Surface controlled wellbore directional steering tool
First Claim
1. An apparatus for selectively controlling from the surface of the earth a drilling direction of an inclined wellbore having a low side comprising:
- a hollow rotatable mandrel having a concentric longitudinal bore;
a single inner eccentric sleeve rotatably coupled about said mandrel, said single inner eccentric sleeve having an eccentric longitudinal bore of sufficient diameter to allow free relative motion between said mandrel and said single inner eccentric sleeve;
an outer housing rotatably coupled around said single inner eccentric sleeve, said outer housing having an eccentric longitudinal bore forming a weighted side adapted to automatically seek the low side of the wellbore and having sufficient diameter to allow free relative motion between said single inner eccentric sleeve, said outer housing having an outer surface;
a plurality of stabilizer shoes longitudinally positioned along said outer surface of said outer housing; and
,drive means for selectively rotating said single inner eccentric sleeve with respect to said outer housing.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tool for controlling azimuth and/or inclination in a wellbore and methods for utilizing the same is disclosed. The tool generally comprises a freely rotating mandrel, for transmitting drilling forces, contained within two eccentric sleeves. The outer sleeve has an eccentric longitudinal bore that forms a pregnant or weighted side that seeks the low-side of the wellbore. Two gauge inserts or stabilizer shoes are provided on either side of the outer sleeve at ninety degrees to the pregnant housing. The inner sleeve has a further eccentric longitudinal bore that contains the freely rotating mandrel. The mandrel is attached to the drill string at one end and to the drilling bit at the other. The position of the inner sleeve may be controlled, at will from the surface, so that the eccentric is kept to one side of the outer housing, thus transmitting a fulcrum force to the bit and controlling the azimuth and/or inclination of the wellbore. The pregnant housing contains drive means and assorted logic for controlling the position with respect to the pregnant housing of the eccentric bore of the inner sleeve.
59 Citations
34 Claims
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1. An apparatus for selectively controlling from the surface of the earth a drilling direction of an inclined wellbore having a low side comprising:
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a hollow rotatable mandrel having a concentric longitudinal bore; a single inner eccentric sleeve rotatably coupled about said mandrel, said single inner eccentric sleeve having an eccentric longitudinal bore of sufficient diameter to allow free relative motion between said mandrel and said single inner eccentric sleeve; an outer housing rotatably coupled around said single inner eccentric sleeve, said outer housing having an eccentric longitudinal bore forming a weighted side adapted to automatically seek the low side of the wellbore and having sufficient diameter to allow free relative motion between said single inner eccentric sleeve, said outer housing having an outer surface; a plurality of stabilizer shoes longitudinally positioned along said outer surface of said outer housing; and
,drive means for selectively rotating said single inner eccentric sleeve with respect to said outer housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus for selectively controlling from the surface of the earth a drilling direction of an inclined wellbore having a low side comprising:
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a hollow rotatable mandrel having a concentric longitudinal bore, said concentric longitudinal bore capable of passing wellbore fluids and having an exterior side; a single inner eccentric sleeve rotatably coupled about said mandrel, said single inner eccentric sleeve having an eccentric longitudinal bore of sufficient diameter to allow free relative motion between said mandrel and said single inner eccentric sleeve, said single inner eccentric sleeve having an exterior side; an outer housing rotatably coupled around said single inner eccentric sleeve, said outer housing having an eccentric longitudinal bore forming a weighted side adapted to automatically seek the low side of the wellbore and having sufficient diameter to allow free relative motion between said single inner eccentric sleeve, said outer housing having an outer surface; a pair of stabilizer shoes longitudinally attached to said outer surface of said outer housing circumferentially at ninety degrees to each side of said weighted side of said outer housing; drive means for selectively rotating said single inner eccentric sleeve with respect to said outer housing, and logic means for determining when said single inner eccentric sleeve should be rotated. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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27. An apparatus for selectively controlling from the surface of the earth a drilling direction of an inclined wellbore having a low side comprising:
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a hollow rotatable mandrel having a concentric longitudinal bore, said concentric longitudinal bore capable of passing wellbore fluids and having an interior and exterior side; a single inner eccentric sleeve rotatably coupled about said mandrel, said single inner eccentric sleeve having an eccentric longitudinal bore of sufficient diameter to allow free relative motion between said mandrel and said single inner eccentric sleeve, said single inner eccentric sleeve having an exterior side; an outer housing rotatably coupled around said single inner eccentric sleeve, said outer housing having an eccentric longitudinal bore forming a weighted side adapted to automatically seek the low side of the wellbore and having sufficient diameter to allow free relative motion between said single inner eccentric sleeve, said outer housing having an outer surface co-located with an exterior; a pair of stabilizer shoes longitudinally attached to said outer surface of said outer housing circumferentially at ninety degrees to each side of said weighted side of said outer housing; drive means for selectively rotating said single inner eccentric sleeve with respect to said outer housing; logic means for determining when said single inner eccentric sleeve should be rotated; said single inner eccentric sleeve further having a first axial position and a second axial position with respect to said outer housing; and a series of drilling fluid passageways extending generally radially through said mandrel, said single inner eccentric sleeve and said outer housing such that, when said single inner eccentric sleeve is in said first position, said series of drilling fluid passageways align with each other so as to allow drilling fluid to flow readily from said interior of the said mandrel to said exterior of said outer housing accompanied by a relatively low pressure drop, and when said single inner eccentric sleeve is in said second position, said drilling fluid passageways are in misalignment so as to restrict drilling fluid flow from said interior of said mandrel to said exterior of said outer housing accompanied by relatively high pressure drop. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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33. An apparatus for selectively controlling from the surface the drilling direction of an inclined wellbore comprising:
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a hollow rotatable mandrel having a concentric longitudinal bore, said concentric longitudinal bore capable of passing wellbore fluids and having an interior and exterior side; an inner sleeve rotatably coupled about said mandrel, said inner sleeve having an eccentric longitudinal bore of sufficient diameter to allow free relative motion between said mandrel and said inner sleeve, said sleeve having an exterior side; an outer housing rotatably coupled around said inner eccentric sleeve, said outer housing having an eccentric longitudinal bore forming a weighted side adapted to automatically seek the low side of the wellbore and having sufficient diameter to allow free relative motion between said inner sleeve, said outer housing having an outer surface co-located with an exterior; a pair of stabilizer shoes longitudinally attached to said outer surface of said outer housing circumferentially at ninety degrees to each side of said weighted side of said outer housing; drive means for selectively rotating said inner eccentric sleeve with respect to said outer housing; logic means for determining when said inner sleeve should be rotated; said inner sleeve further having a first axial position and a second axial position with respect to said outer housing; and a series of drilling fluid passageways extending generally radially through said mandrel, said inner sleeve and said outer housing such that, when said inner sleeve is in said first position, said series of drilling fluid passageways align with each other so as to allow drilling fluid to flow readily from said interior of the said mandrel to said exterior of said outer housing accompanied by a relatively low pressure drop, and when said inner sleeve is in said second position, said drilling fluid passageways are in misalignment so as to restrict drilling fluid flow from said interior of said mandrel to said exterior of said outer housing accompanied by relatively high pressure drop. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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Specification