Methods and apparatus for directional drilling

Claim 2

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control means include first and second fluid conduits respectively coupled to said deviation-sensing means and said guiding means, a control member adapted for movement on said body for selectively regulating communication between said first and second fluid conduits, and actuating means operable from the surface for selectively moving said control member.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said control member is a valve member adapted for opening and closing fluid communication between said first and second fluid conduits whenever said valve member is in selected positions; and said actuating means include a pressure-responsive actuating member adapted for moving said valve member to its said selected positions in response to predetermined changes in the fluid pressure within a drill string coupled to said body.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said control member is a valve member adapted for opening and closing fluid communication between said first and second fluid conduits whenever said valve member is in selected positions; and said actuating means include an actuator adapted for passage through a drill string coupled to said body to a predetermined position relative to said body, and means on said actuator and said valve member adapted for shifting said valve member to its said selected positions whenever said actuator is moved into and out of its said predetermined position.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said actuating means include an actuating member movably mounted on said body and adapted for connection to such a drill string, and means cooperatively arranged between said actuating member and said control member and adapted for selectively moving said control member upon movements of such a drill string.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said control member is a valve member movably mounted on said body and adapted for opening and closing fluid communication between said first and second fluid conduits as said valve member is selectively moved.

Claim 7

Apparatus adapted for controlling the direction in which a borehole is being excavated and comprising: a body adapted for connection in a drill string including a drill bit adapted for excavating a borehole; first wall-engaging means on said body and adapted for movement inwardly in response to forces urging said body laterally against a borehole wall during the excavation of a borehole by a drill bit connected thereto; second wall-engaging means longitudinally spaced from said first wall-engaging means on said body and adapted for movement outwardly in relatioN thereto for shifting said body laterally in relation to the axis of a borehole being excavated by such a drill bit; and control means operable from the surface to selectively intercouple said first and second wall-engaging means for cooperatively urging said second wall-engaging means outwardly against a borehole wall in response to inward movements of said first wall-engaging means to direct such a drill bit along a selected axis of excavation.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first wall-engaging means include pressure-developing means adapted for developing fluid pressures in response to said inward movements of said first wall-engaging means; said second wall-engaging means include pressure-actuated means adapted for moving said second wall-engaging means outwardly in response to fluid pressures developed by said pressure-developing means; and said control means include first and second fluid conduits respectively coupled to said pressure-developing means and said pressure-actuated means, a control member adapted for movement on said body for selectively regulating communication between said first and second fluid conduits, and actuating means operable from the surface for selectively moving said control member.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said pressure-developing means and said pressure-actuated means are angularly displaced so that their respective movements are in different lateral directions.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said actuating means include a pressure-responsive actuating member adapted to be coupled to said control member for moving said control member in response to predetermined changes in the fluid pressure within a drill string coupled to said body.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said control member is a valve member adapted for opening and closing fluid communication between said first and second fluid conduits whenever said valve member is in selected positions.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first wall-engaging means include pressure-developing means adapted for developing fluid pressures in response to said inward movements of said first wall-engaging means; said second wall-engaging means include pressure-actuated means adapted for moving said second wall-engaging means outwardly in response to fluid pressures developed by said pressure-developing means; and said control means include first and second fluid conduits respectively coupled to said pressure-developing means and to said pressure-actuated means, a control member adapted for movement between spaced positions on said body for selectively regulating communication between said first and second fluid conduits, an actuator adapted for passage through a drill string coupled to said body to a predetermined position relative to said body, and means on said actuator and said control member adapted for shifting said control member between its said spaced positions whenever said actuator is moved into and out of its said predetermined position.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said control member is a valve member adapted for opening and closing fluid communication between said first and second fluid conduits whenever said valve member is in different ones of its said spaced positions.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said control member is a piston member operatively disposed in a cylinder and adapted for blocking pressure communication between said first and second fluid conduits whenever said piston member is retained in one of its said spaced positions within said cylinder and for transmitting fluid pressure between said first and second conduits whenever said said piston member is free to move between its said spaced positions within said cylinder; and further including means on said body adapted for releasably retaining said piston member in its said one position; and means adapted for cooperation with said piston-retaining means upon movement of said actuator to its said selected position for releasing said piston membEr for movement between its said spaced positions.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first wall-engaging means include pressure-developing means adapted for developing fluid pressures in response to said inward movements of said first wall-engaging means; said second wall-engaging means include pressure-actuated means adapted for moving said second wall-engaging means outwardly in response to fluid pressures developed by said pressure-developing means; and said control means include first and second fluid conduits respectively coupled to said pressure-developing means and to said pressure-actuated means, a control member on said body adapted for movement between predetermined spaced positions for selectively regulating communication between said first and second fluid conduits, an actuating member movably mounted on said body and adapted for connection to such a drill string, and means cooperatively arranged between said actuating member and said control member for moving said control member between its said spaced positions in response to movements of said actuating member in relation to said body by a drill string connected to said actuating member.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said control member is a valve member adapted for opening and closing fluid communication between said first and second fluid conduits whenever said valve member is in different ones of its said spaced positions.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said first and second wall-engaging means are angularly displaced so that said first and second wall-engaging means are movable in different lateral directions.

Claim 18

A directional drilling tool comprising: an elongated body having a longitudinal passage therethrough and adapted for connection in a rotating drill string including a borehole-excavating device; first and second wall-engaging means longitudinally spaced on said body and including first and second groups of pistons operatively mounted on said body for movement respectively along first and second sets of angularly spaced lateral axes between retracted and extended positions in relation to said body; and control means adapted for selectively intercoupling said first and second wall-engaging means and including first and second conduits respectively fluidly coupled to said first and second groups of pistons, valve means movably mounted on said body for movement between spaced positions and operatively arranged for selectively regulating communication between said first and second conduits in accordance with the position of said valve means, and actuating means operable from the surface for selectively moving said valve means between its said spaced positions while said tool is in a borehole.

Claim 19

The directional drilling tool of claim 19 wherein each of said pistons is fluidly coupled to only one of said conduits; and said valve means are movable to a sufficient number of said spaced positions to enable each of said first pistons to be fluidly coupled to each of said second pistons in successive ones of said spaced positions of said valve means.

Claim 20

The directional drilling tool of claim 20 wherein said valve means are also arranged for movement to another one of said spaced positions to isolate said first conduits from said second conduits.

Claim 21

The directional drilling tool of claim 20 wherein said valve means include a valve member operatively arranged on said body for rotation in relation thereto between angularly spaced positions; and said actuating means include a pressure-responsive actuating member adapted for movement in response to predetermined changes in the fluid pressure within a drill string coupled to said tool, and cam means operatively arranged between said members for progressively rotating said valve member to each of its said positions upon successive movements of said actuating member.

Claim 22

The directional drilling tool of claim 20 wherein said valve means include a valve member operatively arranged on said body for rotation in rElation thereto between angularly spaced positions; and said actuating means include a plurality of actuator members respectively adapted for passage through a drill string coupled to said tool and to a predetermined position in relation to said body, and individually distinctive cam means on each of said actuator members and said valve member for selectively rotating said valve member to a predetermined one of each of its said positions according to which one of said actuator members is in said predetermined position.

Claim 23

The directional drilling tool of claim 20 wherein said valve means include a valve member operatively arranged on said body for rotation in relation thereto between angularly spaced positions; and said actuating means include an actuating member adapted for coupling to a drill string and operatively arranged for reciprocating movement in relation to said body upon reciprocation of such a drill string, and cam means operatively arranged between said members for progressively rotating said valve member to each of its said positions upon successive reciprocations of said actuating member.

Claim 24

A directional drilling tool comprising: an elongated body having a longitudinal passage therethrough and adapted for connection in a rotating drill string including a borehole-excavating device; first and second wall-engaging means longitudinally spaced on said body and including first and second groups of pistons operatively mounted thereon for movement respectively along first and second sets of angularly spaced lateral axes between retracted and extended positions in relation to said body; and control means adapted for selectively intercoupling said first and second wall-engaging means and including first and second conduits respectively fluidly coupled to said first and second groups of pistons with each of said pistons being fluidly coupled to only one of said conduits, a plurality of movable members operatively arranged on said body with each of said movable members being respectively coupled to one of said first conduits and one of said second conduits for selectively regulating communication between only the two conduits coupled thereto independently of the operation of the others of said movable members, and actuating means operable from the surface for selectively moving each of said movable members independently of said others so as to selectively intercouple said first and second wall-engaging means in different predetermined arrangements for directing such a borehole-excavating device along selected axes of excavation.

Claim 25

The directional drilling tool of claim 25 wherein said actuating means include an actuator member adapted for passage from the surface through a drill string coupled to said tool and to a predetermined position in relation to said body, and means cooperatively arranged on said movable members and said actuator members for moving only selected ones of said movable members to operating positions for establishing desired ones of said predetermined arrangements.

Claim 26

The directional drilling tool of claim 26 wherein said movable members are valve members respectively adapted for opening and closing fluid communication between said two conduits coupled thereto.

Claim 27

The directional drilling tool of claim 26 wherein said movable members are piston members respectively disposed in a cylinder and adapted for blocking pressure communication between said two conduits coupled thereto whenever that piston member is retained in a fixed position within its respective cylinder and for transmitting fluid pressure between said two conduits coupled thereto whenever that piston member is free to move within its respective cylinder.

Claim 28

The directional drilling tool of claim 28 wherein said actuating means include: means on said body adapted for releasably retaining said piston members in their respective said fixed positions, an actuating member adapted for passage from the surface through a drill string coupled to said tool and to a predeterMined position in relation to said body, and means cooperatively arranged on said actuating member and engageable with said piston-retaining means for releasing only selected ones of said piston members for free movement within their respective cylinders for establishing desired ones of said predetermined arrangements.

Claim 29

A directional drilling tool comprising: a first tubular member having a longitudinal passage therethrough and adapted for connection to a borehole-excavating device; a second tubular member adapted for connection to a rotating drill string corotatively secured to said first member and having at least a lower portion extending into said longitudinal passage for movement between spaced positions therein upon upward and downward movements of said second member relating to said first member; first and second wall-engaging means longitudinally spaced on said first member and including first and second groups of pistons operatively mounted thereon for movement respectively along first and second sets of angularly spaced lateral axes between retracted and extended positions in relation to said first member; and control means adapted for selectively intercoupling said first and second wall-engaging means and including first and second conduits respectively fluidly coupled to said first and second groups of pistons with each of said pistons being coupled to only one of said conduits, a valve member on said first member adapted for movement relative thereto between predetermined operating positions for selectively regulating fluid communication between said first and second conduits, and means cooperatively arranged in said longitudinal passage between said valve member and said lower portion of said second member and responsive to movements thereof between its said spaced positions for moving said valve member between its said operating positions.

Claim 30

The directional drilling tool of claim 30 wherein said valve member is an annular member rotatably mounted on said first member; and said valve moving means include an alternating cam-guiding track formed around said annular valve member and defining successive angularly spaced stops, and a cam member on said lower portion of said second member received in said cam-guiding track and adapted for progressively rotating said valve member to each of its said operating positions as said cam member is moved to each of said angularly spaced stops.

Claim 32

The method of claim 32 wherein said control means are selectively operated by increasing the pressure of drilling fluids circulating through said drill string to at least a predetermined pressure.

Claim 33

The method of claim 32 wherein said control means are selectively operated by dispatching an actuating member from the surface through said drill string to said tool.

Claim 34

The method of claim 32 wherein said control means are selectively operAted by predetermined movements of said drill string in relation to said tool.

Claim 35

The method of claim 32 further including the step of measuring at least one parameter indicative of the course of said borehole to determine the extent that said drill bit has been shifted.

Claim 36

The method of claim 36 further including the step of operating said control members from the surface for disconnecting said first and second wall-engaging means to discontinue further shifting of said drill bit.