Underreaming and Stabilization Tool for Use in a Borehole and Method for Its Use

• US 20100096191A1
• Filed: 12/23/2009
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Sillen, Valérie, Mageren, Olivier, Lassoie, Jean-Pierre, Fanuel, Philippe
• Granted Patent: US 7,958,951 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 175/286
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/322 cutter shifted by fluid pressure E21B10/345 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/62 characterised by parts, e.g. cutting elements, which are detachable or adjustable E21B10/64 takes precedence; for roller bits E21B10/20; for augers E21B10/44

Abstract

An underreaming tool may include may include a tubular body, a drive tube, at least one blade element (“the blade element”), at least one wedge element (“the wedge element”), and a stop mechanism. The drive tube may include at least one longitudinal groove (“the longitudinal groove”) axially disposed along a length of the drive tube. The wedge element may include a first side having at least one lateral projection (“the lateral projection”) configured to axially slide into the longitudinal groove to couple the wedge element to the drive tube. The stop mechanism comprises a threaded sleeve configured to screw onto the drive tube to lock the wedge element in the longitudinal groove once the lateral projection is slid into the longitudinal groove.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A method for using an underreaming tool, comprising the steps of:

providing a tubular body, a drive tube, at least one blade element (“

the blade element”

), at least one wedge element (“

the wedge element”

), and a stop mechanism; and

assembling the underreaming tool by coupling the wedge element to the blade element, housing the blade element in the guide channel, inserting the drive tube into the axial cavity, sliding the lateral projection into the longitudinal groove, and screwing the threaded sleeve onto the drive tube, wherein;

the tubular body comprises;

an axial cavity configured to house the drive tube, the axial cavity spanning an entire length of the tubular body; and

at least one guide channel (“

the guide channel”

) configured to, at least, partially house the blade element and the wedge element, the guide channel comprising an opening in the tubular body that opens into the axial cavity;

the drive tube comprises at least one longitudinal groove (“

the longitudinal groove”

) axially disposed along a length of the drive tube;

the wedge element comprises;

a first side having at least one lateral projection (“

the lateral projection”

) configured to axially slide into the longitudinal groove to couple the wedge element to the drive tube; and

a second side configured to slideably couple the wedge element to the blade element; and

the stop mechanism comprises a threaded sleeve configured to screw onto the drive tube to lock the wedge element in the longitudinal groove once the lateral projection is slid into the longitudinal groove.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the longitudinal groove comprises at least one lip (“

the lip”

); and

the lateral projection axially slides into the longitudinal groove by sliding beneath the lip.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the lip prevents radial movement of the wedge element relative to the drive tube once the lateral projection is slid underneath the lip and the threaded sleeve prevents axial movement of the wedge element relative to the drive tube once the threaded sleeve is screwed onto the drive tube.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the longitudinal groove comprises a splay disposed in a central section of the longitudinal groove;

the lateral projection comprises a first set of lateral projections and a second set of lateral projections; and

sliding the lateral projection into the longitudinal groove comprises sliding the first set of lateral projections into the longitudinal groove through the splay and the second set of lateral projections into the longitudinal groove through an end of the longitudinal groove.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the stop mechanism comprises a stop wall that defines a first end of the longitudinal groove;

the threaded sleeve, after being screwed onto the drive tube, closes a second end of the longitudinal groove forming an opposing wall to the stop wall; and

the stop mechanism locks the wedge element into the longitudinal groove by trapping the first side of the wedge element between the stop wall and the threaded sleeve once the lateral projection is slid into the longitudinal groove.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein:

housing the blade element in the guide channel comprises inserting the blade element into the axial cavity through the guide channel and raising the blade element into the guide channel;

inserting the drive tube into the axial cavity comprises inserting the drive tube into a first end of the tubular body; and

screwing the threaded sleeve onto the drive tube comprises, inserting the threaded sleeve into a second end opposite the first end of the tubular body after inserting the drive tube into the tubular body, and screwing the threaded sleeve onto the drive tube inside the tubular body.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein assembling the drive tube comprises:

first, coupling the wedge element to the blade element;

second, housing the blade element in the guide channel;

third, inserting the drive tube into the axial cavity;

fourth, sliding the lateral projection into the longitudinal groove; and

fifth, screwing the threaded sleeve onto the drive tube.

20. A method of using an underreaming tool for use in a borehole, comprising rigidly coupling at least one wedge element (“

the wedge element”

) to a drive tube using a stop mechanism wherein the stop mechanism rigidly couples the wedge element to the drive tube by attaching to the drive tube such that the stop mechanism traps the wedge element between itself and the drive tube.