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The present invention discloses and claims a system for forming an opening, or window, in a downhole tubular for the subsequent formation of a lateral wellbore. In the system of the present invention, an apparatus is run into the parent wellbore which includes at least a tubular having a drill bit,

The present invention discloses and claims a system for forming an opening, or window, in a downhole tubular for the subsequent formation of a lateral wellbore. In the system of the present invention, an apparatus is run into the parent wellbore which includes at least a tubular having a drill bit, a diverter such as a whipstock releasably connected to the drill bit, an anchoring device such as a packer, and a milling device. This apparatus allows for the milling of a window in the parent wellbore, and the drilling of a lateral wellbore through that window, in a single trip.

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The present invention discloses and claims a system for forming an opening, or window, in a downhole tubular for the subsequent formation of a lateral wellbore. In the system of the present invention, an apparatus is run into the parent wellbore which includes at least a tubular having a drill bit,

The present invention discloses and claims a system for forming an opening, or window, in a downhole tubular for the subsequent formation of a lateral wellbore. In the system of the present invention, an apparatus is run into the parent wellbore which includes at least a tubular having a drill bit, a diverter such as a whipstock releasably connected to the drill bit, an anchoring device such as a packer, and a milling device. This apparatus allows for the milling of a window in the parent wellbore, and the drilling of a lateral wellbore through that window, in a single trip. aid step of moving the mold into the fluidized bed. 6. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fluidized bed has an annular configuration, said method includes the step of supporting the mold above the fluidized bed with an elongated member which extends through a central portion of the annular fluidized bed and is spaced from the particulate material suspended in the flow of gas, said step of moving the mold into the fluidized bed is performed with the elongated member spaced from the particulate material suspended in the flow of gas. 7. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fluidized bed is disposed in an annular chamber in a container, said method further includes the step of supporting the mold above the fluidized bed with a support member which extends through the fluidized bed and is outside the annular chamber, said step of moving the mold into the fluidized bed includes lowering the support member relative to the container while the support member remains outside the annular chamber. 8. A method as set forth in claim 1 further including the step of increasing speed of movement of gas and particulate in the fluidized bed as the gas and particulate flow from a lower portion of the fluidized bed to an upper portion of the fluidized bed by forming the fluidized bed with a relatively large cross-sectional area at a lower portion of the fluidized bed and a relatively small cross sectional area at an upper portion of the fluidized bed. 9. A method as set forth in claim 1 further including the step of decreasing speed of movement of gas and particulate in the fluidized bed as the gas and particulate flow from a lower portion of the fluidized bed to an upper portion of the fluidized by forming the fluidized bed with a relatively small cross-sectional area at a lower portion of the fluidized bed and relatively large cross-sectional area at an upper portion of the fluidized bed. 10. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the mold includes a pour cup connected in fluid communication with a plurality of article mold cavities, said method further includes supporting the mold on an upper end portion of a support column having a central axis which extends through the mold with portions of the mold in which the article mold cavities are disposed spaced from the support column and with the mold free of engagement with any support structure other than the upper end portion of the support column. 11. A method as set forth in claim 1 further including the step of deflecting flow of gas and particulate with a baffle disposed adjacent to the mold during performance of said step of moving the mold into the fluidized bed. 12. A method as set forth in claim 1 further including the steps of moving the mold into a furnace assembly, moving a container toward the furnace assembly, and establishing the fluidized bed in the container. 13. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of solidifying the molten metal in the mold includes solidifying at least a portion of the molten metal in the mold with a cellular solidification front disposed between molten and solid metal. 14. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein gas is conducted through the fluidized bed at a flow rate of between 5 and 100 cubic feet per hour for each square foot of fluidized bed disposed in a horizontal plane extending through a lower end portion of the fluidized bed. 15. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein a passage extends through the fluidized bed, said step of conducting a flow of particulate between the lower end portion of the fluidized bed and the upper end portion of the fluidized bed includes conducting the flow of particulate through at least a portion of a passage in a central portion of the fluidized bed. 16. A method as set forth in claim 1 further including the step of providing a heat sink adjacent to the path of flow of particulate between the lower end portion of the fluidized bed and the upper end portion of the fluidized bed. 17. A me thod as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fluidized bed is disposed in an annular chamber disposed between inner and outer side walls of a container, said step of conducting a flow of particulate suspended in gas between a lower end portion of the fluidized bed and an upper end portion of the fluidized bed includes conducting the flow of particulate suspended in gas along at least one of the side walls of the container. 18. A method as set forth in claim 1 further including the step of deflecting a flow of gas and particulate in the fluidized bed with a stationary baffle as the mold is moved into the fluidized bed. 19. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of conducting a flow of particulate suspended in gas between the lower end portion of the fluidized bed and an upper portion of the fluidized bed includes conducting the flow of particulate through at least a portion of a passage which extends along a wall of a container which holds the fluidized bed. 20. A method as set forth in claim 1 further including the step of cooling the flow of particulate suspended in gas as the flow of particulate moves between the lower end portion of the fluidized bed and an upper end portion of the fluidized bed. 21. A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein said step of cooling the flow of particulate suspended in gas includes conducting a flow of cooling liquid along the flow path of particulate between the lower end portion of the fluidized bed and the upper end portion of the fluidized bed. 22. A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein said step of cooling the flow of particulate suspended in gas includes conducting the flow of particulate along a wall of a container which holds the fluidized bed and transmitting heat from the flow of particulate to the wall of the container. 23. A method as set forth in claim 22 wherein said step of cooling the flow of particulate suspended in gas includes conducting a flow of cooling liquid along the wall of the container to which heat is transmitted from the flow of particulate. 24. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of conducting a flow of particulate suspended in gas between a lower end portion of the fluidized bed and an upper end portion of the fluidized bed includes conducting a flow of a transport gas under pressure into a passage having an inlet connected in fluid communication with one end portion of the fluidized bed and an outlet adjacent to another end portion of the fluidized bed, and inducing a flow of particulate suspended in gas from the fluidized bed, through the inlet to the passage and through the outlet from the passage under the influence of the flow of transport gas. 25. A method as set forth in claim 24 wherein the flow of particulate suspended in gas is cooled during flow from the inlet to the passage to the outlet from the passage. 26. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of conducting a flow of particulate suspended in gas between the lower end portion of the fluidized bed and an upper end portion of the fluidized bed includes pumping a flow of particulate suspended in gas between the lower end portion of the fluidized bed and the upper end portion of the fluidized bed. 27. A method as set forth in claim 1 further including the step of engaging the flow of particulate suspended in gas with a baffle disposed adjacent to one end portion of the fluidized bed to direct the flow of particulate suspended in gas into the one end portion of the fluidized bed. 28. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fluidized bed has a generally annular cross sectional configuration in a plane perpendicular to a central axis of the fluidized bed, said step of conducting a flow of particulate suspended in gas between a lower end portion of the fluidized bed and an upper end portion of the fluidized bed includes conducting the flow of particulate suspended in gas along a path which extends along the central axis of the fluidized bed. 29. A method as set for