Retention system for bottom hole assembly and whipstock

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019106940-A1
Application number	US-201715730455-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 11, 2017
Priority date	Oct 11, 2017
Publication date	Apr 11, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for releasing a lead mill of a BHA from a whipstock in a wellbore include slideably releasing the BHA from the whipstock without relative rotation and without destruction of a retractable bolt. A system includes: a bias mechanism; a retractable bolt at least partially disposed in the bottom hole assembly and biased to a retracted position by the bias mechanism; and a retraction actuator capable of selectably opposing the bias of the retractable bolt. A method includes: coupling a whipstock to a BHA with a retention system, including: a retractable bolt biased to retract into the BHA; and a retraction actuator configured to resist the bias of the retractable bolt; and after the whipstock and BHA have been disposed in a wellbore, activating the retraction actuator so that retraction of the retractable bolt ensues.

First claim

1 . A retention system for a bottom hole assembly and a whipstock comprising:
a bias mechanism; a retractable bolt at least partially disposed in the bottom hole assembly and biased to a retracted position by the bias mechanism, wherein the retractable bolt moves without destruction during operation; and a retraction actuator capable of selectably opposing the bias of the retractable bolt.

2 . The retention system of claim 1 , further comprising meshing features on the bottom hole assembly and the whipstock, wherein the meshing features slideably mesh and slideably release without rotation between the bottom hole assembly and the whipstock.

3 . The retention system of claim 2 , wherein the meshing features comprise at least one of a blade, a water channel, a dog, and a hole.

4 . The retention system of claim 2 , wherein the meshing features comprise at least one torsional load surface.

5 . The retention system of claim 1 , further comprising a control line, wherein the retraction actuator is activated by a control signal from the control line.

6 . The retention system of claim 1 , wherein the bias mechanism comprises at least one of a spring, a magnet, and a shaped memory alloy.

7 . The retention system of claim 1 , wherein a shape of the retractable bolt comprises at least one of a pin, a plate, and a fork.

8 . The retention system of claim 1 , wherein the retraction actuator comprises at least one of a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator, an electromagnetic actuator, a pin, a piston, and an actuator extension.

9 . A retention system for a bottom hole assembly and a whipstock comprising:
a retractable bolt at least partially disposed in the bottom hole assembly; a retraction actuator capable of selectably opposing a retraction force on the retractable bolt; and meshing features on the bottom hole assembly and the whipstock, wherein the meshing features slideably mesh and slideably release without rotation between the bottom hole assembly and the whipstock.

10 . The retention system of claim 9 , wherein the retractable bolt moves without destruction during operation.

11 . The retention system of claim 9 , wherein the meshing features comprise at least one of a blade, a water channel, a dog, and a hole.

12 . The retention system of claim 9 , wherein the meshing features comprise at least one torsional load surface.

13 . The retention system of claim 9 , wherein the retractable bolt and the bottom hole assembly are configured to create a pressure differential to produce the retraction force.

14 . The retention system of claim 9 , further comprising a control line, wherein the retraction actuator is activated by a control signal from the control line.

15 . The retention system of claim 9 , wherein a shape of the retractable bolt comprises at least one of a pin, a plate, and a fork.

16 . The retention system of claim 9 , wherein the retraction actuator comprises at least one of a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator, an electromagnetic actuator, a pin, a piston, and an actuator extension.

17 . A method of milling a casing comprising:
coupling a whipstock to a bottom hole assembly with a retention system, the retention system comprising:
a retractable bolt biased to retract into the bottom hole assembly; and
a retraction actuator configured to resist the bias of the retractable bolt; and
after the whipstock and the bottom hole assembly have been disposed in a wellbore, activating the retraction actuator so that a retraction of the retractable bolt ensues.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising securing the whipstock in the wellbore before activating the retraction actuator.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising orienting and positioning the whipstock in the wellbore before securing the whipstock in the wellbore.

20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising sending at least one control signal to secure the whipstock in the wellbore and to activate the retraction actuator.

21 . The method of claim 18 , wherein coupling the whipstock to the bottom hole assembly comprises engaging recesses of a mill face of the bottom hole assembly with protrusions of the whipstock, the method further comprising moving the bottom hole assembly uphole from the secured whipstock, thereby disengaging the recesses of the mill face from the protrusions.

22 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising slideably releasing without relative rotation the bottom hole assembly from the whipstock.

23 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising milling the casing in the wellbore with the bottom hole assembly.

24 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the retractable bolt moves without destruction during the retraction.

25 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the retention system further comprises a bias mechanism, the method further comprising applying a retraction force on the retractable bolt with the bias mechanism.

26 . A method of milling a casing comprising:
coupling a whipstock to a bottom hole assembly, the bottom hole assembly having a retractable bolt, the coupling comprising:
engaging recesses of a mill face of the bottom hole assembly with protrusions of the whipstock; and
selectably opposing a retraction of the retractable bolt; and
activating the retraction of the retractable bolt after the whipstock and the bottom hole assembly have been disposed in a wellbore, wherein the retractable bolt moves without destruction during the retraction.

27 . The method of claim 26 , further comprising securing the whipstock in the wellbore before activating the retraction.

28 . The method of claim 27 , further comprising orienting and positioning the whipstock in the wellbore before securing the whipstock in the wellbore.

29 . The method of claim 27 , further comprising moving the bottom hole assembly uphole from the secured whipstock, thereby disengaging the recesses of the mill face from the protrusions.

30 . The method of claim 27 , further comprising sending control signals to secure the whipstock in the wellbore and activate the retraction actuator.

31 . The method of claim 26 , further comprising slideably releasing without relative rotation the bottom hole assembly from the whipstock.

32 . The method of claim 26 , further comprising applying a retraction force on the retractable bolt.

33 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the retraction force comprises a pressure differential across the retractable bolt.

Assignees

• Weatherford Tech Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Korf Joshua Matthew
• Teale David W
• Helbert Thomas

Classifications

• E21B7/061 Primary

  the tool shaft advancing relative to a guide, e.g. a curved tube or a whipstock · CPC title

• E21B7/067

  with means for locking sections of a pipe or of a guide for a shaft in angular relation, e.g. adjustable bent sub · CPC title