Method of using radial thrust elements to re-enter a previously-installed tubular in a lateral

Abstract

A method of re-entering a previously-installed tubular in a lateral borehole from a primary borehole connected to the lateral borehole includes passing a downhole tool from the primary borehole into the lateral borehole, activating one or more radial thrust elements proximate to a nose portion of the downhole tool to apply a radial thrust to the downhole tool and lift the nose portion into alignment with the tubular, and inserting the nose portion of the downhole tool into the tubular.

1 . A method of re-entering a previously-installed tubular in a lateral borehole from a primary borehole connected to the lateral borehole, comprising:
 passing a downhole tool from the primary borehole into the lateral borehole;   activating one or more radial thrust elements proximate to a nose portion of the downhole tool to apply a radial thrust to the downhole tool and lift the nose portion into alignment with the tubular; and   inserting the nose portion of the downhole tool into the tubular.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein activating the one or more radial thrust elements comprises radially extending one or more bow springs coupled to the downhole tool. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the bow springs are mounted on a sleeve coupled to the nose portion and radially extending the one or more bow springs comprises axially moving one of the ends of the bow springs relative to the sleeve. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein activating the one or more radial thrust elements comprises radially extending one or more plugs coupled to the downhole tool. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the plugs are inserted in apertures provided in a sleeve coupled to the nose portion and extending the one or more plugs comprises inserting a tool into a bore of the sleeve and operating the tool to apply a radial force to the one or more plugs. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein activating the one or more radial thrust elements comprises generating one or more hydraulic jets from the downhole tool. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein generating the one or more hydraulic jets comprises forcing fluid through one or more orifices in the downhole tool. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising de-activating the radial thrust elements after inserting the nose portion of the downhole tool into the tubular. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein passing the downhole tool from the primary borehole to the lateral borehole comprises lowering the downhole tool into the primary borehole. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the previously-installed tubular is eccentric with the lateral borehole. 
   
   
       11 . A downhole tool for re-entering a previously-installed tubular in a lateral borehole of a multilateral well, comprising:
 a downhole tool body sized for insertion into the previously-installed tubular; and   one or more radial thrust elements proximate to a nose portion of the downhole tool body and operable to apply a radial thrust to the downhole tool body and lift the nose portion into alignment with the tubular.   
   
   
       12 . The downhole tool of  claim 11 , wherein the radial thrust elements are disposed between the nose portion and a rear portion of the downhole tool body. 
   
   
       13 . The downhole tool of  claim 11 , wherein the radial thrust elements comprise one or more radially extendible bow springs. 
   
   
       14 . The downhole tool of  claim 11 , wherein the radial thrust elements comprise one or more radially extendible plugs. 
   
   
       15 . The downhole tool of  claim 11 , wherein the radial thrust elements comprise one or more orifices for generating one or more hydraulic jets. 
   
   
       16 . The downhole tool of  claim 11 , wherein the radial thrust elements are disposed about at least a portion of a circumference of a sleeve coupled to the nose portion of the downhole tool body. 
   
   
       17 . The downhole tool of  claim 11 , further comprising a mechanism for activating the radial thrust elements to apply a radial thrust to the downhole tool. 
   
   
       18 . The downhole tool of  claim 11 , wherein the nose portion includes a sealing element for sealing engagement with the tubular. 
   
   
       19 . The downhole tool of  claim 18 , wherein a rear portion of the downhole tool body includes a sealing element for sealing engagement with the tubular.