Apparatus for completing a subterranean well and associated methods of using same
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsJames R. Longbottom, Robert L. Hilts
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and associated methods of using provide subterranean well completion wherein a lateral wellbore liner has divided a parent wellbore. In a preferred embodiment, a sidewall cutting apparatus is positionable within the liner and has a cutting tool which is radially outwardly extendable to cut an opening through the liner, thereby regaining access to a portion of the parent wellbore. An illustrated embodiment utilizes a telemetry-controlled lateral displacement mechanism to extend and retract the cutting tool.
Claims26
Sidewall cutting apparatus operatively positionable within a subterranean well, the apparatus comprising:
- an axially elongated generally tubular housing;
- a radially extending opening formed through the housing;
- a cutting tool disposed within the housing, the cutting tool rotating about an axis generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing, and the cutting tool being radially outwardly extendable through the opening while the cutting tool is rotating about its axis generally parallel to the housing longitudinal axis;
- and
- a mechanism attached to the cutting tool, the mechanism being operative to selectively extend and retract the cutting tool radially through the opening.
Apparatus for forming an opening laterally through a tubular structure from with in the tubular structure, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing having a longitudinal axis;
- a cutting tool disposed at least partially within the housing, the cutting tool cutting through the tubular structure when the cutting tool is rotated and brought into contact with the tubular structure;
- a motor operatively connected to the cutting tool, the motor being capable of rotating the cutting tool about an axis generally parallel to the housing axis;
- and
- a lateral displacement device operatively connected to the cutting tool, the device laterally displacing the cutting tool into contact with the tubular structure when the cutting tool is disposed within the tubular structure and the cutting tool is rotated about its axis generally parallel to the housing axis.
A method of forming an opening through a tubular structure extending laterally across a wellbore to thereby provide access to a portion of the wellbore, a whipstock being disposed in the wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a sidewall cutting apparatus, the sidewall cutting apparatus including a radially outwardly extendable cutting tool;
- positioning the apparatus within the tubular structure;
- activating the cutting tool;
- radially outwardly extending the cutting tool, the cutting tool thereby contacting the tubular structure;
- cutting through the tubular structure;
- and
- cutting into the whipstock.
A method of forming an opening through a tubular structure extending laterally across a wellbore to thereby provide access to a portion of the wellbore, the wellbore having a whipstock set therein proximate the tubular structure, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a sidewall cutting apparatus, the sidewall cutting apparatus including a radially outwardly extendable cutting tool;
- positioning the apparatus within the tubular structure;
- activating the cutting tool;
- radially outwardly extending the cutting tool, the cutting tool thereby contacting the tubular structure;
- cutting through the tubular structure;
- axially displacing the apparatus relative to the tubular structure while the cutting tool is radially outwardly extended and contacting the tubular structure;
- and
- cutting into the whipstock.
A method of forming an opening through a tubular structure extending laterally across a wellbore to thereby provide access to a portion of the wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a sidewall cutting apparatus, the sidewall cutting apparatus including a longitudinal axis and a radially outwardly extendable cutting tool;
- positioning the apparatus within the tubular structure;
- activating the cutting tool to rotate about an axis generally parallel to the apparatus axis;
- radially outwardly extending the cutting tool, the cutting tool thereby contacting the tubular structure while the cutting tool rotates about its axis generally parallel to the apparatus axis;
- and
- cutting through the tubular structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.