Window Cutting

A slotted opening or a full section removed in the pipe lining (casing) of a well, usually made to
permit sidetracking. A "permanent whipstock" is used mainly in cased hole for sidetracking
around a fish or by-passing collapsed casing. A casing packer is set at the kick-off point to
provide a base for the whipstock. The whipstock is run with a mill that will cut a "window" in
the casing. After setting the whipstock in the required direction and shearing the retaining pin,
the milling operation begins. Once the window has been cut, the mill is replaced by a small
diameter pilot bit. The pilot hole is subsequently reamed out to full size. When using a
permanent whipstock to mill a window in the casing, the window itself is often too small. It may
be advisable to use a section mill to cut out a larger length of casing, then set a cement plug
anddeflect the wellbore with a mud motor and bent sub.