Method for finding and re-entering a lateral bore in a multi-lateral well

Abstract

A system and method of locating and entering a lateral wellbore that extends from a primary wellbore are provided. The system may include a coiled tubing, jointed tubular, continuous rod, and/or wireline conveyance member, a connection assembly, an orientation assembly, a measurement assembly, a deflection assembly, a sub assembly, and a guide assembly. The method may include locating a tool string adjacent to a lateral wellbore that extends from a primary wellbore, measuring an inclination and azimuth of the tool string, comparing the measured data to existing survey data of at least one of the primary and lateral wellbores, orienting the tool string in the direction of the lateral wellbore, entering the lateral wellbore, and verifying that the tool string has entered the lateral wellbore.

1 . A method of locating and entering a lateral wellbore that extends from a primary wellbore, comprising:
 running a tool string into the primary wellbore to a location adjacent to a junction between the primary and lateral wellbores using existing survey data of at least one of the primary and lateral wellbores;   deflecting a portion of the tool string at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the tool string;   measuring an inclination and an azimuth of the tool string;   comparing the measured inclination and azimuth to the existing survey data;   running the tool string past the location adjacent to the junction and in a direction of the lateral wellbore based on the comparison of the measured inclination and azimuth to the existing survey data; and   measuring an inclination and an azimuth of the tool string after running it past the location adjacent to the junction and comparing the measured inclination and azimuth to the existing survey data to verify whether the tool string has entered the lateral wellbore.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising running the tool string into the primary wellbore using at least one of coiled tubing, jointed tubulars, continuous rod, and wireline. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the existing survey data of the primary and lateral wellbores includes at least one of inclination, azimuth, and depth. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tool string includes a deflection assembly, and further comprising flowing fluid through the deflection assembly to actuate the deflection assembly to deflect the portion of the tool string. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tool string includes a measurement assembly, and further comprising flowing fluid through the measurement assembly to actuate the measurement assembly to measure the inclination of a non-deflected portion of the tool string and the azimuth of the deflected portion of the tool string. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising generating a signal corresponding to the measured inclination and azimuth. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising communicating the signal to a remote location at a surface of the primary wellbore. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising communicating the signal to the remote location using at least one of electronic telemetry, mud-pulse telemetry, and electromagnetic telemetry. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising converting the signal and displaying the measured inclination and azimuth on a display screen. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising orienting the deflected portion of the tool string in the direction of the lateral wellbore based on the comparison of the measured inclination and azimuth to the existing survey data. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the tool string includes an orientation assembly, and further comprising flowing fluid through the orientation assembly to actuate the orientation assembly to orient the deflected portion of the tool string in the direction of the lateral wellbore. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising re-measuring an inclination and an azimuth of the tool string after orienting the deflected portion of the tool string in the direction of the lateral wellbore, and comparing the re-measured inclination and azimuth to the existing survey data to verify that the deflected portion of the tool string is positioned in the direction of the lateral wellbore. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising continuously monitoring and measuring the depth at which the tool string is run into the primary wellbore, and comparing the measured depth to the existing survey data of the primary wellbore, including a true vertical depth and an actual depth of the primary wellbore. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the depth that the tool string is run into the primary wellbore is monitored and measured from a surface of the primary wellbore. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising continuously monitoring and measuring the depth at which the tool string is run into the lateral wellbore, and comparing the measured depth to the existing survey data of the lateral wellbore, including a true vertical depth and an actual depth of the lateral wellbore. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the depth that the tool string is run into the lateral wellbore is monitored and measured from a surface of the primary wellbore. 
     
     
         17 . A method of locating and entering a lateral wellbore that extends from a primary wellbore, comprising:
 locating a tool string adjacent to a junction between the primary and lateral wellbores;   measuring a first downhole characteristic at the junction using a measurement assembly of the tool string;   comparing the measured first downhole characteristic to existing survey data of at least one of the primary and lateral wellbores;   positioning the tool string in a direction of the lateral wellbore based on the comparison of the measured first downhole characteristic and the existing survey data;   moving the tool string in the direction of the lateral wellbore;   measuring a second downhole characteristic after the tool string has been moved in the direction of the lateral wellbore; and   comparing the measured second downhole characteristic to the existing survey data to verify whether the tool string has entered the lateral wellbore.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising running the tool string into the primary wellbore using a conveyance member comprising at least one of coiled tubing, jointed tubulars, continuous rod, and wireline. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising flowing fluid to the measurement assembly via a conveyance member to actuate the measuring assembly to measure the first downhole characteristic. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising flowing fluid to an orientation assembly of the tool string via a conveyance member to actuate the orientation assembly to position the tool string in the direction of the lateral wellbore. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising flowing fluid to a deflection assembly of the tool string via a conveyance member to actuate the deflection assembly to position the tool string in the direction of the lateral wellbore. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising generating a signal corresponding to the measured first downhole characteristic using the measurement assembly and communicating the signal to a remote location at a surface of the primary wellbore. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising communicating the signal to the remote location using at least one of electronic telemetry, mud-pulse telemetry, and electromagnetic telemetry. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second downhole characteristics include at least one of inclination, azimuth, and depth of at least one of a portion of the tool string, the primary wellbore, and the lateral wellbore. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising continuously monitoring and measuring the depth at which the tool string is run into the primary and lateral wellbores, and comparing the measured depth to existing survey data of the primary and lateral wellbores, including a true vertical depth and an actual depth of the primary and lateral wellbores. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the depth that the tool string is run into the primary and lateral wellbores is monitored and measured from a surface of the primary wellbore. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising sending an electric signal to the measurement assembly via a wireline conveyance member to actuate the measuring assembly to measure the first downhole characteristic. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising sending an electric signal to an orientation assembly of the tool string via a wireline conveyance member to actuate the orientation assembly to position the tool string in the direction of the lateral wellbore. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising sending an electric signal to a deflection assembly of the tool string via a wireline conveyance member to actuate the deflection assembly to position the tool string in the direction of the lateral wellbore. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second downhole characteristics include at least one of a formation property, a location of a marker, and a radiation measurement.