WELL INSERT

Abstract

A well insert for insertion into a foundation of a well is provided. The insert comprises a channel therethrough for the well; and the well insert is arranged so that when the well insert is inserted into the foundation of the well, the channel of the insert can be adjusted relative to vertical. A well assembly comprising the well insert and a well foundation is also provided as is a method of inserting a well insert and a method of controlling the orientation of a well using a well insert.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the orientation of a well, the method comprising: installing a well foundation, the foundation having a channel therethrough; measuring the angle of the foundation relative to vertical; providing a well insert, the well insert comprising a channel therethrough for a well; and inserting the well insert into a channel in the installed well foundation, wherein the well insert corrects for a misalignment of the channel in the well foundation from vertical after the foundation has been installed.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises determining the offset between the channel of the well foundation and vertical.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein based on the measurement of the angle of the foundation relative to vertical it is determined what is the appropriate angle between the channel of the insert and an outer surface of the insert.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises: providing a plurality of well inserts, wherein each of the well inserts has a different angle between channel of the insert and the outer surface of the insert; and wherein the method comprises selecting an appropriate well insert from the plurality of well inserts and inserting the selected well inset into the channel in the installed well foundation.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the well inserts of the plurality of well inserts each have angle between the channel of the insert and the outer surface of the insert that differs by at least 0.5 degrees from the other well inserts of the plurality of well inserts.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein once the desired angle of the channel relative to the engagement surface is determined, the method comprises making an appropriate well insert.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the angle of the channel of the well insert relative to the channel of the well foundation is adjusted based on the measured angle of the foundation.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein whilst installing the well foundation the orientation of the foundation is not controlled

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein if it is determined that there is no offset between the channel of the well foundation and vertical, the method comprises providing and inserting a well insert which has a channel that is parallel to the channel of the well foundation.

Description

[0099] Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0100] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary well insert;

[0101] FIG. 2 shows another exemplary (currently not claimed) well insert; and

[0102] FIG. 3 shows yet another exemplary well insert.

[0103] FIG. 1 shows a well assembly 1 in which a well insert 2 is inserted into a well foundation 4. The well insert 2 has a channel 6 therethrough for a well 8. The well foundation 4 has a channel 10 which is for letting the well 8 extend therethrough. The channel 10 of the foundation accommodates the well insert 2. As can be seen in the figure, the well foundation 4 and thus the channel therethrough is at an angle from vertical (wherein vertical is the direction perpendicular to the ground 12 in which the foundation is located).

[0104] In order that the well 8 can be vertical (or near vertical) despite the angle of the foundation 4, the insert 2 is provided in the well foundation 4. The channel 6 through the insert 2 extends at an angle to the surface of the insert 2 which engages with the well foundation 4. The channel 6 through the insert 2 also extends at an angle to the main axis of the insert 2. Thus when the insert 2 is inserted into the channel 10 of the foundation, the channel 6 through the insert 2 extends at an angle to the channel 10 of the foundation. The angle between the channel 6 and the engagement surface of the insert 2 can be chosen so that when the insert 2 is inserted into the foundation 4 the channel 6 in the insert is vertical relative to the ground 12 in which the foundation 4 is located.

[0105] FIG. 2 shows an alternative assembly 100 in which the foundation 4 is vertical relative to the ground 12. In this case the insert 2 is used to deliberately make the well 8 extend at an angle from vertical (relative to the ground 12) through the insert 2 and foundation 4. This may be particularly useful in environments in which it is necessary for the well to transition to a horizontal well over a relatively short depth (such as in cases in which there is a fairly small overburden above the well).

[0106] In either case, the channel 6 in the insert 2 may be fixed. An insert 2 with a suitable angled channel 6 will be chosen for the application depending on how far from vertical the foundation is in the first example (described in connection with FIG. 1) or how angled it is desired for the well to be in the second example (described in connection with FIG. 2).

[0107] It may be that there are a plurality of inserts 2 each which a different angle between the channel 6 and the engagement surface. Thus, once the foundation 4 has been installed, a site survey may be carried out to determine the angle of the foundation 4 relative to vertical. An appropriate insert 2 from the plurality of inserts may be chosen. This insert 2 may have a channel at an angle which compensates for the misalignment between the foundation 4 and the vertical position.

[0108] Alternatively, the angle of the channel 6 of the insert relative to the outside engagement surface of the insert 2 which engages with the foundation 4 in use may be adjustable. Thus, the channel 6 may be moved to an appropriate angle once it is known what angle is required to compensate for the angle of the foundation 4.

[0109] FIG. 3 shows an example insert 2 in which the channel 6 through the insert 2 is curved. This can also be used to provide a well which extends at an angle relative to the angle of the axis of the foundation or relative to vertical.

[0110] The following clauses set out features of the invention which may not presently be claimed in this application, but which may form the basis for further amendment or a divisional/continuation application.

[0111] 1. A well insert for insertion into a foundation of a well, the insert comprising:

[0112] a channel therethrough for the well;

[0113] wherein the well insert is arranged so that when the well insert is inserted into the foundation of the well, the angle of the channel of the insert is adjustable relative to vertical.

[0114] 2. A well insert according to clause 1, wherein the well insert is arranged so that when the well insert is inserted into the foundation of the well, the channel of the insert will extend at an angle relative to the foundation.

[0115] 3. A well insert according to clause 1 or 2, wherein the axis of the channel of the insert is at an angle to a main axis of the well insert.

[0116] 4. A well insert according to clause 1, 2 or 3, wherein the channel extends at an angle relative to a surface of the insert which, in use, engages with the foundation of the well.

[0117] 5. A well insert according to any preceding clause, wherein, when the well insert is inserted into the foundation of the well the well insert is rotatable relative to the foundation.

[0118] 6. A well insert according to any preceding clause, wherein the angle of the channel of the insert relative to the surface which, in use, engages with the foundation of the well of the insert is fixed.

[0119] 7. A well insert according to any of clauses 1 to 5, wherein the angle of the channel of the insert relative to the surface of the insert which, in use, engages with the foundation of the well of the insert is adjustable.

[0120] 8. A well assembly, the well assembly comprising:

[0121] a foundation comprising a channel therethrough for a well, and

[0122] a well insert according to any preceding clause.

[0123] 9. A well assembly according to clause 8, wherein, when the well insert is inserted into the foundation, the main axis of the channel through the well insert is at an angle to the main axis of the channel through the foundation.

[0124] 10. A well assembly according to clause 8 or 9, wherein the channel in the foundation is non-vertical, and the well insert is arranged so that the channel through the well insert, when inserted into the foundation, is vertical.

[0125] 11. A well assembly according to clause 8, 9 or 10, wherein the well assembly is arranged so that, when the well insert is inserted into the foundation, the well insert is rotatable within the channel of the foundation.

[0126] 12. A plurality of well inserts, wherein each of the well inserts is for insertion into a foundation of a well, each insert comprising:

[0127] a channel therethrough for the well;

[0128] wherein each well insert is arranged so that when the well insert is inserted into the foundation of the well, the channel of the insert will extend at an angle relative to the foundation; and

[0129] wherein each insert has a different angle between channel of the insert and the surface of the insert which, in use, engages with the foundation of the well of the insert.

[0130] 13. A plurality of well inserts according to clause 12, wherein each of the inserts is an insert according to any of clauses 1 to 7.

[0131] 14. A method of installing a well insert, the method comprising:

[0132] providing a well insert, the well insert comprising a channel therethrough for a well; and

[0133] inserting the well insert into an installed well foundation, wherein, when the well insert is inserted into the foundation of the well, the channel of the insert extends at an angle relative to the foundation.

[0134] 15. A method of controlling the angle of a well in an installed well foundation, the method comprising:

[0135] providing a well insert, the well insert comprising a channel therethrough for the well; and

[0136] inserting the well insert into the well foundation.

[0137] 16. A method according to clause 14 or 15 wherein the well insert is a well insert according to any of clauses 1 to 7.

[0138] 17. A method according to clauses 14, 15 or 16, wherein the foundation comprises a channel which is for having a well extend therethrough and wherein the method comprises inserting the well insert into the channel of the foundation.

[0139] 18. A method according to any of clauses 14 to 17, wherein the method comprises obtaining information regarding the orientation of the foundation.

[0140] 19. A method according to clause 18, wherein the method comprises choosing a well insert based on the orientation of the foundation.

[0141] 20. A method according to clause 19 or 20, wherein the angle of the channel of the insert is adjustable, and wherein the angle of the channel is adjusted based on the orientation of the foundation.