IP Library Granted Patent US 11,613,967
Granted Patent B2
US 11,613,967 · App. 17/332,565 · Granted Mar 28, 2023

Bottom hole assembly with a cleaning tool

Inventors: Kenneth D. Hora (Houston, TX); Michael Smalley (Houston, TX); David W. Teale (Spring, TX); James H. Taylor, Jr. (Houston, TX)
Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
E21B37/04E21B23/01E21B7/061E21B29/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,613,967
App. No.
17/332,565
Granted
Mar 28, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of positioning a bottom hole assembly in a wellbore includes lowering the bottom hole assembly into the wellbore. The bottom hole assembly has a whipstock, a downhole tool, and a cleaning tool having a cleaning element. The method also includes cleaning at least a portion of a wall of the wellbore using the cleaning tool, and activating the downhole tool to engage the cleaned portion of the wall.

Claims (45)

1. A method of positioning a bottom hole assembly in a wellbore, comprising:

lowering the bottom hole assembly into the wellbore, the bottom hole assembly having a whipstock, a downhole tool coupled to the whipstock, and a cleaning tool coupled to the downhole tool, the cleaning tool having:

a body having a central bore and a plurality of side bores in fluid communication with the central bore; and

a plurality of cleaning elements hydraulically actuatable to an extended position;

cleaning at least a portion of a wall of the wellbore using the cleaning tool; and

orienting the whipstock in the wellbore; and

setting an anchor of the downhole tool after orienting the whipstock by activating the downhole tool to engage the cleaned portion of the wall.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cleaning elements is movable between a retracted position and an extended position.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein lowering the bottom hole assembly into the wellbore comprises lowering the plurality of cleaning elements into the wellbore in the retracted position, and wherein cleaning using the cleaning tool includes moving the plurality of cleaning elements to the extended position to clean the portion of the wall.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of cleaning elements is biased to the extended position.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising supplying hydraulic fluid to move the plurality of cleaning elements to the extended position.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising engaging the plurality of cleaning elements with an actuating profile of a piston to move the plurality of cleaning elements between the retracted position and the extended position.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method includes axially aligning the plurality of cleaning elements with a slip of the anchor.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein orienting the whipstock comprises orienting the whipstock after cleaning the wellbore and/or before cleaning the wellbore.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bottom hole assembly further comprises a packer and the method further comprises activating the packer to engage the cleaned portion of the wall.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein cleaning the portion of the wall comprises at least one of:

reciprocating the cleaning tool;

rotating the cleaning tool while reciprocating;

rotating the cleaning tool and further reciprocating the cleaning tool; and

circulating fluid while cleaning.

11. A method of positioning a bottom hole assembly in a wellbore, comprising:

lowering the bottom hole assembly into the wellbore, the bottom hole assembly having a whipstock, a downhole tool coupled to the whipstock, and a cleaning tool coupled to the downhole tool, wherein the cleaning tool comprises:

a body having a central bore and a plurality of side bores in fluid communication with the central bore;

a plurality of cleaning elements hydraulically actuatable to an extended position;

a guide connected to each of the plurality of cleaning elements and disposed in a respective side bore; and

a biasing member disposed around the guide for biasing the plurality of cleaning elements to a retracted position;

cleaning at least a portion of a wall of the wellbore using the cleaning tool; and

activating the downhole tool to engage the cleaned portion of the wall.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the downhole tool comprises an anchor; and wherein activating the downhole tool to engage the cleaned portion of the wall comprises setting the anchor.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the method includes axially aligning the plurality of cleaning elements with a slip of the anchor.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising orienting the whipstock in the wellbore before setting the anchor.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the downhole tool comprises a packer; and wherein activating the downhole tool to engage the cleaned portion of the wall comprises activating the packer.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of cleaning elements is movable between a retracted position and an extended position.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein lowering the bottom hole assembly into the wellbore comprises lowering the plurality of cleaning elements into the wellbore in the retracted position; and wherein cleaning using the cleaning tool includes moving the plurality of cleaning elements to the extended position to clean the portion of the wall.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of cleaning elements is biased to the extended position.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising supplying hydraulic fluid to move the plurality of cleaning elements to the extended position.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising engaging the plurality of cleaning elements with an actuating profile of a piston to move the plurality of cleaning elements between the retracted position and the extended position.

21. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

orienting the whipstock after cleaning the wellbore; and/or

orienting the whipstock before cleaning the wellbore.

22. The method of claim 11 , wherein cleaning the portion of the wall comprises at least one of:

reciprocating the cleaning tool;

rotating the cleaning tool while reciprocating;

rotating the cleaning tool and further reciprocating the cleaning tool; and

circulating fluid while cleaning.

Assignments (5)
SUPPLEMENT NO. 2 TO CONFIRMATORY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Jan 13, 2023
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 062389/0239 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2022
From: HORA, KENNETH D.
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 062164/0302 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2021
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES ULC; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 057683/0423 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2021
From: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC; WEATHERFORD NETHERLANDS B.V.; WEATHERFORD NORGE AS; HIGH PRESSURE INTEGRITY, INC.; PRECISION ENERGY SERVICES, INC.; WEATHERFORD CANADA LTD.; WEATHERFORD SWITZERLAND TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH; WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 057683/0706 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 27, 2021
From: SMALLEY, MICHAEL; TEALE, DAVID W.; TAYLOR, JAMES H., JR.
To: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 057307/0318 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16176852 · Oct 31, 2018
Related Publication 20210285307A1 · Sep 16, 2021