Lockable motor assembly for use in a well bore
View Patent ↗A lockable motor assembly for use in a well bore comprises a PDM motor having a rotor and a stator. A locking member has a splined projection which is received within a splined recess of the rotor and external splines which mate with splines provided on a sub connected to the stator. The components are held in this configuration by a shear ring until the fluid pressure within a chamber defined between the locking member and the sub is sufficient to cause the shear ring to shear. The locking member may then move out of the engagement with the rotor to free the motor for operation. The locking member is held in this position by a ratchet mechanism.
1. A method for drilling a lateral well bore from a main well bore comprising:
running an assembly including an anchor, a whipstock, a cutting tool, and a motor into the main well bore;
orienting the whipstock without operating the motor;
setting the anchor while flowing a fluid through the motor without operating the motor; and
operating the motor to rotate the cutting tool to cut a window through a casing in the main well bore.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising continuing to drill the lateral well bore with the cutting tool.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein running the assembly, orienting the whipstock, setting the anchor, operating the motor to rotate the cutting tool to cut the window, and drilling the lateral well bore occurs in a single trip.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising directionally drilling the lateral well bore with the cutting tool.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein running the assembly, orienting the whipstock, setting the anchor, operating the motor to rotate the cutting tool to cut the window, and directionally drilling the lateral well bore occurs in a single trip.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising locking the motor in a rotationally stationary position to prevent the motor from operating.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising selectively releasing the motor to an operable position.
8. The method of claim 7 further comprising maintaining the motor in the operable position.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein selectively releasing the motor comprises increasing pressure within the motor to a predetermined value.
10. The method of claim 7 further comprising re-locking the motor in the rotationally stationary position.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein running the assembly, orienting the whipstock, setting the anchor, and operating the motor to rotate the cutting tool to cut the window occurs in a single trip.
12. A method for drilling a lateral well bore from a main well bore comprising:
running an assembly including an anchor, a whipstock, a locked motor, and a cutting tool into the main well bore;
orienting the whipstock while the motor is locked;
setting the anchor while flowing a fluid through the motor when the motor is locked;
selectively unlocking the motor; and
operating the motor to rotate the cutting tool to cut a window through a casing in the main well bore.
13. The method of claim 12 further comprising continuing to drill the lateral well bore with the cutting tool.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein running the assembly, orienting the whipstock, setting the anchor, selectively unlocking the motor, operating the motor to rotate the cutting tool to cut the window, and drilling the lateral well bore occurs in a single trip.
15. The method of claim 12 further comprising directionally drilling the lateral well bore with the cutting tool.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein running the assembly, orienting the whipstock, setting the anchor, selectively unlocking the motor, operating the motor to rotate the cutting tool to cut the window, and directionally drilling the lateral well bore occurs in a single trip.
17. The method of claim 12 further comprising maintaining the motor in the unlocked position.
18. The method of claim 12 wherein selectively unlocking the motor comprises increasing pressure within the motor to a predetermined value.
19. The method of claim 12 further comprising re-locking the motor.
20. The method of claim 12 wherein running the assembly, orienting the whipstock, setting the anchor, selectively unlocking the motor, and operating the motor to rotate the cutting tool to cut the window occurs in a single trip.
21. A method of drilling a window through a casing in a well bore extending into a formation comprising:
running an anchor, a whipstock, a motor, and a cutting tool into the well bore;
orienting the whipstock;
flowing a fluid through the motor at a first pressure sufficient to set the anchor without rotating the motor; and
flowing a fluid through the motor at a second pressure sufficient to actuate the motor to rotate the cutting tool and cut the window.
22. The method of claim 21 further comprising flowing a fluid through the motor at a third pressure sufficient to release the motor from a locked position.
23. The method of claim 21 further comprising continuing to drill a lateral well bore into the formation with the cutting tool.
24. The method of claim 21 further comprising directionally drilling a lateral well bore into the formation with the cutting tool.