US 6,202,752 B1Granted

Wellbore milling methods

AssigneeWeatherford/Lamb, Inc.

InventorsMarc David Kuck, Thomas Floyd Bailey, Monte Ira Johnson, Robert Eugene Robertson, Andrew Arthur Barry, Thurman Beamer Carter, William Allen Blizzard, Jr., Teme Forrest Singleton, John Douglas Roberts, William Alan Spielman, David Michael Haugen, Guy LaMonte McClung, III

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Abstract

New wellbore milling systems and methods of their use have been developed, the milling system in one aspect including at least one mill, at least one stabilizing member connected to and above the at least one mill, and the at least one stabilizing member for maintaining position of the at least one mill for milling through the liner into the main wellbore. In certain aspects multiple spaced-apart stabilizers are used above a mill which, in one aspect, may include one or more reaming stabilizers. In one aspect the lowermost stabilizer is spaced-apart from a mill so that the stabilizer does not enter a bend portion of a liner to be milled until milling has commenced.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method for milling an opening in a liner, the liner having a first portion in a primary wellbore extending down into earth from an earth surface and a second portion in communication with the first portion and extending into a lateral wellbore extending from and in communication with the primary wellbore, the opening for re-establishing communication between an interior of the liner and the primary wellbore, the method comprising

inserting a milling system down the wellbore into the liner, the milling system comprising at least one mill, a tubular to which the at least one mill is connected, a plurality of spaced-apart stabilizing members on the tubular and the stabilizing members for maintaining position of the at least one mill for milling through the liner into the main wellbore, the tubular connected to a rotatable tubular string extending up to the earth surface,
rotating the milling system by rotating the tubular string to mill the liner, and
maintaining with the stabilizing members a desired position of the mill with respect to the liner being milled.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/252,504Filed 18 Feb 1999 · continuation in part
Priority: 10 Sep 1993
Granted: 20 Mar 2001
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification20 codes

E21B 7/061
Deflecting the direction of boreholes: the tool shaft advancing relative to a guide, e.g. a curved tube or a whipstock
E21B 7/10
Directional drilling: correction of deflected boreholes
E21B 10/04
Core bits: with core destroying means
E21B 10/46
Drill bits: characterised by wear resisting parts, e.g. diamond inserts

Family

Application08/119,813Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 10 Sep 1993
Application08/210,697Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 18 Mar 1994
Application08/225,384Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 4 Apr 1994
Application08/300,917Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 6 Sep 1994
Application08/414,201Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 31 Mar 1995
Application08/414,338Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 31 Mar 1995
US 5,409,060 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 25 Apr 1995
US 5,425,417 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Jun 1995
US 5,429,187 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 4 Jul 1995
US 5,452,759 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 26 Sep 1995
Application08/542,439Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 12 Oct 1995
Application08/590,747Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 24 Jan 1996
Application08/642,118Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 2 May 1996
Application08/655,087Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 3 Jun 1996
US 5,522,461 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 4 Jun 1996
US 5,531,271 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 2 Jul 1996
Application08/752,359Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 19 Nov 1996
US 5,620,051 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 15 Apr 1997
Application08/962,162Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 31 Oct 1997
Application09/053,254Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 1 Apr 1998
US 5,806,595 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 15 Sep 1998
US 6,070,665 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,024,168 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,787,978 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,727,629 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,720,349 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,202,752 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.