Method and apparatus for a high side orienting sub for multi-lateral installations
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsHenry E. Rogers, David Szarka, Robert Pipkin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for indicating the orientation of a structure which includes an orienting sub releasably connected at an outer case. The orienting sub is at a preselected orientation relative to the structure. A change in fluid pressure of a predetermined magnitude of flow rate through the orienting sub will indicate that the structure is at a desired orientation in the well.
Claims22
An apparatus for indicating the orientation of a structure in a deviated wellbore, the apparatus comprising:
- an orienting sub releasably connected in an outer case, the orienting sub having a preselected orientation relative to the structure, wherein a change in fluid pressure of a predetermined magnitude at a selected fluid flow rate through the orienting sub indicates the structure is at a desired orientation in the well, wherein the orienting sub is configured to release from the outer case while positioned in the well.
An apparatus for indicating the orientation of a structure in a casing lowered into a well, the apparatus comprising:
- an outer case connectable in the casing;
- a housing releasably attached in the outer case;
- a releasing sleeve detachably connected to the housing;
- a piston movable in the housing between first and second positions in the housing, wherein in the first position a first flow path through the housing is defined and in the second position a second restricted flow path through the housing is defined so that fluid pressure increases when fluid flows at a constant rate through the housing when the piston is in the second position, and wherein the increase in fluid pressure indicates the structure is at the desired orientation in the well, wherein the housing is configured to release from the outer case while in the well.
A method of orienting a structure in a pipe string in a deviated well, the method comprising:
- positioning an orientation device at a predetermined position relative to the structure;
- connecting the orienting device in the pipe string at the predetermined position;
- lowering the pipe string in the deviated well to a desired depth;
- flowing fluid at a selected flow rate through the orienting device;
- observing a pressure reading resulting from the flow through the orienting device;
- rotating the pipe string in the well until the observed pressure reading changes to indicate the device is at a known orientation in the deviated well, wherein the structure is at the desired orientation when the orienting device is at the known orientation;
- and
- releasing, in the well, the orienting device from the pipe string after the structure is at the desired orientation.
A method of orienting a structure in a pipe string in a deviated well, the method comprising:
- positioning an orientation device at a predetermined position relative to the structure;
- connecting the orienting device in the pipe string at the predetermined position;
- lowering the pipe string in the deviated well to a desired depth;
- flowing fluid at a selected flow rate through the orienting device;
- observing a pressure reading resulting from the flow through the orienting device;
- rotating the pipe string in the well until the observed pressure reading changes to indicate the device is at a known orientation in the deviated well, wherein the structure is at the desired orientation when the orienting device is at the known orientation;
- releasing the orienting device from the pipe string after the structure is at the desired orientation, wherein the pipe string is a casing;
- and
- flowing cement through the casing and into an annulus between the casing and the wellbore after the orienting device is released.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.