Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~ 2~137~36
' ::
A-2292 ~ ; ~
. ;~- ', . . .
riev~hle W~ .rL Arrsr~Pmant sn~
n9- ~L,~.. ~.. l .~rt
It is well known to use ~ lorl~Q in drilling to direct or deviate a
drill bit or cutter at an angle from a cased well bore. It is generally
c~lQl<-..A~,~ in most inQtsnceQ, to initially set a cement plug, a packer and a
rL at the desired elevation in a well tubular member such as a
15 casing.
The o :e~ ~ of the ~.1.;p~lo~L is then nr,c4...p1;Qh~l in a well known
manner and generally r~quire6 a multiple trip operation into and out of the
cased well bore. ,,
It can be applc~ated that p.oble 6 may arise if ulldesiled rotation of
:~ the ~rl ~ut~ occurs after orient~t;on and before setting the packer.
P~eee~ ,the ~. ', etQ~ and packer are left in the casing in the well bore
which blocks accees to the cased well bore l~o~ &~
In some instances, it is desirable to leave the cased well bore open - ~'
from which the lateral well bore is drilled, but this cannot be done with
25 ~ e~i_nt ~ p~ .. L sL uclu,ce and setting .~- t1.o~
niRrl~n~re ~..v~
A retrievable ~ tc~r a.l~.nge~uent includes a whipstock with a
tape.~d face ll.e.~..., which ,.1.;1JElQcL can be l~1e~cAh1y and non rotatably
Q~E;t;~ne(l in an anchor se~ cd with a cased well bore to position the
30 ~.L~,tQrlr face in the cased well bore in a desired direction. A latch
~n&~d-el f~,l6 part of a shaft ~l~pe~ g from the ~ ocL su~,uu~ls a
latch that is iXl~ hl~ c~.~Ag~'e with the anchor secul~ed in the cased well
bore, ~. Le.~ the ~ stor~ may be retrieved from the cased well bore.
CGOPe..~l~g sulf~ce3 on the o~ient~t;~n sleeve portion of the shaft
36 and on the whipstock enable the W1~ lC~L to be rotated and locked in a
desired rotated position on the shaft at the earth's surface which pUsi~ n~
:
~- 2~.37~6
and msintsin~ the whipstock face in a desired direction when surfaces on
- the oriPntst;Qn sleeve and the anchor secured in the cased well bore are
engaged.
The anchor includes means to secure it with the casing and
5 mgin~gin it sec.llad with the casing.
Where the ~.l.;p~lorL is not lowered on a drill string into the cased
well bore, it may be lowered on a well string and relP~shly, but non
rotatably, latched to the anchor. The well string and whipEtork are provided
with co~,o.alil-g latch ~lan~. m~ts to enable the ~.hi~slock to be lowered
10 and en~lgcd with the anchor by the well string and the well string then
c'~~~e~ from the, l.;~lc.cL without chsn~ing the direction in which the
ElC- L faces in the cased well bore.
The well string may be fe;l,gag~d with the ~ orL- for retrieving it
from the cased well bore which leaves the cased well bore open for access.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method and
apl,A~atu~ for l~le~A-~hly and non rotatably latch a wllip~lock to an anchor
see~ed in a cased well bore.
An~tllsr object i8 to provide a method and appalatus to latch a
,.1.;~",lo.L with a well string to lower and 1~4;n~Ahly posi~ n the ~ h;p~-lo.~L:~ in an anchor ~u.ued in a cased well bore to face in a desired direction in
the cased well bore, which well string may be then ~ engAged from the
wh;~ r~!~ after the, l~;p~lo~L is iAIeA~hly posi~;onsd in the anchor while
...~A;nt~:n;.~e the ..' ,~etorl~ releA~Ahly~ and non rotatably positioned in theanchor to face in the desired direction.
:~i One object of the p.cce.-t invention is to provide an a,l~.~ment and
method for lo~ a retl.e~,able ~/h;, tc-l~ into an anchor scc~ed in a
well bore casing for drilling a lateral well bore and lhCre&rt;~ retrieving the
~. ~eto~L~ This leaves the cased well bore from which the lateral well bore
is drilled ~rc ee- L l~ for wh~ r pu-~,G3e may be desired or n~cessA~ uch
30 as, by way of ~ - le only, for ~ec~:vi"g a flow conduit below the anchor to
GQntl~lrt fluids from such cased well bore .
An~ther object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement
and ... thoA for lo..~ g a retrievable ~ JElo~L into an anchor in a cased
well bore casing for drilling a lateral well bore, retrieving the drill string
36 and then ret~;e.i"~ the whipstock.
StUI a further object of the p.~ G~nt invention is to provide a ... -Ll.~-
and appala~us for drilling a desired mlmhçr of lateral well bores from the
same cased well bore.
2~ 7~-~6
Another object is to provide an arrangement and method for lowering
- a retrievable wl~ vck into an anchor in a cased well bore for stepwise
drilling a plurality of lateral well bores in any desired direction and
elevation from the cased well bore and leaving the cased well bore open
from which the lateral well bores are drilled.
Another object is to provide a mAtl r,~l and apparatus for rele~~hly
sec.,;"g a whipstock with an anchor in a cased well bore and for
retrieving the whip~torlr from the anchor.
Yet a further object is to provide a method and apparatus for
~ecu-;ng a rel.;evable wl.:~,blorlr face in any desired rotated relationship
relative to an anchor secured in a cased well bore.
Still a further object is to provide a method and apparatus for
10~ 6 a ~ ,. L into a cased well bore on a well string to secure the
~ l.;p~lo.'L with an anchor and the well string then ,ele. ocd and retrieved
from the cased well bore in a mAnn_r to inhibit unthreading the joints
r~ .g the well string.
Still a rullhe. object is to provide a method and apparatus for -~
lo..~ 6 a ~/h;~ r into a cased well bore on a well string to secure the
, h;~ lr with an anchor and the well string then ~cleaocd and retrieved
:~ from the cased well bore, and thcrc~lel reengAging the well string with the
k r~r to retrieve it.
A rul lLel object of the invention is to secure an anchor in a cased
well bore that is configured for lecv:~/ing a ..l i~ ~ that ~u~pv.ls a latch
for ,~leP~ ec~;~.g the ~ L in the anchor in a desired direction
for drilling a lateral well bore from the cased well bore. '
A ru~lho~ object of the invention is to provide a whip~torLr that
suppo.l~ a latch for releAs.~hly securing the whip~torLr in an anchor for
drilling lateral well bores from a cased well bore. The ~.Li~ ~lock includes
a surface for ...f ~ g the latch v~g~ d with the anchor. Coope aling
~0 surfaces on the anchor and and ~ l~;p~lc~ L face the ~h;~ clr in a desired
direction while the ,.l. ~- ~c- L is in use to drill the lateral well bore. ~ ~ -
Still ~ h object of the invention is to enhAnr~ pl o~l.-c~ :-~n of oil and
gas from a ca~ed well bore by drilling lateral well bores from the cased well
bore.
36 A ~u~ object of the invention is to provide an arrangement to
enable a whipstock face to be posi~;-~ned in any desired direction at the
earth's surface and then lo~.v.ed into a cased well bore for drilling lateral ~ -
2~ 37!~36
well bores in desired directions from the cased well bore and the whipstock
- then retrieved.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become
more readily appa-ent from a c~n~ideration of the following drawings and
5 de~c. ;y~ion.
Rrief n~n~ )n of Drawin~
Fig 1 is a fiect;~n~l srhem~tic view showing one form of an anchor,
with one form of latch ~up~ ed on a setting tool for ~.le~nnhly cQnnPct;ng
the setting tool and anchor;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial sect;on~l view of Fig. 1 showing the
anchor form of Fig. 1 r~le~ g the setting tool from the anchor form of Fig.
1 after the anchor has been secured in the a well bore tubular mPmh~r-
Fig. 3 i8 a sect;or~ iew showing the anchor form of Fig. 1 secured
in the well bore tubular m~mhPr;
Fig. 3A iB a eect;on~l s-hAm~t;c view of a survey mPch~ni.~m, or
instrument, for ~l~te ~,linlng the oriPnt~t;on, or direction of a whipstock
latch surface in the anchor for Pn~hling the whipstoclr to be rotated and
locked on the shaft at the earth's surface in a predete.~illed position to
face in a desired direction when it is po~it;~np~l and secured in the anchor;
Figs. 4 and 5 are sect;~m~l views, partly in elevation illustrating a
t~ . L- scc~d on a drill string and being lowered into the anchor form
of Fig. 1 and rPle~hly vcc.,-ed the.c~.ilh by latch means on a shaft
cor nected to the ~ etoc'Lr and depen~ling thelerlom. One form of
coopa.ali..g ~vurfi~e~onthe~ L i~ !randvhaft toenablethe ~ ;y~locL to
:~ be povi~;one~l at the earth's surface to face in a locked, rotated position, if
~eCo~v~ry~ relative to the ~.h;pElorL latch vurface, such as a slot in the
anchor, is also vhown.
Fig. 6 iCv an enlarged sec~n~l view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4 which
shows in greater detail one form of the cooperating surfaces on the
30 ~.l.;pslo~L and shaft to secure the whip~torlr in a desired rotated po~it;~n
on a shaft to posi~;~ n the face of the ~.Lipvloc~ in a desired direction when
the ~.h;pslorL iB sec ~ed with the anchor;
Fig. 7 sçh~m~t;~lly illustrates an arrangement for rçle~ing a
y~ ocLr from an anchor and al80 an arrangement for latching with a
pslorL to l - 3j~ n it in or retrieve it from a cased well bore;
Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged partial sect;on~l views showing one form
of a coope.aling latch ~.angc lant on a well string and a cooperating latch
al.ang~ment on a ~.h;p~lo~L for rçlç~hly ~ngP~ing a well string with a
.
2~ 136
whip~tock to position the wl~ip~lock in, and retrieve it from, a well bore
tubular mamhçr and for ralçA~ing the well string from the whipstock;
Figs. 10 and 11 are are partial sect;~AnAl views, similar to Figs. 8 and
9, and showing another form of a cooperating latch arrangement for a
5 well string and ~ ,~l
Fig 12 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 12-12 of Fig. 7
illu~l,~l,i,.~ further details of the forms of latch arrange"~ s of Eigs. 8-11
for the well string and the ~ .lor
Fig. 13 is a ~ec~;AnAl view of a packer anchor and with a seal
10 b h.~,cn the anchor and ,.l.;p~ L;
Fig. 14 i8 a sect;(~nAl view, partly in elevation, of a cased well bore
illu&l,_~ing an anchor with the ,.l.;~~l~c~ ac~ ed therewith to position
the ..' ~ face in a desired mAnnar for receivillg a drill string to drill
the lateral well bore shown;
Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 and showing a plurality of lateral
well bores drilled from the cased well bore in desired directions and at
sRlecte l elevations from the cased well bore; and
Fig. 16 is a sect;~An-l view illu~l~aling one possible ~d~3 ent of
~-ln~ I -An e~ .a..t positioned in a cased well bore for c.-~ AAt;ng
separately with the cased well bore and the lateral well bore after the
l~L has been retrieved from the cased well bore.
Best Mo~ fnr l~-rrir~ O--t ~a Tnvant;An
Attent;-~n is first d;i6~.~ed to Figs. 1-3 of the drawings wherein an
~ ee A~l is shown for ~ec~;llg an anchor, lop.ece .~d generally at A,
25 in a well bore tubular member, such as a casing C in cased well bore WB.
The anchor A ;..- ll.AeE~ a body B of any ~ tq~e configuration.
In the embodiment shown, the body B is illustrated as being tubular
and is formed of lower tubular elemPnt la and an upper tubular ahamant lb
tL~r~-'ly c~ ecled with tubular elemant la which is cQnn-ct~Ad with
30 lower cone 81. The body B is preferably tubular and includeg a lon~
bore 2 lho,etl ~ough.
An anchor surface on the anchor is provided and may be of any
8 ~itr~e con~iguration and is shown as being in the form of an internal
groove or -nn~ r recess 3 in the bore 2 of the body. Slip means 4 are
p~. te-J on the anchor in any 6uitable m_nnar and are shown in Figs. 1,
3 and 5 as 8e~ ~ed by frangible means, such as shear pins 5 r~ cel)t~ or
on tapcled surfaces 6 and 6a, leb~eclively, on upper and lower spaced
tubular portions 6b and cage 81 on the tubular body of the anchor . The
. : ~
:
6 2'~
shear pins 5 extend th~ough the tapered surfaces 6 and 6a and into the slip ;
means 4 of the anchor to m~int~in the tapered surfaces in spaced relation
as the tool is lowered into the well bore and until the setting tool,
eBÇ-~te-l generally by T, is ~ct~ l to effect relative movement between
5 the tapered s~rfrl~es and the slip means to shear pins 5 for moving the slip
means to engage the tubular member and secure the anchor with the
tubular mrmhrr.
The upper end of body B in the ~mho~ ...?n~ shown termin~e in an
l;..r~ surface 7, and where the body B is tubular with a bore 2, which is
10 the p,efe~.. d e~ho~ a~t~ the surface 7 is an annular edge surface. A
uu~rlr latch gurface çYt~n-l~ in the tubular body B from the edge 7. In ~ ~ -
the form shown, the ~ orlr latch surface is a slot as shown at 8 that
ç~t~n-l~ from the lu~ portion of the lape;ed surface as shown in the
d~&..h~ga, but it may assume other configurations, such as, by way of
15 example only, a longitudinal recess on the internal wall of the body or other form as desired.
A setting A~l~n~ cnt or setting tool T of any suitable type may be
employed to lower and secure the anchor in a tubular member such as
cased well bore or the like. For Pyrmrle only, a wireline setting tool or ; ~ ~1
:~ hydr~ lly r l ~ ~l settingtool maybe ~ '(.,~d.
The setting tool includes a shaft, rod, or adapter 9 on which
r~le~''e means such as a latch ~f~...ad to generally at 10 of any suitable
form may be auppG,led. In the form shown, the latch 10 includes an
s~nn~ r body 11 with frangible means such as shear pins 12 adjacent the
~; upper end thereof for rele~srhly securing the latch 10 on the shaft 9 as
shown in Fig.1. The shear pins 12 extend through the chc~fe~entially
spaced, l<!ngit~l~linrlly e~le ~ e slots 13 of body 11 and into shaft 9 as
shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The slots te..-l nate a~ cent, but spaced from the
upper end and bottom end of body 11 as shown. F.Y ~ ul;ng from the bottom
~0 end of latch body 11 are c.lc~f~.e..~ally spaced, k~ngit~ in~lly ~~Y~n-lin~
. .~...he~a 14 which have ~Ytern~l enlargement~, or latch surfaces thereon
~p,~ t 15 for pQci~ ning within the recess, or anchor surface 3.
The al.A~ment including the setting tool, latch 10 and anchor A
are ~çm~'e.ol at the earth's surface in a ms~nnar well known in the art to
36 co~ e~l them toget~r for lowering into the cased well bore as shown in
Fig. 1 with the shear pins 12 ~djPc~nt the upper end of slots 13 and latch
surfaces 15 in the anchor surface 3.
'
.
2~ 36
A wireline or well string, depçnl1ing upon the setting arrangement
- employed, is used to lower the arrangement into the cased well bore. The
setting tool includes a first surface 23 on shaft or R-l~pter 9, shown in the
form of a radially eYtJ?n~lin~ portion on shaft 9, which is po~it;~n~d ~ c~nt
5 the enlargements 15 when they are positioned in the recess 3. This pl evenls
the latch 10 from prematurely r~leR~in~ from the tubular Body B until the
setting tool is R~t~te~
~ ct~l~t;nn of the setting tool and setting the slips moves shaft or
R~laFt~ 9 up. In~eased force applied to R~lRpt~ 9 through ~t~t;on of the
10 sefflng tool T after setting of the anchor A in the casing C of the well borebreake shear pin 12 as the R~lRrter moves u~ d relative to latch 10.
Cont;nl)ed up..~rd m~ -..ent of the R~'~rt~. 9 relative to latch 10 causes
the bottom surface 24 of the latch 10 to engage with the ledge 25 on the shaft
or R~lA~l,?/ 9 to remove the latch 10 from the sec.l,ed anchor A and retrieve
15 the latch 10 with the setting tool to the earth's surface.
The lower portion of Fig. 5 illustrates further details of the anchor A
not seen in Fig.1. A lock means, refe.led to generally at L is provided to
mRintsin the anchor 3e_~d with the tubular with the tubular member C.
The lock L may ~8l~mç any desired form and in the form shown
~1 ;n.,l~.tle~ a ratchet surface 17 eYt~n~linE lo."~ l;n~lly on the outer surface
of t~bl~lRr body B of the anchor. The tubular portion 6b has an internal
I,a~oled thread 19 in ~nn~ r spaced relation to the ratchet thread 17 on
tubular body B. A split ratchet ring 20 is b t,~._on tubular portion 6b and the
tubular body B. The split or se~n~te 1 ratchet ring 20 has a ratchet thread
25 21 on its inner surface and a l~l~o~d thread 22 on its outer surface. These
f~,c~ coopc.~&te to ~&~ oflAte relative l~-o~,~ent bet~.ecn the tubular
portion 6b and the tubular body B when the setting tool is ~ct~ ed so that
the lapc.~d &~ f~ 6 and 6a move the slips into securing relation with the
tubular mPmher C. The ratchet surfaces lock the tubular portion 6b and
~0 cage 81 with tubular body B so the slip means 4 is locked in engagement
with the tubular member C in the well bore when the ~etting tool is Rct~lRted
in a mRnn~r well known in the art.
The setting &-.angem~nt including the setting tool T with sleeve S
ll~ereo" and anchor A are R~sçmhled as shown in Fig. 1 at the earth's
36 s~lrf~r~e. Sleeve S, as shown in Fig. 1 abuts the upper end 6c of the tubularportion 6b on which lape,~ed surface 6 is formed. When the setting tool is
~Rct~ted, relative movement is çffected between setting sleeve S and
tubular body B in a m~nn~r well known in the art to set the slip means 4
r, ' ' ~ ~ ~ A " ' ' ' '
', . ~ ~ , ~, ' ' I ' ' '
2.~37~36
- . . .
and to cause the surfaces of the lock L to cooperate to Acc~mmodate
relative m~,vt~ ent and then lock the tubular portion 6b, split ring 20 and
the body B in engaged relation to m~infsin the slips engaged with the ;~
tubular mPmhPr C in the well bore.
An ~pplir~;Qn of force causes setting of the slips 4 in a monnPr well
known in the art, after which the pins 12 are sheared upon up~.~d ~ -movement of t_e setting tool. The setting tool is then re~-,~,6d from the
anchor A and ledge, or second surface, 25 on the setting string or tool,
enga6~D~ with the bottom 24 of the latch to r~ ., it from the anchor and
well bore along with the setting tool as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the La~ ,g.
Fig. 13 illuol,r te~ o-not~ form of the anchor A which includes the
packer P on the tubular body above the Blip means. In thi6 ;n~ ra it may
be desirable to pro.;de a lock L above and below the packer to ~ ;..'o;-- the
slips seo.lred with the tubular m4mher should the packer deteriorate or
15 ~li~int,egrate.
The lock L above the packer P is shown as being the same as that in
the Fig. 5 form of the anchor, with like nul.le~c.ls rep,~aen' ~ like parts.
The lock L above the packer P is similar to that shown below the
packer in Fig. 5 in that it employs a tubular portion 6f above the packer, but
:~ it has no tape.ed surface. Other parts are similar with like numerals
~e~CE~ like parts of the lock L below the packer. A seal 80 is provided
on the latch ~nL~l 30 b~ t. ~e.- the latch ~-.and el 30 and the body B. The
member 6d close~ offthe upper end of tubular portion 6b.
Figs. 4 and 5 show one form of the a-.angemont of the present
in~. ~;on wherein a mill M is le!f~ c~nnp~ 1 n~ cn ~I the lower end
of a drill string DS. A whi~tQ~ 27 is cQnnscted with the drill string
~e e-'l~ the mill by frangible means such as shear pin 26a which c~nnp~
the drill string with the whipstock at face 26. An e ~ e -n 28 delle~ from
the lower end of the ~ 27 and in~lvdes co!-pl;~e 29 co~ r~led
~0 Ihe~ l- by any suitable means such as ll~eads as shown.
A shaft is connected to the ~ G~L 27. The shaft in the Pmh~ nh~l
illustrated in the ~.i"6O is folmed by the orientot;~n sleeve 31 which
r~ o~ therein and pe~1 -'ly Oullounds latch mandrel 30 as shown in the -
d~ go~ The latch ~a~d~l 30 and o.;en~o~ n sleeve 31 are shown as
36 each being cQ-.n~te~l to the ~-~nC on 28 by co--l~l;..e 29 of the ~.h;pul
and may be considered as part of the ~rl ,~ E 5c -
~
The ~ n 28 of the .rl ~ is ~eaded and Eho~ red withco--~l;..C 29 which limits the make - up of the l~oaded ~4nn~ct;0n bht~.een
. .
.~.".'' '~
2~ 6
çYtçn~ion 28 and coupling 29. The oriçntet;on sleeve 31 of the shaft and the
whipstock are provided with cooperating surfaces for locking and
ms.;,.~9;n;.~g the wh;p~ L face in any desired rotated poPi~;on on the shaft
to enable a later. l well bore to be drilled in a desired direction from the
5 cased well bore. This rel-s-t;~-n~hip is msintsin~ll when the wLi~lock is non
rotatably posit;~ned in the anchor A in the cased well bore.
The cooyelating surfaces on the whipstock and the shaft which
initially det- ".,ne and .-~;nls;n this r~l-s-t;on~hir may assume any desired
configuration, and one form is illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The
10 coope,ating surfaces comprise internal splin~s, ~eîe..ed to generally at 32,
or intqrnal keys 32a and h~ . ay;~ 32b on the oriçntst;on sleeve 31 of the shaft~rl,j~icent its upper end, which engage with external splines, ~efe..ed to
generally at 33, or ç~t~ ..al keyways 33a and keys 33b, formed on the
co-.Pl;..e 29 of the ~ The keys 32a engage in h~y~. dy:j 33a and the
15 k~. d~ 32breceivekeys33b.
Any 6 ~ e n----~h. ~ of splines or keys and hey~. dy~i may be provided
on the ~.h;y~OrL and the oriçnt~t;on sleeve of the shaft, as desired. The
~eatl. the n~-~n~Sel of splines, the smaller the angle ll-~ rebel~.een to more
finitely adjust the face of the whipEt~ The splines are rep.csçnted as
:~ immediately ~ljacent in Fig. 6, but they may be c;rc~ fe.e.llially spaced if
desiied.
A lock sleeve 34, as shown in Fig. 4 i8 provided with threads to
engage with the co~ 29 as shown and an ~nnnl~r shoulder 34a on lock
sleeve 34 abuts an Pnmllr~r 8hml1der 31a on the o~;a.~ on sleeve 31 of the
:~ shaft as shown to lock the ~.h~ L face 26 in any desired rotated po~i*on
on the o,;~ ct Qn sleeve 31 of the shaft as shown. The coopc-ating
surfaces on the ..-, Ft';!"l' illustrated as the lug 31d and the slot 8 in the
anchor y.~nl relati~e rotation bel~.~~n the ..Lip~lock and the anchor
sec~cd in the cased well bore. The coop. ..~ling ~--. f, rçs may assume any
30 desired configuration.
The lower end of tubular body B of the anchor A is cQnn~cted to lower
cone 81 by slli~ le means such as threads as shown in the drawings. The
lower l~pe.cd or conical surface 6a is formed on lower cone 81 and the cage
81' includes.e;-~f~.en~ially spaced slots 83 in which are posi~;~n~-l cap
36 screws 82 that are sec~ed on the lower cone 81. The slip means comprise
upper and lower slip means 4 that are pQ~it;~n~l on the upper and lower
coni--l surfaces 6 and 6a respectively. The slips extend through
c;~ ~fe enlially spaced ~.;nd~ , 84 and 85 of cage 81' which engage and
- 21.;37936
grip the inner surface of the casing C upon setting of the anchor A by the
- setting tool. by way of eY~mrle only, the surface on the oriçnts~inn sleeve 31
i8 shown as a p~,c~li,lg lug 31d on the oriantstinn sleeve of the shaft which
eng~ges in the whip6to~ latch surface, shown in the form of slot 8, when
5 the whipstock and shaft are positioned in and rale~bly latched with the
anchor A, and when so e g~.ged, no relative rotation bet~. een the whipstoc
face 26 and the casingoccurs.
Thus, the ~ a..an~.,~ent of the ,ulerent invention precludes
relative rotation between the whipstock face and casing C when the
27 is ~ and r~k-q~qhly latched with the anchor A in the
casing C.
A latch 35 is ~up,uu~ Ied on the ..' ~ -lr in any s li~shl~ m~nnPr and
as shown in the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the latch
35 is bup~u, led on the .. ' ~ by latch ~~ld ~l 30 of the shaft. The latch
15 mandrel 30 is 8cc~ Dd by lI--eads 29a to the co--pl;.~ 29 that is cQnnecte~
vvith the ~ ulc~
The latch 35 is similar to latch 10, but di~.e.ll ,~fe.~"~e numerals
are ~pl!lieA to describe it and dislil.~ush it from latch 10.
The latch lef~ .ed to generally at 35 ;~ les a body 36 rele~hly
ev~Ld to the latch mandrel 30 by shear pins 35a which extend through
10 .~l- A;~A1 slûts 37 therein and into the latch ~c~l as shovm.
The shear pins 35a are sl onge~ than the shear pins 26a which
secure the mill to the drill string and thus the mill can be .~1~P-e~ ~.;IhUUI
the ~ t;Un of the whipstock and latch l-,&nc~el 30 of the shaft
:~; with tubular body B of the anchor A.
Circumfo~o~liallyspacedmembers38depend frombody 36 and the
members 38 have eDlargements 39 ~ their lower ends as shown and
A~ ;hcA with respect to the latch 10 that r~ I~A CAh1Y secures the ~ ;p~lc ~ L
and drill string with the anchor A to secure the ~.' ~ ;rlr in the desired
30 direction to enable a lateràl well bore to be drilled from the cased well bore.
The latch mandrel of the shaft, as previously noted, is co~-nP~le~A. to and may
be considered as part of the ..' ~et~
The surface 27d on the latch ~and~cl 30 seats on sho~llA-~r 51 of the
body B when the lug 31d is seated in the slot 8 of the body B, as shown in
35 Figs. 4 and 5. The first, or pnn~ r surface 27a, on the latch ~dlel 30 of
the shaft is adjacent the eDl~c.-ls 39 in recess 3 and since the latch
~a-lL~l 30 is seated on ~hn..lAer 51 it cannot move down. Should up
~o~,e ~ent occur, the first, or Anm~l~r surface 27a moves to a posi~;on
7g36
A*~ent. and internal relative to enlargements 39 to p.event inward flexing
- of mamhars 38, thus ~reven~ g enlargements 39 from moving out of recess
3.
The enlal ~en~ 39 pQ4it;An in the recess 3 of the tubular body B of
S the anchor when the drill string, mill and ~ lorl~, as shown in Figs. 4
and 5 are lowered into the anchor A se~ ~,ed in the cased well bore. The
whipstock latch surface, in the form of the invention illustrated, is the
lo~g~ ".l;~nl slot 8 in the anchor A. Lug 31d on the orient;nF sleeve 31 of the
shaft engages the i..~l;n-~d surface 7 of the tubular body B when the
10 .~!, Fto~ ~cnt is lowered into the anchor A and the lug 31d on the
o. ~ç~ r ~ sleeve 31 of the shaft is guided into the slot 8 to posit;An the
shaft with the anchor.
After the anchor is po-4it;~A-na~l in the well bore tubular ...~.nh.~- in the
.--P-n~er as p.~ .,iously described, the orient~t;~A-n of the ~ Aclr latch
lS surface in the form of slot 8 in the anchor A is ~etermina~) in a m~nnar
well known in the art, so that the whip~tor~ face may be rotated, or
positioned, and ~ec~ on the o ;c ~ An sleeve shaft 31 of the shaft at
the earth'e surface to face in the desired direction when e,lg,~d in the
anchor A to enable a lateral well bore to be drilled from the cased well
:~ bore in which the whipstock is positioned.
Fig. 3A e-' -m~t;r~lly ~cp~eee ' a .--e~h~ .--, or i"~ .ent, well
known in the art for lo..~.~g into a cased well bore on a ~ e as shown
to couJ~-~ l and record a survey that dete. ,,-c~ the oriçnt~t;An~ or
direction, of a surface l~elalive to a predete lined direction, such as
:1~; magnetic North, in a well bore. A tool ie ~ ' --'ly rop~e~ite~ 42 with
a cen1,, ~ r rop.eecllted at 42a. The tool 42 inrl~h~ a pin or lug 43 that
iD~d~ ~~ in slot 8 ant ~ - e F the tool to ~ t'~ e the o. ;ç ,~ c ~ :AA. of the pin
43 which i8 also the orientation of slot 8 of the anchor. The appa,d~us and
method of obtaiDing the survey is well known to those skilled in the art, and
30 no detailed explanation i8'~1P~ç- -iD~ ~u~ce3l39-
~
With this information, any person skilled in the art can then
DCl orie.~t~ , sleeve 31 of the shaft from the ~ ;p~lo.,L 27 androtate it to position the face of the whipstock as desired. When the, ' x
is .~ e ~Jcc' to the ~ g shaft 31 by the splines, and the ~ e~
36 lo. - .c~ into the anchor so lug 31d is in slot 8, the ~ lc,. L face 26 will be
~e~ed in the cased well bore in the diieclion in which it is desired to
drill thelateralwellbore .
2~ 936 , -~
12
The Çore~oillg arrangement and method enables the whipstock to be
adjusted at the earth's surface to face in any desired direction in the cased
well bore to enable a lateral well bore to be drilled in a well known m, nn.,r.
After the anchor A has been set in the well bore, the above survey
run, and the whipstock conn~ct~A l with orienting sleeve 31 in light of the -
information obtained from the survey, the arrangement of Figs. 4 and 5,
is run into the well bore on a drill string. Lug 31d is engaged with the
~ l.;p~locL latch surface 8 in the anchor, and latch 35 rçle .~hly secures the
drill string and ,.l.;p~-lo.L with the anchor A to secure whipstock face 26
in the direction in which it is desired to drill from the cased well bore in
which the ~.l.;psl~ L is set.
The mill is released from the whipstock by manipulating the
whipstock either up or down to shear pin 26a. The first surface 27a
ent~ the enlargements from withdrawing out of surface in the tubular
body B of the anchor. The drill string is then manipulated to move the drill
string and mill down to cut a window in the casing C and to perform the
desired drilling operations to drill a lateral well bore, such as illustrated at47 from the cased well bore WB as shown in Fig. 14. The drill string is then
retrieved from the cased and lateral well bores to the earth's surface.
:~ The drill string may inco,~o.ate suitable drilling tool~ to drill the
latersl well bore 47 and in some in~tsnce~ the drill string and mill are
~ retrieved from the cased well bore after the mill has cut the .. hldo~. in the
casing C and drill tools added as desired to drill the lateral well bore and
the drill string lo.~a.~d back into the cased well bore to drill the lateral well
a5 bore. The ~.' ~r 1350~ may then be retrieved to the earth's surface, as will be
described. Removal of the, h;y~-/O~L leaves the cased well bore open and
u~ t--icted for access to position s~litshle production eq~irmant in the
cased wellbore, asmaybe desired.
Where it is desired to ...-:..ts;.. the fluids produced from the lateral
30 well bore Sty~ate from the fluids produced from the cased well bore from
which the lateral well bore was drilled, suitable pro~ rt;An eql~ipment is
initially inet-llPd in the cased well bore before the anchor A is set therein.
Fig. 16 illustrates one snit~~ allgt7 lenl showing a seal bore packer 48.
After drilling the lateral well bore from cased well bore WB, a
36 sllitA~l~Ae mlllt; ~t~ing packer 49 may be set in a well known m7 nnPr above
the anchor A as shown in Fig. 16. Pro~llct;on tubing 48' may then be
connPctc l there through and lLou~l- the anchor A to engage in seal bore
packer 48 to c~ lv~ l flow from cased well bore WB to the earth's surface
2~.~79~6
13
separately from lateral bore 47. As shown, a separate packer conduit
- con-ll-tt~ flow from the lateral well bore. In the absence of a multi-string
packer 49, production from the lateral well bore 47 may be brought to the
earth's surface via the 9nnll1~r space between the production tubing and
S the casing C of the cased well bore.
Another alternative is to omit the mnltj st~inE packer 49 and employ
the packer anchor form of Fig. 13. It then provides a seal bore packer and
the pro~ n tubing 48' may be sealably engaged within the bore of the
tubular body B of the anchor. The seal 80 and the packer P seal off the well
10 bore below the packer anchor for flow through the pro~lllct;nn string to the
earth's surface.
Where there is no need to msin~nin the flow from the cased well bore
separate from the flow from a lateral well bore, they remain in
co~n~ ic-st;~n for flow to the earth's surface.
lS In some in~tsnces it may be desirable to drill a plurality of lateral
well bores from the same well cased bore WB, and in selected varying
di~oelions or elevations. In such ~it~ls~;~.nc, the ~ p~lo~ is retrieved after
the drill string is ~v~v.vd from drilling a lateral well bore, and the
Ftoc~ and ori~nt~t;~n sleeve of the shaft ~ çne~eed to enable the
:~ vvop~ting surfaces on the ~.h l~ul"~L and o~ t?l:~n sleeve ofthe shaft to
be ~ e ~ from each other.
To ~cc~ h this, the lock sleeve 34 is removed. The oriçntst;on
Dleeve of the shaft and whipDtock can then be manip~ ted to tli~en~ee
their lee~ev~i~a coope~ ~;n~ E-~ f~,r~E, which in the ~.mhollim~nt, shown are
25 keysandhv,.. ~,~D.
The G- en~tiv ~ of the surface, or slot 8 in the anchor A i8 known
from previous drilling, or the survey may be reconducted. With the
information from the ~.~.;0~8 survey or a new survey, relative rotation
~t~ ., the w_ipstock and the olientst;~n sleeve 31 of the shaft is effected
30 and then the keys and h~.ayD on the ~.l.i~slock and or;en~Ptjon sleeve
ec~ r~led so that the ~,h;pulorL will face in the desired direction when
~ec~cd in the anchor to enable the lateral well bore to be drilled in such
desired di,e_~ion.
The ~,l,.;p~lc.~L is then lelv..~red into the well bore and reingaged in
36 the anchor for drilling the next lateral well bore. This procedure may be
r~ d to drill whrh.ci. nu~el of lateral well bores as desired a-nd in
~.l,at~.. s~le_~?d direct;~n~.
' ~i 2t.~7~36
14
If the elevation of the additional lateral well bores drilled from the
cased well bore is to vary, then the length of the extension 28 on the
whipstock may be varied acco.Lngly to space the ~.l~ip~locl~ lon~itll~lin7 lly
from the anchor A and any other laterals as desired such as lateral 47 as
5 shown in Fig. 15 to drill the additional laterals .
Fig. 15 illustrates two lateral well bores drilled from the cased well
bore WB. Like numerals are applied to corresponding components as
previously described.
In Fig. 7 the shaft formed by the latch mandrel 30 and orienting
10 sleeve 31 is sr-he~Al rAlly illustrated as secured with and depçsul;ng from
the whipstock 27 and a well string 53 is latched with the whipstock. The
well string 53 may be employed to retrieve the WhipEt-.-C-l' and in some
;n~ it may be desh ~l, to lower the ~.l.ip~lo~ on a well string 53 to
secure the whipstock in the anchor, release the well string from the
15 whip-tQ---L-, retrieve the well string then lower a drill string into the cased
well bore to drill the lateral well bore, retrieve the drill string and then
retrieve the ,. h;~,~ t~, L
Coope.ati.~g latch arrangements, one form of which is shown in
Figs. 8-11 illcl~ , is le~ ~d to generally at 77 on the well string 53, and
:~ ~ofe.,~d to generally at 78 on the ..' ~ 1 27 . The coope.ating latch
arrang~- ~o~ts 77 and 78 enable the ~.Li~locl, and a well string to be
~e!~ ly e.l~d for lo..e.;~lg the ~.h;p~lt~L into the anchor by a well
string, to enable the well string to be ~"A~;p~l~terl to be r~ ed lhc.~fiom
after the ~.h;~lv~ L is latched in the anchor and retrieved and to enable the
25 well string to be lo..o~d and ~,hl~d with the ~.h;~ t~L to retrieve it.
The coope ati.lg latch arrangements on the well string and the
..- p~ l also f lr~lee the ~;h;p~lJ?rL to be engaged and l,qt---h~d with the
well string by l~-.L;~V~ mellt. It also ~ eE the well string to be
~linenGP~ge~l from the whipEt~L- by right hand rotation of the well string
30 which avoids left hand ro1~Lon and the ~ t pofl~ihility of u~ lrcading
the well e,tring in the well bore.
The coopc.ali~" latch al~ ..,ent on the ~ lorL comprises an
~~ 56 in the ..' ~ which çYte 1l~ down from the face 26 of the
..l.;~u/c.rL with lLleads 57 formed thereon as shownin Figs. 8, 9, 10, and
36 11. .
The COOpC~aLing latch al.al~gement on the well string 53 includes an
9.nn~ r col.nter bore 58 exte- lling from the upper end 59 of a
c;r~fc~e,llial slot 60. The co..l~te~ bore 58 forms or provides an outer
2~ 7!~6
'
stnnuls r circular portion 61 with a lower end 62 that termin~s7te~ in spaced
relation to the lower end, shown in dotted line at 63, of the c;,c~fe.enlial
slot on the well string 53.
A latch reprçsentod at 65 has an slnm~lslr body 66 that slidably fits
5 within the COlultC. bore 58. Ci~ ~e.elllially spaced members 67 extend
from the body toward the lower end 63 of slot 60. The memhers 67 have an
enlargement 67a fldi,flcent their lower ends with threads 68 on the
enl~n~rnte, which II,.eads are configured to engage with threads 57 on
the ~ uln L as will be described.
The well string inrllt(lçs longitudinal keys 69 thereon as shown in
Fig. 12 which extend longit~linAlly bel~.een mçmhars 67 ftdjSlcçnt the
enl~menls 67a, as shown in dotted line and solid line, to ~.~v~ent relative ; 'l~taLon between the well string 53 and the mçmhars 67. This çnslhlçs latch
65 on the well string and the well string to be rotated ~imllltsn.oously to
ca~ v the well string from the ~ lorL when desired.
The back surface 70 of the enlargements 67a on mamhers 67 is
shown as being la~c~ed in the Figs. 8 and 9 form to c~7r~n with the taper
71 on enlarged portion 72 on the well 6tring form of Fig~. 8 and 9.
The back ~urface 70 of the enlalg~ellts 67a on members 67 is
shown in fln sll~, .*t~s form in Figs. 10 and 11 as a generally flat surface -
configured to conf~ with the enlarged, generally flat surface 74 on the
well string form shown in Figs. 10 and 11.
When a well string 63 is to lower the whipEto~ lr into the well bore,
the latch ~lg~c.-l thereon iB connected with the latch a~ gement on
~; the whipstock at the earth's surface and the well string and whipstock are
lo..e ed into the well bore c~ -rc~l together as shown in Fig. 7 to secure
the shaft in the anchor A, in a ~..A~ I' as pl~.iO. ~ly described herein.
When it is desired to release from the ~ ~lorL~ the well string iE~
rotated to the right and moved up.. ar.lly enough to assure that the end 59 of
the cv- t bore 58 does not abut the top 86 of the latch body 66 and p.~ e.,t
u~ o.èmcnt of the latch as it unthreads from the ~ of L . The
well string i~ not moved to contact the back ~--. r~ c~ on the enla-gvmvnls
67a as such contact would prevent proper relea~e bel~.vcn the coope~alil,g
latch ~.~gv ~énls on the well string and the ~ 'L
36 When the well string 53 is lowered to engage with the ~. l,ip~l~ck, it is
pushed lon~t~ in~lly into the opçning 56 on the ~ lo~, which in the
~mh~;.];...~ , shown eYl md~ down from the face 26 of the whip6tQc~, and
end 62 of circular portion 61 con~e the top thread in the ~ toc~
, ' ~ ' ''-;~ ;'
:
Z~ 6
16
opening, as seen in Figs. 9 and 11. The top 86 of the latch cont~~tC the upper
end 59 of the slot 60, and this pushes the threads 68 of the latch into the
threads 57 in the whipstock. Since the latch is moved up in the slot 60 as
shown in Figs. 9 and 11, there is clearance for the circumferentially spaced
5 m~mh~rs 67 to flex to the left as viewed in the IlldWil~ to enable them to
flex and engage with the threads 57 on the ~.L",~Iock as shown in Figs. 8
and 10 to then be held in such position by engagement of the enlarged
surface 72 and 74 in Figs. 8 and 10 .~"c~lively surface of the well string
when it is pulled up..&rdly as shown in Figs. 8 and 10..
Snffi~ent pull is exerted to shear the frangible memhçrs 35a shown
in Fig. 5 to release the latch from the anchor. Second surface 27b on the
latch l.-and~al 30 of ~e shaft engages the bottom 52 of the latch to retrieve
the latch with the ~ o. L from the well bore.
A centralizer 95 may be positioned on the well string 53 to assist in
15 guiding the well string 53 to latch a ~.Lipslock in the anchor and to guide
the well string into l~trl.;..g relation with the whipstock anchored in the
well bore for ret~;e.al thereo~ ~-
The ~c reg~;l.g disclosufe and do~c.;~lion of the invention are
illu~ tive and eYpl~n,qtory thereof, and various changes in size, shape ;~
:~ and m~ter~ as well as in details of the illustrated construction may be
made ~ ;U~UL depD. I~U from the spirii of the invention.
:
::
