System and method for coupling a drill bit to a whipstock

A system for drilling of a lateral wellbore, the system comprising:

• a drill bit having cutting elements arranged and designed to drill at least a partial lateral wellbore through a sidewall of a wellbore and an attachment end portion for coupling to a drill string, the drill bit also having a junk channel;
• a whipstock having a face with a profile arranged and designed to guide the drill bit into the sidewall during drilling of the at least partial lateral wellbore;
• and
• a longitudinal member coupling the drill bit to the whipstock, the longitudinal member being disposed in at least a portion of the junk channel, the longitudinal member having a shear device to facilitate separation of the drill bit from the whipstock, the shear device disposed along the longitudinal member at a position proximate a top end portion of the whipstock.

A method of coupling a drill bit to a whipstock for deployment into a wellbore, the method comprising:

• coupling a longitudinal member to a shank of a drill bit, the drill bit having cutters arranged and designed to drill at least a partial lateral wellbore through a sidewall of a wellbore, the cutters supported on at least one cutter support surface, the drill bit also having a junk slot disposed proximate the at least one cutter support surface and an attachment end portion for coupling to a drill string;
• disposing at least a portion of the longitudinal member in the junk slot of the drill bit;
• and
• coupling, the longitudinal member to a whipstock, the whipstock having a face with a profile arranged and designed to guide the drill bit into the sidewall during drilling of the at least partial lateral wellbore, the longitudinal member having a shear device to facilitate separation of the drill bit from the whipstock, the shear device disposed along the longitudinal member at a position between an uppermost cutter positioned on the drill bit and the whipstock.