U.S. patent application number 10/316169 was filed with the patent office on 2004-06-10 for whipstock retrieving overshot.
Invention is credited to Beeman, Robert S., Chebret, Ed, Delgado, Steve R., Dellinger, Gary, Smith, Kenneth, Stulberg, Michael, Winterrowd, Ken W..
Application Number | 20040108739 10/316169 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32468848 |
Filed Date | 2004-06-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040108739 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Beeman, Robert S. ; et
al. |
June 10, 2004 |
Whipstock retrieving overshot
Abstract
The present invention discloses a whipstock retrieval assembly
for use in a wellbore to retrieve a downhole tool such as a
whipstock from a borehole. In one aspect, the retriever includes a
threaded barrel which is received over the tray end of the
whipstock, and a securing member, preferably a conical member,
pinches the whipstock tray portion received in the retriever
against the barrel to prevent loss of the whipstock from the
retriever as it is pulled from the borehole. In a second aspect,
the retriever assembly includes a hook which is placed in a
pre-supplied slot in the whipstock, and a shroud is deployed over
the extending end of the whipstock to provide a smooth surface to
pull the retriever and whipstock from the borehole.
Inventors: |
Beeman, Robert S.; (Bossier
City, LA) ; Delgado, Steve R.; (Houston, TX) ;
Smith, Kenneth; (Pearland, TX) ; Winterrowd, Ken
W.; (Pearland, TX) ; Chebret, Ed; (Alvin,
TX) ; Stulberg, Michael; (Angleton, TX) ;
Dellinger, Gary; (Pearland, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MOSER, PATTERSON & SHERIDAN, L.L.P.
3040 POST OAK BOULEVARD, SUITE 1500
HOUSTON
TX
77056-6582
US
|
Family ID: |
32468848 |
Appl. No.: |
10/316169 |
Filed: |
December 10, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
294/86.12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 31/18 20130101;
E21B 7/061 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
294/086.12 |
International
Class: |
E21B 031/12 |
Claims
1. A downhole tool retrieving assembly for use in retrieving
downhole tools from a bore comprising: a tool engagement member
positionable into the bore and retrievable therefrom; and a tool
security member disposed to engage with the downhole tool to ensure
retention thereof with said tool engagement member.
2. The downhole tool retrieving assembly of claim 1, wherein the
security member is selectively disengageable from the downhole
tool.
3. The downhole tool retrieving assembly of claim 1, wherein the
security member is selectively disengageable from the downhole tool
by providing a fluid to the downhole tool.
4. The downhole tool retrieving assembly of claim 1, wherein the
security member is selectively disengageable from the downhole tool
by providing a hydraulic fluid to the downhole tool.
5. The downhole tool retrieving assembly of claim 1, wherein: said
engagement member includes a hook; and the downhole tool includes a
receiving member for receipt of said hook therein.
6. The downhole tool retrieving assembly of claim 5, wherein the
receiving member is a slot extending inwardly of the downhole
tool.
7. The downhole tool retrieving assembly of claim 5, wherein said
security member further includes a shroud positionable in
conjunction with said hook to receive at least a portion of the
downhole tool therein.
8. The downhole tool retrieving assembly of claim 7, wherein: the
downhole tool is a whipstock having a tray; and a portion of said
tray is received in said shroud upon engagement of said hook with
the slot.
9. The downhole tool retrieving assembly of claim 8, further
comprising a shroud positioning apparatus to position said shroud
relative to said hook as the retrieval assembly is received on the
whipstock.
10. The downhole tool retrieving apparatus of claim 9, wherein said
positioning assembly includes: a hook base having said hook
extending therefrom; a biasing member connected at one end thereof
to said hook base and positioned intermediate said hook base and
said shroud; said shroud hingedly connected to, and arcuately
actuable about, said hook base; and said biasing member positioned
to assist said shroud to arcuately actuate about said hook
base.
11. The downhole tool retriever assembly of claim 10, wherein the
biasing member is a lever.
12. The downhole tool retriever assembly of claim 1, wherein said
tool engagement member includes a cup receivable over the downhole
tool and engageable therewith.
13. The downhole tool retriever assembly of claim 12, wherein said
tool security member includes a pinch member to engage the downhole
tool when the downhole tool is engaged by said cup.
14. The downhole tool retriever assembly of claim 13, wherein the
cup has profiles on an inside surface thereof for engaging the
downhole tool.
15. The downhole tool retriever assembly of claim 13, wherein the
cup has threads on an inside surface thereof for engaging the
downhole tool.
16. The downhole tool retriever assembly of claim 13, wherein said
cup is generally cylindrical with a longitudinal axis and said
pinch member includes a conical element positioned substantially
collinear with an axis of said cup.
17. The downhole tool retrieval assembly of claim 16, further
comprising a biasing member to relatively bias said conical member
and cup to pinch the downhole tool therebetween.
18. The downhole tool retrieval assembly of claim 17, wherein said
biasing member is disposed and engaged between said cup and said
conical member.
19. The downhole tool retrieval assembly of claim 18, wherein the
downhole tool is a whipstock.
20. A method of retrieving a downhole tool from a borehole,
comprising: providing a tool engagement member in position adjacent
to the tool; providing a tool security member; engaging the tool
with the engagment member; and securing the tool, at least with
respect to the engagement member, with the securing member.
21. The method of claim 20, further comprising retrieving the tool
from the borehole.
22. The method of claim 20, wherein: the engagement member includes
a hook; and the downhole tool includes a receiving member for
receipt of said hook therein.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the receiving member is a slot
in the downhole tool.
24. The method of claim 22, wherein the security member includes a
shroud arcuately positionable with respect to the hook.
25. The method of claim 24, further comprising: positioning the
hook adjacent the receiving member in the downhole tool;
positioning a portion of the downhole tool adjacent to the shroud;
and extending the hook into the receiving member and positioning
the portion of the downhole tool into a protected position with the
shroud.
26. The method of claim 20, wherein the engagement member includes
a cup.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein the security member includes a
pinch element.
28. The method of claim 27, further comprising: engaging the
downhole tool with the cup; and pinching the downhole tool between
the cup and the pinch element.
29. The method of claim 28, wherein engaging the downhole tool with
the cup engages profiles on an inside surface thereof with the
downhole tool.
30. The method of claim 28, wherein engaging the downhole tool with
the cup engages threads on an inside surface thereof with the
downhole tool.
31. The method of claim 28, further comprising: retrieving the
downhole tool from the borehole; and disengaging the downhole tool
from the engagement member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention is related to a downhole milling and drilling
assembly, more particularly to a downhole tool retrieval assembly,
and more particularly to a whipstock retrieval assembly having a
mechanism to enhance the likelihood of successfully retrieving the
whipstock from a downhole location.
[0003] 2. Background of the Related Art
[0004] In the drilling of oil and gas wells, lateral wellbores are
often required to form another wellbore into an adjacent formation,
to provide a perforated production zone at a desired level, to
provide cement bonding between a smaller diameter casing and the
adjacent formation, or to remove a loose joint of surface pipe. To
create the lateral wellbore, milling tools are used for removing a
section or a "window" of existing casing from a primary wellbore.
The milling tools have cutting blades and typically utilize a
diverter such as a whipstock to cause the tool to be moved
laterally while it is being moved downwardly and rotating in the
wellbore to cut an angled opening, pocket, or window in the well
casing or the borehole.
[0005] Formation of a lateral wellbore is typically performed in a
step saving manner according to the following steps: An anchoring
member or packer is set in a wellbore at a desired location below
the location where the lateral wellbore will be formed. The packer
acts as an anchor against which tools above it may be fixed in
place in the wellbore. The packer typically has a key or other
orientation indicating member, and the packer's orientation is
checked by running a tool such as a gyroscope indicator into the
wellbore. A whipstock/cutter combination tool is then run into the
wellbore and landed in the packer whereby the whipstock is oriented
in the direction of the desired lateral wellbore. The cutter is
connected to the whipstock by a shearable member, like a bolt. In
this manner, the cutter and whipstock can be run-in to the well
together, saving an additional trip. Pushing on the cutter shears
the bolt, freeing the cutter from the tool. Rotation of the string
and the cutter can then begin the formation of the lateral
wellbore.
[0006] After the whipstock has served its purpose, it typically
must be removed from the borehole. In some cases, the whipstock
will include a slot therein, into which a hook suspended on the end
of a drill string or the like is inserted. The slot is typically
provided through the wedge portion of the whipstock, adjacent to,
but spaced from, the upper terminal end of the whipstock. The hook
is then retracted up the bore, pulling the whipstock upwardly
therewith. However, it is known for the whipstock to tilt about the
hook location as it is being retracted up the bore such that the
portion of the whipstock above the hook can move radially outward
and become hung up on downhole equipment such as gas lift mandrels
and the like. Additionally, the whipstock may become otherwise
pinched or stuck in the hole. As a result, the hook can become
disengaged from the slot, or, on occasion, the hook may deform and
pull through the slot. Some whipstocks do not come equipped with a
hole for hook-based retrieval, and must be retrieved by an
alternate methodology. In this whipstock configuration, an overshot
tool having an open cylindrical treaded interior is landed upon the
upper end of the whipstock and is rotated thereon until it is
threaded over this upper end to grip the whipstock therein. The
whipstock, once received therein, is pulled from the hole. However,
as previously discussed, the whipstock can become stuck in the hole
and disengaged from the retriever.
[0007] There is a need therefore for a whipstock retrieving
apparatus and method having a greater likelihood of successfully
and easily retrieving the whipstock from the bore.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention provides methods and apparatus for
securely removing a whipstock, or other article placed or lost in a
wellbore, such that the likelihood of successful retrieval is
enhanced.
[0009] In one embodiment, the invention includes a retrieval
member, which includes a hook for engagement with a slot in the
whipstock, and a securing element, preferably a sleeve, which, when
the hook is engaged in the slot, receives the end of the whipstock
up-bore from the slot therein. Thus, as the whipstock is retrieved
upwardly on the hook, the upper extending portion thereof is
covered by the sleeve and cannot rock out to become tangled with an
impediment to retrieval located in the borehole. Once the whipstock
is retrieved, the hook is disengaged from the whipstock to free the
whipstock from the retriever.
[0010] In another embodiment, the whipstock retriever apparatus
includes an open cylindrical internally threaded member, which is
landed upon the whipstock and rotated thereover to receive the tray
end of the whipstock within the cylindrical member. The retriever
apparatus further includes an internal conical member which is
preferably disposed with and co-linearly extensible with the
centerline of the cylindrical member, and is biasable to an
extended position therein. As the retriever apparatus threads
itself onto the tray portion of the whipstock, the internal canted
surface of the whipstock is wedged between the conical outer wall
of the cone and the internal threaded surface of the cylindrical
member to securely grip the whipstock within the retriever. The
retriever can then be pulled from the bore with the whipstock
securely wedged therein. Upon removal of the tool from the well,
the cone is retracted from the gripping position to allow removal
of the whipstock from the retriever.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] So that the manner in which the above recited features of
the present invention can be understood in detail, a more
particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above,
may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are
illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however,
that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of
this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of
its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective
embodiments.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a view of a whipstock disposed in a borehole,
showing the basic features thereof;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a partial view of the whipstock of FIG. 1 rotated
ninety degrees, showing the configuration of a retrieving slot
therein;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of the
retriever of the present invention, showing the retriever
positioned adjacent to a whipstock for retrieval thereof from the
borehole;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the retriever of FIG. 3,
showing the retriever of the first embodiment engaging the
whipstock in the borehole;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the first embodiment of the
retriever as shown in FIG. 3, showing the retriever received on the
whipstock and positioned to pull the whipstock from the
borehole;
[0017] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of a
retriever of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the second embodiment of the
retriever as shown in FIG. 6, showing the retriever prior to the
engagement thereof with a whipstock in a borehole;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the second embodiment of the
retriever as shown in FIG. 6, showing the receiver engaging the
whipstock in the borehole;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the second embodiment of the
retriever as shown in FIG. 6, showing the retriever fully engaged
on the whipstock in the borehole;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view of the second embodiment
of the retriever as shown in FIG. 6; and
[0022] FIG. 11 is a front view of a shroud of the second embodiment
of the retriever as shown in FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a whipstock 100, installed in
a wellbore 101 and retrievable using the methods and apparatus of
the present invention. For purposes of illustration, the whipstock
100 preferably includes, at its upper end (defined as the end
thereof nearest the ultimate opening of the wellbore at the earth's
surface), a tray 104 that forms a wedge shape in order to cooperate
with a milling tool (not shown) to facilitate the formation of a
window (not shown) in the wellbore 101, i.e., the wedge pushes the
milling tool into the side of the wellbore and thus redirects the
wellbore in an offset direction approximately equal to the offset
between the wellbore centerline and a plane of the tray 104. The
tray 104 preferably has a terminal end 105 located at the furthest
most upward extension of the whipstock 100 in the wellbore 101, a
semi-circumferential outer surface 106 formed as a portion of a
cylinder, and an inner wall portion 108 formed as the planar
slanted portion of the tray 104 used to guide the milling tool to
create the window.
[0024] Two types of whipstocks can be used. In one case, the tray
104 includes a slot 110 (shown in FIG. 2) extending therethrough
and opening through both the outer surface 106 and the inner wall
portion 108. As shown in FIG. 2, the slot 110 includes a first,
generally semicircular, wall portion 112 located at the furthest
most position of the slot 110 from the terminal end 105, a second
generally semicircular wall portion 114 located at the end of the
slot 110 located closest to the terminal end 105, and opposed walls
116, 118 extending therebetween and slanted inwardly of the slot in
the direction of the terminal end 105. In a second style of
whipstock in use, no slot is provided for retrieval.
[0025] FIG. 3 through FIG. 5 illustrate a first embodiment of a
whipstock retriever 300 of the present invention. In this
embodiment, the retriever 300 includes a barrel 120 that is
generally a cylindrical tubular shape that can be positioned over
the tray 104 of the whipstock 100 and a pinch member 122 that is
selectively positionable to engage the inner wall portion 108 of
the tray 104. The pinch member 122 pinches that portion of the tray
104 that receives the retriever 300 between the pinch member 122
and a threaded bore 128 of the barrel 120.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 3, the retriever 300 is shown positioned
adjacent to and slightly spaced from the terminal end 105 with the
pinch member 122 fully extended within the barrel 120. The barrel
120 includes an open end 126 and the threaded bore 128 with threads
extending inwardly of the open end 126. Opposed to the open end 126
of the barrel 120 is a back cover plate 130 that includes an
attachment mechanism for connecting to a drill string 132. Within
the cylindrical envelope formed by the barrel 120 and the cover
plate 130 is provided the pinch member 122 that is preferably
conical in shape. The pinch member 122 can have a retraction
assembly 136 that is attached at one end thereof to the cover plate
130 and has a pneumatic piston bore 138 formed by the inside of a
cup 150 threaded at its open end over the pinch member 122. To form
the remainder of the piston bore 138, the cup 150 includes an
annular base 152 having a piston aperture 154 formed generally
concentrically in the center thereof and a seal 155 disposed in the
piston aperture 154. The retraction assembly 136 is actuable about
the cup 150 and includes a rod 160 extending from within the cup
150 through the piston aperture 154 in the annular base 152 and
thence into threaded engagement with a bore 131 in the cover plate
130. The rod 160 has a piston 162 received at the end thereof
disposed within the cup 150. The piston 162 is preferably a low
aspect ratio cylinder having a circular shape about its outer
circumference and a seal 166 disposed therein. Thus, a piston
chamber 168 is formed within the piston bore 138 that is bounded by
the piston 162, the annular base 152, the rod 160 extending from
the piston 162 to the annular base 152, and the inner cylindrical
surface of the cup 150. An aperture 161 in the rod 160 allows fluid
communication with the piston chamber 168 since fluid can flow
through the drill string 132 and a bore 133 that extends through
the back cover plate 130, the rod 160, and the pinch member 122. A
retainer ring 156 disposed within the piston chamber 168 prevents
the piston 162 from contacting the annular base 152 of the cup 150
thereby ensuring that the aperture 161 in the rod 160 remains open
to fluid communication. Since the end of the rod 160 extending
outwardly from the piston bore 138 is grounded against movement by
threaded engagement in the bore 131 in the cover plate 130,
pressurization of piston chamber 168 causes the cup 150, and thus
pinch member 122 threadingly attached thereto, to move along the
piston bore 138 in the direction of the cover plate 130, i.e., to
retract inwardly of the barrel 120. This can be accomplished by
increasing the fluid flow through the drill string 132 since a
choke 158 positioned in the rod 160 past the aperture 161 causes a
differential in pressure that increases the pressure of the fluid
in the piston chamber 168.
[0027] To extend the pinch member 122 away from the cover plate
130, a biasing member such as a spring 170 is located about the rod
1160 and is grounded at one end thereof in pressing contact with
the back cover plate 130 and at its other end in pressing contact
with the annular base 152. The spring 170 is sized and chosen to
provide a constant urging action of the pinch member 122 in the
direction of the open end 126 of the barrel 120.
[0028] The pinch member 122 is preferably an elongated conical
member having a conical surface 176, such that the minor diameter
178 of the pinch member 122 is located adjacent the open end 126 of
the barrel 120. The conical surface 176 is splayed at an angle
chosen to be approximately equal to the slant angle of the tray 104
of the whipstock 100. Therefore, the conical surface 176 of the
pinch member 122 is substantially parallel to the inner wall
portion 108 of the tray 104 when the threaded bore 128 is
positioned over the outer surface 106 of the tray 104.
[0029] FIG. 3 through FIG. 5 show the sequence of operation of
engaging the retriever 300 of the present invention over the
whipstock 100. Starting at FIG. 3, the retriever 300 is positioned
adjacent to and slightly spaced from the tray 104. The retriever
300 may be rotating; however, the whipstock 100 is stationary in
the wellbore 101. The drill string 132 is lowered in order to land
the retriever 300 at the tray 104, and the retriever is rotated and
if necessary moved axially in the wellbore 101 in order to obtain
entrance of the tray 104 into the open end 126 of the barrel 120 as
shown in FIG. 4.
[0030] FIG. 4 illustrates the retriever 300 moved onto the tray 104
of the whipstock 100 where the conical surface 176 can be seen to
be in a generally spaced and parallel position with respect to the
inner wall portion 108 of the tray 104. In this position, the
retriever 300 begins to grip the whipstock 100 for secure
retrieval. As the barrel 120 of the retriever 300 continues to both
rotate and move axially over the outer surface 106 of the tray 104
of the whipstock 100, the conical surface 176 engages against and
slides over the inner wall portion 108 in a rotational motion. As
this occurs, the conical surface 176 of the pinch member 122 urges
the outer surface 106 of the tray 104 received within the barrel
120 against the threaded bore 128 of the barrel 120 since the pinch
member 122, and thus the conical surface 176, are biased by the
spring 170 outwardly of the back cover plate 130 of the barrel 120.
Thus, threads on the threaded bore 128 engage and can dig into the
outer surface 106 of the tray 104, and the conical surface 176
continues to push the tray 104 against the threaded bore 128. The
tray 104 is fully received in the retriever 300 when the terminal
end 105 of the tray 104 is received adjacent the inward most
threads of the threaded bore 128 as shown in FIG. 5. This can be
detected by a change in torque resistance in the drill string 132,
a change in power input to the drill string, or by a predetermined
extension of the drill string 132 into the wellbore 101 after
landing the retriever 300 upon the whipstock 100.
[0031] The whipstock 100 may be retrieved from the wellbore 101
once the retriever 300 is positioned as shown in FIG. 5. To
retrieve the whipstock 100, the drill string is pulled from the
wellbore, and then the whipstock with the tray 104 securely pinched
between the conical surface 176 of the pinch member 122 and the
threaded bore 128 of the barrel 120 is pulled through the wellbore
to the surface. If the whipstock 100 becomes stuck in the wellbore
101 while being pulled therethrough, the retriever 300 can be
released from the whipstock by operating the retraction assembly
136 and retracting the pinch member 122 as described above. Once
the whipstock 100 is retrieved from the wellbore, it is removed
from the retriever 300 by providing compressed fluid into the
piston chamber 168 in order to urge the pinch member 122 inwardly
in the barrel 120 and thus against the bias of the spring 170. This
removes the pinch member 122 from engagement with the tray 104, and
allows the whipstock 100 to be removed from the barrel 120 of the
retriever 300.
[0032] Referring now to FIG. 6 through FIG. 9, there is shown an
additional embodiment of a retriever 300 that has particular
utility where a hole, such as the slot 110 (see FIG. 2), is
provided extending through the tray 104. In this embodiment, a hook
200 is provided as in the prior art, and an additional securing
mechanism 202 is provided to secure the hook 200 in the slot 110 in
order to prevent unintended withdrawal thereof from the slot 110 as
the whipstock 100 is retrieved by the retriever 300 from the
wellbore 101.
[0033] Referring first to FIG. 6, the retriever 300 is shown in an
exploded view. The retriever 300 generally includes an extending
rod like hook base 206 which is securable on the end of a drill
string (not shown), and having a hook 200 disposed at the free end
thereof and a securing mechanism 202 formed in part by a
rotationally positionable shroud 204 located intermediate either
end of the hook base 206 and being actuable therefrom as will be
further described herein. When in a retrieving position to pull the
whipstock 100 from the wellbore 101 as shown in FIG. 9, the hook
200 is received through the slot 110 in the tray 104 of the
whipstock 100, and the terminal end 105 of the whipstock 100 is
received between the shroud 204 and the hook base 206. Thus, as the
whipstock 100 is pulled up the wellbore 101, the shroud 204 covers
the extending portion of the tray 104 preventing interference of it
with hangers, etc. positioned in the wellbore 101.
[0034] To accomplish proper positioning of the shroud 204 for
connection of the retriever 300 to the whipstock 100 and during
retrieval, the shroud 204 is pivotally connected to the hook base
206 about a pivot pin 224 and is positioned about the axis formed
at the pivot pin 224 by the shroud positioner 210 extending between
the shroud 204 and the hook base 206. As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG.
11, the shroud 204 comprises a generally semi-cylindrical section,
having a generally semicircular inner portion 212 sized to be
located over the generally cylindrical hook base 206 (shown in
phantom in FIG. 10) and a generally cylindrical outer portion 231
configured to be received within the wellbore and opposed a pivot
end 214 and a tray receiving end 216. In operation, the pivot end
214 pivotally connects to the hook base 206, and the shroud 204
extends therefrom in the direction of the hook 200. The shroud
positioner 210 is located on the hook base 206 adjacent to and
extending between the pivot end 214 and the hook base 206.
[0035] Referring now to FIG. 6 and FIG. 10, to pivotally attach the
pivot end 214 of the shroud 204 to the hook base 206, the shroud
includes a pair of holes 218, 220 (only one of which is shown in
each of FIGS. 6 and 10) extending through the shroud wall adjacent
to the pivot end 214 and collinearly disposed. Thus, the pair of
holes 218, 220 are located in an opposed relationship on the shroud
204 by 180 degrees. The hook base 206 includes a through bore 222
over which the holes 218, 220 in the shroud 204 align such that the
pivot pin 224 may pass therethrough and be maintained in place with
cotter pins or the like (not shown). Thus, the shroud 204 may pivot
about the hook base 206 at the location of the pin 224.
[0036] To position the shroud 204 with respect to the hook base
206, the shroud positioner 210 includes a lever 226 received at one
end thereof in pivotable, yet locking, relationship with the hook
base 206. The lever 226 extends from its location on the hook base
206 and terminates a distance in the direction of the tray
receiving end 216 of the shroud 204. Preferably, the lever 226 is a
generally planar metal strip having an offset or S-shaped profile
secured at one end thereof to the hook base 206 by a fastener 211
such as a bolt, a rivet, or the like that is secured in a mating
aperture in the hook base 206. Therefore, the lever 226 extends
radially outward from the hook base 206 at a distal end portion 213
thereof. By configuring the positioner 210 with the lever 226 in
the S-shape, it has an inherent leaf spring effect at each of the
curves of the S-shape in order to cause the distal end portion 213
to naturally space itself from the hook base 206. A pin 205 extends
from the hook base facing side of the distal end portion 213 of the
lever 226 and is receivable in a bore 232 extending inwardly of the
hook base 206. A biasing member, such as a coil spring 230
surrounding the pin 205, is received in the bore 232 in the face of
the hook base 206 and is engageable with the lever 226 proximate
its distal end portion 213. The positioner with the spring 230 is
operable to allow the shroud 204 and the hook base 206 to move in a
lever motion about the pin 224 at the pivot end 214 of the shroud
204. To further ensure spacing between the inner portion 212 of the
shroud 204 and the hook base 206, a pair of pins 234, 239 can be
received in mating bores (not shown) in the hook base 206 to extend
outwardly and engage the inner portion 212 of the shroud 204 when
the shroud is pushed against the hook base 206, such as when the
retriever 300 is being lowered into the wellbore.
[0037] Referring still to FIG. 6, the retriever 300 includes a
drill string attachment end 236 extending from an end of the hook
base 206 opposite the hook 200. A shank portion 242 of the hook 200
extends generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the
hook base 206 and opposed to the generally concave portion of the
shroud 204. The shank portion 242 has a similar truncated
triangular cross section as the slot 110 (shown in FIG. 2). The
hook 200 further includes at its terminal end as extended from the
hook base 206 a flange 260 adjacent to the shank portion 242
extending outwardly thereof about its perimeter.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 7, the retriever 300 is positioned in the
wellbore 101 adjacent to and spaced from the terminal end 105 of
the tray 104 of the whipstock 100. In this position, the hook 200
is positioned adjacent to, yet not yet over, the terminal end 105
of the tray 104. Referring now to FIG. 8, the retriever 300 is
shown positioned with the hook 200 advanced along the tray 104 of
the whipstock 100 just prior to positioning of the hook 200 in the
slot 110. In this position, the terminal end 105 of the tray 104 is
positioned adjacent to the tray receiving end 216 of the shroud
204. The movement of the receiver 300 toward the whipstock 100
causes the hook 200 to ride up on the inner wall portion 108 of the
tray 104 of the whipstock, thereby pushing the retriever 300 to one
side of the wellbore 101 and allowing the tray receiving end 216 of
the shroud 204 to move away from the hook base 206 creating a
larger gap between the shroud 204 and the hook base 206 into which
the tray 104 of the whipstock 100 is received as shown in FIG.
9.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 9, the whipstock 100 is fully received in
the retriever 300 with the hook 200 having engaged through the slot
110 such that the flange 260 extends against the outer surface 106
of the tray 104 and the receiver 300 having received the tray 104
between the shroud 204 and the hook base 206. To provide the proper
position of the hook 200 in the slot 110, the retriever 300 can be
moved laterally downward in the wellbore 101 until the hook 200
engages the slot 110. As the hook 200 pushes into the wellbore 101,
the hook engages the tray 104 causing the hook base 206 to tilt
slightly since the tray 104 is tapered. Thus, the tilt is
compensated and the hook 200 naturally pushes into the slot 110
when the hook 200 reaches the slot 110. The beginning of retrieval
of the whipstock pulls the hook 200 upwardly in the slot 110
thereby placing the flange 260 in position against the outer
surface 106 of the tray 104 and locking the hook 200 in place for
retrieval.
[0040] As the retriever 300 is pulled from the wellbore 101, the
shroud 204 protects the tray 104 from contact with downhole
obstructions in order to increase the likelihood of successful
retrieval. Once the whipstock 100 is pulled from the wellbore 101,
it can be readily unhooked from the retriever 300.
[0041] While foregoing is directed to the preferred embodiment of
the present invention, other and further embodiments of the
invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope
thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that
follow.
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