Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/073,153, filed Jan. 30, 1998. 
     This application is related to copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/240,370, filed Jan. 29, 1999, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Running Two Tubing Strings into a Well”. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates in general to equipment for multi-lateral wells and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for a one-trip insertion and retrieval of a tool and an auxiliary device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Multi-lateral wells have a vertical bore with two or more lateral windows therealong, each window communicating with a respective lateral bore. In order to access a lateral bore, it is typically necessary to run a coiled tubing string into the well three times. 
     For example, in order to direct a tool into a selected lateral bore, the coiled tubing string is run into the well with a whipstock thereon, and the whipstock is then fixed at the lower end of the window for the selected lateral bore. Then, the tubing string is withdrawn, leaving the whipstock in place. Thereafter, the coiled tubing string is run into the well a second time, with the appropriate tool at the end of the tubing string. When the tool reaches the whipstock, the whipstock deflects the tool out into the selected lateral bore. When use of the tool is completed, the coiled tubing string is withdrawn again in order to remove the tool from the well. Subsequently, the coiled tubing string is run into the well a third time, with a retrieving device which can engage a fishing neck provided on the whipstock. Then, the coiled tubing string is withdrawn from the well, in order to retrieve the whipstock out of the well. 
     During this three-trip procedure, the coiled tubing string is uncoiled three times for respective insertions, and is coiled back up three times during respective withdrawals. Coiling and uncoiling the tubing string contributes to fatigue and ultimate failure of the tubing string, which is relatively expensive. Thus, it is highly desirable to reduce the number of insertions or trips of the coiled tubing string into the well in order to perform any desired operation, including insertion and retrieval of a tool from a lateral bore. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     From the foregoing, it may be appreciated that a need has arisen for a method and apparatus for facilitating access to a multi-lateral well with a minimum number of insertions of a coiled tubing string. According to the present invention, a method and apparatus are provided to address this need. 
     One form of the present invention involves: supporting an auxiliary member for vertical movement within a vertical well casing; supporting an elongate tubing string for vertical movement within the vertical casing independently of the auxiliary member; providing a tool at a lower end of the tubing string; effecting downward movement of the tubing string while preventing downward movement of the tubing string away from an insertion position relative to the auxiliary member; preventing downward movement of the auxiliary member past a selected position within the vertical casing; and thereafter effecting continued downward movement of the tubing string while permitting the tubing string to move downwardly away from the insertion position relative to the auxiliary member. 
     A different form of the present invention involves: releasably holding a vertically moveable auxiliary member against vertical movement relative to the vertical casing; supporting an elongate tubing string for vertical movement within the vertical casing independently of the auxiliary member, the tubing string extending downwardly past the auxiliary member; providing a tool at a lower end of the tubing string; effecting upward movement of the tubing string; preventing upward movement of the tubing string past a withdrawal position relative to the auxiliary member; and permitting upward movement of the auxiliary member with the tubing string after the tubing string reaches the withdrawal position. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A better understanding of the present invention will be realized from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIGS. 1A and 1B are respective portions of a diagrammatic cutaway side view of a multilateral well, and are referred to collectively herein as FIG. 1; 
     FIGS. 2A-2D are respective portions of a diagrammatic cutaway side view of an auxiliary member and dimple connector, and are referred to collectively hereinafter as FIG. 2; 
     FIGS. 3A-3D are diagrammatic views similar to FIGS. 2A-2D, but show a different operational position of the illustrated structure, and are collectively referred to herein as FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view taken along the line  4 — 4  in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic cutaway perspective view of a closed-end collet which is a component of the auxiliary member of FIG. 2; 
     FIGS. 6A-6E are respective portions of a diagrammatic cutaway side view that shows the auxiliary member and the connector of FIG. 2 being inserted together with a tool into a portion of the well of FIG. 1, and are collectively referred to herein as FIG. 6; 
     FIGS. 7A-7E are diagrammatic views similar to FIGS. 6A-6D, but show a different operational position of the illustrated structure, and are collectively referred to herein as FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 7; and 
     FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a different portion of FIG.  7 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The preferred embodiments of the present invention and its advantages are best understood by referring now in more detail to FIGS. 1-9 of the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts. 
     FIGS. 1A and 1B, which are collectively referred to herein as FIG. 1, are respective portions of a diagrammatic sectional side view of a multilateral well  10 . The disclosed well  10  is intended for the production of hydrocarbons, but the invention may also be used with other types of wells. 
     The well  10  includes a vertical bore  12 , a portion of which is shown at the lower end of the well. A cylindrical tubular metal outer casing  13  is disposed within the vertical bore  12 . The outer casing  13  in the disclosed embodiment has an inside diameter of approximately six inches, but the present invention is not restricted to any particular casing size. 
     The casing  13  has a lateral opening or window  16  milled in one side thereof, at a location vertically between the upper and lower ends of the casing  13 . The casing  13  has a further window  17  milled through one side thereof at a location between the window  16  and the lower end of the casing  13 . The well  10  includes a lateral bore  18  which communicates at one end with the window  16 , and a further lateral bore  19  which communicates at one end with the window  17 . Each of the lateral bores  18  and  19  may have cemented therein a not-illustrated tubular metal casing. For convenience, the windows  16  and  17  are both shown in FIG. 1 as being disposed on the same side of the vertical casing  13 , but it will be recognized that they may be angularly offset with respect to each other. If the windows  16  and  17  are angularly offset, then the lateral bores  18  and  19  will also be angularly offset with respect to each other. 
     Although the term vertical is used herein to refer to the primary bore  12 , and the term lateral is used to refer to the secondary bores  18  and  19 , it will be recognized that these bores could have an orientation other than that in which the primary bore is vertical, for example where the well has been drilled at an angle pursuant to slant drilling techniques. The present invention is suitable for use with multilateral wells in which the orientation of the bores is different from that shown in FIG.  1 . 
     The outer casing  13  has, extending through most of the length thereof, an inner casing which is designated generally with reference numeral  23 . The inner casing  23  may also be referred to as production tubing. The inner casing  23  includes a tubing lateral access window system  26 , which is vertically aligned with the window  16  in the casing  13 . The tubing lateral access window system  26  has in one side thereof a window  27 , which is vertically and rotationally aligned with the window  16 . An alignment latch  29  is provided at the inside lower end of the window system  26 . A seal bore packer  31  is disposed in the casing  13  below the window  16  and the window system  26 , and a long seal bore extension  32  extends downwardly from the seal bore packer  31 . 
     Below the seal bore packer  31 , the inner casing  23  includes a further tubing lateral access window system  36 , which is vertically aligned with the window  17  in the casing  13 , and which has in one side thereof a window  37  that is rotationally and vertically aligned with the window  17  in the casing  13 . An alignment latch  39  is provided at the inside lower end of the window system  36 . Below the window  17  and the window system  36 , a seal bore packer  41  is provided in the outer casing  13 , and a long seal bore extension  42  extends downwardly from the seal bore packer  41 . 
     A seal bore packer  46  is provided within the outer casing  13  above the tubing lateral access window system  26 , and has a long seal bore extension  47  extending downwardly therefrom. The seal bore packer  46  and seal bore extension  47  are disposed vertically higher than the window  16 . The inner casing  23  also includes respective vertical tubing sections  51 - 55 , which extend between the various major components of the inner casing that have been discussed above. In addition, a tubing section or tailpipe  57  extends downwardly from the lower end of the long seal bore extension  42 . 
     FIGS. 2A-2D, which are referred to collectively as FIG. 2, are respective portions of a diagrammatic cutaway side view of an auxiliary member  71  and a dimple connector  72 . FIGS. 3A-3D, which are referred to collectively as FIG. 3, are respectively similar to FIGS. 2A-2D, in that they show the same structure, but in a different operational position. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, the auxiliary member  71  is designed to be inserted vertically down through the inner casing  23  of FIG. 1, and thus has an outside diameter which is less than inside diameter of the tubing sections  51 - 55 . The auxiliary member  71  includes an elongate vertical tube  76 . The tube  76  has in one side thereof an axial slot  77 , which extends most of the length of the tube  76 , but which does not extend completely to either end of the tube  76 . The interior of the tube  76  in the axial region of the slot  77  serves as a tool receiving region or recess  78 . Due to the presence of the slot  77 , the tube  76  has an approximately C-shaped cross section in the region of slot  77 , as best seen in FIG.  4 . A sleeve  81  is threadedly secured at  82  to the tubular upper end  80  of the tube  76 , and a further sleeve  83  is threadedly secured at  84  to the upper end of the sleeve  81 . A tubular closed-end collet  86  is disposed concentrically within the sleeve  81 , and is free to rotate relative to sleeve  81 . The collet  86  is held against axial movement in either direction with respect to the sleeve  81  by respective shoulders provided on the sleeves  81  and  83 . 
     The details of the collet  86  may best be seen in FIG.  5 . The collet  86  has unbroken annular end sections  91  and  92 , which are connected by twelve axially extending fingers  93  defined by twelve axially extending slots  94 . Each collet finger  93  has near the middle thereof a radially inwardly projecting boss  96 . The fingers  93  can flex sufficiently so as to effect a limited amount of radial movement of the bosses  96  thereon. The lower annular end section  92  of the collet  86  has six circumferentially spaced openings  97  extending radially therethrough, for a purpose discussed below. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the dimple connector  72  has a plurality of threaded radial openings  101 , which can each receive a respective not-illustrated setscrew in order to secure the dimple connector  72  in a known manner to a dimpled lower end section of a not-illustrated coiled tubing string. In particular, the inner end of each setscrew engages a respective dimple provided in the coiled tubing string. A tool stub  102  projects downwardly from the lower end of the dimple connector  72 . A tool, which is not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, may be fixedly secured to the tool stub  102 . 
     The dimple connector  72  has at an upper end a circumferential groove  103 , which is best seen in FIG.  3 . Below this circumferential groove  103 , the dimple connector  72  has six circumferentially spaced openings  104  that extend radially therethrough, one of which is shown in FIG.  3 . With reference to FIG. 2, six shear pins  106  each have one end disposed in a respective one of the openings  97  in the collet, and the other end disposed in a respective one of the openings  104  in the dimple connector  72 . The shear pins  106  thus secure the dimple connector  72  against rotational or axial movement with respect to the collet  86 . However, as discussed above, the collet  86  is rotatable within the sleeve  81 , and thus both the collet and the dimple connector  72  can rotate relative to the sleeve  81 , even when they are secured to each other by the shear pins  106 . The shear pins  106  serve as a locking or coupling arrangement, which prevents initial downward movement of the dimple connector  72  relative to the collet  86 . The cooperation between the circumferential groove  103  and the bosses  96  on the collet  86  also resists initial downward movement of the dimple connector  72  relative to the collet  86 . However, as discussed in more detail later, the pins  106  are eventually sheared during normal operation, and the bosses  96  disengage from the groove  103 , so that the dimple connector  72  can move downwardly with respect to collet  86  through the relative operational position depicted in FIG.  3 . 
     The dimple connector  72  has an annular bevel shoulder  108  thereon, which is capable of engagement with an annular bevel shoulder  109  provided on the sleeve  81 . The dimple connector  72  cannot move upwardly with respect to the auxiliary member  71  beyond a position in which the shoulders  108  and  109  are engaging each other. When the dimple connector  72  is initially secured in place by the shear pins  106 , the shoulders  108  and  109  may or may not be in engagement with each other. In the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 2 and 3, the shoulders  108  and  109  are in engagement, or only have a very small space therebetween. 
     The auxiliary member  71  further includes a cylindrical deflector part  116 , which is welded at  117  to the lower end of the tube  76 , and which has a cylindrical portion projecting upwardly into the lower end of the tube  76 . It will be recognized that the weld  117  could be replaced with some other suitable type of connection, such as cooperating threads. A deflector surface  119  is provided on the upper end of the deflector part  116 . The deflector surface  119  is inclined at a steep angle with respect to the vertical, and is oriented to extend downwardly in a direction toward the slot  77 . Stated differently, the surface  119  extends upwardly and inwardly from the lower end of the slot  77 . 
     The deflector part  116  has near its lower end a circumferential groove, which has therein an annular debris barrier  121 . The debris barrier  121  prevents debris within the inner casing  23  from moving downwardly around the exterior of the auxiliary member  71 . 
     As discussed in more detail later, the deflector part  116  with the inclined deflection surface  119  thereon serves as a whipstock, and thus the auxiliary member  71  in the disclosed embodiment is a tubing exit whipstock (TEW). However, the present invention is also suitable for use with auxiliary members which do not have the deflector surface  119 , as discussed later. 
     A selective orientation and locking device  127  is secured to and extends downwardly from the lower end of the deflector part  116 . The device  127  includes a tubular shaft  131 , which is secured to and extends downwardly from the lower end of deflector part  116 . A tube  132  concentrically encircles the shaft  131 , and is capable of axial sliding movement therealong. A sleeve  133  is secured by threads  134  to the lower end of the slidable tube  132 , and also concentrically encircles the shaft  131 . The tube  132  and sleeve  133  are capable of sliding axially on the shaft  131  between the positions respectively shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     A selector key  137  is supported for radial movement on the upper end of sleeve  133 , and is urged radially outwardly by several springs  138 . The selector key  137  has on the radially outer side thereof a profile surface  139 , which includes several protrusions that are vertically spaced, one of which is identified by reference numeral  140 . The protrusions each have bevel surfaces on the upper and lower sides thereof, except for one protrusion which has a bevel surface  142  on the upper side thereof, but has a square, axially-facing shoulder  141  on the lower side thereof. The shoulder  141  is shown in the drawings as being square, but could alternatively have a small amount of negative inclination or rake, so that the shoulder  141  is slightly hook-like. 
     A C-shaped split ring  146  is disposed in an annular groove provided in the shaft  131 . The walls of the groove prevent axial movement of the split ring  146  in either direction relative to shaft  131 , regardless of whether the split ring  146  is relaxed or compressed. The sleeve  133  has thereon an upwardly facing annular shoulder  147  (FIG.  3 ). This shoulder  147 , in the operational position shown in FIG. 2, engages the split ring  146  so that the split ring  146  prevents axial upward movement of the sleeve  133  and tube  132  relative to shaft  131 . A plurality of circumferentially spaced release keys  148  are supported for radial movement with respect to the sleeve  133 , within respective radial openings provided through the sleeve  133 . When the device  127  enters a special narrow portion or controlled bore of the inner casing  23 , as explained later, the walls of the inner casing press the keys  148  inwardly, and the keys  148  in turn press the split ring  146  radially inwardly to a compressed position in which the engagement between the split ring  146  and the shoulder  147  is interrupted, so that the split ring  146  no longer prevents upward movement of the sleeve  133  and tube  132  relative to the shaft  131 . 
     With reference to FIG. 2, a plurality of circumferentially spaced shear pins  151  each extend radially between the sleeve  133  and the shaft  131 . The shear pins  151  prevent downward movement of the shaft  131  relative to the sleeve  133  and the tube  132 , until the pins  151  are sheared in a manner discussed later. 
     A lever  156  is disposed in a recess provided in one side of the shaft  131 , and is capable of pivotal movement about its lower end between positions respectively shown in FIG.  2  and FIG.  3 . The lever  156  has at an upper end thereof a radially outwardly projecting orientation lug  157 . A helical compression spring  158  encircles the shaft  131 , and urges a sleeve  159  upwardly, the sleeve  159  engaging the lower end of the lever  156 . 
     When the sleeve  133  is in the operational position shown in FIG. 2, the lower end of sleeve  133  engages lug  157  and holds the lever  156  and lug  157  in a retracted position, which is shown in FIG.  2 . When the shaft  131  moves downwardly relative to the sleeve  133 , from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. 3, the spring  158  urges the sleeve  159  and lever  156  upwardly relative to the shaft  131 , so that an inclined surface  161  on the shaft  131  pivots the lever  156  and moves the orientation lug  157  radially outwardly to the orientation position shown in FIG.  3 . In the orientation position, the upper end of the lug  157  engages a surface  163 , which prevents the lug  157  from moving radially inwardly away from its orientation position. 
     A sleeve  166  is secured by threads  167  to the lower end of shaft  131 , and an extension  168  is secured by threads  179  to the sleeve  166 . The extension  168  has thereon a radially outwardly facing cylindrical surface  171 . A ring  172  concentrically encircles the surface  171 , and has thereon an upwardly and outwardly facing annular bevel surface  173 . The ring  172  is capable of axial sliding movement on the cylindrical surface  171 , except that it is initially held against such movement by a plurality of circumferentially distributed shear pins  174 , which each extend radially between the ring  172  and the extension  168 . 
     The sleeve  166  has thereon a radially outwardly facing cylindrical surface  177 . A collet  178  has an annular end section  179 , which concentrically encircles the surface  177  and is axially slideable therealong. The collet  178  has a plurality of circumferentially distributed fingers  182  which extend downwardly from the end section  179 , the fingers  182  being flexible so that the lower ends thereof are capable of limited radially movement. The lower end of each finger has three bevel surfaces thereon, including a downwardly and outwardly facing bevel surface  186 , a downwardly and inwardly facing bevel surface  187 , and an upwardly and outwardly facing bevel surface  188 . The bevel surface  187  can engage the bevel surface  173  provided on the ring  172 . 
     FIGS. 6A-6E, which are referred to collectively as FIG. 6, are respective portions of a diagrammatic sectional side view of the auxiliary member  71  as it is being inserted into the inner casing  23 . FIGS. 7A-7E, which are referred to collectively as FIG. 7, are respective portions of a view similar to FIGS. 6A-6E but show a different operational position. 
     A portion of the inner casing  23  of FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 6, and is the portion defined by the lateral access window system  36  and the alignment latch  39  at the lower end of window system  36 . With reference to FIG. 6, the alignment latch  39  includes a mating sleeve  201 , which is fixedly secured within the alignment latch  39 . The sleeve  201  has thereon a radially inwardly facing profile surface  202 , which includes a plurality of circumferential grooves or recesses, one of which is indicated at  202 . Below the profile surface  202 , the sleeve  201  has a radially inwardly facing cylindrical release surface  204 . 
     Spaced below the sleeve  201 , the alignment latch  39  includes an orientation sleeve  211 , which is fixedly supported within the latch  39 , and which has on an upper end thereof an upwardly facing helical surface  212 . A short slot  213  is provided in the sleeve  211 , and extends axially downwardly from the lower end of the helical surface  212 . Below the sleeve  211 , the alignment latch  39  includes a stationary, axially downwardly facing annular shoulder  217 . 
     The inner structure of the alignment latch  29  (FIG. 1) is similar to that shown and described for the alignment latch  39 , except that the particular profile surface in the latch  29  is different from the profile surface  202  in the latch  39 . 
     In FIG. 6, the tool stub  102  of the dimple connector  72  has a tool  221  fixedly secured thereon. In FIG. 6, the tool  221  is a blanking plug, but virtually any other type of tool could be substituted for the tool  221 , so long as it fits within the tool receiving recess  78  of the auxiliary member  71 . In fact, the term “tool” is used herein to refer broadly to any type of useful device which may be attached to the tool stub  102 . 
     The operation of the disclosed embodiment will now be briefly described. The auxiliary member  71  and the dimple connector  72  initially have the relationship shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, in which all shear pins are intact and the tool  221  is disposed within the tool receiving recess  78 . The selector key  137  of the auxiliary member  71  is chosen to have a profile corresponding to either the profile surface  202  of the sleeve  201  in alignment latch  39 , or the differing profile surface provided in the alignment latch  29 , depending on whether the tool  221  is to be used in the lateral bore  19  or the lateral bore  18 . For purposes of this explanation of system operation, it is assumed that the intent is to use tool  21  to perform work in the lateral bore  19 , and that the selector key  137  therefore has a profile which matches the profile surface  202  in the alignment latch  39 . 
     The assembly which includes the auxiliary member  71 , the dimple connector  72  and the tool  221  is inserted into the upper end of the inner casing  23  of the well, with the dimple connector  72  fixedly connected to the dimpled lower end of a not-illustrated coiled tubing string. As the coiled tubing string is progressively run into the inner casing, this assembly is moved downwardly within the inner casing by the tubing string. 
     With reference to FIG. 2, as the auxiliary member  71  moves downwardly within the inner casing, the bevel surfaces  186  at the lower ends of the fingers  182  will guide the ends of the fingers past any obstructions, by flexing the lower ends of the fingers inwardly. The bevel surface  187  on each finger may slide inwardly and upwardly on the bevel surface  173  of the ring  172 , which in turn may cause the collet  178  to temporarily slide upwardly a small distance on the surface  177 , but after the obstruction has been passed the collet will slide back down to the position shown in FIG.  2 . 
     When the auxiliary member  71  reaches the alignment latch  29 , the profile surface on the selector key  137  will not match the profile surface on the mating sleeve in the alignment latch  29 , and thus the selector key  137  will not be able to move radially outwardly under the urging of the springs  138 . Consequently, the protrusions  140  on the selector key  137  will not be able to enter recesses in that mating sleeve, and in particular the square shoulder  141  will not be able to engage any surface in any recess of the mating sleeve. As a result, as the coiled tubing string continues to be run into the well, the assembly which includes auxiliary member  71  will continue downwardly past the alignment latch  29 , and thus past the lateral bore  18 . 
     When the auxiliary member  71  reaches the alignment latch  39 , and when the selector key  137  becomes vertically aligned with the mating sleeve  201 , the profile surface  139  on the selector key  137  will match the profile surface  202  on the sleeve  201 , and the selector key  137  will move radially outwardly under the urging of the springs  138 . This operational position of the selector key is shown in FIG. 7, and is also shown in FIG. 8, which is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG.  7 . With reference to FIG. 8, the downwardly facing surface  141  on the selector key  137  will be engaging the upwardly facing annular surface  203  on the sleeve  201 , thereby preventing further downward movement of the selector key  137  and the auxiliary member  71  relative to the stationary sleeve  201 . 
     At the same time, the release keys  148  will all be pressed inwardly by the cylindrical release surface  204 , and will compress the split ring  146  radially inwardly from its relaxed condition to its compressed condition, thereby interrupting the engagement of the split ring  146  with the annular shoulder  147  on sleeve  133 . Thus, at this point, the engaging shoulders  141  and  203  will be preventing any further downward movement of the sleeve  133 , but the split ring  146  will no longer be preventing downward movement of the shaft  131  relative to sleeve  133 . Therefore, as the coiled tubing string continues to be run into the well, the downward force exerted on it from the surface will cause the shear pins  151  (FIG. 2) to shear, so that the shaft  131  can move downwardly relative to the sleeve  133 , after which the orientation lug  157  is moved radially outwardly under the urging of the spring  158 . 
     If the orientation lug  157  is rotationally aligned with the slot  213 , the auxiliary member  71  will continue straight downwardly until the orientation lug  157  slides into the slot  213 . However, this rotational alignment will typically not initially exist. For example, FIG. 6 shows a situation in which the orientation lug  157  is initially offset by 180° from the slot  213 . In this situation, as the lug  157  and shaft  131  move downwardly, the lug  157  engages the helical surface  212  on the sleeve  211 , and further downward movement of the shaft  131  causes the lug  157  to slide around the helical surface  212  while rotating the auxiliary member  71 , until the lug  157  is aligned with and slides into the slot  213 , as shown in FIG.  7 . It will be noted that the entire auxiliary member  71  in FIG. 7 has been rotated 180° from the position shown in FIG.  6 . The rotational movement of the auxiliary member is facilitated by the fact that the auxiliary member can rotate relative to the collet  86  secured by the shear pins  106  to the dimple connector  72 , as discussed above with reference to FIG.  2 . FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 8, and shows the orientation lug  157  disposed within the slot  213 . 
     The reason for effecting this rotational alignment is to ensure that the tool receiving recess  78  is rotationally oriented to face the window  37  in the inner casing, the window  17  in the outer casing, and the lateral bore  19 . This also orients the inclined surface  119 , so that it slants downwardly toward the lateral bore  19 . In addition, the vertical position of the alignment latch  39  is selected so that the auxiliary member  71  will be positioned with the tool receiving recess  78  vertically aligned with the window  37  in the inner casing, and with the lateral bore  19 . 
     When the shaft  131  reaches the operational position shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the fingers  182  of collet  178  move outwardly so that the bevel surface  188  on each collet finger engages the annular shoulder  217  of the alignment latch  39 . If an upward force were thereafter exerted on the shaft  131 , the engagement of surfaces  188  and  217  would resist upward movement of the collet fingers  182 , which in turn would prevent upward movement of the ring  172  and thus the shaft  131 . The orientation of the bevel surface  173  on the ring  172 , in cooperation with the bevel surfaces  187  on the collet fingers, urges the lower ends of the collet fingers radially outwardly, thereby maintaining the engagement between the surfaces  188  and  217 . Thus, the auxiliary member  71  is held against inadvertent upward movement within the casing. 
     In the operational position shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the surface  226  on a member secured to the lower end of the deflector part  116  has moved into engagement with an upwardly facing surface  227  at the upper end of the slideable tube  132 . The tube  132  is, of course, held against downward movement within the casing by the engagement between shoulders  141  and  203  (FIG.  8 ). Thus, the deflector part  116  and the auxiliary member  71  are held against downward movement by the engaging surfaces  226  and  227 . Consequently, as the coiled tubing string continues to be run into the well, the shear pins  106  (FIG. 2) will be sheared, the dimple connector  72  secured to the lower end of the coiled tubing string will begin to move downwardly relative to the auxiliary member  71 , and the groove  103  (FIG. 3) at the upper end of the dimple connector  72  will move out of engagement with the bosses  96  on the fingers  93  of the collet  86 . As the coiled tubing string moves the dimple connector  72  and the tool  221  downwardly, the lower end of the tool  221  will engage the inclined deflector surface  119 , and will be deflected laterally outwardly into the lateral bore  19  through the windows  37  and  17 . As the coiled tubing string continues to be run into the well, the dimple connector  72  and the tool  221  thereon will move further into the lateral bore  19 . When the tool is in an appropriate position within the lateral bore  19 , insertion of the coiled tubing string into the well is halted. The tool  221  can then be utilized in an appropriate manner, depending on its function. 
     When it is desired to remove the tool  221  from the well, along with the auxiliary member  71 , upward movement of the coiled tubing string is initiated at the upper end of the well. This retracts the dimple connector  72  and the tool  221  back out of the lateral bore  19 , until the dimple connector  72  moves back up into the upper end of the auxiliary member  71 , so that the bevel shoulder  108  on the dimple connector  72  engages the bevel shoulder  109  on the auxiliary member  71 . At this point, the tool  221  on the dimple connector  72  will have moved back into the tool receiving recess  78  of the auxiliary member  71 . Further, the bosses  96  on the fingers of the collet  86  will be engaging the circumferential groove  103  on the dimple connector  72 , to resist downward movement of the tubing string and dimple connector  72  relative to the collet  86  on the auxiliary member  71 . Since the engagement of the shoulders  108  and  109  prevents further upward movement of the dimple connector  72  relative to the auxiliary member  71 , the upward force exerted on the coiled tubing string from the upper end of the well will be transferred to the auxiliary member  71  through the dimple connector  72 . As discussed above, and with reference to FIG. 9, upward movement of the auxiliary member  71  is inhibited by engagement of the lower ends of the collet fingers  182  with the surfaces  217  and  173 . Consequently, the upward force exerted on the auxiliary member  71  by the tubing string will cause the shear pins  174  to shear, thereby permitting the ring  172  to slide downwardly along the cylindrical surface  171 . This permits the shaft  131  of the auxiliary member  71  to start to move upwardly. As this occurs, the collet  178  will remain stationary and will slide downwardly along the cylindrical surface  177 , until the end section  179  of the collet engages an annular shoulder  231  which is fixedly disposed on the shaft  131 . The position of the shoulder  231  is selected so that the collet  178  cannot travel downwardly as much as the ring  172 . Consequently, when the collet engages the shoulder  231 , the lower ends of the collet fingers  182  will be spaced above the ring  172 , and cooperation between the bevel surfaces  188  and  217  will cause the collet fingers to flex inwardly, so that the shaft  131  and the collet  178  will move upwardly together with the auxiliary member  71 . As the coiled tubing string continues to be withdrawn from the well, the auxiliary member  71 , the dimpled sleeve  72  and the tool  221  will all be withdrawn together from the well. 
     In a variation of the disclosed embodiment, the axial slot  77  in the auxiliary member  71  could be omitted, the inclined deflection surface  119  could be omitted, the shaft  131  could have a larger outside diameter, and a larger central bore could be provided through the member  116  and the shaft  131 . The connector  72  could optionally be smaller. Then, after the locking device  127  engaged one of the latches  29  or  39  in order to vertically secure the modified auxiliary member  71  within the casing, the connector  72  and tool  221  could move vertically downwardly through the lower end of the modified auxiliary member  71  and into the vertical casing. This would be particularly useful for using relatively small tools at the bottom of the vertical casing, especially a tool which is smaller than the windows to the lateral bores  18  and  19 , and which might inadvertently slip through one of these windows and go into a lateral bore when the intent was to insert that tool downwardly within the vertical casing. The modified tube  76 , without slot  77 , would be larger than the windows, and would prevent the small tool from inadvertently slipping into a lateral bore until it had passed all intervening lateral bores. The tool  221 , the connector  72  and the modified auxiliary member  71  would be withdrawn from the well in a manner similar to that described above. 
     Although two embodiments have been disclosed in detail, it will be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made therein, including the rearrangement and reversal of parts, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

Technology Category: e