Lead the bit rotary steerable tool

• US 8,360,174 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Hall, David R., Turner, Paula, Lundgreen, David, Woolston, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): WRIGHT, GIOVANNA COLLINS
• Application Number:
  US12/362,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20090133936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: 175/73, 175/74, 175/385, 175/408, 175/320
• US Class Current: 175/385
• 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

Abstract

A drilling assembly comprises a drill bit that includes a bit body intermediate a working face and a shank. An indenting member adapted to guide the drill bit protrudes from the working face. A flexible portion is disposed above the bit body.

Claims

1. A drilling assembly, comprising:

a drill string component; and

,

a drill bit positioned adjacent the drill string component, the drill bit including;

a working face;

a shank;

a bit body between the working face and the shank;

an indenting member protruding from the working face, the indenting member being adapted to guide the drill bit;

a flexible portion disposed above the bit body between the shank and the adjacent drill string component; and

,

at least one of an o-ring disposed between the flexible portion and the bit body, a wiper seal disposed between the flexible portion and the bit body, and a bellows-type seal disposed exterior to the flexible portion.

2. The drilling assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible portion comprises at least one of a compliant segment, a reduced cross-section, and a joint with laterally sliding surfaces.

3. The drilling assembly of claim 1, wherein the indenting member is rotatable with respect to the bit body.

4. The drilling assembly of claim 1, wherein the indenting member comprises an asymmetrical geometry on a distal end of the indenting member.

5. The drilling assembly of claim 1, wherein the indenting member comprises a polycrystalline diamond cutting element.

6. The drilling assembly of claim 5 wherein the polycrystalline diamond cutting element comprises pointed geometry.

7. The drilling assembly of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism adapted to selectively prevent movement of the flexible portion.

8. A drilling assembly, comprising:

a drill bit that includes;

a working face;

a shank;

a bit body between the working face and the shank;

an indenting member protruding from the working face, the indenting member being adapted to guide the drill bit; and

,

a flexible portion disposed above the bit body, the flexible portion including;

a lower segment that includes an extension with a generally spherical geometry on a distal end; and

,

an upper segment that includes a generally spherical recess that corresponds with the generally spherical geometry of the lower segment.

9. The drilling assembly of claim 8, wherein at least one of the generally spherical geometry and the generally spherical recess include at least one of a recess and a groove, and wherein bearing balls adapted to transfer torque are disposed in at least one of the recess and the groove.

10. A drilling assembly, comprising:

a fluid-driven turbine; and

,

a drill bit that includes;

a working face;

a shank;

a bit body between the working face and the shank;

an indenting member protruding from the working face, the indenting member being adapted to guide the drill bit; and

,

a flexible portion that includes a shaft disposed internal to the bit body and between the indenting member and the fluid-driven turbine.

11. The drilling assembly of claim 10, wherein the shaft is flexible.

12. The drilling assembly of claim 10, wherein the shaft comprises at least one of a universal joint, a compliant portion, and a constant-velocity joint.

13. A drilling assembly, comprising:

a drill bit that includes;

a working face;

a shank;

a bit body between the working face and the shank;

an indenting member protruding from the working face, the indenting member being adapted to guide the drill bit; and

,

a flexible portion disposed above the bit body, the flexible portion including;

a lower segment;

an upper segment; and

,

an interface between the lower and the upper segment, the interface including at least one of an o-ring and a wiper seal to create a seal.

14. The drilling assembly of claim 13, wherein the lower segment further comprises an extension with a generally spherical geometry on a distal end and the upper segment further comprises a generally spherical recess that corresponds with the generally spherical geometry of the lower segment.

15. A drilling assembly, comprising:

a drill bit that includes;

a working face;

a shank;

a bit body between the working face and the shank;

an indenting member protruding from the working face, the indenting member being adapted to guide the drill bit; and

,

a flexible portion disposed above the bit body, the flexible portion including;

a lower segment;

an upper segment;

an interface between the lower and the upper segment; and

,

a bellows-type cover disposed exterior to the flexible portion.