Anchor apparatus and method

Abstract

The well reference apparatus and method of the present invention includes an anchor member with a orientation member preferably permanently installed within the borehole at a preferred depth and orientation in one trip into the well. The orientation member provides a permanent reference for the orientation of well operations, particularly in a multi-lateral well. The assembly of the present invention includes disposing the anchor member and orientation member on the end of a pipe string. An orienting tool such as an MWD collar is disposed in the pipe string above the anchor member. This assembly is lowered into the borehole on the pipe string. Once the preferred depth is attained, the MWD is activated to determine the orientation of the orientation member. If the orientation member is not oriented in the preferred direction, the pipe string is rotated to align the orientation member in the preferred direction. This process is repeated for further corrective action and to verify the proper orientation of the orientation member. Upon achieving the proper orientation of the orientation member, the anchor member is set within the borehole and the pipe string is disconnected from the orientation member and anchor member and retrieved.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.