Abstract: A method for orienting a tubing string in a wellbore comprises lowering a tubular string within a casing string in a wellbore, engaging the tubular aligning tool with a casing aligning tool while lowering the tubular string, rotating the tubular string in response to engaging the tubing aligning tool with the casing aligning tool, rotationally aligning the tubular string opening with a casing string opening disposed through the casing string based on the rotating, and retaining the tubular string opening in an axial aligning and a rotational aligning with the casing string opening. The tubular string comprises: a tubular string opening and a tubular string aligning tool.

Abstract: A method for orienting a tubing string in a wellbore comprises lowering a tubular string within a casing string in a wellbore, engaging the tubular aligning tool with a casing aligning tool while lowering the tubular string, rotating the tubular string in response to engaging the tubing aligning tool with the casing aligning tool, rotationally aligning the tubular string opening with a casing string opening disposed through the casing string based on the rotating, and retaining the tubular string opening in an axial aligning and a rotational aligning with the casing string opening. The tubular string comprises: a tubular string opening and a tubular string aligning tool.

Abstract: Assemblies that can be disposed in a subterranean bore are described. Certain assemblies can be used to orient a second pipe with respect to a first pipe in a bore. A second pipe can be rotationally oriented without breaking one or more control lines that may be associated or included with the second pipe by using a tool that orients the second pipe as the second pipe is moved toward a surface of the bore. In some embodiments, assemblies can be used to orient multiple portions of the second pipe with respect to multiple windows of the first pipe. The first pipe may be a casing string and the second pipe may be a tubing string.

Abstract: Assemblies that can be disposed in a subterranean bore are described. Certain assemblies can be used to orient a second pipe with respect to a first pipe in a bore. A second pipe can be rotationally oriented without breaking one or more control lines that may be associated or included with the second pipe by using a tool that orients the second pipe as the second pipe is moved toward a surface of the bore. In some embodiments, assemblies can be used to orient multiple portions of the second pipe with respect to multiple windows of the first pipe. The first pipe may be a casing string and the second pipe may be a tubing string.

Abstract: Methods of operating a downhole tool comprise thermally-controlling the tool by sensing a temperature and controlling the tool in response to the sensed temperature. Thermally-controlled downhole tools comprise a control element responsive to a change in temperature that control flow into, out of, or through a wellbore. Methods and systems for servicing a wellbore comprise using a thermally-controlled tool comprising a thermally-controlled valve (TCV) in a wellbore. The TCV includes a valve body comprising an injection port for allowing material to flow into or out of the wellbore and an opening/closing mechanism for regulating flow of the material through the injection port in response to a change in temperature. The valve body may be coupled to a downhole conduit. A plurality of TCV's may be arranged in the wellbore to control the injection of steam into the wellbore or the recovery of oil from the wellbore.

Abstract: A well has a vertical casing with a window, and a lateral wellbore which communicates with the window, and which may have a casing or liner. A window assembly aligned with the window has respective passageways for first and second tubing strings, and has a concave surface for deflecting the first tubing string out into the lateral wellbore. The passageway for the second tubing string has a portion which is inclined at a very small angle with respect to a vertical centerline of the vertical casing. As the first tubing string is run into the vertical casing, a rotational locator is releasably coupled thereto by a soft release coupling mechanism. After the locator effects rotational orientation, the coupling mechanism is released and then permits the first tubing string to move therepast without damage. A seal assembly on the first tubing string is covered by a protective sleeve as it is inserted into the well, and exits the protective sleeve after entering the lateral wellbore.

Abstract: A multi-lateral well has a casing, and has lateral wellbores which communicate with the casing through respective windows. A tool at the end of a coiled tubing string is introduced into the well, while disposed in a tool receiving recess of an auxiliary member that is releasably coupled against upward movement relative to the tool. At a selected vertical position within the casing, the auxiliary member is secured against further downward movement, and the releasable coupling is then interrupted to permit the tubing string to move downwardly with respect to the auxiliary member. The auxiliary member may have an inclined surface to deflect the tool into a lateral wellbore. When use of the tool is completed, the tubing string with the tool thereon is moved upwardly, and an arrangement is provided to limit upward movement of the tool relative to the auxiliary member, so that the tool and the auxiliary member are simultaneously withdrawn from the well.

Abstract: A well has a vertical casing with a window, and a lateral wellbore which communicates with the window, and which may have a casing or liner. A window assembly aligned with the window has respective passageways for first and second tubing strings, and has a concave surface for deflecting the first tubing string out into the lateral wellbore. The passageway for the second tubing string has a portion which is inclined at a very small angle with respect to a vertical centerline of the vertical casing. As the first tubing string is run into the vertical casing, a rotational locator is releasably coupled thereto by a soft release coupling mechanism. After the locator effects rotational orientation, the coupling mechanism is released and then permits the first tubing string to move therepast without damage. A seal assembly on the first tubing string is covered by a protective sleeve as it is inserted into the well, and exits the protective sleeve after entering the lateral wellbore.

Abstract: A self-locating reentry system is provided to allow reliable reentry from a primary wellbore into one or more secondary wellbores. The reentry system may include one or more self-locating assemblies which may be engaged with selected portions of a lateral opening disposed between the primary wellbore and a respective secondary wellbore. Each self-locating assembly and respective key or lug cooperate with each other to provide optimum location and alignment relative to the lateral opening for communication of well tools and smaller diameter tubing strings between the primary wellbore and the associated secondary wellbore. A retaining mechanism is preferably provided to maintain the locator lug or key in its first retracted position until the reentry system is at a desired downhole location relative to the selected lateral opening.

Abstract: An improved tubing exit whipstock and tools for installing and retrieving the whipstock are provided for directing movement of well tools from a first wellbore to a second wellbore extending therefrom. The tubing exit whipstock may include a generally cylindrical deflector body with a longitudinal passageway extending therethrough. The deflector body may also include a tapered surface for deflecting well tools from the first wellbore to the second wellbore. In one embodiment of the present invention, a mechanical connector may be provided for attaching the deflector body to an orienting and locking device to releasably install the whipstock at a selected downhole location. In another embodiment, a first fishing neck profile may be provided within the longitudinal passageway to provide means for releasably coupling the deflector body with a running tool for installing the tubing exit whipstock at a selected downhole location within the first wellbore.

Abstract: There is disclosed a running tool for running and setting and then releasing from a well packer of the type having a main body and a setting sleeve vertically shiftable on the main body to set the packer. The setting tool includes a mandrel carrying a latch having left-hand threads for engaging left-hand threads on the body of the packer as well as teeth adapted to engage in notches in the upper end of the packer body to prevent right-hand rotation of the setting tool with respect to the packer as the packer is run on the setting tool into the well bore. When the packer is at the desired level, fluid pressure in the setting tool lowers the setting sleeve to set the packer and releases the setting tool from connection to the packer so that it may be retrieved.