Rotary steerable tool

• US 8,286,733 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2010
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ket Resources Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Tulloch, Rory McCrae, Blair, Colin Robert, Oates, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Neuder, William P
• Application Number:
  US12/766,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20110259645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 175/73, 175/76, 175/320
• US Class Current: 175/76
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/06 Deflecting the direction of boreholes
• 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

Abstract

A rotary steerable tool is provided for use with a drilling apparatus. The rotary steerable tool includes at least a first portion that includes an outer housing, a rotary shaft extending through the outer housing, a drive clutch coupled to the rotary shaft, and a sensor coupled to the rotary shaft. The drive clutch is movable between an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration. The sensor is configured to identify whether the drive clutch is in at least one of the engaged configuration and the disengaged configuration.

Claims

1. A drilling portion for use with a rotary steerable tool comprising:

an outer housing;

a rotary shaft extending through said outer housing;

a drive clutch coupled to said rotary shaft, wherein said drive clutch is movable between an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration;

said drive clutch comprises a first ring and a second ring oriented such that said first ring engages said second ring when said drive clutch is in the engaged configuration, and said first ring does not engage said second ring when said drive clutch is in the disengaged configuration; and

a sensor coupled to said rotary shaft, wherein said sensor is configured to identify whether said drive clutch is in at least one of the engaged configuration and the disengaged configuration.

2. A drilling portion in accordance with claim 1, wherein said orientation location sensor is a Hall effect sensor.

3. A drilling portion in accordance with claim 1, wherein said outer housing is coupleable to a second outer housing comprising at least one steering pusher that is configured to rotate when said drive clutch is in the engaged configuration, and not rotate when said drive clutch is in the disengaged configuration.

4. A drilling portion in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said first ring and said second ring comprises a single tooth configuration.

5. A drilling portion in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said first ring and said second ring comprises a plurality of slots configured to channel fluid therethrough.

6. A rotary steerable tool for use with a drilling apparatus, said rotary steerable tool comprising at least a first portion that comprises an outer housing, a rotary shaft extending through said outer housing, a drive clutch coupled to said rotary shaft, and a sensor coupled to said rotary shaft, wherein said drive clutch is movable between an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration, and wherein said drive clutch comprises a first ring and a second ring oriented such that said first ring engages said second ring when said drive clutch is in the engaged configuration, and said first ring does not engage said second ring when said drive clutch is in the disengaged configuration, and wherein said sensor is configured to identify whether said drive clutch is in at least one of the engaged configuration and the disengaged configuration.

7. A rotary steerable tool in accordance with claim 6, wherein said orientation location sensor is a Hall effect sensor.

8. A rotary steerable tool in accordance with claim 6 further comprising a second portion that comprises a plurality of bearings that are configured to rotate said outer housing.

9. A rotary steerable tool in accordance with claim 6 further comprising a second portion that comprises at least one steering pusher that is configured to rotate when said drive clutch is in the engaged configuration, and not rotate when said drive clutch is in the disengaged configuration.

10. A rotary steerable tool in accordance with claim 6, wherein each of said first ring and said second ring comprises a single tooth configuration.

11. A rotary steerable tool in accordance with claim 6, wherein at least one of said first ring and said second ring comprises a plurality of slots configured to channel fluid therethrough.

12. A drilling apparatus comprising:

a motor; and

a rotary steerable tool coupled to said motor, said rotary steerable tool comprising at least a first portion that comprises an outer housing, a rotary shaft extending through said outer housing, a drive clutch coupled to said rotary shaft, and a sensor coupled to said rotary shaft, wherein said drive clutch is movable between an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration, and wherein said drive clutch comprises a first ring and a second ring oriented such that said first ring engages said second ring when said drive clutch is in the engaged configuration, and said first ring does not engage said second ring when said drive clutch is in the disengaged configuration, and wherein said sensor is configured to identify whether said drive clutch is in at least one of the engaged configuration and the disengaged configuration.

13. A drilling apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein said orientation location sensor is a Hall effect sensor.

14. A drilling apparatus in accordance with claim 12 further comprising a second portion that comprises a plurality of bearings that are configured to rotate said outer housing.

15. A drilling apparatus in accordance with claim 12 further comprising a second portion that comprises at least one steering pusher that is configured to rotate when said drive clutch is in the engaged configuration, and not rotate when said drive clutch is in the disengaged configuration.

16. A drilling apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein each of said first ring and said second ring comprises a single tooth configuration.

17. A drilling apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein at least one of said first ring and said second ring comprises a plurality of slots configured to channel fluid therethrough.