ROTARY STEERABLE TOOL

• US 20140083777A1
• Filed: 05/30/2012
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alexandre Korchounov
• Original Assignee: Alexandre Korchounov
• Inventors: Korchounov, Alexandre
• Granted Patent: US 9,534,445 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 175/61
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/04 Directional drilling
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/062 the tool shaft rotating inside a non-rotating guide travelling with the shaft E21B7/067 and E21B7/068 take precedence

Abstract

A rotary steerable tool has an inner mandrel having a longitudinal axis and an outer housing positioned along the inner mandrel. The outer housing rotates independently of the inner mandrel. The outer housing has an engagement member that moves axially relative to the outer housing and the inner mandrel between an extended position and a retracted position, and a transition surface having a slope relative to an outer surface of the outer housing. The engagement member moves along the transition surface between the extended position and the retracted position. In the engaged position, the engagement member extends outward from the outer housing to engage an inner surface of a well being drilled. An actuator selectively moves the engagement member along the transition surface from the retracted position to the extended position.

Claims

1-27. -27. (canceled)

28. A rotary steerable tool comprising:

an inner mandrel having a longitudinal axis;

an outer housing positioned along the inner mandrel, and the outer housing comprising;

an engagement member that moves axially relative to the outer housing between an extended position and a retracted position, and the engagement member comprising a friction surface that engages the inner surface of the well being drilled in the extended position; and

a transition surface having a slope relative to an outer surface of the outer housing, the engagement member moving along the transition surface between the extended position and the retracted position, in the engaged position, the engagement member extending outward from the outer housing to engage an inner surface of a wellbore, and the outer housing rotating independently of the inner mandrel when the engagement member is in the engaged position; and

an actuator that selectively moves the engagement member along the transition surface from the retracted position to the extended position.

29. The rotary steerable tool of claim 28, wherein the friction surface is connected to an internal portion by a pivoting connection.

30. The rotary steerable tool of claim 28, wherein the friction surface comprises a plurality of sharp points.

31. The rotary steerable tool of claim 28, wherein the actuator comprises an electric or mechanical motor and a threaded rod.

32. The rotary steerable tool of claim 28, wherein the actuator comprises a hydraulic power source and a piston.

33. The rotary steerable tool of claim 28, wherein the actuator comprises a hydraulically actuated ring.

34. The rotary steerable tool of claim 28, wherein the outer housing is a split case.

35. The rotary steerable tool of claim 28, wherein the inner mandrel is connected to a drill string.

36. The rotary steerable tool of claim 35, wherein the drill string comprises stabilizer members mounted at least one of above and below the outer housing.

37. The rotary steerable tool of claim 28, wherein the outer housing comprises a plurality of engagement members having a different height.

38. The rotary steerable tool of claim 28, wherein the outer housing comprises a pressure equalization valve.

39. A drill string for directional drilling comprising:

a rotary drill string body carrying a drill bit at a lower end of the rotary drill string body;

a rotary steerable tool spaced from the drill bit, and the rotary steerable tool comprising;

an inner mandrel having a longitudinal axis;

an outer housing positioned along the inner mandrel, and the outer housing comprising;

an engagement member that moves axially relative to the outer housing between an extended position and a retracted position, the engagement member comprising a friction surface that engages the inner surface of the well being drilled in the extended position; and

a transition surface having a slope relative to an outer surface of the outer housing, the engagement member moving along the transition surface between the extended position and the retracted position, in the engaged position, the engagement member extending outward from the outer housing to engage an inner surface of a wellbore the outer housing rotating independently of the inner mandrel when the engagement member is in the engaged position;

an actuator that selectively moves the engagement member along the transition surface from the retracted position to the extended position; and

at least one set of stabilizers spaced along the rotary drill string body from the rotary steerable tool.

40. The rotary steerable tool of claim 39, wherein the friction surface is connected to an internal portion by a pivoting connection.

41. The rotary steerable tool of claim 39, wherein the friction surface comprises a plurality of sharp points.

42. The drill string of claim 39, wherein the actuator comprises an electric motor and a threaded rod.

44. The drill string of claim 39, wherein the actuator comprises a hydraulically actuated ring.

45. The drill string of claim 39, wherein the outer housing is a split case.

46. The drill string of claim 39, further comprising a set of stabilizers above and below the rotary steerable tool.

47. The drill string of claim 39, wherein the outer housing comprises a plurality of engagement members having a different height.

48. The drill string of claim 39, wherein the outer housing comprises a pressure equalization valve.

49. A method of directional drilling, the method comprising the steps of:

securing an outer housing on a drill string, the outer housing comprising an engagement member that moves axially relative to the outer housing between an extended position and a retracted position and a transition surface having a slope relative to an outer surface of the outer housing;

actuating the engagement member to move along the transition surface from the retracted position to the extended position such that the engagement member extends outward from the outer housing and engages an inner surface of a wellbore;

the engagement member comprising a friction surface, wherein the friction surface causes the engagement member to move along the transition surface as the friction surface engages the inner surface of the wellbore and downward pressure is applied to the drill string, such that the engagement member induces the drill string to bend; and

rotating the drill string independently of the outer housing when the engagement member is in the engaged position against the inner surface of the wellbore.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the friction surface comprises a plurality of sharp points.