Well access tool

{
  "publication_number": "US2021102437A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Well access tool",
  "abstract": "A tool for gaining lateral access to a well via a lateral access passage, the tool comprising a head portion and being configured to axially forwardly advance the head portion towards or in the lateral access passage and being configured to transmit rotational drive to the head portion, and the tool comprising a fluid transmission conduit for delivering fluid to or forwardly of the head portion. The head portion may have an adapter at its front end to mount interchangeable attachments, such as a sealing device for forming a seal with the lateral access passage, a socket member for holding a plug, or a cleaning brush. The tool may comprise a flexible conduit portion extending forwardly of the head portion. A curved guide passage may be provided to guide the fluid transmission conduit as it advances forwardly. The tool may have a shaft for forwardly advancing the head portion by axial forward movement of the shaft, the shaft being coupled to a rotatable drive member configured to be rotatably driven such that rotation of the rotatable drive member causes axial forward movement of the shaft.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A tool for gaining lateral access to a well via a lateral access passage, the tool comprising a head portion and being configured to axially forwardly advance the head portion towards or in the lateral access passage and being configured to transmit rotational drive to the head portion, and the tool comprising a fluid transmission conduit for delivering fluid to or forwardly of the head portion. 2. A tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the head portion comprises an adapter for removably mounting an attachment. 3. A tool as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the fluid transmission conduit is arranged to be rotationally driven. 4. A tool as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the fluid transmission conduit comprises a first fluid passageway arranged to deliver fluid to the head portion, and a second fluid passageway in the head portion. 5. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a shaft for forwardly advancing the head portion by axial forward movement of the shaft, the shaft being coupled to a rotatable drive member configured to be rotatably driven such that rotation of the rotatable shaft causes axial forward movement of the shaft. 6. A tool as claimed in claim 5, wherein the fluid transmission conduit is arranged to be axially forwardly movable with the shaft. 7. A tool as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the fluid transmission conduit is arranged to switch between a shaft following mode in which it is axially forwardly movable with the shaft and a shaft release mode in which it is axially forwardly movable relative to the shaft. 8. A tool as claimed in claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the fluid transmission conduit comprises an inner pipe with an external thread, wherein a bushing is axially fixed with respect to the shaft and is provided with an internal thread engaged with the external thread of the inner pipe, and wherein a switch is arranged to rotationally lock the bushing to the shaft so that it cannot rotate relative thereto or to rotatably unlock the bushing from the shaft so that it can rotate relative thereto. 9. A tool as claimed in any of claims 5 to 8, wherein the shaft is coupled to the rotatable drive member by an internally threaded member mounted on an external thread of the rotatable drive member, the internally threaded member being prevented from rotation whereby rotation of the rotatable drive member causes axial movement of the internally threaded member which is transmitted to the shaft. 10. A tool as claimed in claim 9, comprising an axial facing drive portion mounted to the internally threaded member and arranged to engage an axially facing driven portion mounted to the shaft for transmitting the axial movement of the internally threaded member, caused by rotation of the rotatable drive member, to the shaft. 11. A tool as claimed in any of claims 5 to 10, wherein the shaft comprises first and second shaft members, the first shaft member being caused to move axially forwardly when the rotatable drive member is rotated, the head portion being connected to the second shaft member, and the second shaft member being axially movable with the first shaft member and being rotatable relative thereto so it can be driven to transmit rotational drive to the head portion. 12. A tool as claimed in claim 11, wherein the second shaft member extends coaxially with and at least partly within the first shaft member. 13. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the head portion has a sealing device for forming a seal with the lateral access passage and an outlet for discharging fluid forwardly of the seal. 14. A tool as claimed in claim 13, wherein the sealing device comprises a circumferentially extending sealing member and first and second end members, one at each axial end of the sealing member, the first and second end members being configured to be urged axially towards each other, so as to cause the sealing member to expand radially outwardly and form said seal with the lateral access passage. 15. A tool as claimed in claim 14 when dependent on any of claims 5 to 12, configured so that axial forward movement of the shaft urges the first and second end members axially towards each other. 16. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the head portion is configured to hold the fluid transmission conduit for forward advancement therewith and the tool comprises a flexible conduit portion extending forwardly of the head portion. 17. A tool as claimed in claim 16, comprising a nozzle at the front end of the flexible conduit portion. 18. A tool as claimed in claim 16 or 17, wherein the flexible conduit portion is provided with a convex front surface. 19. A tool as claimed in claim 16, 17 or 18, wherein the flexible conduit portion comprises a helically wound wire with an internal axially extending passage. 20. A tool as claimed in any of claims 16 to 19, wherein the flexible conduit portion comprises a fluid containing material such as a plastics material. 21. A tool as claimed in any of claims 16 to 20, wherein the tool comprises a curved guide passage for guiding the flexible conduit portion in a curved path towards the lateral access passage. 22. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a brush is attached to the head portion. 23. A tool as claimed in claim 22, wherein the brush is arranged to rotate and/or axially reciprocate. 24. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a socket member is provided on the head portion. 25. A method of gaining lateral access to a well via a lateral access passage, using a tool as claimed in any preceding claim, the method comprising operating the tool to forwardly advance the head portion towards the lateral access passage, and operating the tool to transmit rotational drive to the head portion and/or to deliver fluid via the fluid transmission conduit to or forwardly of the head portion. 26. A tool for gaining lateral access to a well via a lateral access passage, the tool comprising a head portion and being configured to axially forwardly advance the head portion towards or in the lateral access passage, and the tool comprising a fluid transmission conduit for delivering fluid to or forwardly of the head portion, wherein: the head portion has a sealing device for forming a seal with the lateral access passage and an outlet for discharging said fluid forwardly of the seal; or the head portion is configured to hold the fluid transmission conduit for forward advancement therewith and the tool comprising a flexible conduit portion extending forwardly of the head portion. 27. A tool as claimed in claim 26, wherein the head portion comprises an adapter for removably mounting an attachment. 28. A tool as claimed in claim 26 or 27, wherein the fluid transmission conduit is arranged to be rotationally driven. 29. A tool as claimed in claim 26, 27 or 28, wherein the fluid transmission conduit comprises a first fluid passageway arranged to deliver fluid to the head portion, and a second fluid passageway in the head portion. 30. A tool as claimed in any of claims 26 to 29, comprising a shaft for forwardly advancing the head portion by axial forward movement of the shaft, the shaft being coupled to a rotatable drive member configured to be rotatably driven such that rotation of the rotatable shaft causes axial forward movement of the shaft. 31. A tool as claimed in claim 30, wherein the fluid transmission conduit is arranged to be axially forwardly movable with the shaft. 32. A tool as claimed in claim 30 or 31, wherein the fluid transmission conduit is arranged to switch between a shaft following mode in which it is axially forwardly movable with the shaft and a shaft release mode in which it is axially forwardly movable relative to the shaft. 33. A tool as claimed in claim 30, 31 or 32, wherein the fluid transmission conduit comprises an inner pipe with an external thread, wherein a bushing is axially fixed with respect to the shaft and is provided with an internal thread engaged with the external thread of the inner pipe, and wherein a switch is arranged to rotationally lock the bushing to the shaft so that it cannot rotate relative thereto or to rotatably unlock the bushing from the shaft so that it can rotate relative thereto. 34. A tool as claimed in any of claims 30 to 33, wherein the shaft is coupled to the rotatable drive member by an internally threaded member mounted on an external thread of the rotatable drive member, the internally threaded member being prevented from rotation whereby rotation of the rotatable drive member causes axial movement of the internally threaded member which is transmitted to the shaft. 35. A tool as claimed in claim 34, comprising an axial facing drive portion mounted to the internally threaded member and arranged to engage an axially facing driven portion mounted to the shaft for transmitting the axial movement of the internally threaded member, caused by rotation of the rotatable drive member, to the shaft. 36. A tool as claimed in any of claims 30 to 35, wherein the shaft comprises first and second shaft members, the first shaft member being caused to move axially forwardly when the rotatable drive member is rotated, the head portion being connected to the second shaft member, and the second shaft member being axially movable with the first shaft member and being rotatable relative thereto so it can be driven to transmit rotational drive to the head portion. 37. A tool as claimed in claim 36, wherein the second shaft member extends coaxially with and at least partly within the first shaft member. 38. A tool as claimed in any of claims 26 to 37, wherein the head portion has a sealing device for forming a seal with the lateral access passage and an outlet for discharging fluid forwardly of the seal. 39. A tool as claimed in claim 38, wherein the sealing device comprises a circumferentially extending sealing member and first and second end members, one at each axial end of the sealing member, the first and second end members being configured to be urged axially towards each other, so as to cause the sealing member to expand radially outwardly and form said seal with the lateral access passage. 40. A tool as claimed in claim 39 when dependent on any of claims 30 to 37, configured so that axial forward movement of the shaft urges the first and second end members axially towards each other. 41. A tool as claimed in any of claims 26 to 40, comprising a nozzle at the front end of the flexible conduit portion. 42. A tool as claimed in any of claims 26 to 41, wherein the flexible conduit portion is provided with a convex front surface. 43. A tool as claimed in any of claims 26 to 42, wherein the flexible conduit portion comprises a helically wound wire with an internal axially extending passage. 44. A tool as claimed in any of claims 26 to 43, wherein the flexible conduit portion comprises a fluid containing material such as a plastics material. 45. A tool as claimed in any of claims 26 to 44, wherein the tool comprises a curved guide passage for guiding the flexible conduit portion in a curved path towards the lateral access passage. 46. A tool as claimed in any of claims 26 to 45, wherein a brush is attached to the head portion. 47. A tool as claimed in claim 46, wherein the brush is arranged to rotate and/or axially reciprocate. 48. A tool as claimed in any of claims 26 to 47, wherein a socket member is provided on the head portion. 49. A method of using the tool of any of claims 26 to 48, wherein the flexible conduit portion is forwardly advanced along a lateral access passage of a well, and with continued advancement, its front end follows a path around a well annulus radially internally of the lateral access passage. 50. A method of gaining lateral access to a well via a lateral access passage, comprising forwardly advancing a flexible conduit portion along the lateral access passage, deviating a front end of the flexible conduit portion around a well annulus radially internally of the lateral access passage, and delivering fluid via the flexible conduit portion into the well annulus at a location circumferentially spaced from the lateral access passage. 51. A method of gaining lateral access to a well via a lateral access passage, comprising forwardly advancing a sealing device into the lateral access passage, expanding a sealing member of the sealing device radially outwardly so as to form a seal with the lateral access passage, and discharging fluid forwardly of the seal. 52. A tool for gaining lateral access to a well via a lateral access passage, the tool comprising a head portion and being configured to axially forwardly advance the head portion towards or in the lateral access passage and being configured to transmit rotational drive to the head portion, and the tool comprising a shaft for forwardly advancing the head portion by axial forward movement of the shaft, the shaft being coupled to a rotatable drive member configured to be rotatably driven such that rotation of the rotatable drive member causes axial forward movement of the shaft. 53. A tool as claimed in claim 52, wherein the head portion comprises an adapter for removably mounting an attachment. 54. A tool as claimed in claim 52 or 53, comprising a fluid transmission conduit for delivering fluid to or forwardly of the head portion. 55. A tool as claimed in claim 54, wherein the fluid transmission conduit is arranged to be rotationally driven. 56. A tool as claimed in claim 54 or 55, wherein the fluid transmission conduit comprises a first fluid passageway arranged to deliver fluid to the head portion, and a second fluid passageway in the head portion. 57. A tool as claimed in any of claims 54 to 56, wherein the fluid transmission conduit is arranged to be axially forwardly movable with the shaft. 58. A tool as claimed in any of claims 54 to 57, wherein the fluid transmission conduit is arranged to switch between a shaft following mode in which it is axially forwardly movable with the shaft and a shaft release mode in which it is axially forwardly movable relative to the shaft. 59. A tool as claimed in any of claims 54 to 58, wherein the fluid transmission conduit comprises an inner pipe with an external thread, wherein a bushing is axially fixed with respect to the shaft and is provided with an internal thread engaged with the external thread of the inner pipe, and wherein a switch is arranged to rotationally lock the bushing to the shaft so that it cannot rotate relative thereto or to rotatably unlock the bushing from the shaft so that it can rotate relative thereto. 60. A tool as claimed any of claims 52 to 59, wherein the shaft is coupled to the rotatable drive member by an internally threaded member mounted on an external thread of the rotatable drive member, the internally threaded member being prevented from rotation whereby rotation of the rotatable drive member causes axial movement of the internally threaded member which is transmitted to the shaft. 61. A tool as claimed in claim 60, comprising an axial facing drive portion mounted to the internally threaded member and arranged to engage an axially facing driven portion mounted to the shaft for transmitting the axial movement of the internally threaded member, caused by rotation of the rotatable drive member, to the shaft. 62. A tool as claimed any of claims 52 to 61, wherein the shaft comprises first and second shaft members, the first shaft member being caused to move axially forwardly when the rotatable drive member is rotated, the head portion being connected to the second shaft member, and the second shaft member being axially movable with the first shaft member and being rotatable relative thereto so it can be driven to transmit rotational drive to the head portion. 63. A tool as claimed in claim 62, wherein the second shaft member extends coaxially with and at least partly within the first shaft member. 64. A tool as claimed any of claims 52 to 63, wherein the head portion has a sealing device for forming a seal with the lateral access passage and an outlet for discharging fluid forwardly of the seal. 65. A tool as claimed in claim 64, wherein the sealing device comprises a circumferentially extending sealing member and first and second end members, one at each axial end of the sealing member, the first and second end members being configured to be urged axially towards each other, so as to cause the sealing member to expand radially outwardly and form said seal with the lateral access passage. 66. A tool as claimed in any of claims 52 to 65, configured so that axial forward movement of the shaft urges the first and second end members axially towards each other. 67. A tool as claimed in any of claims 54 to 59, or any of claims 60 to 66 when dependent on any of claims 54 to 59, wherein the head portion is configured to hold the fluid transmission conduit for forward advancement therewith and the tool comprises a flexible conduit portion extending forwardly of the head portion. 68. A tool as claimed in claim 67, comprising a nozzle at the front end of the flexible conduit portion. 69. A tool as claimed in claim 67 or 68, wherein the flexible conduit portion is provided with a convex front surface. 70. A tool as claimed in claim 67, 68 or 69, wherein the flexible conduit portion comprises a helically wound wire with an internal axially extending passage. 71. A tool as claimed in any of claims 67 to 70, wherein the flexible conduit portion comprises a fluid containing material such as a plastics material. 72. A tool as claimed in any of claims 67 to 71, wherein the tool comprises a curved guide passage for guiding the flexible conduit portion in a curved path towards the lateral access passage. 73. A tool as claimed in any of claims 52 to 72, wherein a brush is attached to the head portion. 74. A tool as claimed in claim 73, wherein the brush is arranged to rotate and/or axially reciprocate. 75. A tool as claimed in any of claims 52 to 74, wherein a socket member is provided on the head portion. 76. A tool for gaining lateral access to a well via a lateral access passage, the tool comprising a head portion and a drive mechanism for axially forwardly advancing the head portion towards or in the lateral access passage, wherein the tool has an elongate transmission member for transmitting rotational drive to the head portion and/or for delivering fluid via a fluid transmission conduit to or forwardly of the head portion, and wherein the tool comprises a curved guide passage for guiding the elongate transmission member in a curved path between the drive mechanism and the lateral access passage of the well. 77. A tool as claimed in claim 76, wherein the head portion comprises an adapter for removably mounting an attachment. 78. A tool as claimed in claim 76 or 77, wherein the fluid transmission conduit is arranged to be rotationally driven. 79. A tool as claimed in claim 76, 77 or 78, wherein the fluid transmission conduit comprises a first fluid passageway arranged to deliver fluid to the head portion, and a second fluid passageway in the head portion. 80. A tool as claimed in any of claims 76 to 79, comprising a shaft for forwardly advancing the head portion by axial forward movement of the shaft, the shaft being coupled to a rotatable drive member configured to be rotatably driven such that rotation of the rotatable shaft causes axial forward movement of the shaft. 81. A tool as claimed in claim 80, wherein the fluid transmission conduit is arranged to be axially forwardly movable with the shaft. 82. A tool as claimed in claim 80 or 81, wherein the fluid transmission conduit is arranged to switch between a shaft following mode in which it is axially forwardly movable with the shaft and a shaft release mode in which it is axially forwardly movable relative to the shaft. 83. A tool as claimed in claim 80, 81 or 82, wherein the fluid transmission conduit comprises an inner pipe with an external thread, wherein a bushing is axially fixed with respect to the shaft and is provided with an internal thread engaged with the external thread of the inner pipe, and wherein a switch is arranged to rotationally lock the bushing to the shaft so that it cannot rotate relative thereto or to rotatably unlock the bushing from the shaft so that it can rotate relative thereto. 84. A tool as claimed in any of claims 80 to 83, wherein the shaft is coupled to the rotatable drive member by an internally threaded member mounted on an external thread of the rotatable drive member, the internally threaded member being prevented from rotation whereby rotation of the rotatable drive member causes axial movement of the internally threaded member which is transmitted to the shaft. 85. A tool as claimed in claim 84, comprising an axial facing drive portion mounted to the internally threaded member and arranged to engage an axially facing driven portion mounted to the shaft for transmitting the axial movement of the internally threaded member, caused by rotation of the rotatable drive member, to the shaft. 86. A tool as claimed in any of claims 80 to 85, wherein the shaft comprises first and second shaft members, the first shaft member being caused to move axially forwardly when the rotatable drive member is rotated, the head portion being connected to the second shaft member, and the second shaft member being axially movable with the first shaft member and being rotatable relative thereto so it can be driven to transmit rotational drive to the head portion. 87. A tool as claimed in claim 86 wherein the second shaft member extends coaxially with and at least partly within the first shaft member. 88. A tool as claimed in any of claims 76 to 87, wherein the head portion has a sealing device for forming a seal with the lateral access passage and an outlet for discharging fluid forwardly of the seal. 89. A tool as claimed in claim 88, wherein the sealing device comprises a circumferentially extending sealing member and first and second end members, one at each axial end of the sealing member, the first and second end members being configured to be urged axially towards each other, so as to cause the sealing member to expand radially outwardly and form said seal with the lateral access passage. 90. A tool as claimed in claim 89 when dependent on any of claims 80 to 87, configured so that axial forward movement of the shaft urges the first and second end members axially towards each other. 91. A tool as claimed in any of claims 76 to 90, wherein the head portion is configured to hold the fluid transmission conduit for forward advancement therewith and the tool comprises a flexible conduit portion extending forwardly of the head portion. 92. A tool as claimed in claim 91, comprising a nozzle at the front end of the flexible conduit portion. 93. A tool as claimed in claim 91 or 92, wherein the flexible conduit portion is provided with a convex front surface. 94. A tool as claimed in claim 91, 92 or 93, wherein the flexible conduit portion comprises a helically wound wire with an internal axially extending passage. 94. A tool as claimed in any of claims 91 to 94, wherein the flexible conduit portion comprises a fluid containing material such as a plastics material. 95. A tool as claimed in any of claims 76 to 94, wherein the curved guide passage is configured for guiding the flexible conduit portion in a curved path towards the lateral access passage. 96. A tool as claimed in any of claims 76 to 95, wherein a brush is attached to the head portion. 97. A tool as claimed in claim 96, wherein the brush is arranged to rotate and/or axially reciprocate. 98. A tool as claimed in any of claims 76 to 97, wherein a socket member is provided on the head portion. 99. A tool for gaining lateral access to a well via a lateral access passage, the tool comprising a head portion and being configured to axially forwardly advance the head portion towards or in the lateral access passage, wherein the tool is configured to transmit rotational drive to the head portion and/or has a fluid transmission conduit for delivering fluid to or forwardly of the head portion, and wherein the tool has a housing comprising a plurality of housing portions axially connected together and having a first length, wherein at least one of the housing portions is disconnectable and removable so that the remaining housing portions can form the housing with a second length shorter than the first length. 100. A tool as claimed in claim 99, wherein the head portion comprises an adapter for removably mounting an attachment. 101. A tool as claimed in claim 99 or 100, wherein the fluid transmission conduit is arranged to be rotationally driven. 102. A tool as claimed in claim 99, 100 or 101, wherein the fluid transmission conduit comprises a first fluid passageway arranged to deliver fluid to the head portion, and a second fluid passageway in the head portion. 103. A tool as claimed in any of claims 99 to 102, comprising a shaft for forwardly advancing the head portion by axial forward movement of the shaft, the shaft being coupled to a rotatable drive member configured to be rotatably driven such that rotation of the rotatable shaft causes axial forward movement of the shaft. 104. A tool as claimed in claim 103, wherein the fluid transmission conduit is arranged to be axially forwardly movable with the shaft. 105. A tool as claimed in claim 103 or 104, wherein the fluid transmission conduit is arranged to switch between a shaft following mode in which it is axially forwardly movable with the shaft and a shaft release mode in which it is axially forwardly movable relative to the shaft. 106. A tool as claimed in claim 103, 104 or 105, wherein the fluid transmission conduit comprises an inner pipe with an external thread, wherein a bushing is axially fixed with respect to the shaft and is provided with an internal thread engaged with the external thread of the inner pipe, and wherein a switch is arranged to rotationally lock the bushing to the shaft so that it cannot rotate relative thereto or to rotatably unlock the bushing from the shaft so that it can rotate relative thereto. 107. A tool as claimed in any of claims 103 to 106, wherein the shaft is coupled to the rotatable drive member by an internally threaded member mounted on an external thread of the rotatable drive member, the internally threaded member being prevented from rotation whereby rotation of the rotatable drive member causes axial movement of the internally threaded member which is transmitted to the shaft. 108. A tool as claimed in claim 107, comprising an axial facing drive portion mounted to the internally threaded member and arranged to engage an axially facing driven portion mounted to the shaft for transmitting the axial movement of the internally threaded member, caused by rotation of the rotatable drive member, to the shaft. 109. A tool as claimed in any of claims 103 to 108, wherein the shaft comprises first and second shaft members, the first shaft member being caused to move axially forwardly when the rotatable drive member is rotated, the head portion being connected to the second shaft member, and the second shaft member being axially movable with the first shaft member and being rotatable relative thereto so it can be driven to transmit rotational drive to the head portion. 110. A tool as claimed in claim 109, wherein the second shaft member extends coaxially with and at least partly within the first shaft member. 111. A tool as claimed in any of claims 99 to 110, wherein the head portion has a sealing device for forming a seal with the lateral access passage and an outlet for discharging fluid forwardly of the seal. 112. A tool as claimed in claim 111, wherein the sealing device comprises a circumferentially extending sealing member and first and second end members, one at each axial end of the sealing member, the first and second end members being configured to be urged axially towards each other, so as to cause the sealing member to expand radially outwardly and form said seal with the lateral access passage. 113. A tool as claimed in claim 112 when dependent on any of claims 103 to 110, configured so that axial forward movement of the shaft urges the first and second end members axially towards each other. 114. A tool as claimed in any of claims 99 to 113, wherein the head portion is configured to hold the fluid transmission conduit for forward advancement therewith and the tool comprises a flexible conduit portion extending forwardly of the head portion. 115. A tool as claimed in claim 114, comprising a nozzle at the front end of the flexible conduit portion. 116. A tool as claimed in claim 114 or 115, wherein the flexible conduit portion is provided with a convex front surface. 117. A tool as claimed in claim 114, 115 or 116, wherein the flexible conduit portion comprises a helically wound wire with an internal axially extending passage. 118. A tool as claimed in any of claims 114 to 117, wherein the flexible conduit portion comprises a fluid containing material such as a plastics material. 119. A tool as claimed in any of claims 114 to 118, wherein the tool comprises a curved guide passage for guiding the flexible conduit portion in a curved path towards the lateral access passage. 120. A tool as claimed in any of claims 99 to 119, wherein a brush is attached to the head portion. 121. A tool as claimed in claim 120, wherein the brush is arranged to rotate and/or axially reciprocate. 122. A tool as claimed in any of claims 99 to 121, wherein a socket member is provided on the head portion."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "E21B 33/068",
    "E21B 17/025"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "QUALITY INTERVENTION TECH AS"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2017-01-25",
  "publication_date": "2021-04-08",
  "priority_date": "2016-01-25",
  "application_number": "US-201716071838-A",
  "family_id": "55534873"
}