EP0204474A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and apparatus for controlled directional drilling of boreholes
Assignee: Analysts International SA
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Filing: 1986-05-23
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-05-23
Abstract
Abstract In the representative embodiments of the present invention described herein, a new and improved directional drilling tool carrying a rotable drilling bit is dependently coupled to a rotatable drill string for excavating a borehole along one or more selected courses of excavation. Passage means on the directional drilling tool are communicated with the several fluid-discharge passages in the drilling bit. A rotating flow obstructing member (50) is arranged in the directional drilling tool for selectively communicating the drilling fluid with the bit passages as the drilling bit is rotated. A selectively operable driver is arranged for rotating the flow-obstructing member (50) at one rotational speed when it is desired to sequentially discharge drillling fluid into most, if not all, adjacent sectors of the borehole as the drill bit rotates so as to advance the drill bit along a generally linear course of excavation. Alternatively, by rotating the flow-obstructing member (50) at a different rotational speed, drilling fluid is sequentially discharged from the bit passages (35, 36, 37) into only a single peripheral sector of the borehole to divert the drill bit to another course of excavation. Various controls are disclosed for utilizing typical directional measurements to control the direction of excavation.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence J. Leising
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:25
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B7/00; E21B7/18; E21B7/04; E21B7/06; E21B7/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
Apparatus adapted for controlling the direction in which a borehole is being excavated and comprising: a body adapted to be coupled to rotatable earth-boring apparatus and dependently supported in a borehole from a tubular drill string in which a drilling fluid is circulating; first means cooperatively arranged on said body and adapted for dividing a drilling fluid circulating in a tubular drill string supporting said body into at least two fluid streams to be respectively discharged from rotating earth-boring apparatus coupled to said body and into angularly-spaced sectors of a borehole being excavated; and second means cooperatively arranged on said body and adapted upon rotation of a rotatable earth-boring apparatus coupled to said body to be either selectively operated for sequentially discharging each of such fluid streams into at least two angularly-separated borehole sectors to direct said body along a first course of excavation or selectively operated for sequentially discharging each of such fluid streams into only a single borehole sector to direct said body along a second course of excavation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
Apparatus adapted for controlling the direction in which a borehole is being excavated and comprising: a body adapted to be coupled to rotatable earth-boring apparatus and dependently supported in a borehole from a tubular drill string in which a drilling fluid is circulating; first means cooperatively arranged on said body and adapted for dividing a drilling fluid circulating in a tubular drill string supporting said body into at least two fluid streams to be respectively discharged from rotating earth-boring apparatus coupled to said body and into angularly-spaced sectors of a borehole being excavated; and second means cooperatively arranged on said body and adapted upon rotation of a rotatable earth-boring apparatus coupled to said body to be either selectively operated for sequentially discharging each of such fluid streams into at least two angularly-separated borehole sectors to direct said body along a first course of excavation or selectively operated for sequentially discharging each of such fluid streams into only a single borehole sector to direct said body along a second course of excavation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
137 words
The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said first means include at least two separate fluid passages in said body respectively adapted to provide fluid communication between a tubular drill string supporting said body and corresponding fluid discharge outlets in a rotatable earth-boring apparatus coupled to said body; and said second means include a flow-obstructing member, means rotatably journaling said flow-obstructing member in said body, and driving means selectively operable and adapted for rotating said flow obstructing member at a first rotational speed to sequentially admit drilling fluid into each of said separate fluid passages for discharge therefrom into all borehole sectors and selectively operable and adapted for rotating said flow-obstructing member at a second rotational speed to sequentially admit drilling fluid into each of said separate fluid passages for discharge therefrom into only a single borehole sector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
172 words
Directional drilling apparatus adapted for drilling a borehole along one or more selected axes and comprising: a body having a longitudinal passage and adapted to be dependently supported in a borehole and rotated by a tubular drill string in which a drilling fluid is circulating; earth-boring means coupled to said body for rotation thereby and including two or more fluid outlets in ccmnmication with said longitudinal passage and respectively adapted for discharging separate streams of drilling fluid into adjacent borehole sectors upon - rotation of said earth-boring means to clear away formation materials from said earth-boring means and adjacent borehole surfaces; and direction controlling means including fluid-directing means selectively operable upon rotation of said earth-boring means for either discharging streams of drilling fluid from each of said fluid outlets into all adjacent angularly-spaced borehole sectors to direct said earth-boring means along a first course or discharging streams of drilling fluid from each of said fluid outlets into only a single adjacent borehole sector to redirect said earth-boring means along a second course.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
172 words
Directional drilling apparatus adapted for drilling a borehole along one or more selected axes and comprising: a body having a longitudinal passage and adapted to be dependently supported in a borehole and rotated by a tubular drill string in which a drilling fluid is circulating; earth-boring means coupled to said body for rotation thereby and including two or more fluid outlets in ccmnmication with said longitudinal passage and respectively adapted for discharging separate streams of drilling fluid into adjacent borehole sectors upon - rotation of said earth-boring means to clear away formation materials from said earth-boring means and adjacent borehole surfaces; and direction controlling means including fluid-directing means selectively operable upon rotation of said earth-boring means for either discharging streams of drilling fluid from each of said fluid outlets into all adjacent angularly-spaced borehole sectors to direct said earth-boring means along a first course or discharging streams of drilling fluid from each of said fluid outlets into only a single adjacent borehole sector to redirect said earth-boring means along a second course.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
82 words
The directional drilling apparatus of Claim 3 further including direction measuring means cooperatively arranged on said body and adapted for measuring at least one . parameter indicative of the position of said apparatus; and control means responsive to measurements of said direction-measuring means and adapted for alternatively operating said fluid-directing means in a first mode of operation to direct said earth-boring means along said first course or in a second mode of operation to redirect said earth-boring means along said second course.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The directional drilling apparatus of Claim 4 wherein said control means further include means operable for selecting the mode of operation for said fluid directing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The directional drilling apparatus of Claim 4 wherein said control means further include means operable from the surface for selecting the mode of operation for said fluid-directing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The directional drilling apparatus of Claim 4 wherein said control means further include means on said body and adapted for selecting the mode of operation for said fluid-directing means in response to a predetermined downhole condition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The directional drilling apparatus of Claim 4 wherein said control means further include means on said body and adapted for selecting .. the mode of operation for said fluid-directing means in response to a variable downhole condition which may be selectively varied from the surface for alternatively selecting each of said modes of operation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
285 words
Directional drilling apparatus adapted for drilling a borehole along one or more selected axes and comprising: a first body having a fluid passage therein and adapted to be dependently suspended in a borehole and rotated by a tubular drill string in which a drilling fluid is circulating; a rotary drill bit including a second body coupled to said first body for rotation thereby, means on said second body defining at least three separate fluid passages operatively arranged and adapted upon rotation of said drill bit for respectively discharging separate angularly-displaced streams of a drilling fluid into adjacent borehole sectors to clear away formation materials from ahead of said drill bit and on adjacent borehole surfaces; direction-controlling means including fluid-directing means operatively arranged in one of said bodies for selectively communicating said fluid passages upon rotation of said drill bit and including a flow-obstructing member, means rotatably journaling said flow-obstructing member in one of said bodies for rotation between successive operating positions respectively obstructing fluid communication through at least one of said three separate passages and establishing fluid communication in the remaining separate passages, driving means selectively operable for rotating said flow-obstructing member between its said successive operating positions in a first mode of operation selected to sequentially discharge drilling fluid from each of said three separate passages into adjacent angularly-displaced borehole sectors to uniformly clear away formation materials ahead of said drill bit and for rotating said flow-obstructing member between its said successive operating positions in a second mode of operation to sequentially discharge drilling fluid from each of said separate fluid passages only into a single borehole sector to preferentially clear away formation materials in said single borehole sector ahead of said drill bit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
285 words
Directional drilling apparatus adapted for drilling a borehole along one or more selected axes and comprising: a first body having a fluid passage therein and adapted to be dependently suspended in a borehole and rotated by a tubular drill string in which a drilling fluid is circulating; a rotary drill bit including a second body coupled to said first body for rotation thereby, means on said second body defining at least three separate fluid passages operatively arranged and adapted upon rotation of said drill bit for respectively discharging separate angularly-displaced streams of a drilling fluid into adjacent borehole sectors to clear away formation materials from ahead of said drill bit and on adjacent borehole surfaces; direction-controlling means including fluid-directing means operatively arranged in one of said bodies for selectively communicating said fluid passages upon rotation of said drill bit and including a flow-obstructing member, means rotatably journaling said flow-obstructing member in one of said bodies for rotation between successive operating positions respectively obstructing fluid communication through at least one of said three separate passages and establishing fluid communication in the remaining separate passages, driving means selectively operable for rotating said flow-obstructing member between its said successive operating positions in a first mode of operation selected to sequentially discharge drilling fluid from each of said three separate passages into adjacent angularly-displaced borehole sectors to uniformly clear away formation materials ahead of said drill bit and for rotating said flow-obstructing member between its said successive operating positions in a second mode of operation to sequentially discharge drilling fluid from each of said separate fluid passages only into a single borehole sector to preferentially clear away formation materials in said single borehole sector ahead of said drill bit.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
346 words
A method for selectively excavating an inclined borehole with rotatable earth-boring apparatus suspended from a tubular drill string having a drilling fluid circulating therethrough, said earth-boring apparatus having a plurality of fluid passages respectively arranged therein for discharging a stream of said drilling fluid into an adjacent sector of said inclined borehole as'said earth-boring apparatus is being advanced, and comprising the steps of: determining the azimuthal direction and angular inclination in which said earth-boring apparatus is advancing in said inclined borehole; whenever said earth-boring apparatus is advancing in a selected azimuthal direction, discharging said drilling fluid in a controlled sequence from each of said fluid passages as said earth-boring apparatus is rotating for selectively directing said streams of drilling fluid into angularly-separated sectors of said inclined borehole to advance said earth-boring apparatus further in said selected azimuthal direction as it continues to excavate said inclined borehole; whenever said earth-boring apparatus is advancing at a selected angular inclination, discharging said drilling fluid in a controlled sequence from each of said fluid passages as said earth-boring apparatus is rotating for selectively directing said streams of drilling fluid into angularly-separated sectors of said inclined borehole to advance said earth-boring apparatus further at said selected angular inclination as it continues to excavate said inclined borehole; whenever said-earth-boring apparatus is not advancing in said selected azimuthal direction, discharging said drilling fluid in a controlled sequence from each of said fluid passages as said earth-boring apparatus is rotating for selectively directing said streams of drilling fluid into only a single selected sector of said inclined borehole to divert said earth-boring apparatus toward said selected azimuthal direction as it continues to excavate said inclined borehole; and whenever said earth-boring apparatus is not advancing at said selected angular inclination, discharging said drilling fluid in a controlled sequence from each of said fluid passages as said earth-boring apparatus is rotating for selectively directing said streams of drilling fluid into only a single-selected sector of said inclined borehole to divert said earth-boring apparatus toward said selected angular inclination as it continues to excavate said inclined borehole.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
346 words
A method for selectively excavating an inclined borehole with rotatable earth-boring apparatus suspended from a tubular drill string having a drilling fluid circulating therethrough, said earth-boring apparatus having a plurality of fluid passages respectively arranged therein for discharging a stream of said drilling fluid into an adjacent sector of said inclined borehole as'said earth-boring apparatus is being advanced, and comprising the steps of: determining the azimuthal direction and angular inclination in which said earth-boring apparatus is advancing in said inclined borehole; whenever said earth-boring apparatus is advancing in a selected azimuthal direction, discharging said drilling fluid in a controlled sequence from each of said fluid passages as said earth-boring apparatus is rotating for selectively directing said streams of drilling fluid into angularly-separated sectors of said inclined borehole to advance said earth-boring apparatus further in said selected azimuthal direction as it continues to excavate said inclined borehole; whenever said earth-boring apparatus is advancing at a selected angular inclination, discharging said drilling fluid in a controlled sequence from each of said fluid passages as said earth-boring apparatus is rotating for selectively directing said streams of drilling fluid into angularly-separated sectors of said inclined borehole to advance said earth-boring apparatus further at said selected angular inclination as it continues to excavate said inclined borehole; whenever said-earth-boring apparatus is not advancing in said selected azimuthal direction, discharging said drilling fluid in a controlled sequence from each of said fluid passages as said earth-boring apparatus is rotating for selectively directing said streams of drilling fluid into only a single selected sector of said inclined borehole to divert said earth-boring apparatus toward said selected azimuthal direction as it continues to excavate said inclined borehole; and whenever said earth-boring apparatus is not advancing at said selected angular inclination, discharging said drilling fluid in a controlled sequence from each of said fluid passages as said earth-boring apparatus is rotating for selectively directing said streams of drilling fluid into only a single-selected sector of said inclined borehole to divert said earth-boring apparatus toward said selected angular inclination as it continues to excavate said inclined borehole.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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