Patent ID: 9441420
Filing Date: 2016-09-13
CPC Classification: E21B

Claim Text:
1. A method of branching a lateral wellbore from a primary wellbore comprising: a. providing a drill bit assembly having a body with one or more cutting elements disposed thereon and a selectively deployable pilot bit; b. inserting the drill bit assembly into the primary wellbore; c. excavating a groove in a formation on a lateral side of the primary wellbore; d. pulling back the drill bit assembly up the wellbore and away from the groove; e. deploying the pilot bit; f. repeating the steps of excavating and backing off until a desired offset angle is achieved from forming the lateral wellbore; g. engaging the groove with the pilot bit; and h. rotating the drill bit assembly, so that the pilot bit guides the drill bit assembly into excavating contact with the groove and in an orientation for forming the lateral wellbore.