# US 12,601,228 B2 · Alignable guidance device for casing entry milling operations

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- Number: US 12,601,228 B2
- Document ID: US12601228B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/518,033
- Filed: 2023-11-22
- Published: 2024-06-27
- Granted: 2026-04-14
- Earliest claimed: 2022-12-23
- Assignees: Scientific Drilling International, Inc.
- Applicants: Scientific Drilling International, Inc.
- Inventors: Carsten Freyer; Gerald Heisig
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12601228B2

## CPC

- E21B 17/1078: {Stabilisers or centralisers for casing, tubing or drill pipes (E21B17/1007 - E21B17/1064 take precedence)}
- E21B 29/002: {Cutting, e.g. milling, a pipe with a cutter rotating along the circumference of the pipe}
- E21B 33/14: for cementing casings into boreholes
- E21B 7/061: {the tool shaft advancing relative to a guide, e.g. a curved tube or a whipstock}
- E21B 29/06: Cutting windows, e.g. directional window cutters for whipstock operations ({E21B29/005 and} E21B29/08 take precedence)
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

An alignable guidance device includes a tube section and a casing milling shoe within the tube section, a pre-contoured tube within the casing milling shoe that terminates in an exit point in the tube section, the pre-contoured tube exiting the tube section at an exit angle of between 0° and 45°, and guidance sensors within the tube section.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of intercepting an existing well, comprising:
supplying an alignable guidance device, the alignable guidance device including:
a tube section;
a casing milling shoe within the tube section, a pre-contoured tube within the casing milling shoe that terminates in an exit point in the tube section; and
guidance sensors within the tube section;
running the alignable guidance device into a wellbore;
aligning the alignable guidance device relative to a casing using information from the sensors based on alignment of alignable guidance device;
after aligning the alignable guidance device, holding in place or anchoring the alignable guidance device wherein the alignable guidance device is held using a top drive, rotary table, or kelly drive;
inserting a casing milling tool into the pre-contoured tube;
cutting a hole in the in-situ casing with the casing milling tool; and
removing the casing milling tool.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising after removing the casing milling tool:
inserting a cement stinger through the pre-contoured tube and into the casing; and
introducing cement into the casing through the cement stinger.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the casing milling tool is a micro-turbine cutter.

### Claim 4

A system for forming a hole in casing, comprising:
an alignable guidance device including:
a tube section;
a casing milling guidance device within the tube section, the casing milling guidance device pre-contoured; and
guidance sensors within the tube section; and
a hydraulic release tool, the hydraulic release tool connected at a first end to the alignable guidance device and at a second end to a run-in string.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the hydraulic release tool includes a connector latch portion, a movable latch portion, and a collet to form a latch.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the connector latch portion includes a male snap arm, the collet includes a collet recess, and the movable latch portion includes a shoulder.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the male snap arm is held in the collet recess by the shoulder.

### Claim 8

A method, comprising:
supplying a system for forming a hole in casing comprising:
an alignable guidance device including:
a tube section;
a casing milling guidance device within the tube section, the casing milling guidance device pre-contoured; and
guidance sensors within the tube section; and
a hydraulic release tool, the hydraulic release tool connected at a first end to the alignable guidance device and at a second end to a run-in string, wherein the hydraulic release tool includes a latch;
inserting the system for forming a hole in casing into a wellbore using the run-in string until the system for forming a hole in casing contacts a casing;
measuring orientation of the casing milling guidance device relative to the casing using the guidance sensors;
rotating the casing milling guidance device until the casing milling guidance device is facing a centerline of the casing;
anchoring the alignable guidance device;
unlatching the latch;
inserting a casing milling tool through the alignable guidance device; and
cutting a hole in the casing.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising after cutting a hole in the casing:
removing the casing milling tool from the alignable guidance device;
inserting a cement stinger though the hole in the casing; and
pumping cement into the casing.