Whipstock orientation system and method

Abstract

A whipstock assembly and method of operation is disclosed that automatically orients itself within a wellbore to a known first rotational position. The whipstock assembly is mounted on bearings that permit free rotation of the whipstock assembly within the wellbore. Due to gravitational forces, the eccentric weight load of the whipstock will automatically orient itself on the low side of the wellbore. Most wellbores are angled and the angle, azimuth, depth and other information about the wellbore is known so that the operator will know what position the whipstock assembly will automatically assume. A lower orientation section of the whipstock assembly is clamped into that first rotational position such as by a lower packer and/or slips. The whipstock is then rotated to the desired orientation by reciprocating the wellbore string. The whipstock is then clamped into the desired rotational position by activating an upper packer and/or slips. The running tool is removed and drilling or milling can be initiated. After the new wellbore is completed, the whipstock assembly can be retrieved from the wellbore or relocated to a different borehole depth to be used to drill or mill another new borehole section.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for orientating a whipstock in a selectable direction, said method comprising: 
 utilizing a wellbore string for positioning a whipstock assembly containing said whipstock at a depth within a borehole section that is angled in a known direction;    providing that said whipstock assembly is initially free to rotate within said borehole such that a weighted portion of said whipstock assembly is automatically oriented by gravitational forces in a first rotational position.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 affixing an orientation section of said whipstock assembly with respect to said borehole; and    rotating said whipstock with respect to said orientation section to a second rotational position.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 affixing said whipstock with respect to said borehole in said second rotational position.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said step of affixing said whipstock comprises setting a packer.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising 
 engaging a radially moveable member with respect to said borehole to thereby affix an orientation section of said whipstock assembly in said first rotational position.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing that said whipstock assembly is rotatable independently from said wellbore string.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 releasing said whipstock assembly from said wellbore string,    initiating drilling of a first new borehole section using said whipstock assembly,    reattaching said wellbore string to whipstock assembly, and    repositioning said whipstock assembly at a second desired depth for drilling a second new borehole section.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 affixing an orientation section of said whipstock assembly by setting a packer.    
     
     
         9 . A method for orientating a whipstock in a selectable direction, said method comprising: 
 positioning a whipstock assembly containing said whipstock at a depth within a borehole;    affixing an orientation section of said whipstock assembly with respect to said borehole in a first rotational position; and    rotating said whipstock with respect to said orientation section to a second rotational position.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 affixing said whipstock with respect to said borehole in said second rotational position responsive to receiving a signal with at least one transducer in said whipstock assembly.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said step of rotating further comprises: 
 reciprocally moving a wellbore tubular string a selected number of reciprocal strokes.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each said reciprocal stroke is translated into a specific amount of rotation of said whipstock.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each of said steps of affixing comprise setting a packer.  
     
     
         14 . A method for orientating a whipstock in a selectable direction, said method comprising: 
 positioning a whipstock assembly containing said whipstock at a depth within a borehole section with a wellbore string; and    reciprocally moving a wellbore string a selected number of reciprocal strokes such that each said reciprocal stroke is translated into a known amount of rotation of said whipstock.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 providing that said whipstock assembly is initially freely rotatable within said borehole section such that gravitational forces move said whipstock assembly to a first rotational position.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 affixing an orientation section of said whipstock assembly in said first rotational position.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 detecting a signal with said whipstock assembly to initiate said step of affixing.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 utilizing compressed gas for said step of affixing.    
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 affixing said whipstock with respect to said borehole at a second rotational position.    
     
     
         20 . A whipstock assembly for use in a wellbore, comprising: 
 a whipstock with a guide surface;    an orientation section;    a rotational connection between said whipstock and said orientation section; and    one or more radially moveable members secured to said orientation section, said one or more radially moveable members being radially moveable from a nonengaged position with respect to said wellbore to an engaged position with respect to said wellbore for affixing said orientation section in a first rotational position.    
     
     
         21 . The assembly of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 one or more second radially moveable members secured to said whipstock, said said one or more second radially moveable members being radially moveable from a nonengaged position with respect to said wellbore to an engaged position with respect to said wellbore for affixing said whipstock in a second selectable rotational position.    
     
     
         22 . The assembly of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 a mechanical motion translator for translating reciprocal movement of said wellbore string into rotational movement of said whipstock with respect to said orientation section.    
     
     
         23 . The assembly of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 a transducer attached to said whipstock assembly for receiving a signal.    
     
     
         24 . The assembly of  claim 20 , further comprising 
 a container for compressed gas.    
     
     
         25 . A whipstock assembly for use in a wellbore, said whipstock assembly being moveable to a selectable depth with a wellbore string, said whipstock assembly comprising: 
 a whipstock with a guide surface;    one or more bearings mounted with respect to said whipstock assembly such that said whipstock assembly is rotatable with respect to said wellbore,    a heavy side of said whipstock assembly, said heavy side being automatically positioned by gravity in a first rotational position.    
     
     
         26 . The whipstock assembly of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 one or more radially moveable members secured to said whipstock assembly, said one or more radially moveable members being radially moveable from a nonengaged position with respect to said wellbore to an engaged position with respect to said wellbore.    
     
     
         27 . The whipstock assembly of  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 one or more transducers for receiving a signal, said one or more radially moveable members being radially moveable in response to said signal.    
     
     
         28 . The whipstock assembly of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 an orientation section, and    a selectably rotational connection between said whipstock and said orientation section.    
     
     
         29 . The whipstock assembly of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 a compressed gas chamber.    
     
     
         30 . A whipstock assembly for use in a wellbore, said whipstock assembly being moveable to a selectable depth with a wellbore string, said whipstock assembly comprising: 
 a whipstock with a guide surface;    a first set of one or more radially moveable members secured to said whipstock assembly, said one or more radially moveable members being radially moveable from a nonengaged position with respect to said wellbore to an engaged position with respect to said wellbore; and    a second set of one or more second radially moveable members secured to said whipstock assembly, said one or more second radially moveable members being radially moveable from a nonengaged position with respect to said wellbore to an engaged position with respect to said wellbore, said first set of one or more radially member and said second set of one or more second radially moveable members being independently operable for moving from said nonengaged position to said engaged position.    
     
     
         31 . The assembly of claim  30 , further comprising: 
 one or more transducers for receiving one or more signals, said first set of one or more radially moveable members and said second set of one or more second radially moveable members each being operable responsively to receiving said one or more signals.    
     
     
         32 . The assembly of claim  30 , further comprising: 
 one or more compressed gas chambers.