IP Library Granted Patent US 12,655,692
Granted Patent B2
US 12,655,692 · App. 19/040,238 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Downhole tool employing a whipstock assembly, packer assembly and a remote open/close valve

Inventors: Steffen Helgesen Van der Veen (Stavanger, NO); Luke Holderman (Houston, TX)
Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
E21B7/061E21B33/12E21B33/128E21B34/06E21B41/0035
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,655,692
App. No.
19/040,238
Granted
Jun 16, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided, in one aspect, is a downhole tool, a well system, and a method. The downhole tool, in one aspect, includes a whipstock assembly, the whipstock assembly including a whipface. The downhole tool, in one aspect, further includes a packer assembly coupled to the whipstock assembly, the packer assembly including a packer element configured to move between a radially retracted state and a radially expanded state. The downhole tool, in one aspect, may further include a remote open/close valve positioned to allow fluid into the whipstock assembly.

Claims (47)

1 . A downhole tool, comprising:

a whipstock assembly, the whipstock assembly including a whipface;

a packer assembly coupled to the whipstock assembly, the packer assembly including a packer element configured to move between a radially retracted state and a radially expanded state;

a remote open/close valve positioned to allow fluid into the whipstock assembly;

a downhole power unit coupled to the packer assembly, the downhole power unit configured to move the packer element between the radially retracted state and the radially expanded state; and

a downhole ported sub, the downhole ported sub coupled downhole of the whipstock assembly, the downhole power unit, and the packer assembly.

2 . The downhole tool as recited in claim 1 , wherein the remote open/close valve is positioned downhole of the packer assembly.

3 . The downhole tool as recited in claim 2 , wherein the remote open/close valve is positioned in the downhole ported sub.

4 . The downhole tool as recited in claim 1 , further including production ports located between the whipstock assembly and the packer assembly, the production ports coupling an inside diameter of the downhole tool with an outside diameter of the downhole tool.

5 . The downhole tool as recited in claim 1 , further including a second ported sub coupled to the downhole power unit, the second ported sub configured to hydraulically connect activation fluid to the downhole power unit.

6 . The downhole tool as recited in claim 5 , wherein the second ported sub is configured to hydraulically connect activation fluid from an annulus of a wellbore to the downhole power unit.

7 . The downhole tool as recited in claim 6 , wherein the downhole power unit has a pre-determined activation pressure, the downhole power unit configured to initiate a setting sequence of the packer assembly after receiving activation fluid having at least the pre-determined activation pressure from the second ported sub.

8 . A well system, comprising:

a main wellbore located in a subterranean formation;

a lateral wellbore extending from the main wellbore; and

a downhole tool positioned proximate an intersection between the main wellbore and the lateral wellbore, the downhole tool including:

a whipstock assembly, the whipstock assembly including a whipface;

a packer assembly coupled to the whipstock assembly, the packer assembly including a packer element configured to move between a radially retracted state and a radially expanded state;

a remote open/close valve positioned to allow fluid into the whipstock assembly;

a downhole power unit coupled to the packer assembly, the downhole power unit configured to move the packer element between the radially retracted state and the radially expanded state; and

a downhole ported sub, the downhole ported sub coupled downhole of the whipstock assembly, the downhole power unit, and the packer assembly.

9 . The well system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the remote open/close valve is positioned downhole of the packer assembly.

10 . The well system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the remote open/close valve is positioned in the downhole ported sub.

11 . The well system as recited in claim 8 , further including production ports located between the whipstock assembly and the packer assembly, the production ports coupling an inside diameter of the downhole tool with an outside diameter of the downhole tool.

12 . The well system as recited in claim 8 , further including a second ported sub coupled to the downhole power unit, the second ported sub configured to hydraulically connect activation fluid to the downhole power unit.

13 . The well system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the second ported sub is configured to hydraulically connect activation fluid from an annulus of a wellbore to the downhole power unit.

14 . The well system as recited in claim 13 , wherein the downhole power unit has a pre-determined activation pressure, the downhole power unit configured to initiate a setting sequence of the packer assembly after receiving activation fluid having at least the pre-determined activation pressure from the second ported sub.

15 . A method, comprising:

positioning a downhole tool proximate an intersection between a main wellbore and where a lateral wellbore is to be located, the downhole tool including:

a whipstock assembly, the whipstock assembly including a whipface;

a packer assembly coupled to the whipstock assembly, the packer assembly including a packer element configured to move between a radially retracted state and a radially expanded state;

a remote open/close valve positioned to allow fluid into the whipstock assembly;

a downhole power unit coupled to the packer assembly, the downhole power unit configured to move the packer element between the radially retracted state and the radially expanded state; and

a downhole ported sub, the downhole ported sub coupled downhole of the whipstock assembly, the downhole power unit, and the packer assembly; and

moving the packer element from the radially retracted state to the radially expanded state to fix the downhole tool within the main wellbore.

16 . A downhole tool, comprising:

a whipstock assembly, the whipstock assembly including a whipface;

a packer assembly coupled to the whipstock assembly, the packer assembly including a packer element configured to move between a radially retracted state and a radially expanded state;

a remote open/close valve positioned to allow fluid into the whipstock assembly;

a downhole power unit coupled to the packer assembly, the downhole power unit configured to move the packer element between the radially retracted state and the radially expanded state; and

production ports located between the whipstock assembly and the packer assembly, the production ports coupling an inside diameter of the downhole tool with an outside diameter of the downhole tool.

17 . A downhole tool, comprising:

a whipstock assembly, the whipstock assembly including a whipface;

a packer assembly coupled to the whipstock assembly, the packer assembly including a packer element configured to move between a radially retracted state and a radially expanded state;

a remote open/close valve positioned to allow fluid into the whipstock assembly;

a downhole power unit coupled to the packer assembly, the downhole power unit configured to move the packer element between the radially retracted state and the radially expanded state; and

a ported sub coupled to the downhole power unit, the ported sub configured to hydraulically connect activation fluid from an annulus of a wellbore to the downhole power unit, wherein the downhole power unit has a pre-determined activation pressure, the downhole power unit configured to initiate a setting sequence of the packer assembly after receiving activation fluid having at least the pre-determined activation pressure from the second ported sub.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2025
From: VAN DER VEEN, STEFFEN HELGESEN; HOLDERMAN, LUKE
To: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 070047/0863 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 63655853 · Jun 4, 2024
Provisional Application 63627565 · Jan 31, 2024
Related Publication 20250243714A1 · Jul 31, 2025
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