Method for aligning MWD tool using orienting hanger assembly

A method for aligning a high side of an measurement-while-drilling (MWD) tool, as deployed in a bottom hole assembly, with zero degrees tool face on the bottom hole assembly, the method comprising:

• providing an orienting hanger assembly, the orienting hanger assembly comprising:
• a generally tubular inner hanger disposed to be received into a generally tubular outer collar such that when the inner hanger is fully received into the outer collar a longitudinal axis of the inner hanger coincides with a longitudinal axis of the outer collar, an annular internal shoulder provided on the outer collar abuts an annular external shoulder on the inner hanger, and first and second ends of the of the inner hanger generally correspond with first and second ends of the outer collar, and
• a cylindrical MWD tool adapter having first and second adapter ends, the tool adapter further comprising a radial threaded tool-orienting hole;
• threading and tightening an MWD tool onto the second adapter end of the tool adapter;
• measuring, if any, a radial offset about a longitudinal MWD tool axis between a high side of the MWD tool and the tool-orienting hole;
• threading the first adapter end of the tool adapter onto the second end of the inner hanger until the tool-orienting hole is visible through a wing passage in one of at least two opposing radial wings provided on the second end of the inner hanger;
• receiving an orienting screw through the wing passage;
• threading and tightening the orienting screw into the tool-orienting hole such that a portion of the orienting screw prevents relative rotation of the tool adapter and the inner hanger via contact engagement with the wing passage;
• providing an alignment notch in a hanger wall at the first end of the inner hanger such that the wing passage and the alignment notch are separated by a predetermined radial offset about the longitudinal axis of the inner hanger;
• inserting the outer collar into a bottom hole assembly (BHA) at a pre-desired position therein;
• transferring a zero degrees tool face orientation of the BHA onto the outer collar;
• receiving the inner hanger, wherein the tool adapter and MWD tool are attached to the inner hanger, into the outer collar such that the MWD tool is suspended from the second end of the inner hanger via abutment and resting of the annular external shoulder on the inner hanger against the annular internal shoulder on the outer collar;
• rotating the inner hanger with respect to the outer collar such that the alignment notch is orientationally aligned with the selected tool face orientation of the BHA as transferred onto the outer collar;
• locking the inner hanger to the outer collar so as to prevent further relative rotation thereof;
• and
• if required, correcting directional measurements by the MWD tool for any radial misalignment between the high side of the MWD tool and the alignment notch.

A method for deploying a retrievable measurement-while-drilling (MWD) tool in an orienting hanger assembly, the method comprising:

• providing an orienting hanger assembly, the orienting hanger assembly comprising:
• a generally tubular inner hanger disposed to be received into a generally tubular outer collar such that when the inner hanger is fully received into the outer collar a longitudinal axis of the inner hanger coincides with a longitudinal axis of the outer collar, an annular internal shoulder provided on the outer collar abuts an annular external shoulder on the inner hanger, and first and second ends of the of the inner hanger generally correspond with first and second ends of the outer collar;
• and
• a cylindrical MWD tool adapter having first and second adapter ends, the tool adapter further comprising a radial threaded tool-orienting hole;
• threading and tightening an MWD tool onto the second adapter end of the tool adapter;
• measuring, if any, a radial offset about a longitudinal MWD tool axis between a high side of the MWD tool and the tool-orienting hole;
• threading the first adapter end of the tool adapter onto the second end of the inner hanger until the tool-orienting hole is visible through a wing passage in one of at least two opposing radial wings provided on the second end of the inner hanger;
• receiving an orienting screw through the wing passage;
• threading and tightening the orienting screw into the tool-orienting hole such that a portion of the orienting screw prevents relative rotation of the tool adapter and the inner hanger via contact engagement with the wing passage;
• providing an alignment notch in a hanger wall at the first end of the inner hanger such that the wing passage and the alignment notch share a common radial orientation about the longitudinal axis of the inner hanger;
• inserting the outer collar into a bottom hole assembly (BHA) at a pre-desired position therein;
• transferring a selected tool face orientation of the BHA onto the outer collar;
• receiving the inner hanger, wherein the tool adapter and MWD tool are attached to the inner hanger, into the outer collar such that the MWD tool is suspended from the second end of the inner hanger via abutment and resting of the annular external shoulder on the inner hanger against the annular internal shoulder on the outer collar;
• rotating the inner hanger with respect to the outer collar such that the alignment notch is orientationally aligned with the selected tool face orientation of the BHA as transferred onto the outer collar in;
• locking the inner hanger to the outer collar so as to prevent further relative rotation thereof;
• and
• if required, correcting directional measurements by the MWD tool for any radial misalignment between the high side of the MWD tool and the alignment notch.