US3194327A - Method and apparatus for deflection drilling - Google Patents

Description

July 13, 1965 w. A. SMITHSON 3,194,327

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEFLEGTION DRILLlNG EAN/lu, S: .ha

I9 A fr @5 I .ul

FIG. 3 Fla. Fm.. 5 F 2 INVENTOR 'a' WAYNE A. sMlTHsoN -July 13, 1965 w. A. sMlTHsoN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEFLECTION DRILLING Filed March l. 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR. WAYNE A SMITHSON BYMI'f/f U ATTO? E.

UnitedStates Patent O 3,194,327 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEFLjECTION DRILLING Wayne A. Smithson, 2865 Torito Road, Montecito, Calif. Filed Mar. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 262,051 8 Claims. (Cl. 175-61) This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for deflection drilling and more particularly to a novel whipstock and method of using the same for directional drilling in oil well bore holes.

In conventional deflection drilling operations, a tool known as a whipstock is used. This whipstock comprises an elongated tubular section having a tapered sidewall or wedge'and upper collar portion, the part of the tube opposite the sidewall wedge being open. The arrangement is such that the collar portion of the whipstock may be secured about the end of a drill pipe string and the whipstock lowered into a bore hole. The whipstock is then set in a desired position such that it will cam the drilling bit body and drill bit to one side thereby forming a deflected hole, commonly referred to as a ratholef Since the drill bit employed for forming the rathole is necessarily smaller in diameter than a conventional drilling bit in order that it may pass through the whipstock collar, the rathole itself is of smaller bore diameter. Thus, to commence drilling in the rathole with conventional drilling equipment, it is first necessary to ream out or enlarge the diameter of the rathole. Accordingly, after the rathole,has been drilled for a certain distance, the drill pipe string is raised along with the whipstock and a reaming tool is then inserted on the end of the drill pipe string. The drill -pipe string is then lowered into the bore hole andthe reaming tool will ream out the ratholel to normal size. The drill pipe string is then raised again to the surface and conventional drilling equipment substituted for the reaming tool. Drilling in the direction of the deflected hole can then proceed in the usual manner.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that when a conventional whipstock is used, the drill pipe string must be pulled out of the bore hole several times to change the drill bit to a smaller drill bit, then to a reamer tool, then back to the conventional drill bit. Pulling the entire drill pipe string Vfrom a bore hole especially a deep hole of the order 6,000 or 7,000 feet is extremely` time consuming and thus very costly to oil well operators.

With the foregoing in mind, it is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel deflection drilling method and apparatus in which a deflected hole or rathole may be rearned immediately after the Vdrilling of the rathole Without the necessity of removing the drill pipe string, to the end that one complete round trip in and out of the bore hole is avoided.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved orienting method and means usable with the novel whipstock structure of this invention for facilitating the orientation of a whipstock so that a deflected hole may be initiated in a desired direction.

Briefly, these and many other objects of this invention are attained by employing the whipstock itself as a reaming tool so that after a rathole has been formed, the whipstock which is already in the bore hole may be used as the reaming tool for reaming out the deflected bore. By this arrangement, raising the entire drill pipe string to attach a conventional reaming tool is avoided.

The method of the invention thus contemplates the steps of lowering a whipstock secured to a drill bit body and drill bit on the end-of a drill pipe string to a given position in a bore hole; releasing the drill bit body from the Ywhipstock so that drilling may progress through the whipstock in a deflected manner to form a deflected bore; retracting the drill bit body and drill bit sufliciently to reengage the whipstock; and, then drilling the deflected bore with the whipstock itself as the drilling tool. Further ice steps of the method include controlling fluid flow to pass through the conventional drill bit body when the whipstock is being employed to cam the drill bit body and drill bit in a direction to form the deflected bore and diverting this flow to pass through the whipstock when the whipstock is being used as a drilling tool. The invention also contemplates an orienting step in combination with the foregoing steps so that the deflected bore or rathole may be deflected ina desired direction.

The preferred apparatus for carrying out the foregoing method includes a novel whipstock structure including a drilling fluid passage formed in the whipstock itself to pass drilling fluid to cutting wheels disposed on the whipstock adjacent its lower end. The whipstock also includes first and second locking means for securing the whipstock to the drill bit body for longitudinal movement with the drill bit body. Also provided are coupling means for preventing relative rotation between the whipstock tool and the drill bit body so that the whipstock tool may be rotated by the drill bit body when the whipstock is being used as a reaming tool.

In the operation of the apparatus, the whipstock is secured to the drill bit body by the first locking means until it is properly oriented and set in a desired position in the bore hole. The first locking means is then released and the deflected drilling can take place with the whipstock guiding the drill bit as is presently done. T he drill bit body is then retracted and caused to re-engage the whipstock by means of the second locking means and then the entire whipstock structure is rotated with the drill bit body to ream out the deflected bore or rathole. When the reconnection is made between the drill bit body and whipstock, a fluid flow control means in the drill bit body diverts drilling fluid to the passage in the whipstock so that the cutting wheels on the whipstock will be properly lubricated and serve to carry debris to the surface of the bore hole during the reaming out of the rathole.

A better understanding of the foregoing method and apparatus will be had by now referring to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a side elevational View of the improved whipstock tool of this invention disposed within a bore hole, shown in cross section, preparatory to a deflection drilling operation;

FIGURE 2 is a cross section taken in the direction of the arrows 2 2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE l illustrating the apparatus for forming a deflected bore or rathole in accordance with one of the steps of the method;

FIGURE 4 illustrates a further step in the method wherein the whipstock has been re-engaged by the drill bit body and itself is being employed as a reaming tool;

FIGURE 5 illustrates a subsequent whipstock position and drill bit body when the whipstock is used as a reaming tool;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in cross section of the drill bit body and whipstock tool when in the relative positions illustrated in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a fluid flow control means illustrating the relative positions of components when the drill bit body is in the position illustrated in FIGURE 3;`

FIGURE 8 is a View similar to FIGURE 6 illustrating the relative positions of the whipstock tool and drill bit body corresponding to'those shown in FIGURE 4; and,

FIGURE 9 is a cross section taken generally in the direction of the arrows 9-9 of FIGURE 6.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, there is shown at the upper end of the drawing an oil well bore hole l@ within which there is positioned a whipstock 11. The whipstock 11 is arranged to be lowered on the end of a a drilling bit 13',

'19 forv receiving these splines.

drill pipe string 12 terminating ina drill bit body 13 shown in dotted lines within the collar of thewhipstock. The lower end of this drill bit body 13 includes' Y From the foregoing, it Vwill i b'e'fevider'it fthat a 'trip iin and out of the Vbore -hole v has been avoidedby thedej-`I Y flection method ,and apparatus as, describedsince `the similarly shown in dotted lines.' The whipstock 11 is secured to the drill bitbody 13 by aj f'rst locking means in the form of'laterallyextendin'g pins 14 and 1S. These pins partially extend: into open-V 'oings in' the wall of thecollar of the whipstock V11 asV will become (clearer. as the description proceeds. The:

Whipstock is also locked to the drill` bit body 13 Vfor roformed on the exterior Surface of the drill bit body.

'Y tation therewith by a plurality of splines`16 and 17 VWith particular referenceto FIGURE 2, four: such 'Y are provided equally circumferentially spaced about the drill bitbody 13. The inner collar portion ofV the Whiprespect thereto once ythe vlocking pins 14 vrand `15 arek released. Y Y

Drilling fluid such as mud is passed througha mud passageli) (FIGURE 2) in the drill'bit body 13 and then diverted as vwill be described in greater detail to a v splines as shown at 16 and 17 by'way of illustration fluid passage 21 illustrated in dotted lines; in thewhipf stock tool 11.I Thisuidpa'ssage dividesr and terminates at a Vpair ofpcutting wheels, one of'which is shown in the View of FIGUREl vat 22. These cutting wheels Serve the same function as Va drillb'it and as the whipstock 11 is being lowered into thebore -hole 1 0,-\drill-'" ing .fluid will normally be. circulated through the kpassage ,21 inzthe whipstoclci Y Y In "FIGURE 3, the locking pins` 14 and 15 are shown l' Vformed on the.,inside .wall `of!'thefwhit'isto'ek toolg'lIQandg-. oonnecting with the fluid passage .21.iiriV the fwhi'p'stock. A

Fluid seals Varef providedjhy' lO-frings .34 and V35A spaced below and above, respectively, ythe annular'fguidjpassa'ge ji Q blown-laterally into. they surrounding formations so that "the drill bit body 13 -is free to 'move longitudinally through the' whipstock 11.` Thus, asillustrated, 'the drill bitbody 13 has been moved free of the whipstocksog that'the Asplines 16and 17 are free of thefgroovesini the whipstock land the drill bit113 -is free to rotate ,with

the whip'stock 11 held in a stationary position to perlform its conventional deilecting operation. In' theV lower 5,

portion of FIGURE'3, it willbe noted that the drill ybit` 13"has beenemployed to forma vdeileoted bore or frathole 23. i

AftertheV rathole 23'has `been Vformed, which is of smaller diameterthan the borell), the drill piperstring f 5'0 the whipstock. VAty this point, a second locking meansin the Vform of an annular channel 24 formed inthe eX- '12 and drill bit body 13 are retracted back up through lThus, the drill bit body 13 vis againlockedto the whip-- stock bythe annular channelv24 receiving the biased pinsV 25 and 26 andV also by registration of the splines A16 and 17 vwith corresponding grooves. in the whipstock Y After this operation has been completed as shown in FIGURE 4, the entire drill pipe string 12 maybe rotated, thereby rotating the whipstock 11 so that thissw'hipstock tool Ythen functions as a reaming tool, the

cutting wheels 22 reaming out the rathole 23.

ation has been completed as'indicated'atY 27." When the detlectedV bore `23 has been completely reamedout, the

'entiredrill pipe string 12fisfremoved valong with the s whipstock 11 from' the bore` hole and conventionalV drill-4 s Vingbits secured to the end thereof and drilling them commenced through thereamed out deected bore 27 in a conventional manner.

vvllipstoclrk 'tool" itself has beenemployed `both as' adei-H ected tool-and" as a reaming,tool.''Thusgitisnot'necessa'ry toV remove 'the .entire :drill pipe.Y stiing'after the ,rathole"has Ybeen 'formed and remove the lwhipstock and then replace it. with alreamingtool.l

In the Vforegoing operatiomit is rn'ecessaryzthat drill-i' iugluid be'V passed out theend ofithe'jdrill bit 13 when the rathole is'be'ing formedV asV depicted 2in EIGURE` Vg 3. On'the'other hand, it is neeessaryythat'this'drilling fluid be diyertedfand passed Ythrough the whipstockhuid 11. are in the position shown in FIGURE VL6, the'yvhipstock -anddrillbit body 13' *areyloclied against relativelongi-if,Y Y'

tudinal movement.

' Insithis" positionthe ilui'd:passage 'Zihcomniunicatesfa with a'cylindrica'lly'shaped plunger Btl-positioned iin theVV drill -bit body 13 and provid'edwith lateral openings such as 311i s These openings are" in registration yvithlflateralif openings 32 in the .drill bit body 13;,jj VLateralopenins gfvj'V s 32 Vin turn communicatef'withva.rstsannularfpassage -33 Y 33- so that` uidxpassinggeithrough the' lateral;openings 31 Y in the plunger 30and' openings 132 injthe:drilltbitbody`v 13 will be :torcedfout the .,iluid 'passagegZ ,in 'the whipl-l stock. i Y

. With kreference still vtoIIGfUlRE 6, -itwill benoted thatf'` the lower enjd Vofzthe 'plunger 36)*includes)angulatedf' Y fluid openingsy #passing `intoga chamber, theloyverend 'j 5 'of'whichterminat'esfin arvalve seatWaffThexundeifside of the 'valve 'se'atlv is closed Voli byfafvalve headrigidlyf 1 securedtofthe" lower endof theplungergiilfas shown. 'A' Y spring' 39 normallybiases the'plunger-upwardly "sothat'j theV valvehead 38is seated on=the' v.valvefseat'137,'?thereby f blocking'tluid receiyed'within the plunger() frompa'ssii'ig through the angulated openings; 36 and Vpni'stjthe'valves'eat 37.V A pin 4G :engages theI-undersidel'of 'thefvalve head V3S tolprovideapositive loelrfagainstl 'any possible downward movement-of; the plunger-'30 and'v opening of the ',Valveseat 37-when v'diei-pin 49j is finthe ',lat'eralinwardf! Y position illustrated;` Normally,fthis pin 4 0, fis2V biased inV v an outward Vdirecti'o'n by a'tens'ion;spring41 However, l 'itis prevented from moving laterallyfoutwardly by. they engagement ,ofi itsexteriorendwith the inside Ywall of. fthe whipstockV 11; Thus, so :long as the''drill bit'V body f 13- is locked'to th'e Whipstock, rdrilling lluidV necessarily 'i 'passes inthe direction ofthe arrowsrshwn in FIGURE 6,: i

and thus will flow'V downtheV-whipstock passage 2 1'.

When the drillabitbody 13,",is? free ofv fthe l,vvhipstochV s uch -as-depictedin FIGURE/3,1 the lateral -pin` '40 is free toV move outwardly `when .'pulledlrb'ygthe tension spring 41. since the extreme endthereofis'fno; longer in 'engagez/ mentwiththe insidefsur'faceaof lthe whip'stocley'Under," j these conditions, as shown:inl'EIGUREythe valve-head 3S'mayj move downwardly against thetorce of 'the spring( i, 39'; This initial downward movementis Veifected'fby. simply' increasingthernud pressure afterthe` Vdrill; bit bodyf f has been Y. lowered through' thei -whipstoc`k Vso. that* down-al i ward movement of the'plunger30fwill-cause vtl'ieglateral "openings 31 'to move Voutof registration'with the lateral f openings 32, thereby blocking any flow of drilling fluid out through the lateral openings 32 of the drill bit body. The fluid iiow will thus be in the direction of the arrows shown in FIGURE 7 down past the valve seat 37 and to the drill bit 13.

When now the drill bit body 13 is retracted into the whipstock tool 11 into a secondlongitudinal position as depicted in FIGURE 4, the laterally biased pins and 26 illustrated in detail in the upper view of FIGURE 8 will be received within the annular channelV 24 at the upper end of the drill bit body 13,'thereby locking the drill bit body 13 to the whipstock against any longitudinal movement relative thereto. The pins 25 and 26 are at all times biased radially inwardly so that they will automatically be received within the annular groove 24 when the drill bit body 13 assumes its second position.

In the position shown in FIGURE 8, it will be noted that the lateral openings 32 are brought into registration with a second annular Huid passage 33 in the whipstock 11. It will also be noted that the plunger 3i) has returned to its upper position. This return of the plunger is effected by the spring 39 when the mud pressure is lowered after the drilling of the rathole has been completed. Further, as the drill bit body 13 is retracted into the whipstock, the pin 40 will be biased inwardly by the inside surface of the whipstock to lock under the valve head 38 and thus positively hold the plunger 30 in its upward position as shown in FIGURE 8.

From the foregoing, it will accordingly be clear that drilling fluid is always diverted through the whipstock passage 21 whenever the drill bit body 13 is in its first position as shown in FIGURE 6 or in its second position as shown in FIGURE 8. The only time that drilling iluid will be passed directly to the drill bit 1.3 will be when the drill bit body 13 is free of the whipstock 11.

In addition to the foregoing method and apparatus of deflection drilling, the instant invention also contemplates a novel orienting method and apparatus for initially positioning the whipstock in order that the deliected bore may be initiated in a desired direction. This orienting apparatus is indicated generally by the numeral 42 in both FIGURES 6 and 8 and in the cross section of FIGURE 9. Essentially, the structure includes an annular groove of semicircular shape in cross section as indicated at 43. The open face of this groove is directed upwardly and is adapted to receive a conducting ball 44. The ball 44 is free to roll to any circumferential position in the groove 43 and will normally seek a position corresponding to the low side of the bore hole.

As illustrated best in FIGURE 9, the bottom of the annular groove 43 includes a continuous contact in the form of an annular brass ring 4S, which contact is always in engagement with the ball 44. Also provided is a second circumferentially adjustable contact 46 which may be preset to any desired circumferential position on the orienting structure 42.

Two additional contacts 47 and 4S are provided in the fluid passage bore 20 as illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 8, these additional contacts being connected in series with the contacts deiined by the brass annular ring and the circumferentially adjustable contact 4d.

With particular reference to FIGURE 9, there is schematically shown a source of electrical energy in the form of a battery 49 connected by a lead 50 to the second contact 48 and also to an explosive charge 51. A return lead 52 extending from the explosive charge 51 in turn connects to the circumferentially adjustable contact 46. The wiring is such that when the ball 44 assumes a position to engage the contact 46 it will connect this contact to the annular brass ring 4S thereby closing these two contacts. If now the additional contacts 47 and 48 are connected together, a circuit will be completed through the battery to detonate the explosive charge 51.

In the operation of the overall system, the whipstock 11 is assembled to the drill bit body 13 at the surface of the bore hole. The spline and groove connections will prevent relative rotation of the whipstock 11 with respect to the drill bit body 13 as already described and the partially extending pins 14 and 15 will in turn prevent relative longitudinal movement between the whipstock 11 and drill bit body 13. Assume, for the sake of illustration, that if it is desired to deflect the hole 1t) to the right such as indicated in FIGURES l, 3, 4, and 5. It is rst assumed that a slight deiiection to the right has already occurred with respect to the bore hole 10 so that the lefthand wall of the bore hole represents the low side of the hole. In order that the whipstock 11 be oriented in the position illustrated in FIGURES 1, 3, 4, and 5 to deflect the drill bit to the right, the circumferentially adjustable contact 46 will be positioned on the orienting apparatus 42 so that the rear side of the whipstock 11 falls directly underneath the contact. In other words, when the contact 46 is in the position illustrated in FIGURE 9, the open face of the whipstock will be directed to the right as indicated by the arrow.

After the foregoing adjustment has been made and thev whipstock secured to the drill bit body, the whipstock and drill bit body are lowered on the end of the drill pipe string into the bore hole 10. During this operation, drilling liuid is passed through the drill pipe string 12 and internal liuid passage 2i) of the drill bit body 13 and thence out the lateral openings 31 and 32 in the plunger and drill bit body 13 to the mud passage 21 as described so that this duid will circulate out the end of the whipstock.

When the whipstock engages the bottom of the bore hole or the point in the bore hole at which a deflection is to be made, the operator at the surface of the bore hole will drop the conducting bar or equivalent object 53 through the drill pipe string so that it will close the contacts 47 and 48. Unless the ball 44 happens to be in engagernent with the contact 46, nothing will occur. The operator will then rotate the kelley fifteen degrees and then wait for five seconds or so until the ball 44 has a chance to come to rest in a position corresponding to the low side of the hole. The contact 46 will not be at the low side of the hole unless the whipstock 11 is facing in the desiredV direction which is away from the low side of the hole. Thus, the drill bit body may continue to be rotated in fifteen degree steps until the ball 44 bridges the contact 46 with the annular brass ring 4S. At this point, the circuit will be complete through the battery 49 and the explosive charges 51 will be detonated causing the pins 14 and 15 to be exploded laterally outwardly and free the drill bit body from the whipstock.

After the drill bit body 13 is released from the whipstock, the entire drill pipe string is lowered through the whipstock and the detiection drilling carried out as described in conjunction with FIGURE 3. When the drill bit body 13 is free of the whipstock, the pin 4d will be free to move laterally outwardly and will release the plunger 3@ so that fluid ow can then take place through the drill bit 13 as described theretofore.

The rathole 23 described in conjunction with FIGURE 3 is then formed and thereafter the drill pipe string is raised to raise the drill bit body 13 back into the whipstock. The drill pipe string may be rotated slightly in order to effect registration of the splines and grooves and when registration is made, the drill bit body may be retracted further to its second position wherein the spring biased pins 25 and 25 will be received within the annular channel 24. This latter second position has already been described in conjunction with FIGURE 8. In this position, it will be evident that the drill bit body is again locked to the whipstock both against longitudinal movement and rotational movement relative thereto. Also, in this second position, it should be noted that the plunger 30 is in its raised position so that fluid will again be passed through the passage 21 in the whipstock.

The entire drill pipe string may then be rotated and the whipstock 11 employed as a reaming tool as describedv in conjunction with FIGURES 4 and 5. -During this reaml ing operation, fluid iiow will bethrough the whipstock. t f

Finally, when the ratholeghas beenfcompletely reamed out, the {whipstock .andV drill bit body are raised to the surface of the bore hole and conventional drilling ,equipment substituted therefor. The ldeflected bore may'then continue to be drilled in a conventional mannere ,l Y From .the foregoing description, it will be evident that the present inventionrhasnprovided afrmethodand appa,-

ratus in which a roundtrip in and out ofthe borehole hasy been completely avoided. Accordingly, a consider-f able savings in time, labor, andeXpense is realized." Y

`tool when, said drilllbit body lisin saidiirst `and second;V

longitudinali positionsfrandV for. blocking fluidfrom'said iluid passage insaid whipstock tool V:andpassing"saidvuid Y down throughsaid drill bit body'. toY said Vdrilljbit whennsaidf drill bit body isV free offsaidwhipstoclfool,L4 whereliyV a) lj deiiected hole may Ybe drilled Vby saidv drillbit' after releasing said?irst'loclingfrneanslso that lsaid .whipsto'ckg tool is stationary andguides said'drillbitina given' direc-7 tion, and whereby' said .drillbit gbod'ymayl. be'retractedjjto K' re-engage said ywhipstocktool"`when saiddrillgbitV body is Whilefonly one form of the inventionhas Vbeen Y shown and described, itwill be evident to those skilled'.

in the artthat manyV equivalentrcomponents and steps.

coul-d be employed. The method and apparatusy are there! fore not to be thought of Vas limited to the. exact steps and structure set'forth Vmerely for illustrative purposes. 'f

,What is Vclaimed is: Y 1. A method vof vdeflection drilling lwith a whipstock,

' in said second positionf so thatx saidfwhips'tock 'toolmay'v Y -be rotated .andgloweredVV into. said deflected hole' to; causeV said cuttingv l throughoutsubstantiallytits entire length. i

'2G'V including the steps of; lowering Vsaid whipstock Von the Y end of a drill bit body connected toV a pipe string; orienting the position'of said whipstock by rotating said pipe' string 1 to rotate said whipstock so that said ydeliection,drillingV will `extend in apre-determinedY direction; releasingV said whipstock fronrsaid drill Vbit body;v urging said drill bit body through `said whipstockgto drill `a deilected hole while said whipstock is stationary; circulatingY drilling fluidY v through said drill'bit body during the drilling of `said deflected hole; pulling up on'VV said drill bit body to re-engage saidrwhipstock; lockingsaidwhipstock to saiddrill jb'it".

body, for rotation and longitudinal movement'therewithj` diverting said drillinguid to .pass through said'whipstock-g.

and rotating and 'lowering said whipstock by said drill pipe string to ream out said dellected holerthroughout sub-"iV stantially its entire length'with said Whipstock functioning as a drill bit.,

' 2. 'An apparatus for Vuse withY a drillbit body and, drill;

4. AnV apparatusfaccording' to claim 3,?'iniw`nic'zh.saidr first lo'ckingmeans' 'comprises'xfpins ''extendirig?.laterallyi fromsaid drill bitfbodyg'saidwhipstock tool having lateral 1 openings for receiving the exposedends of said pinsf Y j 5. An apparatusgaccordingto claim 4,ingwhi'chsaid@` Y releasing meansincludes explosivechargespositionedfin said drill bit body behind said pins; and means forzdetonat-` ing ,said charges to blow ,said .pins ,laterally completelyg- .throughsaidopeningsfinlsaid whipsto'ekgtooll;`

Second lo'ckinglmeansincludles an `annularfchannel orrried'` y pins onV said whipstock-tooladapted'to-snapintolsaidchannelwhenL juxtaposed thereto,-said second Ylongitudin'alpositionbring-y ,juXtaposition,YY saidvggdrill bitbodyrbeing` in'. a higher position re'lative tofsaidzwhipff storclrY tool whenyin saidseeond position thanwheniri Ysaid 'f about said bit body fandV laterally; biasetlf;locking,V

ingy said Achannel` and pinsinto bit on vthe end of a drillV pipe string, comprising, in combination: a Whipstock tool havingl cutting wheel means ad-k jacent to its lower end; means for locking said whipstock in a stationary position to guide said drill bit body; and

-means for relocki'ngsaid whipstock tool to Vsaidv drill bit Y body so thatsaid cutting wheel means onsaid whipstock` Y tool can be used as a drillingrtool to ream out said Vde-5 flected hole throughout substantiallythe entire length of Y said detlected\hole,1said whipsto'ck `tool including a drill- Y ingzuid passage and said drill bit body'rinclu'ding fluid owY control v means for diverting drilling uid intoY said fluid passage when said whipstock'tfool-is-locked; tosaid Vdrill bit Vbody and for directing fluid out said drill bit VwhenV said drill bit body is freetof said ,whipstockg 3.`An apparatus for deflection drilling for use witha drillbit body and drill bit securedv to the end of a pipe string, comprising, in' combination: a whipstock tool hav-` ing Va iluid passage therein andrcutting wheel means ad-t jacent toits lower end; couplingmeans comprisinglongi-v tudinal splines and grooves on said `drill bit body-fand Whpstocktool respectively for coupling said 'whips'tock `tool to said drill bit body; meansfor releasingfsaid Whip-a stock tool from said drill bit'boidy sothat drilling may proceed to form a deected .hole with said whipstocl; tool, i

tool to said drillbit body for'rotation therewith;V lirst'loclt-L Vingmeansfor securing said whipstock toolV to said drill bit body for longitudinal movement therewith when said Y drill bit body is inV a first longitudinal position relative to said whipstocktool; releasing means for said lirst-,Vlockv ing means; second locking means responsive to a second` longitudinal position of said drill bit body relative tosaridV whipstock tool for securing said whipstock tool to saidk drill bit body for longitudinal movement therewith, said splinesrand grooves locking said drill bit body andfwhip-V stocktool'for rotation together when said drill Vbitbody is in said rst longitudinal position and said second .longitudinal position; `and drilling fluid tlow control means inV f7. Anjappar'atusac'cording'toclaim'"3,-Lin wliich'saidi drillingy Vfluid controllmeans includes "a :plunger` Ahaving lateral openings andldisposed withinsaid'drill bit body, Y said drill bit lbodyl'haying later-al parts communicating with f said uid passage 4said.'.whip's'tockitooljandf;registering 4 with saidl lateralV openings linY` said'.V plunger when said plunger istl ina iirstposition; means holding said-"plunger groove semi-circularly shaped Yirr-Vcrossseetionr fwitli;V its openf face 'directed upwardly; L,af-conducting-.ball adapted` l to, rollin Asaid groove; anV annular .contact inf; engagement'k with saidrball-,at,alltimesga circumferentially adjustableV Y contact'positionable to.y be jengaged -.by; saidballwhenjn# a givencircumferential fpositionzdefined by'nthellowerside of saidhbore.holegadditional contacts ,in .series with-said?" annular and'circurnferentially'adjustablecontactsyandan; electricall Asource 'connected toY said frexplo'sive'charges z: through'said contacts soj that'said explosivecharges will be detonated when said ball is in said giyencircumfjerential position and said 'additional contacts are `closed to'relyease Vsaid wl-iipstocl;tool.V ,Y 1;

VYR referencedCitedhythe;Enainiiierit` Y i UNITEDPSTATES parlerais 1 5^ '2,108,419

EENJAMIN Hansa," Prinimi- Exammerl'f wheelfmeans'to rea'mout said deliectedliole Y. il

Claims (2)

1. A METHOD OF DEFLECTION DRILLING WITH A WHIPSTOCK, INCLUDING THE STEPS OF: LOWERING SAID WHIPSTOCK ON THE END OF A DRILL BIT BODY CONNECTED TO A PIPE STRING; ORIENTING THE POSITION OF SAID WHIPSTOCK BY ROTATING SAID PIPE STRING TO ROTATE SAID WHIPSTOCK SO THAT SAID DEFLECTION DRILLING WILL EXTEND IN A PRE-DETERMINED DIRECTION; RELEASING SAID WHIPSTOCK FROM SAID DRILL BIT BODY; URGING SAID DRILL BIT BODY THROUGH SAID WHIPSTOCK TO DRILL A DEFLECTED HOLE WHILE SAID WHIPSTOCK IS STATIONARY; CIRCULATING DRILLING FLUID THROUGH SAID DRILL BIT BODY DURING THE DRILLING OF SAID DEFLECTED HOLE; PULLING UP ON SAID DRILL BIT BODY TO RE-ENGAGE SAID WHIPSTOCK; LOCKING SAID WHIPSTOCK TO SAID DRILL BIT BODY FOR ROTATION AND LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT THEREWITH; DIVERTING SAID DRILLING FLUID TO PASS THROUGH SAID WHIPSTOCK; AND ROTATING AND LOWERING SAID WHIPSTOCK BY SAID DRILL PIPE STRING TO REAM OUT SAID DEFLECTED HOLD THROUGHOUT SUBSTANTIALLY ITS ENTIRE LENGTH WITH SAID WHIPSTOCK FUNCTIONING AS A DRILL BIT.

2. AN APPARATUS FOR USE WITH A DRILL BIT BODY AND DRILL BIT ON THE ENDK OF A DRILL PIPE STRING, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A WHIPSTOCK TOOL HAVING CUTTING WHEEL MEANS ADJACENT TO ITS LOWER END; MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID WHIPSTOCK TOOL TO SAID DRILL BIT BODY; MEANS FOR RELEASING SAID WHIPSTOCK TOOL FROM SAID DRILL BIT BODY SO THAT DRILLING MAY PROCEED TO FORM A DEFLECTED HOLE WITH SAID WHIPSTOCK TOOL IN A STATIONARY POSITION TO GUIDE SAID DRILL BIT BODY; AND MEANS FOR RELOCKING SAID WHIPSTOCK TOOL TO SAID DRILL BIT BODY SO THAT SAID CUTTING WHEEL MEANS ON SAID WHIPSTOCK TOOL CAN BE USED AS A DRILLING TOOL TO REAM OUT SAID DEFLECTED HOLE THROUGHOUT SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF SAID DEFLECTED HOLE, SAID WHIPSTOCK TOOL INCLUDING A DRILLING FLUID PASSAGE AND SAID DRILL BIT BODY INCLUDING FLUID FLOWE CONTROL MEANS FOR DIVERTING DRILLING FLUID INTO SAID FLUID PASSAGE WHEN SAID WHIPSTOCK TOOL IS LOCKED TO SAID DRILL BIT BODY AND FOR DIRECTING FLUID OUT SAID DRILL BIT WHEN SAID DRILL BIT BODY IS FREE OF SAID WHIPSTOCK.

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