Controllable downhole directional drilling tool and method

• US 4,597,454 A
• Filed: 06/12/1984
• Issued: 07/01/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Universal Downhole Controls Limited
• Original Assignee: Universal Downhole Controls Limited
• Inventors: Schoeffler, William N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Stephen J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Neuder, William P.
• Application Number:
  US06/619,866
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 175/45, 175/61, 175/73, 175/74, 175/75, 175/256, 175/320, 285/184, 285/282
• US Class Current: 175/61
• 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

An improved directional drilling tool permits the control of the angle of drilling of a drill bit through the repeated placement or removal of a ball within the mudstream. The ball activates, clutch mechanism within the directional drilling tool. The clutch mechanism, controlled by the activated valve, locks the exterior of the directional drilling sub to a fixed angular orientation and activates a deflection cam to deflect a drive shaft so as to angle the bit, causing the bit and sub to drill at a controlled angle offset from the vertical. The unit is aligned and located using wire line measuring equipment of known design. Since the sub may be controllably set in a straight line drilling or an angle drilling position, it may be left permanently in position in a drill string significantly reducing the requirement to trip out the well bore during directional drilling and significantly increasing the flexibility available to the driller to deflect the direction of drilling while drilling is in progress.

Claims

1. A tool for controllable, directional drilling in a deep bore well comprising:

a. an elongate, outer, orientable casing member, aligned in said bore;

b. an inner, bendable, torque passing member adapted for rotation of a drill bit, journaled within said outer casing member;

c. means for deflecting, with respect to the orientation of the outer casing member, the inner bendable torque passing member; and

d. means having a first coupled position, coupling the outer casing member and said inner bendable member, and a second uncoupled position disconnecting the outer casing member and the inner bendable member.

2. An apparatus as described in claim 1 above, wherein said inner bendable member further comprises:

a. an elongate, deflectable tube member adapted for rotation;

b. means for coupling for rotation a drill bit to an end of said tube member, orienting said drill bit to an angle established by said tube member.

3. An apparatus as described in claim 2 above, wherein said means for rotatably connecting said drill bit further comprise:

a. an angularly variable rotating thrust bearing member rotationally supporting said tube member within said outer casing member, adjacent said drill bit.

4. An apparatus as described in claim 1 above, wherein said means for deflecting said tube further comprise:

a. means, actuatingly connected to said outer casing member for rotational orientation, rotationally supporting said inner bendable member, having a first supporting position wherein said inner bendable member is substantially straight, and having a second supporting position wherein said inner bendable member is substantially curved; and

b. means for transitioning said first means between said first and said second positions.

5. An apparatus as described in claim 4 above, wherein said second means further comprise control means comprising:

a. means for diverting a flow of drilling fluid from a first to a second flow path;

b. piston means, responsive to mud flow in said second flow path, actuated by said mud flow from a first biased position to a second actuated position; and

c. cam means, actuated by movement of said piston from said first to said second position, activating said deflection supporting means.

6. An apparatus as described in claim 5 above, wherein said control means further comprises:

a. first bypass passages connecting between said first mudflow path and said second mudflow path;

b. said second mudflow path comprising an annular space between said inner bendable member and said outer casing member;

c. actuatable mud flow restriction means, forcing upon actuation mud through said first bypass passages into said annulus;

d. a surface component of said annulus means movable with respect to all other surface portions of said annulus, being movable in response to said mud flow within said annulus;

e. means for biasing said movable surface to a first position; and

f. second bypass passages for returning mud to said first mudflow path upon movement of said annulus surface to a second position.

7. An apparatus as described in claim 1 above, wherein said clutch means further comprises:

a. first spline connecting means, being slidably disengagable to a second position circumferentially enclosing said inner bendable tube;

b. second spline connecting means slidably retaining engagement, during movement of first said spline engaging means, adapted for retaining orientation of said outer casing member and said deflecting means; and

b. said splines being of a larger and a smaller tooth, having only one aligned rotational relationship for engagement.

8. An apparatus for removably coupling an outer casing member in an inner rotating member within a drilling tool, retaining relative alignment for engaged use, comprising:

a. clutch means, engaging and disengaging the outer casing member and the inner rotating member;

b. controllable means for actuating the clutch means, the controllable means further comprising;

i. first bypass passages connecting a first mud flow path and a second mud flow path;

b. actuatable mud flow restriction means, forcing, upon actuation, mud through the first bypass passages into the second mud flow path;

c. a surface component position in the second mud flow path movable in response to the mud flow within the second mud flow path; and

e. means for biasing the movable surface member to a first position and second bypass passages for returning mud to the first mud flow path upon movement of the surface component to a second position.

9. A method for directional drilling comprising:

a. providing an outer, rotationally alignable, bore contacting alignment means;

b. providing an inner deflectable drive means having a first straight line and a second curve driving position;

c. providing means for rotationally coupling and uncoupling the outer, rotationally alignable bore contacting alignment means and inner deflectable drive means;

d. rotatably connecting a drill bit to said deflectable drive means, angularly responsive to said deflection;

e. aligning said outer means to establish an azmuth of said drilling direction; and

f. deflecting said drive means to establish an offset drill arc angle along said azmuth.