Lead the bit rotary steerable tool

• US 8,522,897 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2009
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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): COY, NICOLE A
• Application Number:
  US12/557,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20100000794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,453 Days
• Field of Search: 175/61, 175/73
• US Class Current: 175/61
• 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

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 method for steering a downhole tool string through a formation, comprising:

positioning a drill bit adjacent a 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 having a distal end protruding from the working face;

a flexible portion disposed above the bit body between the shank and the adjacent drill string component, the flexible portion including an upper segment and a lower segment; and

,

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

positioning the drill string component and the drill bit in a bore hole; and

,

orienting the indenting member in a desired trajectory.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising rotating at least one of the drill string component and the drill bit.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising rotating the drill bit in a direction and rotating the indenting member in another direction opposite the direction that the drill bit rotates.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising pushing the indenting member against the formation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein orienting the indenting member in a desired trajectory further comprises at least one of orienting the indenting member in a desired azimuth and angling the distal end of the indenting member.

6. A method for steering a downhole tool string through a formation, comprising:

positioning a drill bit in a bore hole, the drill bit including;

a working face;

a shank;

a bit body between the working face and the shank;

an indenting member having a distal end protruding from the working face; 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; and

,

positioning the indenting member in a desired trajectory.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising rotating the drill bit in a direction and rotating the indenting member in another direction opposite the direction that the drill bit rotates.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising pushing the indenting member against the formation.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein positioning the indenting member in a desired trajectory further comprises at least one of orienting the indenting member in a desired trajectory, orienting the indenting member in a desired azimuth, and angling the distal end of the indenting member.

10. A method for steering a downhole tool string through a formation, comprising:

positioning a fluid-driven turbine and a drill bit in a bore hole, the drill bit including;

a working face;

a shank;

a bit body between the working face and the shank;

an indenting member having a distal end protruding from the working face; 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 upper segment, the interface including at least one of an o-ring and a wiper seal to create a seal; and

,

positioning the indenting member in a desired trajectory.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising rotating the drill bit in a direction and rotating the indenting member in another direction opposite the direction that the drill bit rotates.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising pushing the indenting member against the formation.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein positioning the indenting member in a desired trajectory further comprises at least one of orienting the indenting member in a desired trajectory, orienting the indenting member in a desired azimuth, and angling the distal end of the indenting member.

14. A method for steering a downhole tool string through a formation, comprising:

positioning a drill bit in a bore hole, the drill bit including;

a working face;

a shank;

a bit body between the working face and the shank;

an indenting member having a distal end protruding from the working face; 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; and

,

a bellows-type cover disposed exterior to the flexible portion; and

,

positioning the indenting member in a desired trajectory.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising rotating the drill bit in a direction and rotating the indenting member in another direction opposite the direction that the drill bit rotates.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising pushing the indenting member against the formation.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein positioning the indenting member in a desired trajectory further comprises at least one of orienting the indenting member in a desired trajectory, orienting the indenting member in a desired azimuth, and angling the distal end of the indenting member.