Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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POSITIONING AND CONVEYING WELL APPARATUS AND METHOD
This is a divisional of Canadian patent application 2,386,930 whose Canadian
national phase entry date is April 4, 2002.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates to subsurface well equipment and, more
particularly, to devices and related methods for determining the position of
subsurface
well equipment within a well.
2. Description Of The Related Art
Wells having one or more lateral branches extending therefrom are now
commonplace in the petroleum-exploration industry. It is customary that it is
desirable to enter one or more of the lateral branches with a some type of
work or tool
string. It is known that a deflecting device have an inclined surface (often
called a
"whipstock") is used divert the string into the desired lateral, and that the
whipstock
must be remotely oriented and set in the well bore adjacent the lateral branch
into
which tool entry is desired. This is often accomplished by use of one or more
locating
and orienting keys on the whipstock that cooperate with an orienting profile
and
alignment slot in the well near the desired lateral branch. A problem that
exists in this
scenario is that current technology does not give a sufficiently reliable
indication to an
operator at the earth's surface that the whipstock has been properly landed in
the
alignment slot. In this regard, the current approach to determining whether
the
whipstock is properly landed is to compare the tension or compression on the
string to
the length of the string. This is not considered reliable for either coiled
tubing or
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jointed pipes. The accuracy of this approach for coiled tubing is
approximately 50
feet and for jointed pipe approximately 10 feet. With these margins of
error, the
whipstock could be stuck in the wrong place within the well several feet above
or
below the mating profile, but the surface indication would be that it was
properly
landed in the correct location.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been contemplated to meet the above described
needs. In one aspect, the present invention provides a system for determining
that a
locking or locating device is positioned at a predetermined mating profile in
a string,
independent of linear measurements or conventional compression/tension gauges.
This may be accomplished by substantially restricting circulation through a
fluid
circulation port located between two seals once the seals are positioned
across sealing
surfaces inside a mating nipple. The present invention may also include a
conveying
tool with a flexible arm that is clipped or clamped to a dedicated pocket on
or near the
inclined surface of the whipstock. The flexible arm is supported by a piston
disposed
for movement within the conveying tool. Some advantages of the conveying tool
of
the present invention are that all shifting parts are on the conveying tool
side, the
outside diameter of the whipstock may be maximized, and the whipstock inclined
surface is not obstructed with a large opening. The apparatus of the present
invention
is conveyed inside the string on coiled tubing or jointed pipe. Additional
aspects of
the present invention will be summarized here and then more fully described
under the
detailed-description heading.
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In one aspect, the invention may be a downhole well tool comprising: a nipple
connected to a well conduit, the nipple including a longitudinal bore having
an upper
sealing surface and a lower sealing surface; a body member having an upper
seal, a
lower seal, and a fluid passageway extending from an upper end of the body
member
and exiting the body member between the upper and lower seals; and a key
remotely
shiftable between a running position and a locked position, the key being
releasably
engageable with the nipple when in its locked position, and the upper and
lower seals
being engaged with the upper and lower sealing surfaces, respectively, when
the key is
in its locked position, thereby substantially restricting fluid circulation
through the
fluid passageway in the body member and increasing fluid pressure therein.
Another
feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the key is engageable
with an
alignment profile in the nipple to rotate the well tool to a predetermined
orientation.
Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the key is
releasably
engageable with a protuberance disposed in an alignment slot in the nipple.
Another
feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the tool may further
include a
conveying tool having: a body with a longitudinal bore therethrough; a
flexible arm
extending from the body, a distal end of the arm having a latching finger; and
a release
piston disposed within the longitudinal bore and releasably attached to the
body when
in a locked position, the release piston having a shoulder adapted to maintain
locking
engagement between the latching finger on the flexible arm and a latching
profile on
the body member of the downhole well tool when the release piston is in its
locked
position, the release piston being shiftable within the longitudinal bore upon
disengagement from the body to disengage the latching finger from the latching
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profile. Another feature of this aspect of the present
invention is that the longitudinal bore further includes an
upper seat and a lower seat, a diameter of the upper seat
being greater than a diameter of the lower seat, the piston
further including a fluid port disposed through a wall of
the piston and between the upper and lower seats, the
conveying tool further including a first ball engageable
with the lower seat and adapted to divert fluid flow through
the fluid port, and a second ball engageable with the upper
seat and adapted to restrict fluid flow through the
longitudinal bore of the piston. Another feature of this
aspect of the present invention is that the conveying tool
further includes a sleeve extending from the body of the
conveying tool and adapted to be disposed about an outside
diameter of the body member of the downhole well tool.
In another aspect, there is provided an apparatus
for conveying a well tool to a desired location, comprising:
a body member having a longitudinal bore therethrough; a
flexible arm extending from the body member and having a
latching finger at a distal end thereof, the latching finger
being releasably engageable with a latching profile on the
well tool; and a release piston having an upper end, a lower
end, a longitudinal bore therethrough, and an annular
shoulder adapted to closely fit and move within the
longitudinal bore of the body member, the piston being
releasably secured to the body member when the piston is in
a running position, the annular shoulder being disposed
within the longitudinal bore of the body member when the
piston is in its running position to maintain engagement
between the latching finger and latching profile.
In another aspect, the present invention may be a
downhole well tool comprising: a nipple connected to a well
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conduit, the nipple including a longitudinal bore having an
upper sealing surface and a lower sealing surface; a body
member having an upper seal and a lower seal; a whipstock
having an upper end, a lower end, an inclined surface at the
upper end, a first fluid passageway extending longitudinally
through the whipstock, a second fluid passageway extending
from the lower end of the whipstock to an exit port disposed
above the upper seal, and a third fluid passageway extending
from the upper end of the whipstock to a piston chamber; a
key piston releasably attached to the body member, adapted
for movement upon disengagement from the body member, and in
fluid communication with the third fluid passageway; and a
key connected to the body member and remotely shiftable
between a running position and a locked position, the key
being releasably engaged with the nipple when
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in its locked position, the key being maintained in its running position by
releasable
engagement with the key piston, and the upper and lower seals being engaged
with the
upper and lower sealing surfaces, respectively, when the key is in its locked
position,
thereby substantially restricting fluid circulation through the third fluid
passageway
and increasing fluid pressure therein. Another feature of this aspect of the
present
invention is that the key is engageable with an alignment profile in the
nipple to rotate
the well tool to a predetermined orientation. Another feature of this aspect
of the
present invention is that the key is releasably engageable with a protuberance
disposed
in an alignment slot in the nipple. Another feature of this aspect of the
present
invention is that the key includes a first and a second diverging surface
engageable
with a first and a second inclined surface in the alignment slot in the
nipple. Another
feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the key includes a
head with an
arm extending therefrom, the arm having a slot extending from the head towards
a
distal end of the arm and terminating at an inclined surface, and wherein the
whipstock further includes a support shoulder and a hook, the support shoulder
being
adapted to hold the key in its locked position, and the hook being releasably
engageable with the inclined surface on the key arm to retract the key to its
running
position. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that at
least one of
the hook and support shoulder is adapted to be received within the arm slot.
Another
feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the key does not
extend beyond
an outside diameter of the body member when the key is in its running
position.
Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the too] may
further
include a collet and a locking piston, the collet being connected to the body
member
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and having at least one collet finger releasably engageable with a groove in
the
whipstock, the locking piston being releasably attached to the body member
when in a
locked position, and having an upper portion disposed between the collet
finger and
the body member when in the locked position to lock the collet finger in the
whipstock groove, thereby restricting movement of the whipstock relative to
the body
member when the locking piston is in its locked position. Another feature of
this
aspect of the present invention is that the tool may further include a sleeve
and a
resilient lock ring, the sleeve being disposed about and releasably secured to
the
whipstock and having an annular groove about its periphery, the lock ring
being
disposed about the sleeve and within an annular recess in the body member when
collet finger is locked in the whipstock groove, and the lock ring being
disposed
within the annular recess and annular groove after the locking piston is
released from
the body member to disengage the collet finger from the whipstock groove and
permit
the whipstock to shift upwardly relative to the body member. Another feature
of this
aspect of the present invention is that the tool may further include a
conveying tool
having: a body with a longitudinal bore therethrough; a flexible arm extending
from
the body, a distal end of the arm having a latching finger; and a release
piston
disposed within the longitudinal bore and releasably attached to the body when
in a
locked position, the release piston having a shoulder adapted to maintain
locking
engagement between the latching finger on the flexible arm and a latching
profile on
the whipstock when the release piston is in its locked position, the release
piston being
shiftable within the longitudinal bore upon disengagement from the body to
disengage
the latching finger from the latching profile. Another feature of this aspect
of the
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present invention is that the longitudinal bore further includes an upper seat
and a
lower seat, a diameter of the upper seat being greater than a diameter of the
lower seat,
the piston further including a fluid port disposed through a wall of the
piston and
between the upper and lower seats, the conveying tool further including a
first ball
engageable with the lower seat and adapted to divert fluid flow through the
fluid port
and into third fluid passageway in the whipstock, and a second ball engageable
with
the upper seat and adapted to restrict fluid flow through the longitudinal
bore of the
piston. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the
conveying
tool further includes a sleeve extending from the body and adapted to be
disposed
about an outside diameter of the whipstock.
In yet another aspect, the present invention may be a downhole positioning
system for use in a well conduit, the system comprising: a nipple connected to
the
well conduit and having a longitudinal bore with an upper sealing surface and
a lower
sealing surface disposed therein; a downhole well tool having a body member
and a
key, the body member having an upper seal, a lower seal, and a fluid
passageway
extending from an upper end of the body member and exiting the body member
between the upper and lower seals, the key being remotely shiftable between a
running
position and a locked position, the key being releasably engageable with the
nipple
when in its locked position, and the upper and lower seals being engaged with
the
upper and lower sealing surfaces, respectively, when the key is in its locked
position,
thereby substantially restricting fluid circulation through the fluid
passageway in the
body member and increasing fluid pressure therein; and a conveying tool having
a
latching finger releasably engageable with a latching profile on the downhole
well
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tool. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the key
is
engageable with an alignment profile in the nipple to rotate the well tool to
a
predetermined orientation. Another feature of this aspect of the present
invention is
that the key is releasably engageable with a protuberance disposed in an
alignment slot
in the nipple. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is that
the key
includes a first and a second diverging surface engageable with a first and a
second
inclined surface in the alignment slot in the nipple. Another feature of this
aspect of
the present invention is that the conveying tool further including: a body
with a
longitudinal bore therethrough; a flexible arm extending from the body, the
latching
finger being disposed at a distal end of the arm; and a release piston
disposed within
the longitudinal bore and releasably attached to the body when in a locked
position,
the release piston having a shoulder adapted to maintain locking engagement
between
the latching finger on the flexible arm and a latching profile on the body
member of
the downhole well tool when the release piston is in its locked position, the
release
piston being shiftable within the longitudinal bore upon disengagement from
the body
to disengage the latching finger from the latching profile.
In still another aspect, the present invention may be a system for verifying
well
position, the system comprising: a nipple connected to a well conduit and
having at
least one sealing surface; a well tool having an upper end, a lower end, at
least one
seal, and a fluid passageway extending from the upper end of the well tool to
an
exterior of the well tool, the at least one seal and the at least one sealing
surface
providing a well seal when aligned, the well seal substantially restricting
fluid
communication from the fluid passageway and the well conduit beyond the upper
and
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lower ends of the well tool. Another feature of this aspect of the present
invention is
that the nipple includes two sealing surfaces, the well tool includes two
seals, and the
fluid passageway communicating with the exterior of the well exits the well
tool
between the two seals.
In yet another aspect, the present invention may be a well tool, comprising: a
body member; a key attached to the body member, the key moveable between a
retracted position and a deployed position; a retaining member selectively
holding the
key in the retracted position and releasable to allow the key to move to a
deployed
position; and a retracting member moveable to selectively move the key from
the
deployed position to the retracted position.
In another aspect, the present invention may be an apparatus for conveying a
well tool to a desired location, comprising: a body member having a
longitudinal bore
therethrough; a flexible arm extending from the body member and having a
latching
finger at a distal end thereof, the latching finger being releasably
engageable with a
latching profile on the well tool; and a release piston having an upper end, a
lower
end, a longitudinal bore therethrough, and an annular shoulder adapted to
closely fit
and move within the longitudinal bore of the body member, the piston being
releasably secured to the body member when the piston is in a running
position, the
annular shoulder being disposed within the longitudinal bore of the body
member
when the piston is in its running position to maintain engagement between the
latching finger and latching profile. Another feature of this aspect of the
present
invention is that the arm is biased towards the longitudinal bore. Another
feature of
this aspect of the present invention is that the release piston further
includes a fluid
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port located through a piston wall and between the upper and lower seats.
Another
feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the piston bore
includes an upper
seat and a lower seat, the diameter of the upper seat being greater than the
diameter of
the lower seat. Another feature of this aspect of the present invention is
that the
apparatus may further include a sleeve member extending from the body member
and
adapted for engagement about the well tool.
In another aspect, the present invention may be a downhole well tool
comprising: a nipple connected to a well conduit, the nipple including a
longitudinal
bore having an upper sealing surface and a lower sealing surface; a body
member
having an upper seal, a lower seal, and a fluid passageway extending from an
upper
end of the body member and exiting the body member between the upper and lower
seals, the upper and lower seals being engaged with the upper and lower
sealing
surfaces, respectively, when the body member is locked to the nipple, thereby
substantially restricting fluid circulation through the fluid passageway in
the body
member and increasing fluid pressure therein.
In another aspect, the present invention may be a downhole well tool
comprising: a nipple connected to a well conduit, the nipple including a
longitudinal
bore having an upper sealing surface and a lower sealing surface; a body
member
having an upper seal, a lower seal, and a fluid passageway extending from an
upper
end of the body member and exiting the body member between the upper and lower
seals, the upper and lower seals being engaged with the upper and lower
sealing
surfaces, respectively, thereby substantially restricting fluid circulation
through the
fluid passageway in the body member and increasing fluid pressure therein.
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In another aspect, the present invention may be a method for determining the
position of a downhole well tool within a well conduit, comprising: providing
a
nipple in the well conduit, the nipple having a longitudinal bore with an
upper sealing
surface and a lower sealing surface disposed therein; lowering the downhole
tool into
the well conduit; detecting fluid pressure between the upper and lower sealing
surfaces; and determining whether an upper and lower seal on the downhole well
tool
are engaged with the upper and lower sealing surfaces, respectively. Another
feature
of this aspect of the present invention is that the method may further include
attempting to engage a key on the downhole tool in an alignment slot in the
nipple,
between the lowering and detecting steps.
In another aspect, the present invention may be a method of providing position
feedback of a well tool in a well to the earth's surface, the method
comprising:
running the well tool into the well; circulating fluid through the well tool
to an
exterior of the well tool; providing a nipple in the well at a predetermined
position;
sealing between the well tool and the nipple when the well tool is aligned
with the
nipple in the well and substantially restricting circulation of the fluid
flow; and
detecting the pressure of the flow of fluid to the well tool.
In another aspect, the present invention may be a method of selectively
deploying a key in a well tool, the method comprising: retaining the key in a
retracted
position with a retaining member; releasing the retaining member; and moving
the
key from the retracted position to a deployed position. Another feature of
this aspect
of the present invention is that the method may further include subsequently
moving
the key from the deployed position to the retracted position.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully
apparent from the following detailed description, appended claims, and the
accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a nipple of the
present
invention connected to a production tubing disposed within a well casing.
Figure 2 is longitudinal cross-sectional view of the nipple shown in Figure 1.
Figure 2A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2A-2A of Figure 2.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the nipple shown in Figures 1-2A.
Figures 4A-4B, taken together, illustrate a longitudinal side view of a
deflector
of the present invention.
Figure 5 is an isometric view of a key on the deflector.
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 4B.
Figure 7 is a side view of a deflector conveying tool of the present
invention.
Figures 8A and 8B illustrate the deflector conveying tool and the deflector
engaged and in their running positions.
Figures 9A and 9B are very similar to Figures 8A and 8B, except that here the
key on the deflector is shown in a released position.
Figures 10A and lOB are very similar to Figures 8-9, except that here a
whipstock on the deflector has been shifted to lock the key to the nipple.
Figures 11A and 11B are very similar to Figures 8-10 and illustrate the manner
in which the deflector conveying tool is disengaged from the deflector.
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Figures 12A and 12B are very similar to Figures 8-11, except that here the
deflector conveying tool has been disengaged from the deflector and withdrawn
to the
earth's surface.
Figure 13 illustrates a lower portion of the deflector after the key has been
compressed into a retrieving position.
Figure 14 illustrates one function of a second fluid passageway through the
deflector of the present invention.
While the invention will be described in connection with the preferred
embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the
invention to
those embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives,
modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope
of the
invention as defined by the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In a broad aspect, the present invention may include three components: (1) a
nipple; (2) a deflector; and (3) a deflector conveying tool. Referring to the
drawings
in detail, wherein like numerals denote identical elements throughout the
several
views, it can be seen with reference to Figure 1 that the nipple 10 of the
present
invention may be connected to, or formed as part of, a production tubing 12
disposed
within a well casing 14 having a lateral branch 16 extending therefrom. The
production tubing 12 includes a window 18 disposed adjacent the lateral branch
16.
The nipple 10 is more fully illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.
With reference to Figures 2, 2A and 3, the nipple 10 includes a body member
11 having an upper end 20, a lower end 22, and a longitudinal bore 24
therethrough.
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The bore 24 may include an upper sealing surface 26 and a lower sealing
surface 28
(see also Figure 1). The nipple 10 may further include a discriminator 30
(also
sometimes referred to as a "muleshoe") that may be formed within the bore 24
or
attached as a separate component within the bore 24. The discriminator 30
includes
an alignment profile 32 and an alignment slot 34. The alignment slot 34 may
further
include a first inclined surface 36 and a second inclined surface 38. The body
member
11 may further include a bump or protuberance 40 disposed within the
discriminator
slot 34. The bump 40 may be formed in the body member 11 or on an insert
attached
to the body member 11. With reference to Figure 2, the bump 40 may include an
upper inclined surface 41 and a lower inclined surface 43, the purpose of
which will
be explained below. As best seen in Figure 2A, the height H of the bump 40 is
less
than the thickness T of the alignment slot 34 in the discriminator 30.
The second of the three above-identified main components of the present
invention, i.e., the deflector, will now be described with reference to
Figures 4A-4B,
wherein the deflector is identified by the numeral 42. The deflector 42
includes a
whipstock 44 and a body member 45. The whipstock 44 includes an upper end 46
(Figure 4A) and a lower end 48 (Figure 4B). The upper end 46 includes an
inclined
surface 50, which, in a specific embodiment, may be concave. The upper end 46
may
also include a latching profile 51, the purpose of which will be explained
below. As
shown in Figure 4B, the body member 45 includes an upper seal 52 and a lower
seal
54. As shown in Figures 4A and 4B, the whipstock 44 may include three
longitudinal
bores, or fluid communication passageways, namely, a first passageway 56, a
second
passageway 58, and a third passageway 60. The first passageway 56 extends
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longitudinally through the whipstock 44. The second passageway 58 extends from
the
lower end 48 of the whipstock 44 to an exit port 62 disposed above the upper
seal 52.
The third passageway 60 extends from the upper end 46 of the whipstock 44 to a
piston chamber 64 formed between the whipstock 44 and a key piston 66 (see
Figure
4B). The third passageway 60 exits the whipstock 44 between the upper and
lower
seals 52 and 54. With reference to Figure 4B, the key piston 66 may be
sealably
disposed for movement about the whipstock 44 and within the body member 45.
The
key piston 66 is releasably attached (e.g., by shear pins 68) to the body
member 45. In
this regard, it is noted that Figures 4A-4B illustrate the deflector 42 in a
running
position, prior to the key piston 66 being released from attachment to the
body
member 45. The key piston 66 is further adapted for engagement with a key 70
that
may be formed as part of the body member 45 or attached thereto as a separate
component.
In a specific embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, the key 70 may be a collet-
type key having a head portion 72 with an arm 74 extending therefrom. The arm
74
may include a distal end 76, and a slot 78 terminating at an inclined surface
80 at the
distal end 76. The distal end 76 may further include a first and a second
diverging
surface 82 and 84, and a first and a second ramp 86 and 88. The first and
second
diverging surfaces 82 and 84 are adapted for mating engagement with the first
and
second inclined surfaces 36 and 38 on the alignment slot 34 (see Figure 3)
when the
key 70 is in its locked position (more fully discussed below). The first and
second
ramps 86 and 88 are adapted for mating engagement with the upper inclined
surface
41 on the bump 40 (see Figure 2) when the key 70 is in its locked position. As
shown
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in Figure 4B, the key 70 may be attached to the body member 45. When the
deflector
42 is in its running position, the key 70 is also in a running position, in
which the key
arm 74 is compressed, or bent inwardly, and held in that position by
engagement of
the key piston 66 with the distal end 76 of the key arm 74. When in this
compressed,
or running, position, the key 70 preferably does not extend beyond the outside
diameter of the deflector 42. The whipstock 44 may further include a support
shoulder 90 and a hook 92, one or both of which may be disposed within the key
slot
78 when the key arm 74 is compressed inwardly, as shown in Figure 4B. As will
be
more fully explained below, the whipstock shoulder 90 is adapted to hold the
key 70
in a locked position, at which time the key 70 is releasably engaged with the
nipple
10, and the upper and lower seals 52 and 54 are engaged with the upper and
lower
sealing surfaces 26 and 28, respectively. In this manner, fluid circulation
through the
third fluid passageway 60 may be restricted when the key 70 is in its locked
position
(discussed more fully below) and the first passageway 56 is plugged with a
ball
(discussed more fully below), thereby increasing fluid pressure in the third
fluid
passageway 60.
As shown at the bottom of Figure 4B, the deflector 42 may further include a
collet 94 connected to the body member 45. The collet 94 includes at least one
collet
finger 96. When the deflector is in its running position, the collet fingers
96 are
releasably engaged with an annular groove 98 in the whipstock 44. The
deflector 42
further includes a locking piston 100 that is releasably attached to the body
member
45 (e.g., by shear pins 102). An upper portion 104 of the locking piston 100
is
disposed between the collet fingers 96 and the body member 45 when the locking
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piston 100 is secured to the body member 45, thereby preventing the collet
fingers 96
from becoming disengaged from the groove 98. As such, for so long as the
locking
piston 100 is still attached to the body member 45 (i.e., the deflector is
still in its
running mode and the shear pins 102 have not been sheared), the collet 94 and
the
locking piston 100 prevent movement of the whipstock 44 relative to the body
member 45.
As shown at the bottom of Figure 4B, the deflector 42 may further be provided
with a sleeve 106 disposed about the lower end 48 of the whipstock 44. The
sleeve
106 is releasably attached to the whipstock 44, as by shear pins 108 (see
Figure 6).
The deflector 42 may also include a resilient lock ring 110 disposed about the
sleeve
106 and within an annular recess 112 in the body member 45. The sleeve 106
further
includes an annular groove 114 disposed about its periphery. As will be more
fully
explained below, the lock ring 110 is adapted to partially retract into the
annular
groove 114 when the sleeve 106 is shifted so as to align the annular groove
114 with
the annular recess 112.
The third of the three above-identified main components of the present
invention, i.e., the deflector conveying tool, will now be described with
reference to
Figure 7, wherein the deflector conveying tool is identified by the numeral
116. The
deflector conveying tool 116 includes a body member 118 having a longitudinal
bore
120 therethrough and a flexible arm 122. The arm 122 includes a latching
finger 124
at a distal end 126 thereof. The arm 122 is naturally biased inwardly towards
the
longitudinal bore 120. The tool 116 may further include a release piston 128
having
an upper end 130, a lower end 132, and a longitudinal bore 134 therethrough.
The
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bore 134 may include an upper seat 136 and a lower seat 138, the diameter of
the
upper seat 136 being greater than the diameter of the lower seat 138. The
release
piston 128 further includes a fluid port 140 located through the piston wall
and
between the upper and lower seats 136 and 138. When in its running position,
as
shown in Figure 7, the release piston 128 is releasably secured to the body
member
118, such as by shear pins 142. The release piston 128 also includes an
annular
shoulder 144 adapted to closely fit within the bore 120 of the body member 118
at a
point near the latching finger 124 when the conveying tool 116 is in its
running
position. In this manner, as will be more fully explained below, the annular
shoulder
144 functions to prevent the flexible arm 122 from retracting inwardly when
the
conveying tool 116 is in its running position. The deflector conveying tool
116 may
further include a sleeve member 146 extending from the body member 118 and
adapted for engagement about the upper end 46 of the whipstock 44 (see, e.g.,
Figures
4A and 8A).
The manner in which the above-described three main components of the
present invention - the nipple 10, the deflector 42, and the deflector
conveying tool
116 - interact and operate will now be described. This will be done with
reference to
Figures 8-12.
Figures 8A and 8B illustrate the deflector conveying tool 116 and the
deflector
42 engaged and in their running positions. A coiled tubing 148 is shown
attached to
the conveying tool 116. To connect the conveying tool 116 to the deflector 42,
the
lower end 132 of the release piston 128 on the conveying tool 116 is inserted
into the
first passageway 56 in the whipstock 44. The latching finger 124 on the
conveying
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tool 116 is engaged with the latching profile 51 on the deflector 42, and that
engagement is maintained by the annular shoulder 144 on the release piston
128, as
explained above. The sleeve 146 on the conveying tool 116 is disposed about
the
upper end 46 of the whipstock 44. As shown in Figure 8B, and as discussed
above,
the key 70 is maintained in its compressed position when the deflector 42 is
in its
running position and preferably does not protrude past the outside diameter of
the
deflector 42.
The coiled tubing 148 is used to convey the conveying tool 116 and attached
deflector 42 downhole through the production tubing 12 (recall Figure 1).
Fluid
circulation is maintained through the first passageway 56 in the whipstock 44.
With
reference now to Figures 9A-9B, once the deflector 42 is properly positioned
below
the nipple 10 (recall Figure 1), a first ball 150 is pumped into the tubing 12
and into
engagement with the lower seat 138 in the bore 134 through the release piston
128 in
the conveying tool 116. In this manner, fluid flow from the coiled tubing 148
is
directed through the fluid port 140, into the third fluid passageway 60 in the
whipstock 44, and into communication with the piston chamber 64. Fluid
pressure is
thereby applied to the key piston 66 so as to shear the shear pins 68, force
the key
piston 66 upwardly, allow the key 70 to release outwardly, and reestablish
circulation.
While maintaining fluid circulation, the coiled tubing 148 is raised to bring
the
key 70 into engagement with the alignment profile 32 on the discriminator 30
in the
nipple 10 (see Figures 2, 3 and 5). The key 70 is guided along the alignment
profile
32, thereby rotating the inclined surface 50 of the whipstock 44. Continued
upward
movement of the deflector 42 will guide the key 70 into the alignment slot 34,
at
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which time the inclined surface 50 of the whipstock 44 will be properly
oriented with
the lateral branch 16 (see Figure 1). The key 70 is guided further into the
alignment
slot 34 and up the lower inclined surface 43 of the bump 40 and over the bump
40
until (a) the diverging surfaces 82 and 84 on the distal end 76 of the key arm
74 (see
Figure 5) engage the inclined surfaces 36 and 38 in the discriminator slot 34
(see
Figures 2 and 3) and (b) the first and second ramps 86 and 88 on the distal
end 76 of
the key arm 74 (Figure 5) engage the upper inclined surface 41 of the bump 40.
When
the key 70 reaches this position it is in its "locked" position. Since the
height H of the
bump 40 is less than the thickness T of the discriminator alignment slot 34,
the key 70
will not become disengaged from the alignment slot 34 as it passes over the
bump 40.
When the key 70 is in its locked position, the upper and lower seals 52 and 54
on the deflector 42 (see Figure 4B) should be disposed within the upper and
lower
sealing surfaces 26 and 28, respectively, in the nipple 10 (see Figures 2 and
3). If they
are so positioned, then further fluid circulation will be "substantially
restricted" and
fluid pressure will increase within the coiled tubing 148, which will provide
a signal
to a surface operator that the whipstock 44 is properly positioned adjacent
the tubing
window 18 and lateral branch 16 (recall Figure 1). "Substantially restricted"
means
that fluid circulation is sufficiently restricted so as to cause a pressure
increase within
the coiled tubing 148 to provide a signal at the earth's surface that the
whipstock 44 is
properly positioned. Stated differently, it is not necessary that a perfect
seal be
established between the lower seal 52 and lower sealing surface 26, and
between the
upper seal 54 and the upper sealing surface 28. Slight leakage is acceptable
so long as
fluid circulation is sufficiently restricted so as to cause a pressure
increase within the
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coiled tubing 148 that is detectable at the earth's surface. If pressure does
not
increase, however, then the surface operator will know that the deflector 42
is not
properly positioned in the nipple 10, and may take corrective action before
attempting
to run a string into the lateral branch 16.
Assuming the pressure does build, indicating that the deflector 42 has been
properly positioned, pressure will continue to build in the zone between the
upper and
lower sealing surfaces 26 and 28. Referring to Figure 10B, this building
pressure will
be applied to the locking piston 100 (see also bottom of Figure 4B) and
eventually
shear the shear pins 102, thereby forcing the locking piston 100 downwardly
and out
of engagement with the collet finger 96. This disengages the collet finger 96
from the
annular groove 98 in the whipstock 44. As best shown at the bottom of Figures
4B
and 10B, in this manner, the whipstock 44, which is under tension from the
coiled
tubing 148, is allowed to shift relative to the deflector body member 45 until
the lock
ring 110 shifts into engagement with the annular groove 114 around the sleeve
106.
At this point, fluid recirculation is established upwardly through the second
fluid
passageway 58. In addition, when the whipstock 44 has shifted to this
position, the
shoulder 90 on the whipstock 44 is now disposed against the key 70 so as to
lock the
deflector 42 to the nipple 10 (see Figures 4B and lOB).
When it is desired to disengage the deflector 42 from the nipple 10, the
conveying tool 116 is first disengaged from the deflector 42. With reference
to
Figures 11A and 11B, this is accomplished by pumping a second ball 152, having
a
diameter greater than that of the first ball 150, down the coiled tubing 148
and into
engagement with the upper seat 136 in the release piston 128 (see also Figure
7). This
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restricts fluid circulation, thereby causing pressure to build up above the
second ball
152. This pressure imparts a downward force to the release piston 128
sufficient to
shear the shear pins 142. Fluid circulation is again established at this
point, and the
release piston 128 is shifted downwardly so as to disengage the annular
shoulder 144
on the piston 128 from the flexible arm 122. This disengages the latching
finger 124
on the flexible arm 122 from the latching profile 51 on the whipstock 44,
thereby
disengaging the conveying tool 116 from the deflector 42. Figures 12A and 12B
illustrate the deflector 42 in its locked position after the conveying tool
116 has been
withdrawn to the earth's surface.
To unlock the deflector 42 and disengage it from the nipple 10, an overshot
with internal grapple (not shown) is engaged over the outside diameter of the
whipstock 44 and pulled upwardly with sufficient force to shear the shear pins
108
(see Figure 6) that are securing the whipstock 44 to the sleeve 106 (see
bottom of
Figure 4B), which is secured to the deflector body member 45 by the lock ring
110.
As such, upon shearing of the shear pins 108, upward movement of the whipstock
44
relative to the deflector body member 45 occurs. With reference to Figure 12B,
it can
be seen that as the whipstock 44 is shifted upwardly the whipstock shoulder 90
will
cease supporting the key 70 and the hook 92 will slide in the key slot 78 (see
Figure 5)
into engagement with the inclined surface 80 on the key 70. With reference to
Figure
13, which illustrates the key 70 in a retrieving position, it can be seen that
as the
whipstock 44 continues to move upwardly, the hook 92 will pull the key 70
inwardly
and out of engagement with the nipple 10. The key 70 is held in its inwardly-
bent, or
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`9 01/29362 PCT/US00/28650
retrieving, position and is not permitted to protrude past the outside
diameter of the
deflector 42 as it is being pulled out of the tubing 12.
One of the functions of the second passageway 58 will now be explained with
reference to Figure 14, which illustrates the upper seal 52 of the deflector
42 engaged
with the lower sealing surface 28 of the nipple 10. Figure 14 also shows a
plug 154
disposed within the production tubing 12 below the nipple 10. If the deflector
42
were provided without the second passageway 58, and if the upper seal 52 of
the
deflector 42 were engaged with the lower sealing surface 28 of the nipple 10
(i.e., not
properly positioned), then fluid pressure would build up in the third fluid
passageway
60 thereby providing a false indication that the deflector 42 is properly
positioned.
Since the deflector 42 is provided with the second passageway 58, however, a
flowpath for the fluid to recirculate to the surface is provided, thereby
eliminating the
possibility of a false indication of proper positioning of the type described
above.
Another function of the second passageway 58 is to provide a circulation
flowpath so
that the second ball 152 can be circulated down the tubing 12 to disengage the
deflector 42 from the nipple 10, as more fully explained above.
From the above description it should now be apparent that the present
invention provides a system for orienting, landing and locking a downhole
device
(e.g., the deflector 42) by positioning a single key (e.g., key 70) in a
dedicated pocket
or profile (e.g., in the pocket formed by the protuberance 40 and the
discriminator slot
34 in the nipple 10). The present invention is not limited to any particular
downhole
device; it may, for example, be the deflector 42, as described in detail
above, or some
other downhole device, such as a permanent gauge setting/retrieving tool or a
valve
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setting/retrieving tool. The present invention may be used with any downhole
well
tool where verification of the position in the well is desired. The present
invention
provides a system that uses pressure feedback to determine whether a locking
or
locating device is positioned at a predetermined mating profile in a string,
independent
of linear measurements or conventional compression/tension gauges.
It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details
of
construction, operation, exact materials or embodiments shown and described,
as
obvious modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the
art. For
example, while the conveying tool 116 has been shown being deployed on a
coiled
tubing 148, it could also be deployed on jointed pipe. Accordingly, the
invention is
therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
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