POSITIONING AND CONVEYING WELL APPARATUS AND METHOD

In a broad aspect, the invention may include a nipple (10), a deflector (42) , and a conveying tool (116). The nipple may include an upper sealing surface (26) and a lower sealing surface (28). The nipple may also include a discriminator/muleshoe (30) having an alignment profile (32) and an alignmen t slot (34). A protuberance/bump (40) may be disposed in the alignment slot. T he deflector (42) may include an upper seal (52) and a lower seal (54) adapted for engagement with upper and lower sealing surfaces (26, 28), respectively, on the nipple. When the upper and lower seals are engaged with the upper and lower sealing surfaces, fluid circulation is substantially restricted thereb y resulting in an increase in pressure that is detectable at the earth's surface. The pressure increase provides a signal that the deflector is properly positioned in the nipple. The conveying tool may include a flexible arm (122) having a latching finger (124) that is releasably engageable with a latching profile (51) in the deflector. The latching profile may be on an inclined, concave surface of a whipstock (44). Related methods are also provided.