Downhole tool orienting subassembly

Abstract

A downhole tool orienting subassembly includes a latch assembly having one or more latch keys and an orienting key coupled to an outer housing of the latch assembly. A latch coupling has a body and an internal latch profile defined on an inner radial surface of the body to receive the one or more latch keys and thereby secure the latch assembly to the latch coupling. A guide slot is defined on the inner radial surface to receive the orienting key and thereby rotationally orient the latch assembly with respect to the latch coupling.

1 . A downhole tool orienting subassembly, comprising:
 a latch assembly having one or more latch keys and an orienting key coupled to an outer housing of the latch assembly;   a latch coupling having a body and an internal latch profile defined on an inner radial surface of the body to receive the one or more latch keys and thereby secure the latch assembly to the latch coupling; and   a guide slot defined on the inner radial surface to receive the orienting key and thereby rotationally orient the latch assembly with respect to the latch coupling.   
     
     
         2 . The downhole tool orienting subassembly of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more latch keys comprise at least two latch keys circumferentially spaced from each other about the outer housing, and wherein the orienting key angularly interposes the at least two latch keys. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole tool orienting subassembly of  claim 1 , wherein the orienting key is positioned on the outer housing axially below the one or more latch keys. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole tool orienting subassembly of  claim 1 , wherein the orienting key comprises a body having a leading end and a trailing end, and wherein the leading end is configured to locate and enter an uphole end of the guide slot. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole tool orienting subassembly of  claim 4 , wherein a width of the body of the orienting key tapers outwardly from the leading end toward the trailing end. 
     
     
         6 . The downhole tool orienting subassembly of  claim 5 , wherein the width of the body of the orienting key tapers outwardly from the trailing end toward the leading end. 
     
     
         7 . The downhole tool orienting subassembly of  claim 1 , wherein the guide slot comprises:
 an uphole end that exhibits a first width to receive the orienting key; and   a downhole end that exhibits a second width smaller than the first width.   
     
     
         8 . The downhole tool orienting subassembly of  claim 7 , wherein the guide slot axially overlaps at least a portion of the internal latch profile. 
     
     
         9 . The downhole tool orienting subassembly of  claim 7 , wherein the guide slot is defined axially below or axially above the internal latch profile. 
     
     
         10 . A well system, comprising:
 a downhole tool conveyable into a wellbore;   a latch assembly operatively coupled to the downhole tool and having one or more latch keys and an orienting key coupled to an outer housing of the latch assembly;   a latch coupling secured within the wellbore and having a body and an internal latch profile defined on an inner radial surface of the body to receive the one or more latch keys and thereby secure the latch assembly to the latch coupling; and   a guide slot defined on the inner radial surface to receive the orienting key and thereby rotationally orient the latch assembly with respect to the latch coupling and rotationally orient the downhole tool to a desired angular orientation within the wellbore.   
     
     
         11 . The well system of  claim 10 , further comprising a sensor sub operatively coupled to the downhole tool and used to obtain real-time azimuth, inclination, and tool-face direction measurements of the downhole tool. 
     
     
         12 . The well system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more latch keys comprise at least two latch keys circumferentially spaced from each other about the outer housing, and wherein the orienting key angularly interposes the at least two latch keys. 
     
     
         13 . The well system of  claim 10 , wherein the orienting key is positioned on the outer housing axially below the one or more latch keys. 
     
     
         14 . The well system of  claim 10 , wherein the guide slot axially overlaps at least a portion of the internal latch profile. 
     
     
         15 . The well system of  claim 10 , wherein the guide slot is defined axially below or axially above the internal latch profile. 
     
     
         16 . A method, comprising:
 conveying a latch assembly operatively coupled to a downhole tool into a wellbore, the latch assembly having one or more latch keys and an orienting key coupled to an outer housing of the latch assembly;   receiving the latch assembly within a latch coupling secured within the wellbore, the latch assembly having a body and an internal latch profile defined on an inner radial surface of the body;   receiving the orienting key within a guide slot provided axially above or axially below the internal latch profile and thereby rotationally orienting the latch assembly with respect to the latch coupling; and   receiving the one or more latch keys with the internal latch profile and thereby securing the latch assembly to the latch coupling and rotationally orienting the downhole tool to a desired angular orientation within the wellbore.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the guide slot is provided on a sub coupled to the latch coupling, and wherein receiving the orienting key within the guide slot comprises receiving the orienting key within the guide slot in the sub. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein receiving the orienting key within the guide slot is preceded by:
 obtaining real-time measurements of the downhole tool with a sensor sub operatively coupled to the downhole tool;   transmitting the real-time measurements to a surface location; and   adjusting a circumferential orientation of the downhole tool based on the real-time measurements.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the orienting key comprises a body having a leading end and a trailing end, and a width of the body of the orienting key tapers outwardly from the leading end toward the trailing end, the method further comprising locating and entering an uphole end of the guide slot with the leading end. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 conveying a mill into the wellbore; and   deflecting the mill into an inner wall of the wellbore to form a casing exit at the desired angular orientation.   
     
     
         21 . (canceled)