Well access apparatus and method
An intervention apparatus for gaining lateral access to a well via a lateral access passage of the well is provided, including 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 advanced in the outer pipe and to deform around a bend in the outer pipe as it is forwardly advanced.
1. An 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 advanced in the outer pipe and to deform around a bend in the outer pipe as it is forwardly advanced; and
a bending head in front of the flexible guide pipe to direct the flexible conduit into the well from a direction of lateral insertion to another direction;
wherein the bending head has a guide passage for receiving the flexible conduit and having a bend therein to deviate the flexible conduit as it enters the well; and
wherein the guide passage has a rear portion extending forwardly and with a radially outward component with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the bending head, and a front portion which extends forwardly and curves radially inwardly across the longitudinal centerline to terminate so as to exit the bending head pointing in a direction with a radially outward component.
2. The intervention apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bend in the guide passage is configured to deviate the flexible conduit from the direction of lateral insertion to a generally downward direction.
3. The intervention apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , configured so that when the flexible 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.
4. The intervention apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , configured so that when the flexible 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.
5. The intervention apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a tool located rearwardly of the flexible guide pipe and arranged to forwardly advance the flexible guide pipe in the outer pipe.
6. The intervention apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the flexible conduit.
7. 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 an outer pipe and a flexible guide pipe, forwardly advancing the flexible guide pipe in 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;
wherein a bending head in front of the flexible guide pipe is forwardly advanced by the flexible guide pipe, and wherein the bending head directs the flexible conduit into the well from a direction of lateral insertion to another direction; and
wherein the bending head has a guide passage for receiving the flexible conduit and having a bend therein, and wherein the bend in the guide passage deviates the flexible conduit as it enters the well; and
deviating the flexible conduit in the bend in the guide passage to a generally downward direction; and
wherein the guide passage has a rear portion extending forwardly and with a radially outward component with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the bending head, and a front portion which extends forwardly and curves radially inwardly across the longitudinal centerline to terminate so as to exit the bending head pointing in a direction with a radially outward component, said pointing direction being said generally downward direction.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein 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.
9. The method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein 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.
10. The method as claimed in claim 7 , comprising forwardly advancing the flexible guide pipe in the outer pipe using a tool to push the flexible guide pipe forwardly.