US Patent 9500071 Extendable orienting tool for use in wells

An orienting tool for use in wells can include a flow control device which controls flow between an interior and an exterior of a body of the tool to thereby transmit a signal indicative of an orientation of the body, the flow control device being outwardly extendable relative to the body. A method of orienting a structure in a well can include transmitting at least one signal from an orienting tool, the signal being indicative of an orientation of the orienting tool, and displacing a housing of the tool outward relative to a generally tubular body of the tool. A well system can include an orienting tool connected to a structure and positioned in a wellbore, the tool including a housing which is outwardly extendable relative to a generally tubular body, the tool being configured to transmit at least one signal indicative of an orientation of the structure.