Drilling method and apparatus

• US 6,050,348 A
• Filed: 06/17/1997
• Issued: 04/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1997
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Canrig Drilling Technology Limited (Nabors Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Canrig Drilling Technology Limited (Nabors Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Kuttel, Beat, Richarson, Allan S.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHOEPPEL, ROGER J
• Application Number:
  US08/877,738
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 175/24, 175/26, 175/27, 175/40, 175/45, 175/61
• US Class Current: 175/26
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 44/00 Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a drilling operation without intervention of a human operator, e.g. computer-controlled drilling systems; Systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 44/005 Below-ground automatic control systems
• 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 method and apparatus for precisely controlling the rotation of a drill string. A sensor monitors the rotation of the drill string and transmits the rotational information to a computer. The computer controls the rotation of the motor driving the drill string and rotates the drill string through an angle input by the operator. The computer may also utilize the sensor'"'"'s rotational information to oscillate the drill string between two predetermined angles. The computer may also receive orientation information from a downhole tool sensor. The downhole tool information may be combined with the rotational information to enable the computer to accurately reorient the downhole tool.

Claims

1. A drill string drive comprising:

a motor adapted to rotate a drill string;

a sensor adapted to detect the rotation of said drill string at the surface; and

a computer receiving rotational information from said sensor, said computer transmitting control signals to said motor, said computer programmed to control said motor to advance said drill string to a predetermined angle.

2. A drill string drive comprising:

a motor adapted to rotate a drill string;

a sensor adapted to detect the rotation of said drill string; and

a computer receiving rotational data from said sensor and transmitting control signals to said motor, said computer programmed to control the rotation of said motor, said computer advancing said drill string a predetermined angle in a first direction and then reversing said rotation and advancing said drill string a predetermined angle in a second direction.

3. A drilling system comprising:

a motor;

a drill string connected to said motor;

a first sensor adapted to detect the rotation of said motor at the surface;

a bit at the distal end of said drill string;

a second sensor adapted to detect the orientation of said bit; and

a computer adapted to receive information from said first sensor and said second sensor.

4. A drilling method comprising:

monitoring the rotation of a drill string with a sensor at the surface;

transmitting said rotational information to a computer;

controlling a motor that rotates said drill string with said computer; and

rotating said drill string to a predetermined angle.

5. A drilling method comprising:

monitoring the rotation of a drill string with a sensor;

transmitting said rotational information to a computer;

controlling a motor that rotates said drill string with said computer; and

oscillating said drill string between predetermined angles.

6. A directional drilling method comprising:

monitoring the rotation of a drill string with a first sensor at the surface;

monitoring the orientation of a downhole tool with a second sensor, said downhole tool being connected to the end of said drill string;

transmitting said drill string rotational information to said computer;

transmitting said downhole tool orientation information to said computer;

controlling a motor that rotates said drill string with said computer; and

rotating said drill string with said computer controlled motor to a predetermined angle such that said downhole tool is rotated to a predetermined orientation.