Method, system and apparatus for orienting casing and liners

• US 7,147,060 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2003
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Laverdière, Luc, Huber, Klaus B., Edwards, A. Glen
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMPSON, KENNETH L
• Application Number:
  US10/440,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20040231859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,303 Days
• Field of Search: 166/381, 166/380, 166/255.2, 166/78.1, 166/85.5, 166/117.7, 166/50, 175/4.51
• US Class Current: 166/381
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/00 Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells setting of casings, screens or liners E21B43/10
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/119 Details, e.g. for locating perforating place or direction
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/024 of devices in the borehole determining slope or direction of the borehole E21B47/022

Abstract

A method and system are provided for installing an oriented conduit section in a well-bore having a substantially non-vertical axis. In one example, the system comprises: means for inserting a conduit a the well-bore, wherein the conduit comprises a section to be oriented, means for applying, in the well-bore, a rotating force to the section to be oriented, whereby an oriented section results, and means for fixing the conduit in the well-bore. An instrumented conduit section is also provided, for orientation in a well-bore having a substantially non-vertical axis. Further, a method is provided for using a tool in a well-bore, the method comprising: inserting a casing in the well-bore, orienting the casing in the well-bore, wherein an oriented casing is defined, inserting the tool in the oriented casing, and orienting the tool in the oriented casing.

Claims

1. A system for orienting a portion of conduit in a non-vertical wellbore, the system comprising:

an elongated conduit having a conduit portion for orienting in the wellbore;

a weight detachably connected to an inner surface of the conduit portion offsetting the center of gravity of the conduit from its rotational axis.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the weight includes a fishing tool connection.

3. The system of claim 2, further including an instrument connected to the conduit portion outside of the bore of the conduit portion.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the fishing tool connection is a taper.

5. The system of claim 4, further including an instrument connected to the conduit portion outside of the bore of the conduit portion.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the weight is attached to the inner surface by a shear screw.

7. The system of claim 6, further including an instrument connected to the conduit portion outside of the bore of the conduit portion.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the weight is attached to the inner surface by a snap latch.

9. The system of claim 8, further including an instrument connected to the conduit portion outside of the bore of the conduit portion.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the weight is attached to the inner surface by a finger extending from the weight inserted in a slot formed by the inner surface.

11. The system of claim 10, further including an instrument connected to the conduit portion outside of the bore of the conduit portion.

12. The system of claim 1, further including an instrument connected to the conduit portion outside of the bore of the conduit portion.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the instrument is attached to the conduit portion by a weld.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the instrument is attached to the conduit portion by a snap.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the instrument is integrally formed in the conduit portion.

16. A method of orienting a portion of a conduit in a non-vertical wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an elongated conduit having a conduit portion for orienting in the wellbore,

running the conduit into the wellbore; and

orienting the conduit portion in the wellbore by detachably connecting a weight to an inner surface of the conduit portion offsetting the center of gravity of the conduit from its rotational axis.

17. The method of claim 16, further including the step of:

fixing the conduit portion in the wellbore.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of fixing comprises cementing the conduit portion in the wellbore.

19. The method of claim 17, farther including the step of:

connecting an instrument to the conduit portion outside of the bore of the conduit portion.

20. The method of claim 19, further including the steps of:

orienting a perforation tool in the conduit portion; and

perforating the conduit portion.

21. The method of claim 17, further including the steps of:

orienting a perforation tool in the conduit portion; and

perforating the conduit portion.

22. The method of claim 16, further including the step of:

connecting an instrument to the conduit portion outside of the bore of the conduit portion.

23. The method of claim 22, further including the steps of:

orienting a perforation tool in the conduit portion; and

perforating the conduit portion.

24. The method of claim 16, further including the steps of:

orienting a perforation tool in the conduit portion; and

perforating the conduit portion.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein the weight includes a fishing tool connection.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the weight is detachably connected to the inner surface of the conduit portion before the step of running the conduit in the wellbore.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the weight is detachably connected to the inner surface of the conduit portion after the step of running the conduit in the wellbore.

28. The method of claim 16, wherein the weight is detachably connected to the inner surface of the conduit portion before the step of running the conduit in the wellbore.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the weight is attached to the inner surface by a finger extending from the weight inserted in a slot formed by the inner surface.

30. The method of claim 16, wherein the weight is detachably connected to the inner surface of the conduit, portion after the step of running the conduit in the wellbore.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the weight is attached to the inner surface by a finger extending from the weight inserted in a slot formed by the inner surface.

32. The method of claim 16, wherein the weight is attached to the inner surface by a finger extending from the weight inserted in a slot formed by the inner surface.

33. The method of claim 16, further including the steps of:

connecting an instrument to the conduit portion outside of the bore of the conduit portion;

fixing the conduit portion in the wellbore;

removing the weight from the conduit portion;

orienting a perforation tool in the conduit portion, and

perforating the conduit portion.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the weight is detachably connected to the inner surface of the conduit portion before the step of running the conduit in the wellbore.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the weight is attached to the inner surface by a finger extending from the weight inserted in a slot formed by the inner surface.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the weight is detachably connected to the inner surface of the conduit portion after the step of running the conduit in the wellbore.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the weight is attached to the inner surface by a finger extending from the weight inserted in a slot formed by the inner surface.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein the weight is attached to the inner surface by a finger extending from the weight inserted in a slot formed by the inner surface.