Downhole fiber optic connector with a side pocket and kick over assembly in a wellbore

1 . A connection apparatus, comprising:

a first half wet mate connector coupled in a side pocket of a side pocket assembly within a completion string that is to be positioned downhole in a wellbore;

a kick over assembly comprising a kick over mandrel and a stinger sub coupled onto a production string, the kick over assembly having an inner diameter to permit fluid flow through the kick over assembly when the kick over assembly is installed within the wellbore, wherein the kick over assembly includes a retracting orienting key configured to pass through and to engage an orienting profile proximate an uphole end of the side pocket assembly; and

a second half wet mate connector coupled to the kick over assembly to be positioned downhole in the wellbore, wherein the second half wet mate connector moves radially outward with the stinger sub toward and into the side pocket as the orienting key engages the orienting profile to align the second half wet mate connector with the first half wet mate connector while the kick over mandrel pivots radially outward and upward during upward movement of the kick over assembly.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first half wet mate connector and second half wet mate connector facilitate a fiber optic wet mate connection.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the kick over assembly has a plurality of mandrels rotatably coupled together.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the plurality of mandrels are rotatably coupled together by knuckle joints.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the kick over assembly includes an orienting mandrel coupled with the production string.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the orienting key is positioned on the orienting mandrel and is configured to retract to pass through the orienting profile as the kick over assembly is run in hole and thereafter engage the orienting profile during uphole movement of the kick over assembly.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the kick over assembly includes the kick over mandrel coupled with the orienting mandrel.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the kick over assembly includes the stinger sub coupled with the kick over mandrel.

9 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the stinger sub rotates and moves radially outward toward the side pocket as the orienting key engages the orienting profile to couple the second half wet mate connector with the first half wet mate connector.

10 . A connection system, comprising:

a first subsystem to be positioned downhole in a wellbore, the first subsystem including a side pocket assembly within the first subsystem, the side pocket assembly including an orienting profile proximate an uphole end of the side pocket assembly;

a production string to be run downhole into the wellbore; and

a connection apparatus to be placed into the wellbore, including:

a first half wet mate connector coupled in a side pocket of the side pocket assembly;

a kick over assembly comprising a kick over mandrel and a stinger sub coupled onto the production string, the kick over assembly having an inner diameter to permit fluid flow through the kick over assembly when the kick over assembly is installed within the wellbore, wherein the kick over assembly includes a retracting orienting key configured to pass through and to engage the orienting profile of the side pocket assembly; and

a second half wet mate connector coupled to the kick over assembly to be positioned downhole in the wellbore, wherein the second half wet mate connector moves radially outward with the stinger sub toward and into the side pocket as the orienting key engages the orienting profile to align the second half wet mate connector with the first half wet mate connector while the kick over mandrel pivots radially outward and upward during upward movement of the kick over assembly.

11 . The system according to claim 10 , wherein the first subsystem further includes a housing and an orienting profile in a downhole end of the housing, and wherein the side pocket assembly is positioned downhole of the orienting profile.

12 . The system according to claim 10 , wherein the first half wet mate connector and second half wet mate connector facilitate a fiber optic wet mate connection.

13 . The system according to claim 10 , wherein the kick over assembly has a plurality of mandrels rotatably coupled together, wherein the plurality of mandrels includes an orienting mandrel coupled with the production string, wherein the orienting key is positioned on the orienting mandrel and is configured to retract to pass through the orienting profile as the kick over assembly is run in hole and thereafter engage the orienting profile during uphole movement of the kick over assembly.

14 . The system according to claim 13 , wherein the plurality of mandrels includes the kick over mandrel coupled with the orienting mandrel.

15 . The system according to claim 14 , wherein stinger sub is coupled with the kick over mandrel, wherein the stinger sub rotates and moves radially outward toward the side pocket assembly to couple the second half wet mate connector with the first half wet mate connector.

16 . A method of making a wet mate connection downhole in a wellbore, the method comprising:

placing a first half wet mate connector into a side pocket assembly within a first subsystem to be positioned downhole in the wellbore;

positioning the first subsystem into the wellbore;

coupling a second subsystem with a production string to be placed downhole in the wellbore, wherein the second subsystem includes a kick over assembly comprising a kick over mandrel and a stinger sub, the kick over assembly having an inner diameter to permit fluid flow through the kick over assembly when the kick over assembly is installed within the wellbore, wherein the kick over assembly includes a retracting orienting key configured to pass through and to engage an orienting profile proximate an uphole end of the side pocket assembly;

coupling a second half wet mate connector with the kick over assembly;

positioning the second subsystem into the wellbore;

engaging the kick over assembly with the first subsystem; and

connecting the second half wet mate connector with the first half wet mate connector, wherein the second half wet mate connector moves radially outward with the stinger sub toward and into the side pocket as the orienting key engages the orienting profile to align the second half wet mate connector with the first half wet mate connector while the kick over mandrel pivots radially outward and upward during upward movement of the kick over assembly.

17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein connecting the second half wet mate connector with the first half wet mate connector operatively connects a lower fiber optic line coupled with the first half wet mate connector with an upper fiber optic line coupled with the second half wet mate connector that connects with a surface of the wellbore.

18 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the orienting key is positioned on an orienting mandrel of the kick over assembly and is configured to retract to pass through the orienting profile as the kick over assembly is run in hole and thereafter engage the orienting profile during uphole movement of the kick over assembly.

19 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein connecting the second half wet mate connector with the first half wet mate connector includes rotating the stinger sub of the kick over assembly with the orienting mandrel.

20 . The method according to claim 16 , further comprising disconnecting the second half wet mate connector from the first half wet mate connector with another uphole movement of the kick over assembly.