connected to the distal end of the chamber within the wellbore wherein the tool-string can be isolated within the chamber from wellbore pressure. A lower set of slips positioned above a wellhead capable of holding a tubing string and attached whipstock suspended within the wellbore, an upper set of slips positioned above the lower set of slips and capable of supporting the tubing string and attached whipstock and a vertical manipulation mechanism that can raise or lower the tubing string and attached whipstock by raising or lowering the upper set of slips.

1 . An apparatus for isolating wellbore pressure in short radius lateral drilling procedures comprising:
 an upper sealing mechanism located above ground level capable of sealing around a control-line used to manipulate a tool-string used to form a lateral borehole;   a chamber connected to the upper sealing mechanism, the chamber having a length greater than the tool string and positioned at least partially within a wellbore;   a lower valve connected to the distal end of the chamber within the wellbore;   wherein the tool-string can be isolated within the chamber from wellbore pressure.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the upper sealing mechanism is an oil-saver. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the chamber comprises production tubing. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the lower ball valve is selected from one of the group consisting of: a ball valve, a flapper valve, a bladder inflated by gas, a bladder inflated by fluid, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the lower valve when in the open position has an inside diameter capable of passing the tool-string there through. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the lower valve is activated from the surface by one or more of: pulling or pushing vertically on said apparatus; rotating the lower valve; by means of an electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic line running from the surface to the lower valve; or by means of radio frequency (RF) that communicates from the surface to the lower valve. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus used in short radius lateral drilling procedures for vertical repositioning of a whipstock comprising:
 a lower set of slips positioned above a wellhead capable of holding a tubing string and attached whipstock suspended within a wellbore;   an upper set of slips positioned above the lower set of slips and capable of supporting the tubing string and attached whipstock;   a vertical manipulation mechanism that can raise or lower the tubing string and attached whipstock by raising or lowering the upper set of slips.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising a bearing positioned below at least one of the upper and lower set of slips, said bearing(s) allowing the rotation of the tubing string, attached whipstock and an optional anchor. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising cylinders used to vertically reposition a plate on which supports the upper set of slips. 
     
     
         10 . A method of repositioning a whipstock used in short radius lateral drilling comprising:
 providing an apparatus comprising: a lower set of slips positioned above a wellhead capable of holding a tubing string and attached whipstock suspended within a wellbore, an upper set of slips positioned above the lower set of slips and capable of supporting the tubing string and attached whipstock, a vertical manipulation mechanism that can raise or lower the tubing string and attached whipstock by raising or lowering the upper set of slips, and cylinders used to vertically reposition a plate on which supports the upper set of slips;   engaging the cylinders to vertically reposition the tubing string and attached whipstock; and   rotating the tubing string to change the azimuth of the attached whipstock.   
     
     
         11 . A method to maintain pressure control during insertion of a tool string used for short radius lateral drilling procedures into a wellbore, said method comprising:
 providing an apparatus comprising: an upper sealing mechanism located above ground level capable of sealing around a control-line used to manipulate a tool-string used to form a lateral borehole; a chamber connected to the upper sealing mechanism, the chamber having a length and diameter greater than the tool string and the chamber positioned at least partially within a wellbore; and a lower valve connected to the distal end of the chamber within the wellbore;   closing the lower valve and opening the upper sealing mechanism;   inserting the tool-string and a portion of an attached control-line into the chamber;   engaging the upper sealing mechanism to seal onto the control-line;   opening the lower valve; and   running the tool-string into the wellbore through the lower valve.   
     
     
         12 . A method to maintain pressure control during extraction of a tool-string used for short radius lateral drilling procedures, said method comprising:
 providing an apparatus comprising: an upper sealing mechanism located above ground level capable of sealing around a control-line used to manipulate a tool-string used to form a lateral borehole; a chamber connected to the upper sealing mechanism, the chamber having a length and diameter greater than the tool string and the chamber positioned at least partially within a wellbore; and a lower valve connected to the distal end of the chamber within the wellbore;   retracting a tool-string into the chamber from a location within the wellbore below the chamber;   closing the lower valve;   opening the upper sealing mechanism;   retracting the tool-string out of the upper sealing mechanism.   
     
     
         13 . A system for efficient short radius lateral drilling procedures comprising an apparatus for pressure control and an apparatus for repositioning of a whipstock comprising:
 an upper sealing mechanism located above ground level capable of sealing around a control-line used to manipulate a tool-string used to form a lateral borehole;   a chamber connected to the upper sealing mechanism, the chamber having a length greater than the tool string and positioned at least partially within a wellbore;   a lower valve connected to the distal end of the chamber within the wellbore;   wherein the tool-string can be isolated within the chamber from wellbore pressure;   a lower set of slips positioned above a wellhead capable of holding a tubing string and attached whipstock suspended within the wellbore;   an upper set of slips positioned above the lower set of slips and capable of supporting the tubing string and attached whipstock;   a vertical manipulation mechanism that can raise or lower the tubing string and attached whipstock by raising or lowering the upper set of slips.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the lower ball valve is selected from one of the group consisting of: a ball valve, a flapper valve, a bladder inflated by gas, a bladder inflated by fluid, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the lower valve is activated from the surface by one or more of: pulling or pushing vertically on said apparatus; rotating the lower valve; by means of an electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic line running from the surface to the lower valve; or by means of radio frequency (RF) that communicates from the surface to the lower valve. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising a bearing positioned below at least one of the upper and lower set of slips, said bearing(s) allowing the rotation of the tubing string, attached whipstock and an optional anchor. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising cylinders used to vertically reposition a plate on which supports the upper set of slips.