System for selective re-entry to completed laterals

摘要

The present invention is directed to a method for the entry of a tool from a cased wellbore into a lined and sealed completed lateral which includes the steps of measuring the distance from at least one apex of the ellipse formed by the intersection of the completed lateral and the wellbore to a fixed point in the wellbore and aligning a re-entry device from the fixed point to allow the tool to enter the lateral from the cased wellbore. The fixed point in the wellbore may be a keyway in a joint of the casing or a keyway in a packer positioned in the wellbore. The invention further includes the apparatus for measuring the distance from the fixed point which includes an inflatable packer with an outside memory-retention surface and a tail joint having a guide key which seats in the key slot.