Continuous rotation coiled tubing orienting tool with self-reversing threads

A method for coiled tubing drilling comprising:

• deploying a coiled tubing bottom hole assembly in a wellbore, the bottom hole assembly including an orienting tool comprising a first collar configured to rotate with respect to a second collar, a cylinder having self-reversing threads on an outer surface thereof, the cylinder deployed in the first collar and rotationally coupled with the second collar, a piston assembly deployed in the first collar and including a threaded piston head configured to travel in first and second opposing axial directions along self-reversing threads on the cylinder and thereby rotate the cylinder and the rotationally coupled second collar in a single rotational direction, and a hydraulic pump deployed in the first collar and configured to provide pressurized hydraulic fluid to the piston assembly to move the piston head along the cylinder;
• actuating the hydraulic pump to continuously rotate the second collar with respect to the first collar;
• and
• using the coiled tubing bottom hole assembly to drill the wellbore while the second collar rotates with respect to the first collar.

An orienting tool configured for use in a coiled tubing bottom hole assembly, the orienting tool comprising:

• a first collar configured to rotate with respect to a second collar;
• a cylinder having self-reversing threads on an outer surface thereof, the cylinder deployed in the first collar and rotationally coupled with the second collar;
• a piston assembly deployed in the first collar and including a threaded piston head configured to travel in first and second opposing axial directions along self-reversing threads on the cylinder and thereby rotate the cylinder and the rotationally coupled second collar in a single rotational direction;
• a hydraulic pump deployed in the first collar and configured to provide pressurized hydraulic fluid to the piston assembly to move the piston head along the cylinder;
• first and second proximity sensors deployed at opposing axial ends of the threaded cylinder, the first proximity sensor configured to detect the threaded piston head when it is in proximity to a first axial end of the cylinder, the second proximity sensor configured to detect the threaded piston head when it is in proximity to a second axial end of the cylinder;
• and
• a controller configured to selectively open and close a plurality of valves to reverse the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid to the piston assembly when the threaded piston head is in proximity to one of the first and second axial ends of the cylinder and thereby reverse a travel direction of the threaded piston head along the cylinder.