DECENTRALIZING, CENTRALIZING, LOCATING AND ORIENTING SUBSYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SUBTERRANEAN MULTILATERAL WELL DRILLING AND COMPLETION

摘要

A downhole-deployable locating and orienting subsystem, comprising a common mandrel having locating and orienting keys coupled thereto by first a nd second double-acting springs, respectively, and an actuating mandrel axially displaceable with respect thereto, said common mandrel, actuating mandrel an d first and second double-acting springs cooperable to yield three modes of operation: (a) a running mode in which said actuating mandrel is in a first axial limit position with respect to said common mandrel, said actuating mandrel placing said first and second double-acting springs in a stowed position wherein sai d locating and orienting keys are retracted radially inwardly with respect to said common mandrel to shield said locating and orienting keys from substantial contact with a surrounding well flow conductor as said common mandrel traverses therethrough; (b) a locating mode in which said actuating mandrel is in an intermediate axial position with respect to said common mandrel, said actuating mandrel placing said first and second double-acting springs in a deployed position resiliently to bias said locating and orienting keys radially outwardly with respect to said common mandrel to seek a locating and orienting profile on a n inner surface of a surrounding honed bore within said surrounding well flow conductor; and (c) a set mode in which said actuating mandrel is in a second axial limit position with respect to said common mandrel, said actuating mandrel directly engaging and stiffly retaining said locating and orienting keys in engagement with said locating and orienting profile thereby to fix said common mandrel in a desired location and orientation with respect to said honed bore.