Method and apparatus for locating indexing systems in a cased well and conducting multilateral branch operations
First Claim
1. A method for constructing multilateral branches from a primary wellbore having a well casing having connected therein one or more indexing coupling devices having an orienting slot therein, said method comprising:
- (a) running a logging sonde within said well casing and into a selected indexing coupling device;
(b) propagating an ultrasonic wave through well fluid within said well casing for reflection thereof from the internal surfaces of said selected indexing coupling device, and providing therefrom an acoustic image of said internal surfaces of said indexing coupling device;
(c) processing said acoustic image for reference thereof to local wellbore deviation and relative azimuth angle;
(d) landing a lateral branch tool within said selected indexing coupling device, said lateral branch tool having an adjustable orienting device defining an orienting member for mating azimuth indexed engagement within said orienting slot of said selected indexing coupling device and with said orienting member oriented at a selected azimuth angle with respect to said lateral branch tool; and
(e) conducting lateral branch operations with said orienting device of said lateral branch tool in oriented engagement within said indexing coupling device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for positioning and accurately orienting well service equipment within a well casing having an indexing coupling therein to permit the conduct of selected well service operations. A well logging sonde including an ultrasonic scanner system is run into the well casing and, in addition to conducting a conventional well survey, provides accurate measurement of the internal geometry of the indexing couplings and produces an acoustic image specifically identifying internal features such as landing profile and orienting slot orientation relative to earth frame references such as vertical, horizontal, and magnetic north. The present invention also provides for location and characterization of casing imperfections, such as internal and external corrosion, and variations in casing wall thickness, and also permits location of marker devices such as magnetic and radioactive markers. The ultrasonic logging sonde produces a well log specifically identifying the location and orientation of each indexing coupling, thus enabling subsequent well operations, such as the drilling of lateral branches, to be designed and controlled.
78 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for constructing multilateral branches from a primary wellbore having a well casing having connected therein one or more indexing coupling devices having an orienting slot therein, said method comprising:
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(a) running a logging sonde within said well casing and into a selected indexing coupling device; (b) propagating an ultrasonic wave through well fluid within said well casing for reflection thereof from the internal surfaces of said selected indexing coupling device, and providing therefrom an acoustic image of said internal surfaces of said indexing coupling device; (c) processing said acoustic image for reference thereof to local wellbore deviation and relative azimuth angle; (d) landing a lateral branch tool within said selected indexing coupling device, said lateral branch tool having an adjustable orienting device defining an orienting member for mating azimuth indexed engagement within said orienting slot of said selected indexing coupling device and with said orienting member oriented at a selected azimuth angle with respect to said lateral branch tool; and (e) conducting lateral branch operations with said orienting device of said lateral branch tool in oriented engagement within said indexing coupling device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for constructing multilateral branches in a cased well having one or more indexing couplings fixed therein, the indexing couplings having an internal profile and defining an orienting slot, said method comprising:
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(a) running a well logging sonde into the well casing to a position within a selected indexing coupling, said logging sonde having an ultrasonic scanner therein; (b) propagating an ultrasonic wave from said ultrasonic scanner through drilling fluid present within said well casing, thus causing ultrasonic wave reflection from the internal surfaces of said selected indexing coupling and providing an acoustic image of said internal surfaces; (c) referencing said acoustic image of said internal surfaces of said indexing coupling to local deviation and relative azimuth angle to provide an azimuthal reference identifying the azimuth angle of said orienting slot; (d) processing said acoustic image and generating a well log identifying the position and orientation of said selected indexing coupling, identifying said internal profile of said indexing coupling and identifying the azimuth angle of said orienting slot; (e) running a lateral branch tool through said well casing and into landed relation within said selected indexing coupling, said lateral branch tool having an adjustable indexing device thereon defining an orienting key for orienting engagement within said orienting slot of said indexing coupling; and (f) conducting lateral branch operations from said well casing with said lateral branch tool oriented in part by said azimuth angle of said orienting slot of said indexing coupling and oriented in part by the adjusted position of said adjustable indexing device with respect to said lateral branch tool. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for identifying and characterizing anomalies of and about the well casing of a well, comprising:
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(a) running a logging sonde within said well casing, said logging sonde having an ultrasonic system therein for generating in well fluid within said well casing an ultrasonic wave and receiving ultrasonic wave reflections from said well casing and from anomalies located outwardly of said well casing; (b) processing said ultrasonic wave reflections from said well casing and from said anomalies; and (c) utilizing said processed ultrasonic wave reflections to develop a well log identifying, locating and characterizing said well casing.
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23. Apparatus for locating the position and orientation of one or more indexing devices within a well casing and having locating means and orienting means therein, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a well logging sonde adapted to be run within said well casing; (b) an ultrasonic system within said well logging sonde for generating in well fluid within said well casing an ultrasonic wave and receiving ultrasonic wave reflections from the internal surface of said well casing and from the internal surface of said indexing device; and (c) means for processing said ultrasonic wave reflections and producing a well log having an acoustic image of the internal surface of said indexing devices including said locating means and said orienting means and referencing said acoustic image to local deviation and relative azimuth angle. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification