Wellborne mills & methods

Patent 6024168 Issued on February 15, 2000. Estimated Expiration Date:

October 31, 2017. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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1570518

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Inventors

Assignee

Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.

Application

No. 962162 filed on 10/31/1997

US Classes:

166/297, Perforating, weakening, bending or separating pipe at an unprepared point166/55.7, Internal175/403Core forming type

Examiners

Primary: Neuder, William P.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

McClung; Guy

Foreign Patent References

0733775 EP. 09/13/1996
1 257 184 FR. 07/13/1961
900 099 GB. 08/13/2012
898004 GB. 06/13/1962
2 307 704 GB. 06/13/1997
WO 95 33910 WO. 12/13/1995
WO 97 27380 WO. 07/13/1997
WO 97 32110 WO. 09/13/1997

International Class

E21B 023/00

Abstract

A wellbore mill has been invented that has a body having a top and a bottom and a first fluid flow channel extending longitudinally therethrough from top to bottom, the first fluid flow channel having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end of the first fluid flow channel having an opening sized for receiving a core of material from a tubular member milled by the mill, and at least a portion of the first fluid flow channel offset from the remainder thereof to facilitate separation of the core from the tubular member. A wellbore milling method for milling an opening in a selected tubular of a tubular string in a wellbore has been invented that includes installing a mill on a working string into the wellbore at a selected desired point for milling the opening in the tubular, the mill comprising a body having a top and a bottom and a first fluid flow channel extending longitudinally therethrough from top to bottom, the first fluid flow channel having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end of the first fluid flow channel having an opening sized for receiving a core of material from a tubular member milled by the mill, and at least a portion of the first fluid flow channel offset from the remainder thereof to facilitate separation of the core from the tubular member, and rotating the mill to mill the selected tubular, create the core by thus milling the tubular and separating the core from the tubular being milled.

Other References

PCT/GB97/03104--Foreign Counterpart of this case U.S. 08/752,359--Invitation to Pay Additional Fees with Communication Relating to the Results of the Partial Int'l Search
"Coring Services," Weatherford, 1994
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"Oilfield Services and Manufactrued Products," Homco, 1984
"A-Z Stub Type Whipstock," A-Z Int'l Tool Co., 1976-1977 Composite Catalog, p. 219
"Weatherford Fishing and Rental Tool Services," Weatherford, 1993
"Improved Casing Sidetrack Procedure Now Cuts Wider, Longer Windows," Cagle et al, Petroleum Engr. Int'l Mar. 1979
"Dual Horizontal extension drilled using retrievable whipstock," Cress et al, World Oil, Jun. 1993
"1990-91 General Catalog," A-1 Bit & Tool Co., p. 9, 1990
"TIW's SS-WS Whipstock Pakcer," Texas Iron Works, p. 111.9.18; 1986
1 page, World Oil, Feb. 1, 195