Apparatus for directional drilling of subterranean wells

Claim 1

Apparatus for positioning a motor driven drilling bit relative to a well bore to control the direction of further drilling, comprising, in combination: A downhole motor housing supportable on a tubing string and mounting a fluid motor driven by pressurized fluid supplied through the tubing string; a first tubular housing having an upper end concentrically secured to the lower end of said motor housing; the lower end of said first tubular housing having a first surface formed thereon having an axis angularly disposed relative to the axis of said firs tubular housing; a second tubular housing having second surface engagable with said first surface; said second surface being angularly disposed relative to the axis of said second tubular housing, whereby the extent of engagement of said first and second surfaces determines the angular position of the axis of said second tubular housing relative to the axis of said first tubular housing; means for selectively adjusting the extent of engagement of said first and second surfaces; a third tubular housing concentrically secured to the lower end of said second tubular housing; said third tubular housing having an external surface that is eccentric relative to the bore axis of said third tubular housing; first annular stabilizer means rotationally adjustably mounted on said external surface; said first annular stabilizer having an external cylindrical surface that is eccentric relative to said external surface, whereby the lateral position of said first annular stabilizer may be selectively adjusted; means for rotatably mounting a drilling bit on said third tubular housing; drive means, including universal joints, traversing the bores of said first, second and third tubular housings to operatively connect said fluid motor and said drilling bit and a second adjustable eccentric stabilizer secured to the exterior of the upper end of said motor housing.