US 10,883,313 B2 · Apparatus and method for drilling deviated wellbores

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for drilling a new secondary wellbore from a primary wellbore in which a production string is already deployed. The production string is severed below a desired kick-off location for the new secondary wellbore and the upstream portion of the production string is withdrawn from the primary wellbore, thereby exposing an end of the remaining production string. A lateral orientation device (LOD) is mounted on the exposed end of the production string. The LOD includes a shoulder for seating on the exposed end, anchoring mechanism(s) to secure the LOD to adjacent tubular(s), and seals to sealingly engage adjacent tubulars. The LOD may include a contoured surface for orientation of a tool, such as a whipstock, which may be utilized to drill a new wellbore. Alternatively, a work string may be coupled with the LOD to perform pumping operations in the wellbore below the LOD.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A lateral orientation device comprising:

a tubular body having a first end, a second end, with a bore extending between the ends, the bore defining an inner tubular body surface and an outer tubular body surface, wherein the first end includes an orientation profile;
a lower shoulder protruding radially from one of the inner and outer tubular body surfaces and axially spaced from the second end;
and
a first sealing device disposed along the surface from which the lower shoulder protrudes, the first sealing device disposed axially between the lower shoulder and the second end such that the first sealing device is operable form a seal with an axially overlapping portion of a tubing string spaced from walls of a wellbore when the tubular body is installed within or around an end of the tubing string such that the lower shoulder abuts the end of the tubing string.

1 more element

A system for drilling a new secondary wellbore extending from a primary wellbore, the system comprising:

an elongated primary wellbore having a proximal end and a distal end;
a tubular string portion, the tubular string portion having a proximal end positioned between the two ends of the primary wellbore, a distal end and an outer string surface;
a lateral orientation device deployed in the primary wellbore and engaging the proximal end of the tubular string portion, the lateral orientation device comprising
a tubular body having a first end, a second end, with a bore extending between the first and second ends, the bore defining an inner tubular body surface and an outer tubular body surface, wherein the first end includes an orientation profile;
a lower shoulder provided along the inner tubular body surface and abutting the proximal end of the tubular string portion;
and
a first sealing device disposed along the inner tubular body surface between the lower shoulder and the second end and sealingly engaging the outer string surface.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for drilling deviated wellbores

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for drilling deviated wellbores

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20