DOWNHOLE TOOL WITH RATCHETING SWIVEL AND METHOD

摘要

A system for perforating a well includes a perforating gun (10) and a swivel (12) suspended from a wireline (50). An orientation sub (14) is provided above the gun (10) and a rotational latching mechanism (90) rotationally connects the wireline to the perforating gun in one direction, while allowing the swivel to rotationally disconnect the gun from the wireline in an opposing direction. According to the method of the invention, the gun may be lowered in the well from the wireline to a depth greater than the desired firing depth until the gun is rotated to its desired azimuthal position, and the gun then raised by the wireline to the desired firing depth with a rotational latching and swivel mechanisms maintaining the gun at its desired azimuthal position.