Method of installing control lines in a wellbore

Abstract

A method and apparatus for perforating a casing in a wellbore wherein the casing has control means attached thereto, which method and apparatus includes inserting a detectable source with the control means extending a selected length of the control means; inserting a sensing means in the casing for sensing the detectable source; sensing the location of the detectable source at selected levels in the casing; recording the direction of the detectable source at the selected levels in the casing; inserting perforating means in the casing, the perforating means for perforating the casing, the perforating means having orienting means for selectively positioning the perforating means relative to the recorded direction of the detectable source at the selected levels in the casing; and perforating the casing at a selected orientation relative to the sensed detectable source at the selected levels in the casing.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for perforating a casing in a wellbore, the casing having control means attached thereto, the method comprising: 
 (a) inserting a detectable source with the control means, the detectable source extending a selected length of the control means;    (b) inserting a sensing means in the casing, the sensing means for sensing the detectable source;    (c) inserting perforating means in the casing, the perforating means for perforating the casing, the perforating means having orienting means for selectively positioning the perforating means relative to the direction of the detectable source;    (d) sensing the location of the detectable source; and    (e) perforating the casing at a selected orientation relative to the sensed detectable source.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the detectable source is a source of radiation.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the source of radiation is an irradiated wire.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of inserting the detectable source includes inserting at least one capillary tube extending a selected length of the control means.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the step of inserting at least one capillary tube includes the step of inserting the detectable source in the capillary tube.  
     
     
         6 . The method of claims  5  wherein the detectable source is a fluid.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the sensing means for sensing the source of radiation is a gamma ray detector.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the detectable source is a magnetic wire.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the sensing means is a directional variation magnetic field sensor.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of perforating the casing at a selected orientation relative to the detectable source includes orienting the perforating means away from the control means.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the orienting means is a motor for providing rotational bias to the sensing means and the perforating means.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the perforating means is a perforating gun.  
     
     
         13 . A method for perforating a casing in a wellbore, the casing having control means attached thereto, the method comprising: 
 (a) inserting, in fixed relationship with the control means, at least one capillary tube, the capillary tube extending a selected length of the control means;    (b) inserting in the capillary tube a detectable source, the detectable source extending a selected length of the capillary tube;    (c) inserting a sensing means, the sensing means for sensing the detectable source;    (d) inserting a perforating gun in the casing, the perforating gun for perforating the casing and the wellbore, the perforating gun having orienting means for selectively positioning the perforating gun relative to the direction of the detectable source;    (e) detecting the location of the detectable source; and    (t) perforating the casing at a selected orientation away from the control means.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the source of radiation is an irradiated wire.  
     
     
         15 . The method of claims  16  wherein the radiation source is a fluid.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the sensing means for sensing the source of radiation is a gamma ray detector.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the detectable source is a magnetic wire.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the sensing means is a directional variation magnetic field sensor.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of perforating the casing at a selected orientation relative to the detectable source includes orienting the perforating gun.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the orienting means is a motor for providing rotational bias to the sensing means and the perforating gun.  
     
     
         21 . A method for perforating a casing in a wellbore, the casing having control means attached thereto, the method comprising: 
 (a) inserting a detectable source with the control means, the detectable source extending a selected length of the control means;    (b) inserting a sensing means in the casing, the sensing means for sensing the detectable source;    (c) sensing the location of the detectable source at selected levels in the casing;    (d) recording the direction of the detectable source at the selected levels in the casing;    (e) inserting perforating means in the casing, the perforating means for perforating the casing, the perforating means having orienting means for selectively positioning the perforating means relative to the recorded direction of the detectable source at the selected levels in the casing; and    (f) perforating the casing at a selected orientation relative to the sensed detectable source at the selected levels in the casing.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the step of recording the direction of the detectable source at the selected levels in the casing includes the step of removing the detection means prior to inserting the perforating means in the casing.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the detectable source is a source of radiation.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the source of radiation is an irradiated wire.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the step of inserting the detectable source includes inserting at least one capillary tube extending a selected length of the control means.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the step of inserting at least one capillary tube includes the step of inserting the detectable source in the capillary tube.  
     
     
         27 . The method of claims  26  wherein the detectable source is a fluid.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the sensing means for sensing the source of radiation is a gamma ray detector.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the detectable source is a magnetic wire.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the sensing means is a directional variation magnetic field sensor.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the step of perforating the casing at a selected orientation relative to the detectable source includes orienting the perforating means away from the control means.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the orienting means is a motor for providing rotational bias to the sensing means and the perforating means.  
     
     
         33 . Apparatus for perforating a casing in a wellbore, the casing having control means attached thereto, the apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a detectable source, the detectable source for inserting in a fixed relationship with the control means, the detectable source for identifying the location of the control means, the detectable source sized to extend a selected length in the casing;    (b) orientation means, the orientation means for selectively orienting sensing means and perforating means relative to the detectable source;    (c) sensing means for sensing the detectable source, the sensing means for insertion in the casing, the sensing means in fixed relationship to the orientation means; and    (d) perforating means for perforating the casing, the perforating means  11  fixed relationship with the orientation means.    
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the detectable source is a source of radiation.  
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein the source of radiation is an irradiated wire.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 33  additionally including at least one capillary tube, the at least one capillary tube sized to extend a selected length of the control means, the capillary tube for receiving the detectable source.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the detectable source is a fluid.  
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein the sensing means is a gamma ray detector.  
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the detectable source is a magnetic wire.  
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 39  wherein the sensing means is a directional variation magnetic field sensor.  
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the orienting means is a motor for providing rotational bias to the sensing means and the pert-orating means.  
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the perforating means is a perforating gun.  
     
     
         43 . Apparatus for perforating a casing in a wellbore, the casing having control means attached thereto, the process comprising: 
 (a) at least one capillary tube in fixed relationship to the control means, the at least one capillary tube sized to extend a selected length of the control means, the capillary tube for receiving a detectable source    (b) the detectable source for identifying the location of the bundle, the detectable source sized to extend a selected length in the capillary tube;    (c) a motor for providing rotational bias to sensing means and perforating means, the motor for selectively orienting a perforating gun relative to the detectable source;    (d) sensing means for sensing the detectable source, the sensing means for insertion in the casing, the sensing means communicating with and in fixed relationship to the motor; and    (e) the perforating guns for perforating the casing, the perforating gun in fixed relationship to the motor.    
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 43  wherein the detectable source is a source of radiation.  
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 44  wherein the source of radiation is an irradiated wire.  
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 43  wherein the detectable source is a fluid.  
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 44  wherein the sensing means for sensing the source of radiation is a gamma ray detector.  
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 43  wherein the detectable source is a magnetic wire.  
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 48  wherein the sensing means is a directional variation magnetic field sensor.