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US 2003/0150612 A1Published application
Downhole window finder and method of using the same
AssigneeSmith International, Inc.
InventorsBruce McGarian, Robert I. Chadwick
Life of this patent
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AssigneeSmith International, Inc.
InventorsBruce McGarian, Robert I. Chadwick
Estimating the term…
The present invention relates to a downhole method and apparatus for locating a window in a wellbore casing and determining the depth and orientation of said window. Apparatus of the present invention comprises a body (4) and a window engaging member (6) mounted on said body (4) so as to be movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The engaging member (6) is adapted to project into a wellbore window when in the extended position during use and is further adapted to engage with a first position of said window in such a way that, when pressed against said window portion, the engaging member (6) tends to slide along wellbore edge defining said window portion so as to locate the engaging member (6) centrally in said window portion before preventing movement of the apparatus in the direction of pressing. The invention thereby allows the depth and orientation of a window in a wellbore to be determined.
Downhole apparatus for determining the depth and orientation of a window in a wellbore, the apparatus comprising a body and a window engaging member mounted on said body so as to be movable between a retracted position and an extended position, the engaging member projecting a greater distance from said body when in the extended position than when in the retracted position, wherein the engaging member is adapted to project into a wellbore window when in the extended position during use and is further adapted to engage with a first portion of said window in such a way that, when pressed against said window portion, the engaging member tends to slide along a wellbore edge defining said window portion so as to locate the engaging member centrally in said window portion before preventing movement of the downhole apparatus in the direction of pressing, the engaging member being yet further adapted to engage a second portion of said window in such a way that, when pressed against said second window portion, the engaging member is moved towards the retracted position so as to permit movement of the downhole apparatus past said window.
Downhole apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the engaging member is mounted so as to be movable as a whole laterally towards the extended position.
Downhole apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein biasing means is provided to press the engaging member towards the extended position.
Downhole apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein means are provided for releasably securing the engaging member in the retracted position.
Downhole apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein splines are provided for fixing the angular position of the apparatus relative to further downhole apparatus.
Downhole apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the window engaging member is the sole window engaging member.
A method of determining the depth and orientation of a window in a wellbore using apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, the method comprising the steps of running said apparatus into a wellbore;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.