Method and apparatus for lateral well drilling with biased length adjusting casing cutter
AssigneeLatjet Systems LLC
InventorJasper N. Peters
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The apparatus and method for drilling through the casing utilizes a yieldable biasing element to provide a self-adjusting length and exerts a predictable, controlled biasing force against the casing cutter for penetrating the casing. The cutter will be suspended from the well head by an element which will stretch to some extent, and the self-adjusting length will compensate for this also. As the cutter is lowered into position, and during the casing cutting operation, a flow of pressurized gas or emulsion can be directed through the down hole unit, to clear cuttings and other solids from the cutter's path.
Claims16
Apparatus for cutting a hole in a casing of a well, comprising:
- a casing cutter connected to at least one flexible element and a resiliently compressible biasing element, connected to a lower end of an element suspended in and extending downwardly within an interior cavity of the well, the casing cutter and the flexible element being supported in a curved passage through a down hole unit disposed at a predetermined depth within the interior cavity such that the casing cutter extends laterally outwardly from a lateral opening of the passage, and the resiliently compressible biasing element being supported in connection with the down hole unit and configured for resiliently urging the cutter against an interior side surface of the casing of the well to advance the cutter into the casing as the casing is cut.
A method for cutting a hole in a casing of a well, comprising steps of:
- providing a casing cutter connected to at least one flexible element and a resiliently compressible biasing element, connected to a lower end of an element suspended in and extending downwardly within an interior cavity of the well, the casing cutter and the flexible element being supported in a curved passage through a down hole unit disposed at a predetermined depth within the interior cavity such that the casing cutter extends laterally outwardly from a lateral opening of the passage;
- and
- operating the cutter to cut the casing while compressing the resiliently compressible biasing element so as to resiliently urge the cutter against an interior side surface of the casing of the well for advancing the cutter into the casing as the casing is cut.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.