Claims
- 1. A system for guiding a first tubular string from a first wellbore into a second wellbore intersecting the first wellbore, the system comprising:a second tubular string positioned within casing lining the first wellbore, the second tubular string including a window formed through a sidewall thereof, the window being oriented toward the second wellbore; the first tubular string being received within the second tubular string; and a deflection device releasably securable to the first tubular string and releasably securable to the second tubular string, the deflection device being aligned with the window by engagement between an alignment profile of the second tubular string and an alignment member attached to the deflection device, the alignment member being maintained in a retracted position thereof spaced apart from the second tubular string until the deflection device is received within the second tubular string proximate the window.
- 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second tubular string further includes a latching device, the latching device releasably securing the deflection device to the second tubular string.
- 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second tubular string further includes a generally tubular assembly interconnected therein, the window being formed through a sidewall of the assembly, and wherein the deflection device is aligned with the window and releasably secured relative to the assembly when the deflection device is operatively received within the assembly.
- 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second tubular string further includes a generally tubular assembly interconnected therein, the window being formed through a sidewall of the assembly, and wherein the deflection device is released from securement to the first tubular string and deflects the first tubular string through the window and into the second wellbore when the deflection device is operatively received within the assembly and the first tubular string is displaced axially relative to the second tubular string.
- 5. A system for guiding a first tubular string from a main wellbore into a selected one of multiple branch wellbores intersecting the main wellbore, the system comprising:a second tubular string positioned within the main wellbore, the second tubular string including multiple axially spaced apart generally tubular assemblies interconnected therein, each of the assemblies having a window formed through a sidewall thereof, each of the windows being oriented toward one of the branch wellbores, and each of the assemblies further having a latch device; and the first tubular string being received within the second tubular string and having a deflection device and a selective latch device releasably secured thereto, the first tubular string selective latch device releasably securing the deflection device to a selected one of the assembly latch devices, and preventing securement of the deflection device to unselected ones of the assembly latch devices, when the first tubular string is conveyed through the second tubular string.
- 6. The system according to claim 5, wherein each of the assembly latch devices is an internal profile, one of the internal profiles being cooperatively shaped relative to the first tubular string selective latch device, so that the first tubular string latch device engages the cooperatively shaped internal profile when the first tubular string is conveyed through the second tubular string.
- 7. The system according to claim 6, wherein each of the assemblies includes an alignment device, the alignment device of the assembly which includes the cooperatively shaped internal profile aligning the deflection device with the window in response to the first tubular string selective latch device engaging the cooperatively shaped internal profile.
- 8. A method of guiding a first tubular string from a first wellbore into a second wellbore intersecting the first wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:positioning a second tubular string within casing lining the first wellbore, the second tubular string including a window formed through a sidewall thereof, and the window being oriented toward the second wellbore; conveying the first tubular string into the second tubular string, the first tubular string having a deflection device releasably secured thereto; engaging an alignment member attached to the deflection device with an alignment profile of the second tubular string, thereby aligning the deflection device with the window, the alignment member being released for engagement with the alignment profile only when the deflection device is proximate the window, and the alignment member being spaced apart from the second tubular string until the deflection device is proximate the window; releasably securing the deflection device to the second tubular string; releasing the deflection device from the first tubular string; and deflecting the first tubular string off of the deflection device and into the second wellbore.
- 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the releasably securing step further comprises engaging a first latch device of the first tubular string with a second latch device of the second tubular string.
- 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the releasing step further comprises displacing the first tubular string relative to the deflection device after engagement of the first and second latch devices.
- 11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the engaging step is performed in response to performance of the releasably securing step.
- 12. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of withdrawing the first tubular string from the second wellbore, and retrieving the first tubular string from the first wellbore along with the deflection device.
- 13. The method according to claim 8, wherein in the releasing step, the first tubular string remains reciprocably received within a portion of the deflection device after the deflection device is released from the first tubular string.
- 14. A method of guiding a first tubular string from a main wellbore into a selected one of multiple branch wellbores intersecting the main wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:positioning a second tubular string within the main wellbore, the second tubular string including multiple spaced apart assemblies interconnected therein, each of the assemblies having a window formed through a sidewall thereof, and each of the windows being oriented toward one of the branch wellbores; inserting the first tubular string into the second tubular string, the first tubular string having a deflection device and a selective latching device releasably attached thereto; engaging the selective latching device with a selected one of the assemblies, thereby selecting one of the branch wellbores for insertion of the first tubular string therein and preventing the first tubular string from being inserted into any branch wellbore other than the selected one of the branch wellbores; and deflecting the first tubular string off of the deflection device and into the selected branch wellbore.
- 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the engaging step further comprises engaging the selective latching device with a cooperatively shaped latching device of the selected assembly.
- 16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the engaging step further comprises engaging an alignment device of the selected assembly with the first tubular string, thereby aligning the deflection device with the window of the selected assembly.
- 17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the engaging step further comprises releasing the deflection device from the first tubular string and releasably attaching the deflection device to the second tubular string.
- 18. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of withdrawing the first tubular string from the branch wellbore and retrieving the first tubular string from the second tubular string along with the deflection device.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/073,153, filed Jan. 30, 1998.
This application is related to copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/240,370, filed Jan. 29, 1999, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Running Two Tubing Strings into a Well”.
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EP |
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Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/073153 |
Jan 1998 |
US |