Dual motor systems and non-rotating sensors for use in developing wellbores in subsurface formations

• US 9,528,322 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2014
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shell USA Incorporated (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: MacDonald, Duncan Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): KRECK, JOHN J
• Application Number:
  US14/305,621
• Publication Number:
  US 20150021094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 21/22 Compounds containing sulfur, selenium, or tellurium
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 21/28 Recovery of used solvent
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/207 Acid gases, e.g. H2S, COS, SO2, HCN
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/301 Boiling range
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/302 Viscosity
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/308 Gravity, density, e.g. API
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/4006 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/4012 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/42 Hydrogen of special source or of special composition
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/807 Steam
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2400/02 Gasoline
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/003 with cutting edges facing in opposite axial directions
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/08 Controlling or monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid, e.g. automatic filling of boreholes, automatic control of bottom pressure valve arrangements therefor E21B21/10
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 3/022 Top drives
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 36/001 Cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 36/02 using burners
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 36/04 using electrical heaters
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 4/04 Electric drives E21B4/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/119 Details, e.g. for locating perforating place or direction
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2401 by means of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2403 : by means of nuclear energy
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/243 : Combustion in situ
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/281 : using heat
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/30 : Specific pattern of wells, e.g. optimising the spacing of wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/305 : comprising at least one inclined or horizontal well
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/022 : of the borehole, e.g. using geomagnetism
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/06 : Measuring temperature or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/068 : drilled by a down-hole drilling motor down-hole drives per se E21B4/00, E21B7/067 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/18 : Drilling by liquid or gas jets, with or without entrained pellets E21B7/14 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for forming a subsurface wellbore is disclosed. The method includes operating a drilling string in a first direction of rotation. A first motor located near the end of the drilling string is operated in a direction of rotation opposite that of the drilling string. A drill bit is rotated using a second motor that is coupled to the first motor.

Claims

1. A system for forming a subsurface wellbore, comprising:

a drilling string configured to rotate in a first direction of rotation;

a bottom hole assembly coupled to the drilling string;

a drill bit coupled to an end of the bottom hole assembly, the drill bit being configured to rotate in the first direction of rotation to form the wellbore; and

a first motor and a second motor located on the bottom hole assembly, wherein the first motor is configured to rotate the drill bit in the first direction of rotation, and wherein the second motor is configured to rotate at least a portion of the bottom hole assembly in a second direction of rotation, the second direction of rotation being opposite the first direction of rotation.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second motor is located near the end of the drilling string.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second motor is installed in an inverted orientation.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second motor comprises a stator and a rotor, and wherein the rotor is coupled to a driveshaft of the drilling string.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second motor is a straight mud motor.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first motor is coupled to an end of the bottom hole assembly.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first motor is a bent sub or a bent housing steerable mud motor.

5. The system of 4, wherein the second motor comprises a motor shaft coupled to the rotor, and wherein the motor shaft faces up-hole.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the motor shaft is coupled to the drilling string by way of a reverse threaded connection, and wherein the reverse threaded connection is configured to inhibit backing out of the motor shaft relative to the drilling string.