Method for directional drilling

• US 5,937,954 A
• Filed: 03/25/1997
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tracto-Technik Paul Schmidt Spezialmaschinen
• Original Assignee: Tracto-Technik Paul Schmidt Spezialmaschinen
• Inventors: Puttmann, Franz-Josef, Hesse, Alfons
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHOEPPEL, ROGER J
• Application Number:
  US08/823,847
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 175/61, 175/73, 175/91, 175/106, 175/108, 175/231
• US Class Current: 175/61
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/18 Pipes provided with plural fluid passages E21B17/203 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/005 with helical conveying means E21B7/201 takes precedence; augers E21B10/44; drilling rods or pipes with helical structure E21B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/06 Deflecting the direction of boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/064 specially adapted drill bits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/067 with means for locking sections of a pipe or of a guide for a shaft in angular relation, e.g. adjustable bent sub
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/068 drilled by a down-hole drilling motor down-hole drives per se E21B4/00, E21B7/067 takes precedence

Abstract

In a method for directional drilling with the aid of a drilling device having a drill pipe and a mining tool which moves on an orbit, the tool moves at an essentially constant angular velocity during straight drilling and the angular velocity is periodically changed during curved drilling, in order to thus create a smooth transition from straight drilling to curved drilling and to achieve more precise curve control.

Claims

1. A method for directional drilling, comprising:

rotating a drilling device comprising a drill pipe and a mining tool mounted on the drill pipe, whereby the mining tool is rotated at an essentially constant angular velocity for drilling in a straight line and the angular velocity of the rotation of the mining tool is periodically changed for drilling in a curved path.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the angular velocity is changed once per rotation of the mining tool in a given angular range.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein during drilling in a curved path, the angular velocity of the rotation of the mining tool is changed at temporally identical intervals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein an accelerating percussion or pushing force is exerted on the drill pipe at a time offset from a time where the angular velocity is changed.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the accelerating percussion or pushing force is exerted on the drill pipe during a phase of higher angular velocity.

6. A device for directional drilling, comprising:

a rotationally driven pipe string;

a mining tool carried by the driven pipe string and arranged eccentrically with respect to an axis of a bore hole;

a controller for rotation of the pipe string and mining tool, whereby the controller rotates the mining tool at an essentially constant angular velocity for a drilling in a straight line and the angular velocity of the mining tool is periodically changed for drilling in a curved path.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the driven pipe string comprises an angled or curved guide pipe and a driven tool carried by the guide pipe.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the driven pipe string includes two concentric pipes.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the internal pipe is driven and the mining tool is carried by the internal pipe.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the mining tool is provided with nozzles, the nozzles being supplied with a liquid carried by the internal pipe.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein a forward end of the outer pipe is fitted with tools.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the mining tool is mounted to the outer pipe in an articulated manner.

13. The device of claim 6, wherein the mining tool is driven by a mud motor and the pipe string supplies driving liquid to the mud motor.

14. The device of claim 6, wherein a front part of the driven pipe string is angled.

15. The device of claim 6, wherein the rotation axis of the mining tool is arranged eccentrically.

16. The device of claim 6, wherein the mining tool or a forward end of the driven pipe string is provided with a steering surface.

17. The device of claim 6, wherein the driven pipe string is provided with an opening for removal of excavated material.

18. The device of claim 17, further comprising at least one of a conveyer worm and nozzles for a liquid to transport excavated material away in the driven pipe string.