Whipstock liner

Abstract

A liner system has a setting collar at one end and is adapted for insertion into a well bore. The setting collar is adapted to couple with a liner running tool. A whipstock surface is provided on the setting collar and adapted to deflect a drilling string in drilling a lateral well bore off of the first well bore. A method of forming a well system includes forming a first well bore; installing a first liner in the first well bore, the first liner having a first whipstock surface adapted to deflect a drilling string; and then forming a second well bore extending from the first well bore by deflecting a drilling string through contact with the first whipstock surface.

1 . A device comprising: 
 a liner setting collar, the setting collar adapted to couple with a liner running tool, the setting collar further adapted to attach to a liner tubing; and    a whipstock surface on the setting collar adapted to deflect a drilling string.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a length of liner tubing.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the length of liner tubing and liner setting collar are coupled using a threaded connection.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2  wherein a smallest inner diameter of the setting collar about the whipstock surfaces is smaller than a smallest inner diameter of the liner tubing.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the liner tubing is selected from the group consisting of solid liner tubing, apertured liner tubing, and expanded/expandable liner tubing.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the whipstock surface is at least partially defined by additional material coupled to the end of the setting collar.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the whipstock surface is defined at an end of the setting collar and wherein at least a portion of the whipstock surface is at an acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the setting collar.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the angle is between 2 and 45 degrees.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the whipstock surface is defined by an end portion of setting collar sidewalls.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the end portion of the setting collar sidewalls has a first sidewall thickness than is greater than a second sidewall thickness of a length of liner tubing coupled to the setting collar.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the whipstock surface and setting collar are constructed as one piece of material.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the setting collar is adapted to remain attached to the liner tubing while the setting collar is in a well bore.  
     
     
         13 . A liner system comprising: 
 a first length of liner tubing extending from a first end to a second end; and    a tubular body adapted to couple with a liner running tool, the tubular body including a whipstock surface adapted to deflect a drilling string;    wherein the tubular body is coupled to the first end of the first length of liner tubing.    
     
     
         14 . The liner system of  claim 13  wherein the tubular body is coupled to the first length of liner tubing using a threaded connection.  
     
     
         15 . The liner system of  claim 14  wherein a smallest inner diameter of the tubular body about the whipstock surfaces is smaller than a smallest inner diameter of the liner tubing.  
     
     
         16 . The liner system of  claim 13  further comprising a second length of liner tubing, the second length of liner tubing attached to the second end of the first length of liner tubing.  
     
     
         17 . The liner system of  claim 13  wherein the liner tubing is selected from the group consisting of solid liner tubing, apertured liner tubing, and expanded/expandable liner tubing.  
     
     
         18 . The liner system of  claim 13  wherein the whipstock surface is defined at an end of the tubular body and wherein at least a portion of the whipstock surface is at an acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the setting collar.  
     
     
         19 . The liner system of  claim 18  wherein the angle is approximately 3 degrees.  
     
     
         20 . A method of forming a well system, the method comprising: 
 forming a first well bore;    installing a first liner in the first well bore, the first liner having a first whipstock surface adapted to deflect a drilling string; and then    forming a second well bore extending from the first well bore by deflecting a drilling string through contact with the first whipstock surface.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the first liner comprises a first setting collar attached to a length of liner tubing.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the first setting collar is adapted to couple with a liner running tool.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein installing a liner comprises orienting the first whipstock surface by rotating the first setting collar.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein rotating the first setting collar comprises engaging the first setting collar with torque fins on the liner running tool.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising installing a second liner in the second well bore, the second liner having a second whipstock surface adapted to deflect a drilling string.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising forming a third well bore by deflecting a drilling string through contact with the second whipstock surface.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the third well bore extends from the first well bore.