Retrievable whipstock anchor assembly

Abstract

A retrievable whipstock/anchor assembly is used to allow drilling of additional wellbores from an original or primary wellbore (which may be a highly deviated or horizontal open wellbore). The retrievable whipstock assembly is comprised primarily of two sections, an anchor section and a whip stock section. The anchor section provides resistance to compression and rotation forces, and provides rigidity for the whipstock. The whipstock provides a support face for drilling the additional wellbores. The whipstock can be oriented radially to allow drilling at any radial angle, and can be set at any depth. Anchoring of the retrievable whipstock assembly is provided by means of an inflatable element which expands to grip the inside wall of the wellbore. Radial orientation can be provided by rotating the retrievable whipstock assembly from surface or other means until the whipstock is at the desired orientation. Radial orientation can also be provided by an orienting guide in the top of a lower completion into which the retrievable whip stock assembly can be landed. In accordance with an important feature of this invention, the retrievable whipstock assembly is run-in the wellbore using a novel run-in tool while the retrievable whipstock assembly is retrieved from the wellbore by means of a novel retrieving tool, both of which attach to the whipstock. Both the run-in and retrieving tools include a novel cylindrical housing which acts as a protective shroud over the whipstock thereby precluding or minimizing damage during run-in and/or retrieval.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.