Baker International Inc.

Arvin E Holland

Alfred R Curington

Douglas C Wright

John R Baker

A method is provided for the angular orientation of a whipstock having an arcuate tool directing face and a whipstock anchor in a packer which is installed in a well, the packer and the anchor having longitudinally extending cooperable key elements engageable when the anchor is assembled in the packer. The angular disposition of the key element in the packer relative to polar coordinates is determined by a downhole survey. The whipstock is assembled on the whipstock anchor outside the well with the whipstock being angularly adjustable relative to the whipstock anchor about an axis that will be coincident with the conduit axis. The angular position of the whipstock in the whipstock anchor is adjusted to the desired angular displacement relative to the whipstock anchor key element. The whipstock is fixed in the adjusted position in the whipstock anchor and the whipstock anchor is lowered with the whipstock attached into the well to engage the key element of the whipstock anchor with the key element of the packer.

Method for setting and orienting a whipstock in a well conduit

The invention provides an improved method and apparatus for effecting the setting of a whipstock in a desired angularly oriented position in a well conduit solely by the use of a wire line but can be set on tubing or drill pipe, if desired. A packer is provided which can be expanded into sealed engagement with the casing at a desired location. The packer is provided with a key element, either a key or a key slot, and orienting elements by which a conventional well bore survey can provide an accurate indication of the angular alignment of the anchor key element. A whipstock anchor is provided incorporating a socket portion in which the whipstock may be rigidly secured and a shaft portion which is insertable within the bore of the packer and has a key element cooperating with the keyway, or key, provided in the packer. After setting of the packer in the well conduit, a survey is made to provide an accurate indication of the angular position of the packer keyway or key. The whipstock is assembled in the whipstock anchor socket and the socket is rotated relative to the shaft portion so that the arcuate face of the whipstock is positioned at a desired angular displacement from the angular position of the key element in the whipstock shaft. The whipstock shaft is then rigidly secured to the whipstock socket and the complete assembly is lowered into the well on drill pipe, or the like, and secured in the packer.

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Lafayette, LA, United States of America

Arvin E Holland