DIRECTIONAL DRILLING CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHODS
First Claim
1. A method of using a quill to steer a hydraulic motor when elongating a wellbore in a direction having a horizontal component, wherein the quill and the hydraulic motor are coupled to opposing ends of a drill string, the method comprising:
- monitoring an actual toolface orientation of a tool driven by the hydraulic motor by monitoring a drilling operation parameter indicative of a difference between the actual toolface orientation and a desired toolface orientation; and
adjusting a position of the quill by an amount that is dependent upon the monitored drilling operation parameter.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for using a quill to steer a hydraulic motor when elongating a wellbore in a direction having a horizontal component, wherein the quill and the hydraulic motor are coupled to opposing ends of a drill string, by monitoring an actual toolface orientation of a tool driven by the hydraulic motor via monitoring a drilling operation parameter indicative of a difference between the actual toolface orientation and a desired toolface orientation, and then adjusting a position of the quill by an amount that is dependent upon the monitored drilling operation parameter.
91 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of using a quill to steer a hydraulic motor when elongating a wellbore in a direction having a horizontal component, wherein the quill and the hydraulic motor are coupled to opposing ends of a drill string, the method comprising:
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monitoring an actual toolface orientation of a tool driven by the hydraulic motor by monitoring a drilling operation parameter indicative of a difference between the actual toolface orientation and a desired toolface orientation; and adjusting a position of the quill by an amount that is dependent upon the monitored drilling operation parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for using a quill to steer a hydraulic motor when elongating a wellbore in a direction having a horizontal component, wherein the quill and the hydraulic motor are coupled to opposing ends of a drill string, the system comprising:
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means for monitoring an actual toolface orientation of a tool driven by the hydraulic motor, including means for monitoring a drilling operation parameter indicative of a difference between the actual toolface orientation and a desired toolface orientation; and means for adjusting a position of the quill by an amount that is dependent upon the monitored drilling operation parameter.
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20. An apparatus for using a quill to steer a hydraulic motor when elongating a wellbore in a direction having a horizontal component, wherein the quill and the hydraulic motor are coupled to opposing ends of a drill string, the apparatus comprising:
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a sensor configured to detect a drilling operation parameter indicative of a difference between an actual toolface orientation of a tool driven by the hydraulic motor and a desired toolface orientation of the tool; and a toolface controller configured to adjust the actual toolface orientation by generating a quill drive control signal directing a quill drive to adjust a rotational position of the quill based on the monitored drilling operation parameter.
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Specification