Key information

Title
Well access apparatus and method
Application number
20200485
Case type
National
Status
08.06.2026 Patent meddelt (B1)
Filed
22.04.2020
Effective date
22.04.2020
Publicly available
25.10.2021
Next annual fee due
30.04.2027
Applicant
EXPRO NORWAY AS (NO)
Owner
EXPRO NORWAY AS (NO)
Inventor
Tomas Solvig (NO) et al.
Agent
DEHNS NORDIC AS (NO)
Granted
08.06.2026
Patent number
349895
Expiry date
22.04.2040

Abstract and drawing

Disclaimer: This text has been machine-scanned and may contain errors – please refer to "Publications" for legally binding content.
Intervention apparatus 10 for gaining lateral access to a well 12 via a lateral access passage of the well, comprising an outer pipe 28 and a flexible guide pipe 40 for guiding a flexible conduit 46 towards the lateral access passage, the flexible guide pipe being arranged to be forwardly advanced in the outer pipe and to deform around a bend in the outer pipe as it is forwardly advanced.

Publications

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Documents

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Date
 Date Doc. No. Process Case number In/Out Journal description To/from
 08.06.2026 20-01 Saksbehandling 20200485(349895) UT PT Registreringsbrev nasjonal patent (15) (PT20200485)
30.03.2026 19-01 Saksbehandling 20200485 UT Intention to grant DEHNS NORDIC AS
 28.02.2026 18-05 Saksbehandling 20200485 INN 148479 2026-02-28 - Letter to NIPO DEHNS NORDIC AS
 28.02.2026 18-04 Saksbehandling 20200485 INN 148479 2026-02-28 - Claims Norwegian DEHNS NORDIC AS
 28.02.2026 18-03 Saksbehandling 20200485 INN 148479 2026-02-27 - amendments for OA w claims DEHNS NORDIC AS
 28.02.2026 18-02 Saksbehandling 20200485 INN 148479 2026-02-27 - amendments for OA w claims CLEAN DEHNS NORDIC AS
 28.02.2026 18-01 Saksbehandling 20200485 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) DEHNS NORDIC AS
 23.02.2026 17-01 Saksbehandling 20200485 UT PT Bekreftelse på fristutsettelse DEHNS NORDIC AS
 01.12.2025 16-01 Saksbehandling 20200485 UT Substantive Examination DEHNS NORDIC AS
 23.06.2025 02-01 Overdragelse av søknad/rettighet Endring av fullmektig 2025/07740 UT GH Forespørsel DEHNS NORDIC AS
 17.06.2025 01-02 Overdragelse av søknad/rettighet Endring av fullmektig 2025/07740 INN 2025-04-25 EXPRO NORWAY PoA Dehns DEHNS NORDIC AS
 17.06.2025 01-01 Overdragelse av søknad/rettighet Endring av fullmektig 2025/07740 INN Generell henvendelse DEHNS NORDIC AS
 10.06.2024 15-06 Saksbehandling 20200485 INN P29547NO00 Letter to IPO HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 10.06.2024 15-05 Saksbehandling 20200485 INN P29547NO00 Amended description pages 2 to 5 HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 10.06.2024 15-04 Saksbehandling 20200485 INN P29547NO00 Amended claims pages 10 to 12 HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 10.06.2024 15-03 Saksbehandling 20200485 INN P29547NO00 Additional sheets mark-up description HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 10.06.2024 15-02 Saksbehandling 20200485 INN P29547NO00 Additional sheets mark-up claims HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 10.06.2024 15-01 Saksbehandling 20200485 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 15.02.2024 14-02 Saksbehandling 20200485 UT PT report 10:22:46
15.02.2024 14-01 Saksbehandling 20200485 UT 20200485_1816055_PT 08 Eng HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 20.02.2023 13-02 Saksbehandling 20200485 INN P29547NO00 Letter to IPO HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 20.02.2023 13-01 Saksbehandling 20200485 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 29.11.2022 12-01 Saksbehandling 20200485 UT 20200485_1645467_PT 08 Eng HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 28.02.2022 11-01 Saksbehandling 20200485 UT PT Varsel om betaling av første årsavgift (3317) (PT20200485)
16.02.2021 10-04 Saksbehandling 20200485 INN P29547NO00_Response_Official_Action HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 16.02.2021 10-03 Saksbehandling 20200485 INN P29547NO00_claims_rev1_marked HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 16.02.2021 10-02 Saksbehandling 20200485 INN P29547NO00_claims_rev1_clean HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 16.02.2021 10-01 Saksbehandling 20200485 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 30.09.2020 09-02 Saksbehandling 20200485 UT PT report 02:43:06
30.09.2020 09-01 Saksbehandling 20200485 UT Substantive examination HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 30.06.2020 08-02 Saksbehandling 20200485 INN Fullmakt HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 30.06.2020 08-01 Saksbehandling 20200485 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 26.06.2020 07-01 Saksbehandling 20200485 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 26.06.2020 06-01 Saksbehandling 20200485 UT Infobrev til oppfinner HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 04.05.2020 05-01 Saksbehandling 20200485 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) Tomas Solvig
 04.05.2020 04-01 Saksbehandling 20200485 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) Espen Soma
 23.04.2020 03-01 Saksbehandling 20200485 UT Formal Examination 1 HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 23.04.2020 02-01 Saksbehandling 20200485 UT Infobrev til oppfinner HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 22.04.2020 01-04 Saksbehandling 20200485 INN Beskrivelse HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 22.04.2020 01-03 Saksbehandling 20200485 INN Erklæring Søkers rett til oppfinnelse HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 22.04.2020 01-02 Saksbehandling 20200485 INN Patenttegninger HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS
 22.04.2020 01-01 Saksbehandling 20200485 INN Søknadsskjema Patent HÅMSØ PATENTBYRÅ AS

Description, claims and drawings

Disclaimer: This text has been machine-scanned and may contain errors – please refer to "Publications" for legally binding content. Description
3498951Well access apparatus and methodThe invention relates to apparatus and a method for gaining lateral access to a well via a lateral access passage of the well.5 Wells created for oil and gas production have a casing with an annulus inside the casing. However, in some wells problems have developed over time in the annulus which require intervention. For example, at the bottom of the annulus, the cement starts cracking and micro-cracks enable gas from the formation outside the cement to migrate through the cement. The gas overcomes the hydrostatic 10 pressure of liquid in the annulus and having entered the annulus it migrates upwardly and increases the pressure within the casing. This is called shut-in casing pressure. There has been increasing concern about shut-in pressure, and regulations are getting stricter in some regions.To alleviate the pressure, the gas is bled off. However, when bleeding down 15 the gas pressure, at some point there will also be bleed of fluid, making the fluid column smaller and increasing the pressure problem. To get more fluid into the annulus the most common method is the use of alternating steps of bleeding off the gas and pumping in fluid to top up the annulus with fluid. With this method, the annulus is pressurized in cycles and risks to damage the cement further.20 Wells often have at least one lateral access passage which provides for communication between the inside of the well and the outside. If this lateral access passage is used for pumping in fluid while bleeding off gas at a higher point both these steps may be carried out simultaneously to avoid the pressure cycles.Most onshore wells emerge from the ground into a pit surrounded by a 25 concrete wall. If leakages occur spills will be contained in the pit. When the wells were drilled, it was acceptable for a lateral inlet passage to the annulus around the well casing to be underground because there was no service operation which required rig-up space on the annulus inlet passage when the well was drilled. As long as there was enough space to allow entry of a hose for pumping fluid into the 30 well that was sufficient. More recently, if it is desired to gain access to the lateral inlet passage, it may be necessary to dig out the wall to create more space for an intervention tool to feed a hose along the lateral inlet passage and into the well.US 2010/0319933 A1 presents, as technological background for the present invention, a method of displacing fluids in the annulus between pressurized casing 35 strings inside an active oil or gas well by providing a controlled turndown insert and 3498952guides, then inserting and retrieving a flexible hose without it folding or buckling while being pushed or pulled through a wellhead system orifice with relatively sharp edges at the annulus opening.US 2009/0288832 A1 describes an adapter for connecting a casing annulus 5 remediation system to a well having a wellhead with standard lateral ports. The adapter has a body with first and second ends. The first end of the adapter body has a substantially planar surface adapted to cover the lateral ports and be in abutting contact with the wellhead when the two are connected to one another. The second end of the adapter body has a planar surface positioned at an angle greater 10 than 0 degrees and up to 90 degrees to the planar surface of the first end. The second end of the adapter is adapted to be connected to a casing annulus remediation system.It is known from WO2018/154087 to provide apparatus for gaining access to a well via a lateral access passage which comprises a flexible hose which is to be 15 inserted into the well via the lateral access passage so as to deviate from a direction of lateral insertion to a generally downward direction down the well.From EP 3408493 B1 it is known a tool for gaining lateral access to a well via a lateral access passage, the tool comprising a head portion and being configured to axia!ly forwardly advance the head portion towards or in the lateral 20 access passage and being configured to transmit rotational drive to the head portion, and the tool comprising a fluid transmission conduit for delivering fluid to or forwardly of the head portion. The tool uses a curved guide passage, which is useful to meet space constraints around the well, and can be used with various tool devices which are to be moved towards or in the lateral access passage of a well.25Viewed from one aspect, the invention provides intervention apparatus for gaining lateral access to a well via a lateral access passage of the well, comprising an outer pipe and a flexible guide pipe for guiding a flexible conduit towards the lateral access passage, the flexible guide pipe being arranged to be forwardly 30 advanced in the outer pipe and to deform around a bend in the outer pipe as it is forwardly advanced.Viewed from another aspect, the invention provides a method for gaining lateral access to a well via a lateral access passage of the well, comprising connecting intervention apparatus to the well, the intervention apparatus comprising 35 an outer pipe and a flexible guide pipe, forwardly advancing the flexible guide pipe 3498953in the outer pipe towards the well such that the flexible guide pipe deforms around a bend in the outer pipe as it is forwardly advanced, and guiding a flexible conduit along the flexible guide pipe towards the lateral access passage.This arrangement allows the intervention apparatus to occupy less space 5 radially outwardly of the well than in known systems. Therefore, the intervention apparatus and the methods are useful in interventions where there is limited space.In the case of wells where access is desired via a lateral access passage in a pit surrounded by a concrete wall, space radially outwardly of the well may be limited by the wall and so the apparatus and method is useful in avoiding or 10 minimising the need to dig out the wall to increase space.The flexible guide pipe may comprise a flexible tube, for example made of a polymer, with or without steel or other reinforcement. The flexible guide pipe may comprise a plurality of links or knuckles pivotally connected together to enable flexing.15 The flexible conduit may comprise a flexible hose, for example made of a polymer, with or without steel or other reinforcement.At the forward end of the flexible guide pipe various devices may be provided, for example to assist delivery of the flexible conduit through the lateral access passage and/or to direct the flexible conduit in an appropriate direction in 20 the well.A bending head may be provided in front of the flexible guide pipe to direct the flexible conduit into the well from a direction of lateral insertion to another direction. The direction of lateral insertion is a lateral direction with respect to the well. The bending head may be made from a rigid material.25 In such an arrangement, the flexible guide pipe can be used to advance the bending head towards the lateral access passage, and preferably into the lateral access passage. Thus the flexible guide pipe can deviate or flex around the bend in the outer pipe and also transmit a forward pushing force to the bending head. When it is desired to retract the bending head, preferably the flexible guide pipe can 30 pull it rearwardly.The intervention apparatus may be configured so that when the flexible guide pipe is in a retracted position prior to forward advancement, the bending head is located forwardly of the bend in the outer pipe. In this arrangement, it is not necessary for the bending head to pass around the bend in the outer pipe during its 35 forward advancement towards the lateral access passage. The provision of a guide 3498954pipe which is flexible means that it is this flexible guide pipe which passes around the bend and is capable of being advanced forwardly while flexing or deviating at the bend. The intervention apparatus may provide a straight pathway for the bending head as it moves forwardly when the flexible guide pipe is forwardly 5 advanced. The bending head can therefore be made from a rigid material, which may help to ensure that it performs consistently in directing the flexible conduit in an appropriate direction in the well.The other direction to which the flexible conduit is directed by the bending head may be a circumferential direction with respect to the well. Thus for example 10 it may be a horizontal direction. This may be useful if it is desired to direct the flexible conduit circumferentially around the annulus, for example to discharge sealant into the annulus. If the outlet end of the flexible conduit is initially advanced one revolution around the annulus, it may be withdrawn while discharging sealant and so distribute the sealant all around the annulus.15 The other direction to which the flexible conduit is directed by the bending head may alternatively be a generally downward direction.The bending head may have a guide passage for receiving the flexible conduit and having a bend therein to deviate the flexible conduit as it enters the well. The bend may be configured to deviate the flexible conduit from the direction 20 of lateral insertion to a circumferential direction with respect to the well, or to a generally downward direction. The method may further comprise guiding the flexible conduit along the guide passage and deviating the flexible conduit in the bend in the guide passage. The deviation may be from the direction of lateral insertion to a circumferential direction with respect to the well, or to a generally 25 downward direction.The bending head may be positioned in the outer pipe with the guide passage appropriately orientated, for example with an outlet pointing generally horizontally or generally downwardly. The bending head may be pre-positioned in the outer pipe with the guide passage appropriately orientated when the flexible 30 guide pipe is in a retracted position prior to forward advancement. Thus the bending head can be in a suitable position to deviate the flexible conduit in the desired direction in the well when the bending head is forwardly advanced. The guide passage may have a rear portion extending forwardly and with a radially outward component with respect to a longitudinal centreline of the bending head, 35 and a front portion which extends forwardly and curves radially inwardly across the 3498955longitudinal centreline to terminate so as to exit the bending head pointing in a direction with a radially outward component. The pointing direction may be a circumferential direction with respect to the well, or a generally downward direction.The shape of the guide passage allows the radius of curvature of the front 5 portion to be relatively large given the available width of the bending head, compared to a situation in which the rear portion did not have a radially outward (or upward) component. This minimises the amount by which the flexible conduit has to bend when it is delivered through the guide passage.The intervention apparatus may be configured so that when the flexible 10 guide pipe is in a retracted position prior to forward advancement, a front part of the flexible guide pipe is located in the bend in the outer pipe. Thus the front part may be pre-bent at this stage, which means that it does not have to navigate the bend in the outer pipe when first being advanced from the retracted position.The intervention apparatus may be configured so that when the flexible 15 guide pipe is in a forwardly advanced position after forward advancement, a rear part of the flexible guide pipe is located in the bend in the outer pipe. Thus the rear part is bent at this stage, which means that it does not have to navigate the bend in the outer pipe when the flexible guide pipe is being retracted from the forwardly advanced position.20 The outer pipe may have a first straight portion, a bent portion located forwardly of the straight portion and having the bend therein, and a second straight portion located forwardly of the bent portion.The intervention apparatus may further comprise a tool located rearwardly of the flexible guide pipe and arranged to forwardly advance the flexible guide pipe 25 in the outer pipe. Thus the tool may push the flexible guide pipe forwardly.Preferably, the tool can pull the flexible guide pipe rearwardly to retract it.The bend in the outer pipe may be a 90° bend.The intervention apparatus may further comprise the flexible conduit.In certain applications of the invention, the apparatus and method may be 30 used to provide continuous pumping of fluid into the annulus while bleeding off gas at a higher point to avoid the pressure cycles of the prior art while still filling the annulus with fluid and increasing the hydrostatic pressure. The method may comprise selecting the density of the fluid to achieve a desired hydrostatic pressure in the annulus, e.g. at the bottom of the annulus. 3498956Certain preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an embodiment of the intervention apparatus in accordance with the present invention connected to a well 5 head and in a retracted position;Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the intervention apparatus in a position for running a flexible conduit into a well;Figure 3 is a schematic view of an alternative design of flexible guide pipe, in a straight condition; and10 Figure 4 is a schematic view of the flexible guide pipe of Figure 4, in a bent conduition.Figure 1 shows intervention apparatus 10 connected to a well 12 of standard construction. The well 12 has an annular outer wall 14 formed with a side opening 16 and a valve 18 having therethrough a passageway 20 which is aligned 15 with the side opening 16 in the outer wall 14. The valve 18 has a gate 19 which may be switched between open and closed positions to open or close the passageway 20. When the valve is closed, this shuts off access from outside to the well side opening 16. When it is opened, access is allowed.The passageway 20 and the side opening 16 together form a lateral access 20 passage, which provides access to the outside of the outer wall 14, the inside of the side opening 16, or the space radially inwardly of the side opening 16.The well 12 has an annular cavity 22, known as the annulus, between a radially outer surface of a casing hanger 26 and an inside surface of the outer wall 14. The casing hanger 26 is in sealed engagement with the inside surface of the 25 outer wall 14.In this embodiment, the apparatus 10 is shown being used to gain access to the annular cavity 22 between the radially outer surface of the casing hanger 26 and the inside surface of the outer wall 14. In another use of the apparatus 10, it may gain access to an annulus between a radially outer surface of a production 30 tubing and an outer wall. Such a production tubing may hang from a tubing hanger which is in sealed engagement with the inside surface of the outer wall.The apparatus 10 for gaining access to the well 12 via the lateral access passage will now be described. The apparatus comprises an outer pipe 28 connected at its forward end to the valve 18 and at its rearward end, via a flange 35 30, to a top-up tool 32. The outer pipe 28 has a first straight portion 34 forwardly of 3498957the flange 30, a bent portion 36 forwardly of the straight portion 34, and a second straight portion 38 forwardly of the bent portion 36.A flexible guide pipe 40 is provided inside the outer pipe 28. A bending head 42 is connected to a front end of the flexible guide pipe 40. As seen in Figure 1, 5 when the intervention apparatus is in the retracted position the bending head 42 is located in the second straight portion 38 of the outer pipe 28. The bending head 42 has a guide passage 44 extending from its rear end where it joins the outer pipe 28 to its front end.A flexible conduit 46 extends from the top up tool 32, along the flexible guide 10 pipe 40 and into the bending head 42.The guide passage 44 of the bending head 42 has a rear portion extending generally longitudinally and radially outwardly of the bending head 42. The rear portion joins to a front portion which curves radially inwardly across a longitudinal centreline of the bending head 42 to terminate so as to exit the bending head 15 pointing in a generally radially outward direction. From the perspective of the well 12, in this embodiment, the rear portion of the guide passage 44 extends generally laterally and upwardly to join the front portion which curves downwardly to terminate in a generally downward direction.The shape of the guide passage 44 allows the radius of curvature of the 20 front portion to be relatively large, compared to a situation in which the rear portion did not have a radially outward (or upward) component. This minimises the amount by which the flexible conduit 46 has to bend.The top-up tool may for example be in accordance with those described in WO2017/129632 or WO 2018/158402. It includes a drive mechanism which 25 provides a stroking function, as well as a conduit via which the flexible conduit 46 may pass through the tool to the outer pipe 28.The drive mechanism is configured to advance the flexible guide pipe 40 from a rear position as shown in Figure 1 over a certain stroke length to a forward position as shown in Figure 2, and to retract it again when desired. As seen in 30 Figure 2, a hollow shaft 48 of the top up tool 32 is forwardly advanced, or stroked, and the outer pipe 28 is forwardly advanced, together with the bending head 42. In this position, the bending head 42 extends through the side opening 16 in the outer wall 14 of the well 12, having advanced from a rearward position in the second straight portion 38 of the outer pipe 28 when the apparatus is in the retracted 3498958position, through the passageway 20 of the open valve 18, to a forward position in the side opening 16.The apparatus 10 is configured to be exposed to pressure in the well annulus 22 when the valve 18 is opened. Thus the pathway through the apparatus 5 10 for the flexible conduit 46 is sealed with respect to the outside environment. This is achieved by the flexible conduit 46 extending through a seal (not shown) into the hollow shaft 48 of the top up tool 32.The operation of the intervention apparatus will now be described. The apparatus 10 is set up with the bending head 42 located in the second straight 10 portion 38 of the outer pipe 28, and with the flexible guide pipe 40 extending rearwardly from the bending head 42 around the bent portion 36 of the outer pipe 28 and along the first straight portion 34 of the outer pipe. Therefore, a front part of the flexible guide pipe 40 is deformed around the bend in the bent portion 36, so that this front part itself has a corresponding bend. The hollow shaft 48 of the top up 15 tool 32 is retracted inside the top up tool. The outer pipe 28 is attached to the valve 18 when in the closed condition. This is seen in Figure 1.When it is desired to run the flexible conduit 46 into the annulus 22 of the well 12, the valve 18 is opened. The top up tool 32 is operated to advance forwardly the hollow shaft 48 which pushes on the flexible guide pipe 40 to move it forwardly.20 The flexible guide pipe 40 is pushed around the bend in the bent portion 36 of the outer pipe, so that the bend in the front part of the flexible guide pipe 40 moves rearwardly along the length of the flexible guide pipe 40 towards its rear. Therefore, as seen in Figure 2, a rear part of the flexible guide pipe 40 is deformed around the bend in the bent portion 36 of the outer pipe 28, so that this rear part itself has a 25 corresponding bend.Meanwhile, as the flexible guide pipe 40 is forwardly advanced by the hollow shaft 48, it pushes on the bending head 42 which is also forwardly advanced, from the second straight portion 38 of the outer pipe 28, through the valve 18 and through the side opening 16 in the outer wall 14 of the well 12. At this stage a front 30 end of the guide passage 44 of the bending head 42 is located in the annulus 22 and points generally downwardly.A path for the flexible conduit 46 into the well annulus 22 is thus created. The flexible conduit 46 is advanced by an injector or the like (not shown) through the hollow shaft 48 of the top up tool 32, along the flexible guide pipe 40, through 35 the valve 18, through the bending head 42 and into the annulus 22. 3498959Due to the fact that the flexible guide pipe 40 is flexible, it is able to deform around the bend in the bent portion 36 of the outer pipe. It is configured to be pushed forwardly, in this embodiment by the hollow shaft 48 of the top up tool 32, and to push on the bending head 42 so that is advanced to form a path to the well 5 annulus 22. A rearward part of the outer pipe 28, in this case the first straight portion 34, is orientated perpendicularly to the lateral access passage of the well 12. This enables the apparatus to occupy a relatively small space in a radial direction with respect to the well 12.In this embodiment, the outer pipe 28 is bent between the horizontal 10 direction of the lateral access passage and a vertical direction. However, it could also be bent in any direction relative to the radial direction of the lateral access passage. For example it could be bent in any direction in a plane perpendicular to the lateral access passage. Thus, rather than the first straight part 34 at the rear of the outer pipe 28 extending vertically, it could extend horizontally, or at an15 intermediate position between vertical and horizontal.In this embodiment, the outer pipe 28 is bent with a 90° bend. However it could be bent by different angles whilst still reducing the space required by the apparatus 10 with respect to the radial direction of the well.In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the flexible guide pipe 40 could be a 20 pipe made of a suitable polymer, with or without steel reinforcement. Figure 3 shows an alternative in which the flexible guide pipe 40 is made up of a plurality of rigid segments (or knuckles) 50 which are movable relatively to each other so as to be able to adopt a deformed shape around the bend. This may be desirable in some applications.25
Claims
34989510Claims1. Intervention apparatus (10) for gaining lateral access to a well (12) via a lateral access passage (16) of the well, comprising:5 an outer pipe (28) having a bend (36);a flexible guide pipe (40) for guiding a flexible conduit (46) towards the lateral access passage, the flexible guide pipe being arranged to be forwardly advanced in the outer pipe and to deform around the bend in the outer pipe as it is forwardly advanced;10 a bending head (42) in front of the flexible guide pipe (40) to direct the flexible conduit (46) into the well (12) from a direction of lateral insertion to another direction; characterised in thatthe bending head (42) has a guide passage (44) for receiving the flexible conduit (46) and having a bend therein to deviate the flexible conduit as it enters 15 the well (12); andwherein the guide passage (44) has a rear portion extending forwardly and with a radially outward component with respect to a longitudinal centreline of the bending head (42), and a front portion which extends forwardly and curves radially inwardly across the longitudinal centreline to terminate so as to exit the bending 20 head pointing in a direction with a radially outward component.2. Intervention apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bend in the guide passage (44) is configured to deviate the flexible conduit (46) from the direction of lateral insertion to a generally downward direction.253. Intervention apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, configured so that when the flexible guide pipe (40) is in a retracted position prior to forward advancement, a front part of the flexible guide pipe is located in the bend (36) in the outer pipe (28).304. Intervention apparatus (10) as claimed in any preceding claim, configured so that when the flexible guide pipe (40) is in a forwardly advanced position after forward advancement, a rear part of the flexible guide pipe is located in the bend (36) in the outer pipe (28).35349895115. Intervention apparatus (10) as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a tool (32) located rearwardly of the flexible guide pipe (40) and arranged to forwardly advance the flexible guide pipe in the outer pipe (28).5 6. Intervention apparatus (10) as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising the flexible conduit (46).7. A method for gaining lateral access to a well (12) via a lateral access passage (16) of the well, comprising:10 connecting an intervention apparatus (10) to the well, the intervention apparatus comprising an outer pipe (28) having a bend (36) and a flexible guide pipe (40);forwardly advancing the flexible guide pipe in the outer pipe towards the well such that the flexible guide pipe deforms around the bend in the outer pipe as it is 15 forwardly advanced, andguiding a flexible conduit (46) along the flexible guide pipe towards the lateral access passage; characterised in thata bending head (42) in front of the flexible guide pipe (40) is forwardly advanced by the flexible guide pipe, and wherein the bending head directs the 20 flexible conduit (46) into the well (12) from a direction of lateral insertion to another direction;wherein the bending head (42) has a guide passage (44) for receiving the flexible conduit (46) and having a bend therein, and wherein the bend in the guide passage deviates the flexible conduit as it enters the well (12); and25 wherein the guide passage (44) has a rear portion extending forwardly and with a radially outward component with respect to a longitudinal centreline of the bending head (42), and a front portion which extends forwardly and curves radially inwardly across the longitudinal centreline to terminate so as to exit the bending head pointing in a direction with a radially outward component.308. A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising deviating the flexible conduit (46) in the bend in the guide passage (44) to a generally downward direction.349895129. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said pointing direction of the bending head is said generally downward direction.10. A method as claimed in any of claims 7 to 9, wherein in a retracted position 5 prior to forward advancement, a front part of the flexible guide pipe (40) is located in the bend (36) in the outer pipe (28).11. A method as claimed in any of claims 7 to 10, wherein in a forwardly advanced position after forward advancement, a rear part of the flexible guide pipe 10 (40) is located in the bend (36) in the outer pipe (28).12. A method as claimed in any of claims 7 to 11, comprising forwardly advancing the flexible guide pipe (40) in the outer pipe (28) using a tool (32) to push the flexible guide pipe forwardly.34989513PATENTKRAV1. Intervensjonsapparat (10) for å oppnå lateral tilgang til en brønn (12) via en lateral tilgangspassasje (16) i brønnen, som omfatter:5 et ytterrør (28) med en bøy (36);et fleksibelt styrerør (40) for å styre en fleksibel ledning (46) mot den laterale tilgangspassasje, hvor det fleksible styrerøret er arrangert slik at det kan føres forover i ytterrøret og deformeres rundt bøyen i ytterrøret når det føres forover; et bøyhode (42) foran det fleksible styrerøret (40) for å lede den fleksible ledningen 10 (46) inn i brønnen (12) fra en retning for lateral innføring til en annen retning;karakterisert ved atbøyhodet (42) har en styringspassasje (44) for mottak av den fleksible ledningen (46) og med en bøy i denne for å avlede den fleksible ledningen når den går inn i brønnen (12); og15 hvor styringspassasjen (44) har en bakre del som strekker seg forover og med en radialt utadgående komponent i forhold til en lengdemidtslinje til bøyhodet (42), og en fremre del som strekker seg forover og krummer radialt innover over lengdemidtslinjen for å avslutte slik at den går ut av bøyhodet pekende i en retning med en radialt utadgående komponent.202. Intervensjonsapparat (10) ifølge krav 1, hvor bøyen i styringspassasjen (44) er konfigurert til å avlede den fleksible ledningen (46) fra retningen for lateral innføring til en generelt nedadgående retning.25 3. Intervensjonsapparat (10) ifølge krav 1 eller krav 2, konfigurert slik at når det fleksible styrerøret (40) er i en tilbaketrukket posisjon før fremføring, er en fremre del av det fleksible styrerøret lokalisert i bøyen (36) i ytterrøret (28).4. Intervensjonsapparat (10) ifølge ethvert foregående krav, konfigurert slik at når 30 det fleksible styrerøret (40) er i en fremført posisjon etter fremføring, er en bakre del av det fleksible styrerøret lokalisert i bøyen (36) i ytterrøret (28).5. Intervensjonsapparat (10) ifølge ethvert foregående krav, videre omfattende et verktøy (32) plassert bak det fleksible styrerøret (40) og arrangert for å føre det 35 fleksible styrerøret forover i ytterrøret (28).349895146. Intervensjonsapparat (10) ifølge ethvert foregående krav, videre omfattende den fleksible ledningen (46).5 7. En fremgangsmåte for å oppnå lateral tilgang til en brønn (12) via en lateral tilgangspassasje (16) i brønnen, som omfatter:å koble et intervensjonsapparat (10) til brønnen, hvor intervensjonsapparatet omfatter et ytterrør (28) med en bøy (36) og et fleksibelt styrerør (40);å føre det fleksible styrerøret forover i ytterrøret mot brønnen slik at det fleksible 10 styrerøret deformeres rundt bøyen i ytterrøret når det føres forover; ogå styre en fleksibel ledning (46) langs det fleksible styrerøret mot den laterale tilgangspassasje; karakterisert ved atet bøyhode (42) foran det fleksible styrerøret (40) føres forover av det fleksible styrerøret, og hvor bøyhodet leder den fleksible ledningen (46) inn i brønnen (12) 15 fra en retning for lateral innføring til en annen retning;hvor bøyhodet (42) har en styringspassasje (44) for mottak av den fleksible ledningen (46) og med en bøy i denne, og hvor bøyen i styringspassasjen avleder den fleksible ledningen når den går inn i brønnen (12); oghvor styringspassasjen (44) har en bakre del som strekker seg forover og med en 20 radialt utadgående komponent i forhold til en lengdemidtslinje for bøyhodet (42), og en fremre del som strekker seg forover og krummer radialt innover over lengdemidtslinjen for å avslutte slik at den går ut av bøyhodet pekende i en retning med en radialt utadgående komponent.25 8. En fremgangsmåte ifølge krav 7, videre omfattende å avlede den fleksible ledningen (46) i bøyen i styringspassasjen (44) til en generelt nedadgående retning.9. En fremgangsmåte ifølge krav 8, hvor nevnte pekende retning til bøyhodet er den generelt nedadgående retningen.3010. En fremgangsmåte ifølge ethvert av kravene 7 til 9, hvor det i en tilbaketrukket posisjon før fremføring, er en fremre del av det fleksible styrerøret (40) lokalisert i bøyen (36) i ytterrøret (28).3498951511. En fremgangsmåte ifølge ethvert av kravene 7 til 10, hvor det i en fremført posisjon etter fremføring, er en bakre del av det fleksible styrerøret (40) lokalisert i bøyen (36) i ytterrøret (28).5 12. En fremgangsmåte ifølge ethvert av kravene 7 til 11, som omfatter å føre det fleksible styrerøret (40) forover i ytterrøret (28) ved hjelp av et verktøy (32) for å skyve det fleksible styrerøret forover.
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Patent classes

IPC classesE21B 33/068E21B 19/22CPC classesE21B 33/068E21B 19/22

Citations

US 2009/0288832 A1 (A1)WO 2018/154087 A2 (A2)US 2010/0319933 A1 (A1)EP 3408493 B1 (B1)

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Owners
EXPRO NORWAY AS
Postboks 49 4098 TANANGER NO (SOLA Municipality, Rogaland county)Org. number: 991954023Inventors
Tomas Solvig
Granvegen 8A 4051 SOLA NO (SOLA Municipality, Rogaland county)
Espen Soma
Lunadalen 27 4326 SANDNES NO (SANDNES Municipality, Rogaland county)

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DEHNS NORDIC AS
DEHNS NORDIC AS

Org. number: 925704261

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