Collapsable collet exit whipstock
Collapsable exit whipstocks and methods of using the same. An example collapsible exit whipstock has a lateral isolation sleeve having a body comprising a first terminal end and a second terminal end. The body engages with an interior surface of a completion system and has a throughbore running having a diameter. The collapsable exit whipstock has a whipstock with a coupling end that is coupled to the first terminal end of the lateral isolation sleeve and a tapered end opposite of the coupling end. The whipstock has slots opening at the tapered end and spaced along the longitudinal axis of the whipstock. Fingers are disposed between the slots and are configured to be pressed together such that the length of the whipstock that comprises the slots collapses radially inwards thereby reducing the throughbore diameter of the whipstock.
1 . A collapsable exit whipstock comprising:
a lateral isolation sleeve having a body comprising a first terminal end and a second terminal end on opposing ends of the body; wherein the body further comprises a first sealing element and a second sealing element on an exterior of the body; wherein the body is configured to engage with an interior surface of a completion system; wherein the body has a throughbore running along a longitudinal axis of the body and having a diameter; and
a whipstock having a coupling end that is coupled to the first terminal end of the lateral isolation sleeve and a tapered end opposite of the coupling end; wherein the tapered end is a wedge that is tapered at an incline; wherein the whipstock has a plurality of slots opening at the tapered end and spaced along a longitudinal axis of the whipstock for a portion of a length of the whipstock; wherein the whipstock comprises fingers disposed between the slots; wherein the whipstock further comprises a profile extending radially outward from an exterior surface of the whipstock and which is configured to engage with a corresponding profile on the interior surface of the completion system; wherein the whipstock has a throughbore having a diameter that is the same as the throughbore diameter of the body of the lateral isolation sleeve; wherein the fingers are configured to be pressed together such that the length of the whipstock that comprises the slots is collapsed radially inwards thereby reducing the throughbore diameter of the whipstock; wherein the radially inwards collapsing of the fingers is configured to occur when the profile on the exterior surface of the whipstock is disengaged from the corresponding profile on the interior surface of the completion system.
2 . The collapsable exit whipstock of claim 1 , wherein the lateral isolation sleeve comprises a locking coupling on an interior surface of the body that is accessible from the throughbore of the body of the lateral isolation sleeve.
3 . The collapsable exit whipstock of claim 2 , wherein the locking coupling is configurable to couple to a running tool.
4 . The collapsable exit whipstock of claim 1 , wherein the first sealing element is located closer to the first terminal end of the lateral isolation sleeve than the second terminal end; wherein the second sealing element is located closer to the second terminal end of the lateral isolation sleeve than the first terminal end; wherein the first and second sealing elements are configured to seal against the interior surface of the completion system.
5 . A method for using a collapsable exit whipstock, the method comprising:
installing the collapsable exit whipstock in a first location in a completion system: the collapsable exit whipstock comprising:
a lateral isolation sleeve having a body comprising a first terminal end and a second terminal end on opposing ends of the body; wherein the body further comprises a first sealing element and a second sealing element on an exterior of the body; wherein the body is configured to engage with an interior surface of a completion system; wherein the body has a throughbore running along a longitudinal axis of the body and having a diameter; and
a whipstock having a coupling end that is coupled to the first terminal end of the lateral isolation sleeve and a tapered end opposite of the coupling end; wherein the tapered end is a wedge that is tapered at an incline; wherein the whipstock has a plurality of slots opening at the tapered end and spaced along a longitudinal axis of the whipstock for a portion of a length of the whipstock; wherein the whipstock comprises fingers disposed between the slots; wherein the whipstock further comprises a profile extending radially outward from an exterior surface of the whipstock and which is engaged with a corresponding profile on the interior surface of the completion system when installed; wherein the whipstock has a throughbore having a diameter that is the same as the throughbore diameter of the body of the lateral isolation sleeve;
disengaging the profile on the exterior surface of the whipstock from the corresponding profile on the interior surface of the completion system;
pressing the fingers together such that the length of the whipstock that comprises the slots is collapsed radially inwards thereby reducing the throughbore diameter of the whipstock; and
shifting the collapsable exit whipstock from the first location in the completion system to a second location in the completion system.
6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising performing a lateral wellbore operation by accessing a lateral wellbore with a wellbore tool and/or conduit guided into the lateral wellbore by the collapsable exit whipstock while the collapsable exit whipstock is in the second location.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the lateral isolation sleeve comprises a locking coupling on an interior surface of the body that is accessible from the throughbore of the whipstock and the body of the lateral isolation sleeve.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the shifting the collapsable exit whipstock from the first location in the completion system to the second location in the completion system comprises accessing the locking coupling with a shifting tool having a corresponding shifting tool coupling, locking the shifting tool to the locking coupling with the shifting tool coupling, and pushing the collapsable exit whipstock to the second location with force applied through the locked shifting tool.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the shifting tool is coupled to a running tool and the shifting tool remains in the collapsed exit whipstock while the running tool is removed to the surface prior to performing a wellbore operation.
10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising reengaging the running tool with the shifting tool by reinserting the running tool through the whipstock and the body of the lateral isolation sleeve; wherein the throughbore diameter of the whipstock is reduced when the running tool is reinserted.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising pulling the collapsable exit whipstock from the second location in the completion system to the first location in the completion system with force applied from the reengaged running tool; wherein the collapsed portion of the whipstock expands radially outwards when the collapsable exit whipstock is relocated to the first location.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising removing the running tool and the shifting tool from the collapsable exit whipstock.
13 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the first sealing element is located closer to the first terminal end of the lateral isolation sleeve than the second terminal end; wherein the second sealing element is located closer to the second terminal end of the lateral isolation sleeve than the first terminal end; wherein the first and second sealing elements are configured to seal against the interior surface of the completion system.
14 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the completion system comprises a window which opens to the lateral wellbore; wherein the collapsable exit whipstock isolates fluid flow from the lateral wellbore when the collapsable exit whipstock is disposed in the first location in the completion system.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the collapsable exit whipstock aligns the whipstock with the window of the completion system when the collapsable exit whipstock is disposed in the second location in the completion system.
16 . A system for performing a wellbore operation in a lateral wellbore, the system comprising:
a collapsable exit whipstock comprising:
a lateral isolation sleeve having a body comprising a first terminal end and a second terminal end on opposing ends of the body; wherein the body further comprises a first sealing element and a second sealing element on an exterior of the body; wherein the body is configured to engage with an interior surface of a completion system; wherein the body has a throughbore running along a longitudinal axis of the body and having a diameter; and
a whipstock having a coupling end that is coupled to the first terminal end of the lateral isolation sleeve and a tapered end opposite of the coupling end; wherein the tapered end is a wedge that is tapered at an incline; wherein the whipstock has a plurality of slots opening at the tapered end and spaced along a longitudinal axis of the whipstock for a portion of a length of the whipstock; wherein the whipstock comprises fingers disposed between the slots; wherein the whipstock further comprises a profile extending radially outward from an exterior surface of the whipstock and which is configured to engage with a corresponding profile on the interior surface of the completion system; wherein the whipstock has a throughbore having a diameter that is the same as the throughbore diameter of the body of the lateral isolation sleeve; wherein the fingers are configured to be pressed together such that the length of the whipstock that comprises the slots is collapsed radially inwards thereby reducing the throughbore diameter of the whipstock; wherein the radially inwards collapsing of the fingers is configured to occur when the profile on the exterior surface of the whipstock is disengaged from the corresponding profile on the interior surface of the completion system, and
the completion system having the collapsable exit whipstock installed therein.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the completion system comprises a window which opens to the lateral wellbore; wherein the collapsable exit whipstock isolates fluid flow from the lateral wellbore when the collapsable exit whipstock is disposed in a first location in the completion system.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the collapsable exit whipstock aligns the whipstock with the window of the completion system when the collapsable exit whipstock is disposed in a second location in the completion system; wherein the second location is a location where the profile on the exterior surface of the whipstock is disengaged from the corresponding profile on the interior surface of the completion system.
19 . The system of claim 18 , further comprising a shifting tool configured to access and lock to the interior of the isolation sleeve and to shift the collapsable exit whipstock from the first location to the second location.
20 . The system of claim 19 , further comprising a running tool coupled to the shifting tool and configured to be disengaged from the shifting tool prior to starting a lateral wellbore operation.