CA2205004A1 - Window-cutting system for downhole tubulars - Google Patents
Window-cutting system for downhole tubularsInfo
- Publication number
- CA2205004A1 CA2205004A1 CA002205004A CA2205004A CA2205004A1 CA 2205004 A1 CA2205004 A1 CA 2205004A1 CA 002205004 A CA002205004 A CA 002205004A CA 2205004 A CA2205004 A CA 2205004A CA 2205004 A1 CA2205004 A1 CA 2205004A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- mill
- guide
- lug
- window
- whipstock
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B29/00—Cutting or destroying pipes, packers, plugs, or wire lines, located in boreholes or wells, e.g. cutting of damaged pipes, of windows; Deforming of pipes in boreholes or wells; Reconditioning of well casings while in the ground
- E21B29/06—Cutting windows, e.g. directional window cutters for whipstock operations
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B7/00—Special methods or apparatus for drilling
- E21B7/04—Directional drilling
- E21B7/06—Deflecting the direction of boreholes
- E21B7/061—Deflecting the direction of boreholes the tool shaft advancing relative to a guide, e.g. a curved tube or a whipstock
Abstract
A guide lug for a starting or window mill is provided at the upper end of the whipstock. A back-up shoulder is provided to act against any tendencies of the mill to whirl. A taper is provided for use in guiding the mill toward the casing for the cutting of the window. The lug is configured to be worn by a guide for the window mill or starter mill rather than being milled away. As a result of the use of the lug, the upper sections of the whipstock are protected from the mill. In turn, any holes or other projections provided for subsequent retrieval of the whipstock are functional for such a retrieval at the conclusion of the milling process for the window.
Description
WINDOW-~;U l~ G SYSTEM FOR DOWNHOLE 1 ~J~lJLARS
FELD OF THE lNVE~llON
The field of this inven~on relates to milling a window in casing and more par~cularly to ~ y~lus for mills to ~cco.~ the cut~ng of a window.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVI~TION
In ~e past, willdow~ut~ng systems have involved the lLce of Wl.;~
0 and ~ ~ 1rips with a s~ter mill and a window mill c~ , in behind it to cut ou~ a window. Un~l lece~lly, there has been no ~ cic placed on re~ievability of ~he ~I-;psl in ~at the older ~lesi~s and ~lJlir~l;onc ~l~s~ ose that the w~ would remain in the wellbore a~er the window was ~illed.
More rcc~ll~, the cc~ l of retrievabili~y of ~l.;p~ ; has been intro-15 duced for a variety of ~ ;o~s In ome ;~;~s~c, the liner which LC ;~c~.~
~L the w~dovv is cc ~ A all the way back into the main wellbore. There-a~er, milli~ iS lc~lull'cd to l~C~_ the section of liner ~ ndin~ into the main wellbore. This ~luce~ cLCi~ ~ inU.S.Patent5,301,760. Va~ious~llr-.,l4~i in the past have been m ade to ld.;e~_ wI-;~ c One such tool is ~ lr,d in U.S. Patent 5,341,873, ~c~ .~ to We~ rO~ These retrieving ~c~ es employed in the past ~çne~lIy 1C~1U~ that the :illU~ ulal gJ ;~y of the upper end of the wl.;p~1~t be ..~ d so tha~ the relrieving tool could get a firm gcip on the wI.i~ to ensure its l~,~lU~aL
Milling ~ec~ s have also i~ l so that a one-trip system can be employed to create the windo~.. U.S. Patent 5,109,924 i~ s a one-trip window-millin~ system where a stalted mill is followed by one or more W;1l~ ~ "~on mills. The ~cs~mhIy is initially l~,~iued to the wl.;l.~(~t- by a lug and a shear pIn.
Figure 1 ill~ les a lug of the type previou ly employed, -with standard 30 multi-~ip window-milling ~t~nls as well as a one-trip system such ~ ill"~
in Jurgens.
, . .
WO ~17/10~ PCT/US!K114470 le ~~2 5C ~ ~c~d by "a" i~ F~e 1. ~he s~er mill 12 h~d a guide ~hh~d~ slartod t~ s ~e mill 12 is fi~ r ~ brwnw~dly. E
ct cdkd ~ w~ is b~ ~lu~d m Fypre 2. F4y~re 2 20 af ~ilsdes 24 d~ Tbe blade~ d to create ~e CUttiDg aclian whe~
12 ~s;mdia~d by a~ 26 ~ in ~he a~e mfll 12 rota~g in a o~clo~-u~le fi~:c infhe ~.. ~ of 2~0w 30 is ~icd tD a~h ofthe blules ~s ~e ~rmill 12 u~ls m a~ocl~ised~c~indi~dby ~roW 28. 1 past, this whirl effect has resulted in severe ~m~ to the starter mill 12 and inmany cases to the v~ o~l~ 20. The whirl action further exa~l,~d the W~ g away of the lug 16.
While in past designs the objective of l,e~ 3 a window may have been 5 ~cco~ h~l thisacl~ m~lwasatthecostofnearcon~plctedestructionofthe st~rter mill 12 as well as sllffir;~nt ~ln~ 7~ to the top end of the ~l~ luc~ 20 to eh~ t~, or at least make l1iffir.ll1t ~bs~ ' h~ l4~ to l~hi.,~ it.
One of the many o~je~ c;s of this invention is bo provide ~ nr~ and st~bili7~ti~n to the mill or mills ~uu~ the use of the ~ ;r)n of the lug to 0 remove the effect of whirl and to spare the w~ sl~rl~ ~om ~ ee during the process of milling the window in the casing 18. To that end, a ~ifir;~l lug il~r~ an initial contact taper and a back-up sh~ ~ has been developed. The ta~er allows ~lie(l weight on the mill during the window millin~ to more directly orient the mill toward the casing where the wi~duw- is to be cu~ Greater tor~ue control is p~erihle due to the ~lo~_d ~ ~ ofthe mill or mills which reduces stall-outs when the mill gets stuck. The lug ctnfig.~*~ .. is &c~ d to the objeclive of providing a ~ , sur~ce rather than a sllrf~r,e that is milled during the creation ofthe wil~dow. Yet ~noth~ objective is to ~ sclvti any l-,h;~v~ slots or other p,o~u~;o~s used for wl~se~ retrieval of the w1~ oc-~ by ~l.c... ;..~ that 2 o the mill or mills do not destroy such fwl~cs during the window-millin~ process.
SIJMMAl~Y OF THE n~lVl~TlON
A guide lug for a ~L;-lg or w~dow mill is provided at the u~er end of the wl.;l~s~oc~ A back-up sh~ -Id~- is provided to act against any ten~l~nri~s ofthe mill 25 to w~irl. A taper is provided for use in ~ lir~E the mill toward the casing for the cut~ng ofthe willdow. The lug is c~ rlg,~cd to be worn by a guide for the windowmill or stalter mill rat~er th n being milled away. As a result of the use of the lug, the upper secti~ n~ of the w~ locl~ are ~r~leelcd from the mill. In tum, any holes or other plùjecl;on~ provided for s~bseqllPnt re~ieval of the wl~ ck are WO 97110~ 1 ~l~U .,51~"14470 ~dow.
B~ DES~l 10l~ OF TB DRAW~GS
Fi~e 1 ~s a sectioD~ dev~i~al ~~iew a~t~e pnor ~rt hlg used m CO~3U~
~ipd~ilc aod a ~gm~
Fy ~e 2 is a u_c ~ion o~me e~* of ~ ~ p~
F~e3 is aplan~iew~gthe40fthepros~i~
~ig~e 4 ~ sl the h~ ~d m Fy~e ~.
F~ 6 is a sec~l dev~ ~ of lhe lug of 1~: p~ in~on sb~g il~ ~se m a ~ mill~g ~m su~ ~s th~t illush~d in U5. P~t S,10~,~24.
DEl~1~ vl~ lIONOPT~K~
~ e 3 D_s ~ p3~ ~v of ~o h~ L of 1hc prae~ m~ F~
2~ m F~e 3. ~g ~ is ~ly ~ade fiam a ~a~ ~_ l~g L ~s a ~:d sur~e 36 sl~ do~n~ly eow~d c~es ~2 a~d 34.
a~1he l~g h It ~er scts ~s a guide s~ce ~¢ wch i~s as guide 40 i~
m~g of a wi~w. T~per 36 is p~ably a~ ~m ~e ~S~ t~ ~ ~m ~he ~c~ b" of F~re 4. U~h~e s~e i.,~.~:~overthe prior art ~lçs~ is me~ulcd at angles "b" of as liffle as >50, si~ifir~nt il~ rC-ment in the ~- r.,. ~ r,e of the mill such as 12 is achieved when the taper angle is about 30~ or more to about <90~. The back-up ch~nl~lpr 38 ~l;...;.,i l~s the tPn-3Pn~y of mill such as 12 to whirl. A portion of the guide 40 (see Figure 5) is ill.-~ ;d in 5 dashed lines in Figure 3. An arrow in Figure 3 ~ es the clocLwise lU~i~ of guide 40 which t~ns with the mill such as 12 from ri~d tubing e~Pnllin~ to the surface or from a downhole motor such as in a coiled tubing a~ ;ol~ The clocLwise driving of the mill such as 12 tends to create an o~po~ tu~ng motion on the mill itself in a ~ .lockwise dilc~l;o~ since * is in an area of the casing 10 where there is room around the mill for it to whi~i in the .~hS~r-c of a cho~ r 38.
The back-up chmll~Pr 38 creates a smaller space around the mill as it begins to cut into the casing and fi~mly ~U~J~lL:j the mill 12 or, in the po~ shown in Figure 3, the guide 40, a~inct a le~ c~r to wirl in a co.~ 10c~wisc &ecl;oll. The shp~ ri-r~ 36 can be used to plu~,idc a l-n. ;~ t~1 c~ n to the guide 40 so thatthe mill cutters 42 canbe d~1edwiththe 1.. ~ co.. ~ f---1 toward the casing wall o~ ç the wl.;~ t 20. Many ~.......... ,k~ of dc,.. ~ weigl~
~lied to the mill 12 with the t~per angle 36 allow for better control of the milling ~ucess. The mill is less likely to advance overly ra~idly to a ji..~....;n~ ~os;~
l~w~ the casing that has not yet been cut and the v~ oct- The use of angles 2 o >5~ aLo result in a gr~ erosion or ~g down of the lug L as the mi1l 12 adv~ces. l-~eh~l line 44 in Figure S in-lir,~tes how much of the lug L is worn away du~ing nr~ l û~
It is ~e~ e to col-l~g.~ the lug 40 so that the ~ cl~e ~ ..c~ n from the initial point of c~n~r.t, shown s~l.*~l~n~;r~lly as 46, with the lug L to the outer 2 5 ~. ;1.1.. . y of the guide 40 should exceed the Ihict ~.~ss of the casing to he mille~
Stated di~clc~ y, rlimPneinn lc~lle~ 1)CIWCCI1 the arrows 48 should exceed the ~l,ir~t~eSS of the casing to be milled. The ~l;.. ~;~n 48 rc~l~3~ the ~wu~l of e -l~e~ccl ho.;,l)l"~l movement of the guide 40 as the w~ pattern illw~ ed by dashed line 44 is ~,cQ...~ t.~(1 during the milling op~ti-,~n It should be noted s =
wo s7no40~ 7o a~ 1 la~al d n v~ o~ ~e gu~te 40 aw~ ~am ~ wb:~ 20 ~md .
s hasa~eda~ld~ - ~ed~ Th~sm~mtifi adis~ceg0e~}ysiboat3 U.S. Pa~t S,341,~3. Subh o~ S2 or ~imilsr ~s ~ fi~ha4e ~e~
A h-g L ~f1he ssme de~ is ad~bb ~x t~se ~ o~ ~illiDg ~s 20 direct ~e ~dow miII 54 ~r fi~m the v~ 20 wh~¢ at the s~me ~ne 3g~ l~v.;~r ~ ~d be no~d t~t to ~h: the one~
A~, a n:s~t ~f usmg the 1~& L of d~e pr~ im~ ~ de~e ~ t~e mil~ and a mare ~Ltible ~dow cut It ~ ts bo protect the ~p of 1he CA 02205004 l997-05-o9 o~ ~ or ~tlusions or other devices used for snhse(~ nt r~co~ of the are not destroyed by the wlli,li~g mill as had occulled with prior de-signs. Window or staIter mills are less likely to stall out due to j~ beç~ l~ a greater torque control is possible using the taper feature of the lug, as ~lesc~ ;l~i above. Typically, with an ~Mlie~tinn of 500 3000 lbs. weight on the mill during the window-milling o~ , a sllffirient hh.;~....'~1 cn~ is created to initiate ~e window and reduce j~- 111 l I;~p, of the mill, such as l~l~. een the casing and the wll;~ L which had o~ d in old ~ e~ e with the lug milled away.
~nete~d with the lug L ofthe ~,~s. ~t i~ tio", the ~lu~ r~ for ~.~ing, as 0 i~ ;c5~t.,;1 by da~hed line 44, pl~)vides control ILIo~ h~ the w~du.. cu~ng proccdure and predict~hility of where the window will be cut. The problem of prior ~leei~e with the mill r~ p. from an initial wil~d~w when the lug was milled away is P~ t~d by the lug L of the ~csclll desig~ C~;rnihrly, with the back-up sllo~ c~ 38, the t~-ldc~ to crate a mi~li~p~l casing willdu~ with l~S~ t to the wll;~.~i~t face, also known in the art as "dog leg severity," is further ; Il;ll~1ed due to the st~hili~ing effect on the mill from the design of the lug L.
~1rliti~n~11y~ the v~ can now be easily l~,h;.,~_d with cc)nfi~1~nce since the rc~ucs for l~,h;e~,~g, such as slots or wPl~im~ontc are preserved rather than being ground offwith the lug, as in many ofthe past ~i~si~s T.he lug L of the ~l~nt design can be used with cc,~ e~l1;on~1 w ndo~v cutting systems to i-n~ pr..r..llll- ~r~ The lug L is even more i~ ûl~l to coiled tubing ~l,pl;c,~ n~ for better control of the mill and for el;~ n of stall-outs. As shown in Figure 6, the lug L of the plcse,ll invention ~s ~pli~tinn in one-t~i,p millin~ systems where, ~llllol~ the lug is po~i*nned behind the mill 54,~5 its prineir~ of op~tinn and the b*~ derived are the same as those for con-.. Il ;nl 1~1 or coiled tubing-~u~u,~d mills ~es~ ~ ;bed in Figure 5.
The lug L is simple to pl~hlce and secure by the ~ r~ ,d methoA Of welding to a v~ lsl~t 20. Despite its ecol~ r~l co~llu ;lion, it retur.ns signi~-cant b~-n.ofitc in preservation of the illle~ily of the e~ ;l....*~.l such as the whi~
wo s7n~0s K~/l.lS96~14470 SIDCIC20,as~swm~ mcmfi~ing~li~Dg1he~ o~ r-l ~s~of1heim~
FELD OF THE lNVE~llON
The field of this inven~on relates to milling a window in casing and more par~cularly to ~ y~lus for mills to ~cco.~ the cut~ng of a window.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVI~TION
In ~e past, willdow~ut~ng systems have involved the lLce of Wl.;~
0 and ~ ~ 1rips with a s~ter mill and a window mill c~ , in behind it to cut ou~ a window. Un~l lece~lly, there has been no ~ cic placed on re~ievability of ~he ~I-;psl in ~at the older ~lesi~s and ~lJlir~l;onc ~l~s~ ose that the w~ would remain in the wellbore a~er the window was ~illed.
More rcc~ll~, the cc~ l of retrievabili~y of ~l.;p~ ; has been intro-15 duced for a variety of ~ ;o~s In ome ;~;~s~c, the liner which LC ;~c~.~
~L the w~dovv is cc ~ A all the way back into the main wellbore. There-a~er, milli~ iS lc~lull'cd to l~C~_ the section of liner ~ ndin~ into the main wellbore. This ~luce~ cLCi~ ~ inU.S.Patent5,301,760. Va~ious~llr-.,l4~i in the past have been m ade to ld.;e~_ wI-;~ c One such tool is ~ lr,d in U.S. Patent 5,341,873, ~c~ .~ to We~ rO~ These retrieving ~c~ es employed in the past ~çne~lIy 1C~1U~ that the :illU~ ulal gJ ;~y of the upper end of the wl.;p~1~t be ..~ d so tha~ the relrieving tool could get a firm gcip on the wI.i~ to ensure its l~,~lU~aL
Milling ~ec~ s have also i~ l so that a one-trip system can be employed to create the windo~.. U.S. Patent 5,109,924 i~ s a one-trip window-millin~ system where a stalted mill is followed by one or more W;1l~ ~ "~on mills. The ~cs~mhIy is initially l~,~iued to the wl.;l.~(~t- by a lug and a shear pIn.
Figure 1 ill~ les a lug of the type previou ly employed, -with standard 30 multi-~ip window-milling ~t~nls as well as a one-trip system such ~ ill"~
in Jurgens.
, . .
WO ~17/10~ PCT/US!K114470 le ~~2 5C ~ ~c~d by "a" i~ F~e 1. ~he s~er mill 12 h~d a guide ~hh~d~ slartod t~ s ~e mill 12 is fi~ r ~ brwnw~dly. E
ct cdkd ~ w~ is b~ ~lu~d m Fypre 2. F4y~re 2 20 af ~ilsdes 24 d~ Tbe blade~ d to create ~e CUttiDg aclian whe~
12 ~s;mdia~d by a~ 26 ~ in ~he a~e mfll 12 rota~g in a o~clo~-u~le fi~:c infhe ~.. ~ of 2~0w 30 is ~icd tD a~h ofthe blules ~s ~e ~rmill 12 u~ls m a~ocl~ised~c~indi~dby ~roW 28. 1 past, this whirl effect has resulted in severe ~m~ to the starter mill 12 and inmany cases to the v~ o~l~ 20. The whirl action further exa~l,~d the W~ g away of the lug 16.
While in past designs the objective of l,e~ 3 a window may have been 5 ~cco~ h~l thisacl~ m~lwasatthecostofnearcon~plctedestructionofthe st~rter mill 12 as well as sllffir;~nt ~ln~ 7~ to the top end of the ~l~ luc~ 20 to eh~ t~, or at least make l1iffir.ll1t ~bs~ ' h~ l4~ to l~hi.,~ it.
One of the many o~je~ c;s of this invention is bo provide ~ nr~ and st~bili7~ti~n to the mill or mills ~uu~ the use of the ~ ;r)n of the lug to 0 remove the effect of whirl and to spare the w~ sl~rl~ ~om ~ ee during the process of milling the window in the casing 18. To that end, a ~ifir;~l lug il~r~ an initial contact taper and a back-up sh~ ~ has been developed. The ta~er allows ~lie(l weight on the mill during the window millin~ to more directly orient the mill toward the casing where the wi~duw- is to be cu~ Greater tor~ue control is p~erihle due to the ~lo~_d ~ ~ ofthe mill or mills which reduces stall-outs when the mill gets stuck. The lug ctnfig.~*~ .. is &c~ d to the objeclive of providing a ~ , sur~ce rather than a sllrf~r,e that is milled during the creation ofthe wil~dow. Yet ~noth~ objective is to ~ sclvti any l-,h;~v~ slots or other p,o~u~;o~s used for wl~se~ retrieval of the w1~ oc-~ by ~l.c... ;..~ that 2 o the mill or mills do not destroy such fwl~cs during the window-millin~ process.
SIJMMAl~Y OF THE n~lVl~TlON
A guide lug for a ~L;-lg or w~dow mill is provided at the u~er end of the wl.;l~s~oc~ A back-up sh~ -Id~- is provided to act against any ten~l~nri~s ofthe mill 25 to w~irl. A taper is provided for use in ~ lir~E the mill toward the casing for the cut~ng ofthe willdow. The lug is c~ rlg,~cd to be worn by a guide for the windowmill or stalter mill rat~er th n being milled away. As a result of the use of the lug, the upper secti~ n~ of the w~ locl~ are ~r~leelcd from the mill. In tum, any holes or other plùjecl;on~ provided for s~bseqllPnt re~ieval of the wl~ ck are WO 97110~ 1 ~l~U .,51~"14470 ~dow.
B~ DES~l 10l~ OF TB DRAW~GS
Fi~e 1 ~s a sectioD~ dev~i~al ~~iew a~t~e pnor ~rt hlg used m CO~3U~
~ipd~ilc aod a ~gm~
Fy ~e 2 is a u_c ~ion o~me e~* of ~ ~ p~
F~e3 is aplan~iew~gthe40fthepros~i~
~ig~e 4 ~ sl the h~ ~d m Fy~e ~.
F~ 6 is a sec~l dev~ ~ of lhe lug of 1~: p~ in~on sb~g il~ ~se m a ~ mill~g ~m su~ ~s th~t illush~d in U5. P~t S,10~,~24.
DEl~1~ vl~ lIONOPT~K~
~ e 3 D_s ~ p3~ ~v of ~o h~ L of 1hc prae~ m~ F~
2~ m F~e 3. ~g ~ is ~ly ~ade fiam a ~a~ ~_ l~g L ~s a ~:d sur~e 36 sl~ do~n~ly eow~d c~es ~2 a~d 34.
a~1he l~g h It ~er scts ~s a guide s~ce ~¢ wch i~s as guide 40 i~
m~g of a wi~w. T~per 36 is p~ably a~ ~m ~e ~S~ t~ ~ ~m ~he ~c~ b" of F~re 4. U~h~e s~e i.,~.~:~overthe prior art ~lçs~ is me~ulcd at angles "b" of as liffle as >50, si~ifir~nt il~ rC-ment in the ~- r.,. ~ r,e of the mill such as 12 is achieved when the taper angle is about 30~ or more to about <90~. The back-up ch~nl~lpr 38 ~l;...;.,i l~s the tPn-3Pn~y of mill such as 12 to whirl. A portion of the guide 40 (see Figure 5) is ill.-~ ;d in 5 dashed lines in Figure 3. An arrow in Figure 3 ~ es the clocLwise lU~i~ of guide 40 which t~ns with the mill such as 12 from ri~d tubing e~Pnllin~ to the surface or from a downhole motor such as in a coiled tubing a~ ;ol~ The clocLwise driving of the mill such as 12 tends to create an o~po~ tu~ng motion on the mill itself in a ~ .lockwise dilc~l;o~ since * is in an area of the casing 10 where there is room around the mill for it to whi~i in the .~hS~r-c of a cho~ r 38.
The back-up chmll~Pr 38 creates a smaller space around the mill as it begins to cut into the casing and fi~mly ~U~J~lL:j the mill 12 or, in the po~ shown in Figure 3, the guide 40, a~inct a le~ c~r to wirl in a co.~ 10c~wisc &ecl;oll. The shp~ ri-r~ 36 can be used to plu~,idc a l-n. ;~ t~1 c~ n to the guide 40 so thatthe mill cutters 42 canbe d~1edwiththe 1.. ~ co.. ~ f---1 toward the casing wall o~ ç the wl.;~ t 20. Many ~.......... ,k~ of dc,.. ~ weigl~
~lied to the mill 12 with the t~per angle 36 allow for better control of the milling ~ucess. The mill is less likely to advance overly ra~idly to a ji..~....;n~ ~os;~
l~w~ the casing that has not yet been cut and the v~ oct- The use of angles 2 o >5~ aLo result in a gr~ erosion or ~g down of the lug L as the mi1l 12 adv~ces. l-~eh~l line 44 in Figure S in-lir,~tes how much of the lug L is worn away du~ing nr~ l û~
It is ~e~ e to col-l~g.~ the lug 40 so that the ~ cl~e ~ ..c~ n from the initial point of c~n~r.t, shown s~l.*~l~n~;r~lly as 46, with the lug L to the outer 2 5 ~. ;1.1.. . y of the guide 40 should exceed the Ihict ~.~ss of the casing to he mille~
Stated di~clc~ y, rlimPneinn lc~lle~ 1)CIWCCI1 the arrows 48 should exceed the ~l,ir~t~eSS of the casing to be milled. The ~l;.. ~;~n 48 rc~l~3~ the ~wu~l of e -l~e~ccl ho.;,l)l"~l movement of the guide 40 as the w~ pattern illw~ ed by dashed line 44 is ~,cQ...~ t.~(1 during the milling op~ti-,~n It should be noted s =
wo s7no40~ 7o a~ 1 la~al d n v~ o~ ~e gu~te 40 aw~ ~am ~ wb:~ 20 ~md .
s hasa~eda~ld~ - ~ed~ Th~sm~mtifi adis~ceg0e~}ysiboat3 U.S. Pa~t S,341,~3. Subh o~ S2 or ~imilsr ~s ~ fi~ha4e ~e~
A h-g L ~f1he ssme de~ is ad~bb ~x t~se ~ o~ ~illiDg ~s 20 direct ~e ~dow miII 54 ~r fi~m the v~ 20 wh~¢ at the s~me ~ne 3g~ l~v.;~r ~ ~d be no~d t~t to ~h: the one~
A~, a n:s~t ~f usmg the 1~& L of d~e pr~ im~ ~ de~e ~ t~e mil~ and a mare ~Ltible ~dow cut It ~ ts bo protect the ~p of 1he CA 02205004 l997-05-o9 o~ ~ or ~tlusions or other devices used for snhse(~ nt r~co~ of the are not destroyed by the wlli,li~g mill as had occulled with prior de-signs. Window or staIter mills are less likely to stall out due to j~ beç~ l~ a greater torque control is possible using the taper feature of the lug, as ~lesc~ ;l~i above. Typically, with an ~Mlie~tinn of 500 3000 lbs. weight on the mill during the window-milling o~ , a sllffirient hh.;~....'~1 cn~ is created to initiate ~e window and reduce j~- 111 l I;~p, of the mill, such as l~l~. een the casing and the wll;~ L which had o~ d in old ~ e~ e with the lug milled away.
~nete~d with the lug L ofthe ~,~s. ~t i~ tio", the ~lu~ r~ for ~.~ing, as 0 i~ ;c5~t.,;1 by da~hed line 44, pl~)vides control ILIo~ h~ the w~du.. cu~ng proccdure and predict~hility of where the window will be cut. The problem of prior ~leei~e with the mill r~ p. from an initial wil~d~w when the lug was milled away is P~ t~d by the lug L of the ~csclll desig~ C~;rnihrly, with the back-up sllo~ c~ 38, the t~-ldc~ to crate a mi~li~p~l casing willdu~ with l~S~ t to the wll;~.~i~t face, also known in the art as "dog leg severity," is further ; Il;ll~1ed due to the st~hili~ing effect on the mill from the design of the lug L.
~1rliti~n~11y~ the v~ can now be easily l~,h;.,~_d with cc)nfi~1~nce since the rc~ucs for l~,h;e~,~g, such as slots or wPl~im~ontc are preserved rather than being ground offwith the lug, as in many ofthe past ~i~si~s T.he lug L of the ~l~nt design can be used with cc,~ e~l1;on~1 w ndo~v cutting systems to i-n~ pr..r..llll- ~r~ The lug L is even more i~ ûl~l to coiled tubing ~l,pl;c,~ n~ for better control of the mill and for el;~ n of stall-outs. As shown in Figure 6, the lug L of the plcse,ll invention ~s ~pli~tinn in one-t~i,p millin~ systems where, ~llllol~ the lug is po~i*nned behind the mill 54,~5 its prineir~ of op~tinn and the b*~ derived are the same as those for con-.. Il ;nl 1~1 or coiled tubing-~u~u,~d mills ~es~ ~ ;bed in Figure 5.
The lug L is simple to pl~hlce and secure by the ~ r~ ,d methoA Of welding to a v~ lsl~t 20. Despite its ecol~ r~l co~llu ;lion, it retur.ns signi~-cant b~-n.ofitc in preservation of the illle~ily of the e~ ;l....*~.l such as the whi~
wo s7n~0s K~/l.lS96~14470 SIDCIC20,as~swm~ mcmfi~ing~li~Dg1he~ o~ r-l ~s~of1heim~
Claims (20)
1. A whipstock support system for at least one mill, having a guide thereon, for cutting a window in a downhole tubular such as a casing, comprising:
a whipstock;
a lug on said whipstock having a tapered contact surface for contact with the guide on the mill, said lug having a vertical axis and said taper formed to be at an angle of between 5° and 90° from said vertical axis.
a whipstock;
a lug on said whipstock having a tapered contact surface for contact with the guide on the mill, said lug having a vertical axis and said taper formed to be at an angle of between 5° and 90° from said vertical axis.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein:
said angle of said taper is about 30° from said vertical axis.
said angle of said taper is about 30° from said vertical axis.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein:
said lug further comprises a back-up shoulder which forms a guide surface for the guide on the mill.
said lug further comprises a back-up shoulder which forms a guide surface for the guide on the mill.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein:
said lug is generally L-shaped and comprises an arcuate surface to contact the guide of the mill.
said lug is generally L-shaped and comprises an arcuate surface to contact the guide of the mill.
5. The system of claim 3, wherein;
said guide surface of said lug forms a more confined space around the guide of the mill to reduce its tendency to whirl.
said guide surface of said lug forms a more confined space around the guide of the mill to reduce its tendency to whirl.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein:
said tapered surface is configured so that the radial distance from the point of initial contact of the guide of the mill with said tapered surface to the periphery of the guide exceeds the thickness of the casing to be milled.
said tapered surface is configured so that the radial distance from the point of initial contact of the guide of the mill with said tapered surface to the periphery of the guide exceeds the thickness of the casing to be milled.
7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a retrieval device mounted to said whipstock;
said retrieval device remaining functional throughout the process of milling the window.
a retrieval device mounted to said whipstock;
said retrieval device remaining functional throughout the process of milling the window.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein said lug, due to said tapered surface, is worn away as the guide of the mill advances in a manner that creates a force on the mill toward the casing for forming the window.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein:
said lug guides the mill to make the entire window before the mill can contact said lug of said whipstock.
said lug guides the mill to make the entire window before the mill can contact said lug of said whipstock.
10. The system of claim 4, wherein;
said guide surface of said lug forms a more confined space around the guide of the mill to reduce its tendency to whirl.
said guide surface of said lug forms a more confined space around the guide of the mill to reduce its tendency to whirl.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein:
said tapered surface is configured so that the radial distance from the point of initial contact of the guide of the mill with said tapered surface to the periphery of the guide exceeds the thickness of the casing to be milled.
said tapered surface is configured so that the radial distance from the point of initial contact of the guide of the mill with said tapered surface to the periphery of the guide exceeds the thickness of the casing to be milled.
12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:
a retrieval device mounted to said whipstock;
said retrieval device remaining functional throughout the process of milling the window.
a retrieval device mounted to said whipstock;
said retrieval device remaining functional throughout the process of milling the window.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein:
said lug, due to said tapered surface, is worn away as the guide of the mill advances in a manner that creates a force on the mill toward the casing for forming the window.
said lug, due to said tapered surface, is worn away as the guide of the mill advances in a manner that creates a force on the mill toward the casing for forming the window.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein:
said lug guides the mill to make the entire window before the mill can contact said lug or said whipstock.
said lug guides the mill to make the entire window before the mill can contact said lug or said whipstock.
15. A whipstock support system for at least one mill, having a guide thereon for cutting a window in a downhole tubular such as a casing, comprising: a whipstock;
a lug on said whipstock having a tapered contact surface;
said lug further comprises a back-up shoulder which forms a guide surface for the guide on the mill.
a lug on said whipstock having a tapered contact surface;
said lug further comprises a back-up shoulder which forms a guide surface for the guide on the mill.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein;
said lug is generally L-shaped and comprises an arcuate surface to contact the guide of the mill.
said lug is generally L-shaped and comprises an arcuate surface to contact the guide of the mill.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein:
said guide surface of said lug forms a more confined space around the guide of the mill to reduce its tendency to whirl.
said guide surface of said lug forms a more confined space around the guide of the mill to reduce its tendency to whirl.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein:
said tapered surface is configured so that the radial distance from the point of initial contact of the guide of the mill with said tapered surface to the periphery of the guide exceeds the thickness of the casing to be milled.
said tapered surface is configured so that the radial distance from the point of initial contact of the guide of the mill with said tapered surface to the periphery of the guide exceeds the thickness of the casing to be milled.
19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:
a retrieval device mounted to said whipstock;
said retrieval device remaining functional throughout the process of milling the window.
a retrieval device mounted to said whipstock;
said retrieval device remaining functional throughout the process of milling the window.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein:
said lug, due to said tapered surface, is worn away as the guide of the mill advances in a manner that creates a force on the mill toward the casing for forming the window.
said lug, due to said tapered surface, is worn away as the guide of the mill advances in a manner that creates a force on the mill toward the casing for forming the window.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US08/528,091 | 1995-09-14 | ||
| US08/528,091 US5676206A (en) | 1995-09-14 | 1995-09-14 | Window-cutting system for downhole tubulars |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2205004A1 true CA2205004A1 (en) | 1997-03-20 |
Family
ID=24104229
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002205004A Abandoned CA2205004A1 (en) | 1995-09-14 | 1996-09-10 | Window-cutting system for downhole tubulars |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (2) | US5676206A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU720893B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2205004A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2310231B (en) |
| NO (1) | NO972204L (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1997010409A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (16)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6032740A (en) * | 1998-01-23 | 2000-03-07 | Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. | Hook mill systems |
| US6105675A (en) * | 1999-01-05 | 2000-08-22 | Weatherford International, Inc. | Downhole window milling apparatus and method for using the same |
| NO20000281L (en) * | 1999-01-21 | 2000-07-24 | Baker Hughes Inc | Single trip window milling device and method with measurement during drilling |
| GB2360538B (en) * | 1999-01-21 | 2002-02-27 | Baker Hughes Inc | One-trip window milling apparatus and method with measurement-while-drilling |
| GB9907116D0 (en) * | 1999-03-26 | 1999-05-19 | Smith International | Whipstock casing milling system |
| US6499538B2 (en) * | 1999-04-08 | 2002-12-31 | Smith International, Inc. | Method and apparatus for forming an optimized window |
| CA2288494C (en) * | 1999-10-22 | 2008-01-08 | Canadian Downhole Drill Systems Inc. | One trip milling system |
| US7077206B2 (en) * | 1999-12-23 | 2006-07-18 | Re-Entry Technologies, Inc. | Method and apparatus involving an integrated or otherwise combined exit guide and section mill for sidetracking or directional drilling from existing wellbores |
| US6684953B2 (en) | 2001-01-22 | 2004-02-03 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Wireless packer/anchor setting or activation |
| US6715567B2 (en) | 2001-05-02 | 2004-04-06 | Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. | Apparatus and method for forming a pilot hole in a formation |
| GB2438200B (en) | 2006-05-16 | 2010-07-14 | Bruce Mcgarian | A whipstock |
| US7762322B2 (en) * | 2008-05-14 | 2010-07-27 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Swellable packer with variable quantity feed-throughs for lines |
| US7703524B2 (en) | 2008-05-21 | 2010-04-27 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Cutting windows for lateral wellbore drilling |
| GB2467176B (en) | 2009-01-27 | 2013-03-20 | Bruce Mcgarian | Apparatus and method for setting a tool in a borehole |
| US8607858B2 (en) * | 2011-11-09 | 2013-12-17 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Spiral whipstock for low-side casing exits |
| GB2570865A (en) * | 2017-12-29 | 2019-08-14 | Mcgarian Bruce | A whipstock |
Family Cites Families (15)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2103622A (en) * | 1936-07-25 | 1937-12-28 | Robert B Kinzbach | Side tracking apparatus |
| US2882015A (en) * | 1957-06-10 | 1959-04-14 | J E Hill | Directional window cutter for whipstocks |
| DE3942438A1 (en) * | 1989-12-22 | 1991-07-11 | Eastman Christensen Co | DEVICE FOR DRILLING A SUB-DRILLING OR DEFLECTING DRILL OF A PARTICULARLY PIPED HOLE |
| US5154231A (en) * | 1990-09-19 | 1992-10-13 | Masx Energy Services Group, Inc. | Whipstock assembly with hydraulically set anchor |
| US5163522A (en) * | 1991-05-20 | 1992-11-17 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Angled sidewall coring assembly and method of operation |
| US5193620A (en) * | 1991-08-05 | 1993-03-16 | Tiw Corporation | Whipstock setting method and apparatus |
| US5301760C1 (en) * | 1992-09-10 | 2002-06-11 | Natural Reserve Group Inc | Completing horizontal drain holes from a vertical well |
| US5341873A (en) * | 1992-09-16 | 1994-08-30 | Weatherford U.S., Inc. | Method and apparatus for deviated drilling |
| AU5408294A (en) * | 1992-10-19 | 1994-05-09 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Retrievable whipstock system |
| US5467819A (en) * | 1992-12-23 | 1995-11-21 | Tiw Corporation | Orientable retrievable whipstock and method of use |
| US5431220A (en) * | 1994-03-24 | 1995-07-11 | Smith International, Inc. | Whipstock starter mill assembly |
| US5566762A (en) * | 1994-04-06 | 1996-10-22 | Tiw Corporation | Thru tubing tool and method |
| US5595247A (en) * | 1994-04-06 | 1997-01-21 | Tiw Corporation | Retrievable through tubing tool and method |
| US5488989A (en) * | 1994-06-02 | 1996-02-06 | Dowell, A Division Of Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Whipstock orientation method and system |
| US5551509A (en) * | 1995-03-24 | 1996-09-03 | Tiw Corporation | Whipstock and starter mill |
-
1995
- 1995-09-14 US US08/528,091 patent/US5676206A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1996
- 1996-09-10 WO PCT/US1996/014470 patent/WO1997010409A1/en unknown
- 1996-09-10 CA CA002205004A patent/CA2205004A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1996-09-10 AU AU71560/96A patent/AU720893B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1996-09-10 GB GB9709606A patent/GB2310231B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1997
- 1997-05-13 NO NO972204A patent/NO972204L/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1997-08-21 US US08/916,003 patent/US5881808A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US5676206A (en) | 1997-10-14 |
| GB2310231B (en) | 2000-03-15 |
| WO1997010409A1 (en) | 1997-03-20 |
| US5881808A (en) | 1999-03-16 |
| GB9709606D0 (en) | 1997-07-02 |
| AU7156096A (en) | 1997-04-01 |
| AU720893B2 (en) | 2000-06-15 |
| GB2310231A (en) | 1997-08-20 |
| NO972204L (en) | 1997-07-11 |
| NO972204D0 (en) | 1997-05-13 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |