Wireless packer/anchor setting or activation

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to the art of earthboring. More particularly, the invention relates to methods and apparatus for setting well annulus packers and tool slips, generally, but also specifically when the packer is run in combination with a whipstock.

#2. Description of Related Art

#The advantages and further aspects of the invention will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the invention lower tool combination;

#FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the invention upper combination

#With respect to the invention embodiment illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 2, a serial assembly of downhole tools is shown to extend from the end of a downhole tubing string 32, for example. The term “tubing string” is used to include either drill pipe or coiled tubing having a fluid channeling conduit along a continuous central bore. The tubing string extends from the surface as structural support for and control of the bottom hole tool assembly. The bottom hole tool assembly for the present invention includes but is not limited to, a unitized packer/slip unit 10. Adjacent to the packer/slip unit is a packer/slip actuator 12. The actuator 12 is described with greater particularity in reference to FIG. 3. Above the actuator is a downhole well control tool such as a whipstock 14 having a deflection surface 15. The whipstock 14 is nominally secured to the casing mill 20 by means of an anchor shoe 16 and a shear fastener 18. The conduit continuity of the tubing string 32 usually, but not always, extends only to the casing mill 20. Fluid carried within the tubing string conduit may be drilling fluid (mud), water or hydraulic oil, as examples. Hereafter, the terms “mud” or “drilling fluid” are intended to encompass any fluid that transferred or circulated from the surface down the tubing conduit by a pump.

#Following the casing mill 20 in the bottom to top assembly sequence is a first reaming tool 22 for casing window enlargement. A second reaming tool 24 may be connected to the first tool 22 by a flexible joint 26. A second flex joint 28 may or may not be assembled between the second reaming tool 24 and a telemetry instrument 30.

#Between the tubing string 32 and the upper milling assembly, for example, is a downhole telemetry instrument 30 such as a Measuring While Drilling (MWD) or a Logging While Drilling (LWD) unit as described by U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/204,908, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,282, for example. Characteristically, the telemetry instrument 30 transmits measured downhole data on a wireless signal emission. For example, sonic signal emissions are carried throughout the borehole fluid column from top to bottom. The wireless signal emission is powered by the tubing string mud flow through a turbogenerator associated with the telemetry instrument 30. Consequently, when the tubing string mud flow is interrupted, the signal emission continuity is also interrupted.