Patent ID: 8459345
Filing Date: 2013-06-11
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A whipstock assembly useful for guiding a tubular member to a location proximate to an existing well bore, the whipstock assembly including an elongated body having a longitudinal axis extending from its upper end to its lower end and an outer slide surface extending at least partially along the longitudinal axis, the outer slide surface being inclined at least partially between the upper and lower ends of the elongated body and useful to slideably engage and guide the tubular member as it moves downwardly along the elongated body, the whipstock assembly comprising; at least one cut-out formed in the elongated body; a pivotable deflector disposed at least partially within the elongated body in a retracted position and configured to be pivotable at least partially through said cut-out to a deployed position, wherein said deflector in said deployed position protrudes at least partially out of the elongated body through said cut-out, said deflector having a deflector surface, wherein when said deflector is in said deployed position, said deflector surface is at least partially inclined at an outwardly sloping angle that is greater than the incline angle of the outer slide surface of the elongated body and slideably engageable with the tubular member, said deflector in said deployed position being configured to support the tubular member while guiding it farther away from the existing well bore than the outer slide surface as the tubular member passes downwardly along the elongated body and said deflector, wherein said deflector surface is at least partially concave and said deflector is located proximate to the lower end of the elongated body, and wherein said deflector is configured to prevent the tubular member from moving out of alignment with the longitudinal axis of the elongated body when the tubular member is slideably engaged with said deflector; and at least one elongated linear-shaped pusher at least partially disposed within the elongated body and extending at least partially along the longitudinal axis thereof, said at least one pusher being engageable with said deflector and movable between first and second positions, least one pusher being configured so that its movement from said first position to said second position causes said deflector to pivot from said retracted position to said deployed position, and in said second position, said at least one pusher being configured to retain said deflector in said deployed position as said deflector supports the tubular member slideably engaging said deflector surface.