Abstract: An apparatus for enhancing production from a well by lowering a tubular conductor into the well to a position in which the conductor extends downwardly from near the surface of the earth to a zone beneath the surface, and a drilling unit is advanced past a whipstock held by the tubular conductor at the predetermined zone, thereby deflecting the drilling unit in a lateral direction through an opening in a side wall of the conductor into the earth formation about the conductor. The whipstock may initially be attached to the drilling unit by a shear connection. An anchor may lock the lower end of the tubular conductor in place in the well, with a rotatively adjustable connection enabling rotation of the tubular conductor to different rotary positions for producing holes in the formation in different directions. A second whipstock may be lowerable into the tubular conductor to direct liners from within the conductor into the holes formed in the formation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing production from a well by lowering a tubular conductor into the well to a position in which the conductor extends downwardly from near the surface of the earth to a zone beneath the surface, and advancing a drilling unit past a whipstock held by the tubular conductor at the predetermined zone, and thereby deflecting the drilling unit in a lateral direction through an opening in a side wall of the conductor into the earth formation about the conductor. The whipstock may initially be attached to the drilling unit by a shear connection. An anchor may lock the lower end of the tubular conductor in place in the well, with a rotatively adjustable connection enabling rotation of the tubular conductor to different rotary positions for producing holes in the formation in different directions. A second whipstock may be lowerable into the tubular conductor to direct liners from within the conductor into the holes formed in the formation.