Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Dresser Industries, Inc.

Dan Parnell Saurer

David Joe Steele

Robert T Brooks

Jody Ray McGlothen

Daniel Jon Themig

Joseph DeWitt Parlin

Stuart Alexander Telfer

Russell Irving Bayh

Loc Phuc Lang

Michael Wade Meaders

Larry R Valentine

Colin M MacRae

Denis C Desranleau

William Sloane Muscroft

Ken Horne

A method for orienting a tubing string in a wellbore comprises lowering a tubular string within a casing string in a wellbore, engaging the tubular aligning tool with a casing aligning tool while lowering the tubular string, rotating the tubular string in response to engaging the tubing aligning tool with the casing aligning tool, rotationally aligning the tubular string opening with a casing string opening disposed through the casing string based on the rotating, and retaining the tubular string opening in an axial aligning and a rotational aligning with the casing string opening. The tubular string comprises: a tubular string opening and a tubular string aligning tool.

Methods and systems for orienting in a wellbore

An exemplary milling system includes a mill arranged within a shroud and configured to translate axially with respect to the shroud once detached therefrom, a guide block is coupled to a distal end of the mill and supports the mill while the mill forms the casing exit. A guide support arranged within the shroud defining one or more longitudinal channels configured to accumulate cuttings and debris. The shroud defines a plurality of perforations arranged as first and second axial perforation sets, and a sleeve is arranged therein and defines one or more piston guides that align one or more pistons with either the first or second axial perforation sets, depending on the amount of cuttings and debris.

Systems and methods for managing milling debris

An exemplary milling system includes a mill arranged within a shroud and configured to translate axially with respect to the shroud once detached therefrom, a guide block is coupled to a distal end of the mill and supports the mill while the mill forms the casing exit. A guide support is arranged within the shroud defining one or more longitudinal channels configured to accumulate cuttings and debris. The shroud defines a plurality of perforations arranged as first and second axial perforation sets, and a sleeve is arranged therein and defines one or more piston guides that align one or more pistons with either the first or second axial perforation sets, depending on the amount of cuttings and debris.

Assemblies can be disposed in a subterranean bore. An assembly can include a recessed portion in an inner wall and another recessed portion in an outer wall. The recessed portions can each be configured to have a cross-sectional thickness that is less than at least another part of the assembly. The assembly can provide a seal between an inner region defined by the assembly and an environment exterior to the assembly prior to a window being created in the recessed portion in the outer wall through which a branch wellbore can be formed. The recessed portion in the inner wall can guide a cutting tool toward the recessed portion in the outer wall.

Well assembly with recesses facilitating branch wellbore creation

A position reference system () for multilateral exit construction in a wellbore (). The system () includes a casing string () having a window joint () and a pair of latch couplings () interconnected therein and positioned in the wellbore (). The first latch coupling () has a first inner profile operably engagable with a mating profile of a first latch assembly () to anchor and orient the first latch assembly () relative to the window joint (). The second latch coupling () has a second inner profile that is different from the first inner profile of the first latch coupling (). The second inner profile is operably engagable with a mating profile of a second latch assembly () to anchor and orient the second latch assembly () relative to the window joint ().

Redundant position reference system for multilateral exit construction and method for use of same

Assemblies that can be disposed in a subterranean bore are described. Certain assemblies can be used to orient a second pipe with respect to a first pipe in a bore. A second pipe can be rotationally oriented without breaking one or more control lines that may be associated or included with the second pipe by using a tool that orients the second pipe as the second pipe is moved toward a surface of the bore. In some embodiments, assemblies can be used to orient multiple portions of the second pipe with respect to multiple windows of the first pipe. The first pipe may be a casing string and the second pipe may be a tubing string.

Methods and systems for orienting in a bore

Assemblies can be disposed in a subterranean bore. An assembly can include a body and a member that is made from a different material that the material from which the body is made. The member can be located in an opening in the body and can be coupled to the body. The member coupled to the body can define an inner diameter and form a seal for the inner diameter. The member can be milled to access an environment exterior to the member and the body for example to create a branch wellbore.

Well assembly with a millable member in an opening

Methods of operating a downhole tool comprise thermally-controlling the tool by sensing a temperature and controlling the tool in response to the sensed temperature. Thermally-controlled downhole tools comprise a control element responsive to a change in temperature that control flow into, out of, or through a wellbore. Methods and systems for servicing a wellbore comprise using a thermally-controlled tool comprising a thermally-controlled valve (TCV) in a wellbore. The TCV includes a valve body comprising an injection port for allowing material to flow into or out of the wellbore and an opening/closing mechanism for regulating flow of the material through the injection port in response to a change in temperature. The valve body may be coupled to a downhole conduit. A plurality of TCV's may be arranged in the wellbore to control the injection of steam into the wellbore or the recovery of oil from the wellbore.

Thermally-controlled valves and methods of using the same in a wellbore

A well has a vertical casing with a window, and a lateral wellbore which communicates with the window, and which may have a casing or liner. A window assembly aligned with the window has respective passageways for first and second tubing strings, and has a concave surface for deflecting the first tubing string out into the lateral wellbore. The passageway for the second tubing string has a portion which is inclined at a very small angle with respect to a vertical centerline of the vertical casing. As the first tubing string is run into the vertical casing, a rotational locator is releasably coupled thereto by a soft release coupling mechanism. After the locator effects rotational orientation, the coupling mechanism is released and then permits the first tubing string to move therepast without damage. A seal assembly on the first tubing string is covered by a protective sleeve as it is inserted into the well, and exits the protective sleeve after entering the lateral wellbore.

Method for running two tubing strings into a well

A multi-lateral well has a casing, and has lateral wellbores which communicate with the casing through respective windows. A tool at the end of a coiled tubing string is introduced into the well, while disposed in a tool receiving recess of an auxiliary member that is releasably coupled against upward movement relative to the tool. At a selected vertical position within the casing, the auxiliary member is secured against further downward movement, and the releasable coupling is then interrupted to permit the tubing string to move downwardly with respect to the auxiliary member. The auxiliary member may have an inclined surface to deflect the tool into a lateral wellbore. When use of the tool is completed, the tubing string with the tool thereon is moved upwardly, and an arrangement is provided to limit upward movement of the tool relative to the auxiliary member, so that the tool and the auxiliary member are simultaneously withdrawn from the well.

Method and apparatus for one-trip insertion and retrieval of a tool and auxiliary device

A self-locating reentry system is provided to allow reliable reentry from a primary wellbore into one or more secondary wellbores. The reentry system may include one or more self-locating assemblies which may be engaged with selected portions of a lateral opening disposed between the primary wellbore and a respective secondary wellbore. Each self-locating assembly and respective key or lug cooperate with each other to provide optimum location and alignment relative to the lateral opening for communication of well tools and smaller diameter tubing strings between the primary wellbore and the associated secondary wellbore. A retaining mechanism is preferably provided to maintain the locator lug or key in its first retracted position until the reentry system is at a desired downhole location relative to the selected lateral opening.

Self-locating reentry system for downhole well completions

An improved tubing exit whipstock and tools for installing and retrieving the whipstock are provided for directing movement of well tools from a first wellbore to a second wellbore extending therefrom. The tubing exit whipstock may include a generally cylindrical deflector body with a longitudinal passageway extending therethrough. The deflector body may also include a tapered surface for deflecting well tools from the first wellbore to the second wellbore. In one embodiment of the present invention, a mechanical connector may be provided for attaching the deflector body to an orienting and locking device to releasably install the whipstock at a selected downhole location. In another embodiment, a first fishing neck profile may be provided within the longitudinal passageway to provide means for releasably coupling the deflector body with a running tool for installing the tubing exit whipstock at a selected downhole location within the first wellbore. In yet another embodiment, the fishing neck may provide means for releasably coupling the deflector body with a pulling tool for removing the tubing exit whipstock from the selected downhole location within the first wellbore.

Multilateral whipstock and tools for installing and retrieving

There is disclosed a running tool for running and setting and then releasing from a well packer of the type having a main body and a setting sleeve vertically shiftable on the main body to set the packer. The setting tool includes a mandrel carrying a latch having left-hand threads for engaging left-hand threads on the body of the packer as well as teeth adapted to engage in notches in the upper end of the packer body to prevent right-hand rotation of the setting tool with respect to the packer as the packer is run on the setting tool into the well bore. When the packer is at the desired level, fluid pressure in the setting tool lowers the setting sleeve to set the packer and releases the setting tool from connection to the packer so that it may be retrieved.

Growing community of inventors

Richardson, TX, United States of America

Dan Parnell Saurer