Multiple lateral hydrocarbon recovery system and method

摘要

An assembly for drilling multiple laterals (26) from a borehole and into a formation includes a whipstock assembly having a radially movable lug (82). An elongate tubular secured within the borehole has one or more non-ferrous portions (30) and a ferrous portion (52) adjacent and below a respective non-ferrous portion. A locator (54) is fixed within each ferrous portion at a desired axial spacing relative to the non-ferrous portion. According to the method of the invention, the whipstock assembly is lowered below the locator (54) and pulled upwardly to rotate the whipstock assembly to a selected azimuth within the tubular. The lug (82) on the whipstock assembly fits within the locator to axially position the whipstock face (97) within the non-ferrous portion of the tubular. A drill bit (96) engages the whipstock face and drills a window through the non-ferrous portion of the tubular and then into the formation.