Abstract:
A self orienting selectable locating collet including a collet having at least one deflectable finger; an orientation key positioned at the deflectable finger and being deflectable with the finger; and a collet profile disposed at an outside dimension of the collet. A method is also included.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of an earlier filing date from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/443,434 filed Jan. 28, 2003, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND 
   Oil field operations often include the delivery of devices to the downhole environment from initial completions through reentry long after completions are installed and at all times in between. Entries to the downhole environment often need to be oriented and positively located to ensure the purpose of the entry can be properly carried out. Measurement while drilling, casing collar locators, seismic devices, selective profiles for dogs or collets and orientation profiles have all been employed to assist in positive location but in each case several tools and potentially additional runs have been necessary to achieve the desired result. 
   SUMMARY 
   Disclosed herein is a self orienting selectable collet having at least one deflectable finger, an orientation key positioned at the deflectable finger and a collet profile disposed at an outside dimension of the collet. 
   Further disclosed herein is a system for downhole selective orientation of a collet. An orientation profile is provided which is installable in a downhole environment. The orientation profile includes a matchable profile therein. A collet, which can be used in the orientation profile in the orientation profile has at least one deflectable finger and an orientation key positioned at the deflectable finger. A collet profile is disposed at an outside dimension of the collet, the profile being selectively matchable to the matchable profile of the orientation profile. 
   Still further disclosed herein is a wellbore configured for self orienting and selective locating of collets. The wellbore includes a liner or tubing string having at least two orientation profiles therein, each having a distinct matchable profile. A collet is runnable in the borehole, which collet has a collet profile complementary to one of the matchable profile in the at least two orientation profiles. 
   Also disclosed herein is a method for promoting self orientation and selective location of collets in a wellbore. The method includes installing in a liner, at least two orientation profiles having selective matching profiles, running a collet having a deflectable orientation key and a collet profile thereon complementary to one of the at least two orientation profile matching profiles and orienting the collet by driving the key against said orientation profile and engaging the matching profile where complementary to the collet profile. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several Figures: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a self orienting and locating collet system; 
       FIG. 2  is a side plan view of an orientation profile; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-section of the orientation profile of  FIG. 2  taken along section line  3 — 3 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a side plan view of a collet employed in the system disclosed herein; 
       FIG. 5  is a longitudinal cross-section view of the collet illustrated in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a top plan view of a key of the collet system; and 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-section view of  FIG. 6  taken along section line  7 — 7  in  FIG. 6 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , an overview of an embodiment as disclosed herein is illustrated. The perspective view of  FIG. 1  provides a frame of reference and an understanding of the concept disclosed in more detail hereunder. The self orienting and locating collet system  10  comprises two major components. These are an orienting profile  12  whether it be an independent structure or simply a structure appurtenant another structure of the wellbore, which in this embodiment is at the lateral liner hanger, and a collet  30 . Orientation profile  12  includes in general terms an orienting land surface  14 , which may be helical (as illustrated or other angled surfaces), and a matchable profile  16  with which a complementary collet profile will engage. Collet  30  includes at least one and in this embodiment eight deflectable fingers  32 . Disposed at one of the fingers  32  is key  34  for engaging surface  14  of orienting profile  12  to orient collet  30 . Collet profile  50  is of a complementary shape to a specific matchable profile  16 . 
   Running collet  30  in a specific orientation profile where the matchable profile is complementary causes the collet to orient and then engage the matchable profile. The engagement may be load bearing if desired. Where the collet profile and matchable profile are not complementary, the key causes the collet to orient and when the profiles do not engage the key  34  is deflected and the collet  30  passes through the orientation profile. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , this embodiment of the orientation profile  12  is addressed in greater detail. Orientation profile  12  is illustrated as having a helical edge surface  14  that is intended to be facing uphole or downhole depending on application. Those of skill in the art will recognize that an uphole facing configuration is more common, but that a downhole facing configuration is possible. Further illustrated is an opening  18  in the form of a slot configured to receive key  34  once key  34  has oriented collet  30 . A base  20  of slot  18 , is angled about 15 degrees to assist key  34  deflecting and collet  30  passing through orientation profile  12 , if the collet profile  50  is not complementary to matchable profile  16 . 
   Moving to  FIG. 3 , matchable profile  16  is visible. It is to be understood that matchable profile  16  as shown is but one configuration in an unlimited number of configurations which are possible. Many different configurations may be employed in a specific wellbore so that locations where such are positioned in the wellbore may be automatically selected by simply running a specific collet in the well. 
   In the embodiment illustrated, matchable profile  16  comprises two radially larger sections  80 ,  82 . As illustrated, these sections are of different lengths. Separating section  80 ,  82  is ring  84  which includes a reverse cut  86  (an optional feature). Location and self-orientation will occur without benefit of the reverse cut. In this case, reverse cut  86  is positioned on an uphole end of ring  84  and is configured to hold a load in a downhole direction. In one embodiment, the reverse cut will be about 80 degrees to a longitudinal aspect of section  80 . 
   Orientation profile  12  is located on a lateral liner or on the tubing string as illustrated and is delivered downhole. The ability to selectively install the matchable profile provides the ability to selectively locate the collet that will be run subsequently by simply selecting a collet having a collet profile that is complementary to the matchable profile put in place in the liner or the tubing in the downhole environment. Because of the helical edge surface  14  coupled with the slot base  20 , all collets will be oriented to all orientation profiles but are not shouldered there and if the profiles do not match, will pass through the profile  12  to the next profile  12  to be reoriented and perhaps be complementary to that matchable profile. This will continue until a matchable profile is reached or all orientation profiles  12  are exhausted (in which case an operator error is likely since matching a profile is intended). Opposite reverse cut  86  is an inclined snap-out surface  87  whose angle is dictated by desired snap-out force which is relevant to retrieval of the collet. In the illustrated embodiment, the angle is 60°. Clearly, more or less angle can be used depending upon application. Upon snap-out the collet may be retrieved. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a collet  30  is illustrated. In this embodiment collet  30  comprises fingers  32  and key  34  as noted above. Fingers are defined by removal of material of a tubular structure as shown. It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the finger supporting key  34  is longer than surrounding fingers. This is due to the greater outside dimension that key  34  creates. Key  34  must be able to deflect sufficiently to fit through the orientation profiles. A longer finger allows that deflection without exceeding the elastic limit of the material of the finger. This avoids permanent deformation thereof. The fingers  32  carry the collet profile  50  which is made up of several different diameters of material such as wider section  52 , narrower section  54  and larger wider section  56 . From  FIGS. 2 and 3 , one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that collet profile  50  is deflected inwardly until reaching a matchable profile  16  that is complementary and expands outwardly to engage therewith. If a load is desired to be held, a surface of collet profile  50  will be configured to engage reverse cut  86 . 
     FIG. 5  provides a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 4 , for clarity. Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the key  34  of the illustrated embodiment is shown. In  FIG. 6 , downhole end  36  of key  34  is shown to be angled on two sides  38  and  40 . These surfaces assist key  34  in moving along helical edge  14  by helping to avoid gouging of metal. Each of the angles  38 ,  40  are, in one embodiment, close to an angle employed for the helical edge surface  14 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , feature  42  is a chamfer that assists with respect to pulling back the collet if necessary. The chamfer helps the tool to slide through restrictions rather than land on them and impeded uphole motion. In specific angle of the chamfer is not critical as long as the angle is sufficient for its intended purpose. Key  34  may be machined on the tubular from which collet  30  is constructed or more commonly may be attached thereto by fasteners, adhesives, welding, etc. 
   It will be appreciated from the foregoing that multiple orientation profiles may be placed in a well and may be configured as one on each lateral liner. A substantial benefit of the disclosed system is that the inner dimension of each is the same. That is, distinct orientation profiles need not have progressively smaller inside diameters as is the case in the prior art. This allows for the wellbore to have orientation profiles while maintaining the inside diameter throughout. The reverse cut  86  provides a no-go configuration which negates the need to have a different inner dimension otherwise needed for a positive no-go condition. 
   While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.