System and method for providing power, two-way communication, and operation of downhole tools in a horizontal wellbore

Abstract

A wireline extension assembly includes a first tubing string housing a wireline extension electrically interconnecting wet connects at the upper and lower ends of the first string, with the lower wet connect being electrically connected to a downhole tool. The assembly is pushed into the horizontal leg of a deviated wellbore by forming a second tubing string extending upward from the upper end of the first string, thereby positioning the tool within the horizontal leg while leaving the upper wet connect disposed within the vertical leg. A primary wireline is then run from a surface wireline unit into the upper string and connected to the upper wet connect, thus providing electrical power, data communication, and/or other facilities to the tool. The tool can be repositioned within the horizontal leg by withdrawing the primary wireline, removing or upper string tubing sections, and then reinstalling the primary wireline.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for selectively positioning a downhole tool within a wellbore, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing first and second wet connects, each wet connect comprising a male probe and an overshot matingly engageable with the male probe;   (b) connecting the male probe of the first wet connect to a selected downhole tool to form a tool package;   (c) running a first tubing string into the wellbore to a selected depth, said first tubing string having an uppermost end and a lower end, with the tool package being carried at the lower end of said first tubing string such that the male probe of the first wet connect projects into the first tubing string, and with said first tubing string having at its uppermost end a wet connect sub carrying the male probe of the second wet connect;   (d) providing a first wireline having an upper end and a lower end, and running said first wireline into the first tubing string with the overshot of the first wet connect attached to the lower end of the first wireline;   (e) latching the overshot of the first wet connect with the male probe of the first wet connect;   (f) connecting the upper end of the first wireline to the male probe of the second wet connect;   (g) running additional tubing into the wellbore to form a second tubing string of selected length contiguous with the upper end of the first tubing string;   (h) running a second wireline into the second tubing string, with the overshot of the second wet connect being attached to the lower end of the second wireline; and   (i) latching the overshot of the second wet connect with the male probe of the second wet connect, so as to effect an electrical/electronic connection between the downhole tool and the second wireline.   
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1 , comprising the further steps of:
 (a) unlatching the overshot of the second wet connect from the male probe of the second wet connect;   (b) withdrawing the second wireline from the second tubing string;   (c) making up additional tubing onto the upper end of the second tubing string so as to increase the length of the second tubing string by a desired amount, thus correspondingly relocating the downhole tool within the wellbore; and   (d) running the second wireline back into the second tubing string, and re-latching the overshot of the second wet connect with the male probe of the second wet connect.   
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 1 , comprising the further steps of:
 (a) unlatching the overshot of the second wet connect from the male probe of the second wet connect;   (b) withdrawing the second wireline from the second tubing string;   (c) removing tubing from the upper end of the second tubing string so as to decrease the length of the second tubing string by a desired amount, thus correspondingly relocating the downhole tool within the wellbore; and   (d) running the second wireline back into the second tubing string, and re-latching the overshot of the second wet connect with the male probe of the second wet connect.   
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the first tubing string includes a tensioner sub associated with the wet connect sub. 
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 4  wherein the first tubing string includes a spacer sub disposed between the tensioner sub and the wet connect sub. 
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first and second wet connects comprises a J-slot-and-pin latching mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first and second wet connects comprises a collet-type latching mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first and second wet connects comprises a magnetic latching mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first and second wet connects comprises a vacuum-type latching mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the wellbore is a deviated wellbore. 
     
     
         11 . A wireline extension assembly comprising:
 (a) a first tubing string disposed within a wellbore, said first tubing string having an upper end and a lower end;   (b) a tool package comprising a downhole tool connected to a first wet connect probe, said tool package being connected to the lower end of the first tubing string such that the first wet connect probe projects into the first tubing string;   (c) a wet connect sub carrying a second wet connect probe, said wet connect sub being connected to the upper end of the first tubing string;   (d) a first wet connect overshot in latching engagement with the first wet connect probe; and   (e) a first wireline connecting the first wet connect overshot and the second wet connect probe.   
     
     
         12 . A wireline extension assembly as in  claim 11 , further comprising a second tubing string contiguously extending from the upper end of the first tubing string. 
     
     
         13 . A wireline extension assembly as in  claim 12 , further comprising a second wireline having a lower end connected to a second wet connect overshot, with said second wet connect overshot being in latching engagement with the second wet connect probe. 
     
     
         14 . A wireline extension assembly as in  claim 11 , further comprising a tensioner sub associated with the wet connect sub. 
     
     
         15 . A wireline extension assembly as in  claim 14  wherein the first tubing string includes a spacer sub disposed between the tensioner sub and the wet connect sub. 
     
     
         16 . A wireline extension assembly as in  claim 11  wherein the first wet connect probe and the first wet connect overshot collectively comprise a J-slot-and-pin latching mechanism. 
     
     
         17 . A wireline extension assembly as in  claim 11  wherein the first wet connect probe and the first wet connect overshot collectively comprise a collet-type latching mechanism. 
     
     
         18 . A wireline extension assembly as in  claim 11  wherein the first wet connect probe and the first wet connect overshot collectively comprise a magnetic latching mechanism. 
     
     
         19 . A wireline extension assembly as in  claim 11  wherein the first wet connect probe and the first wet connect overshot collectively comprise a vacuum-type latching mechanism. 
     
     
         20 . A wireline extension assembly as in  claim 11  wherein the wellbore is a deviated wellbore.