Coiled tubing joint locator and methods

A method of accurately determining the depth of subterranean pipe string joints while lowering or raising coiled tubing within said pipe string and flowing fluid through said coiled tubing comprising the steps of:

• connecting a pipe string joint locator to the end of said coiled tubing prior to injecting said coiled tubing into said pipe string, said joint locator having a fluid flow passageway therethrough and at least one valved lateral port therein communicated with said passageway and said joint locator momentarily opening or closing said valved lateral port each time it moves through a pipe joint;
• injecting said coiled tubing having said joint locator connected thereto into said pipe string and moving said coiled tubing and said joint locator through said pipe string while flowing fluid through said coiled tubing and said joint locator whereby said valved lateral port of said joint locator momentarily opens or closes each time said joint locator passes through a pipe joint thereby creating a surface detectible pressure drop or rise in the flowing fluid indicative of the location of said pipe joint;
• continuously measuring the depth of said joint locator and the surface pressure of said flowing fluid;
• and
• recording the measured depth of said joint locator corresponding to each detected pressure drop or rise in the flowing fluid to thereby accurately determine the measured depth of each detected pipe joint.

A method of positioning a well tool attached to the end of a length of coiled tubing at a desired location within a subterranean pipe string disposed in a well while flowing fluid into said pipe string comprising the steps of:

• connecting a pipe string joint locator to the end of said coiled tubing, said joint locator having a fluid flow passageway therethrough and at least one valved lateral port therein communicated with said passageway and said joint locator momentarily opening or closing said valved lateral port each time it moves through a pipe joint;
• connecting said well tool to the end of said joint locator opposite from the end thereof connected to said coiled tubing;
• injecting said coiled tubing having said joint locator and said well tool connected thereto into said pipe string and moving said coiled tubing, said joint locator and said well tool through said pipe string while flowing fluid through said coiled tubing and said joint locator whereby said valved lateral port of said joint locator momentarily opens or closes each time said joint locator passes through a pipe joint thereby creating a surface detectible pressure drop or rise in the flowing fluid indicative of the location of said pipe joint;
• continuously measuring the depth of said joint locator and the surface pressure of said flowing fluid;
• recording the measured depth of the joint locator corresponding to each detected pressure drop or rise in the flowing fluid to thereby accurately determine the measured depth of each detected pipe joint;
• correlating the measured depths of the detected pipe joints to a previously recorded joint and tally log in a manner establishing a measured depth corresponding to the well tool desired location;
• and
• moving said coiled tubing, joint locator and well tool within said pipe string to position said well tool at said desired location.