whipstock

tool

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Last updated

July 15, 2026

Quick Summary

A whipstock is a tool used in directional drilling, primarily in the petroleum industry. Its original function was to help change the direction of a well bore by acting as an inclined plane at the bottom of the drill pipe, forcing the drill bit to move in a specific direction. Modern techniques often use steerable motor assemblies, but a casing whipstock can still be employed to mill through existing casing and divert the drill's trajectory towards targeted deposits. This technology allows for accessing bypassed oil deposits and developing reserves in previously inaccessible geological formations.12

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petroleum production
Directional drilling
…a mechanical device called the whipstock. This consisted of an inclined plane on the bottom of the drill pipe that was oriented in the direction the well was intended to take. The drill bit was thereby forced to move off in the proper direction. A more recent technique makes use…
Read More
…a mechanical device called the whipstock. This consisted of an inclined plane on the bottom of the drill pipe that was oriented in the direction the well was intended to take. The drill bit was thereby forced to move off in the proper direction. A more recent technique makes use…
Read More