Expandable underreamer/stabilizer

• US 6,732,817 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2002
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smith International Incorporated (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Smith International Incorporated (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Xu, Wei, Dewey, Charles H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walker, Zakiya
• Application Number:
  US10/078,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20030155155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 175/57, 175/263, 175/266, 175/267, 175/269, 175/291, 175/344, 175/385, 175/391, 175/406
• US Class Current: 175/57
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/322 cutter shifted by fluid pressure E21B10/345 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/1014 Flexible or expansible centering means, e.g. with pistons pressing against the wall of the well E21B17/1042 takes precedence
• 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 downhole tool that functions as an underreamer, or alternatively, as a stabilizer in an underreamed borehole. The tool includes one or more moveable arms disposed within a body having a flowbore therethrough in fluid communication with the wellbore annulus. The tool alternates between collapsed and expanded positions in response to differential fluid pressure between the flowbore and the wellbore annulus. In one embodiment, the tool moves automatically in response to differential pressure. In a second embodiment, the tool must be selectively actuated before it is moveable. When the tool expands, the arms are preferably translated axially upwardly, while simultaneously being extended radially outwardly from the body. The expanded tool diameter is adjustable at the surface without changing components. The arms may include borehole engaging pads that comprise cutting structures or wear structures or both, depending upon the function of the tool.

Claims

1. An expandable downhole tool for use in a drilling assembly positioned within a wellbore, comprising:

a tubular body including at least one axial recess, a plurality of angled channels formed into a wall of said at least one axial recess, and an axial flowbore extending therethrough; and

at least one moveable arm;

wherein said at least one moveable arm translates along said plurality of angled channels between a collapsed position and an expanded position in response to a differential pressure between said axial flowbore and said wellbore.

2. The tool of claim 1 further including means for adjusting said expanded position.

3. The tool of claim 1 further including at least one nozzle that translates with said at least one moveable arm.

4. The tool of claim 1 further including a spring to bias said at least one moveable arm to said collapsed position.

5. The tool of claim 1 wherein said at least one axial recess stores said at least one moveable arm in said collapsed position.

6. The tool of claim 1 wherein said at least one moveable arm includes a plurality of extensions corresponding to and engaging said plurality of channels.

7. The tool of claim 1 wherein said at least one moveable arm comprises three moveable arms spaced apart circumferentially around said tool body.

8. The tool of claim 1 wherein said at least one moveable arm includes angled surfaces for connecting into said body.

9. The tool of claim 1 further including a piston that translates said at least one moveable arm axially upwardly from said collapsed position to said expanded position.

10. The tool of claim 1 wherein said at least one moveable arm engages said wellbore in said expanded position.

11. The tool of claim 10 wherein said at least one moveable arm includes at least one set of cutting structures for underreaming said wellbore in said expanded position.

12. The tool of claim 10 wherein said at least one moveable arm includes at least one wear structure for stabilizing said drilling assembly within said wellbore.

13. The tool of claim 1 further including a chamber in fluid communication with said flowbore and said wellbore.

14. The tool of claim 13 wherein said chamber enlarges as said at least one moveable arm translates from said collapsed position to said expanded position.

15. The tool of claim 13 further including an inner member with ports therethrough that enable fluid communication between said chamber and said flowbore.

16. The tool of claim 15 further including means for selectively opening and closing said ports.

17. The tool of claim 15 further including a stinger biased to close said ports, thereby preventing said at least one moveable arm from translating between said collapsed position and said expanded position in response to said differential pressure.

18. The tool of claim 17 further including an actuator for aligning said stinger to open said ports.

19. The tool of claim 1 further including a chamber in fluid communication with said flowbore.

20. The tool of claim 19 further including an inner member with ports therethrough that enable fluid communication between said chamber and said flowbore.

21. The tool of claim 20 further including means for selectively opening said ports.

22. The tool of claim 1 wherein said at least one moveable arm comprises at least one borehole engaging pad adapted to accommodate cutting structures or wear structures or a combination thereof.

23. The tool of claim 22 wherein said at least one borehole engaging pad comprises two upper pads, a middle pad, and two lower pads.

24. The tool of claim 22 wherein said at least one borehole engaging pad provides back reaming capability.

25. The tool of claim 22 wherein said at least one borehole engaging pad provides gauge protection capability.

26. The tool of claim 22 wherein said at least one borehole engaging pad provides underreaming capability.

27. The tool of claim 22 wherein said at least one borehole engaging pad provides stabilizing capability.

28. An expandable downhole tool for use in a drilling assembly positioned within a wellbore having an original diameter borehole and an enlarged diameter borehole, comprising:

a body; and

at least one non-pivotable, moveable arm having at least one borehole engaging pad adapted to accommodate cutting structures or wear structures or a combination thereof;

wherein said at least one arm is moveable between a first position defining a collapsed diameter, and a second position defining an expanded diameter approximately equal to said enlarged diameter borehole.

29. The tool of claim 28 wherein said at least one arm underreams said original diameter borehole to produce said enlarged diameter borehole.

30. The tool of claim 28 wherein said at least one arm stabilizes said drilling assembly within said enlarged diameter borehole.

31. The tool of claim 28 wherein said at least one arm is moveable between said first position and said second position in response to a differential fluid pressure.

32. The tool of claim 31 wherein said at least one arm is automatically moveable from said first position to said second position whenever said differential pressure is present.

33. The tool of claim 31 wherein said tool is selectively actuatable to enable said at least one arm to be moveable from said first position to said second position whenever said differential pressure is present.

34. The tool of claim 28 wherein said at least one non-pivotable, moveable arm further comprises a plurality of extensions that fit within a plurality of channels in said body.

35. The tool of claim 34 wherein said extensions and said channels comprise a drive mechanism for moving said at least one arm between said first position and said second position.

36. The tool of claim 34 wherein said extensions and said channels support loading on said at least one arm in said second position.

37. The tool of claim 28 wherein said at least one non-pivotable, moveable arm further comprises angled surfaces that engage said body to prevent said arm from vibrating in said second position.

38. The tool of claim 28 wherein said at least one borehole engaging pad comprises two upper pads, a middle pad, and two lower pads.

39. The tool of claim 28 wherein said at least one borehole engaging pad provides back reaming capability.

40. The tool of claim 28 wherein said at least one borehole engaging pad provides stabilizing capability.

41. The tool of claim 28 wherein said at least one borehole engaging pad provides gauge protection capability.

42. The tool of claim 28 wherein said at least one borehole engaging pad provides underreaming capability.

43. A method of underreaming a wellbore to form an enlarged borehole and controlling the directional tendencies of a drilling assembly within the enlarged borehole, comprising:

using a drill bit to drill the wellbore;

disposing a first expandable tool having at least one arm configured for underreaming directly above the drill bit;

using the first expandable tool to form the enlarged borehole;

disposing a second expandable tool having at least one arm configured for stabilizing above the first expandable tool; and

using the second expandable tool to control the directional tendencies of the drilling assembly within the enlarged borehole;

wherein both the first expandable tool and the second expandable tool operate between a collapsed position and an expanded position.

44. The method of claim 43 further including providing an indication at the surface corresponding to the position of the first expandable tool and the position of the second expandable tool.

45. The method of claim 43 wherein the first expandable tool and the second expandable tool have the same design except for the configuration of the respective arms.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein both the first expandable tool and the second expandable tool automatically translate between the collapsed position and the expanded position in response to a differential pressure.

47. The method of claim 45 wherein the first expandable tool must be selectively aligned and the second expandable tool must be selectively aligned to enable translation between the collapsed position and the expanded position in response to a differential pressure.

48. The method of claim 43 wherein the first expandable tool automatically translates between the collapsed position and the expanded position and the second expandable tool must be selectively aligned to enable translation between the collapsed position and the expanded position.

49. The method of claim 43 further including providing an indication at the surface corresponding to the position of either the first expandable tool or the second expandable tool.

50. The method of claim 43 wherein the first expandable tool and the second expandable tool have the same design including the configuration of the respective arms.

51. An expandable downhole tool for use in a drilling assembly, comprising:

a body including a plurality of angled channels;

at least one non-pivotable, moveable arm that translates along said angled channels between a collapsed position and an expanded position; and

at least one moveable nozzle that translates to remain adjacent said at least one moveable arm so as to direct fluid across a borehole-engaging surface of said at least one moveable arm.

52. The tool of claim 51 further including means for adjusting said expanded position.

53. The tool of claim 51 further including a plurality of extensions that engage said angled channels.

54. The tool of claim 51 further including means to prevent the translation of said at least one moveable arm between said collapsed position and said expanded position.

55. A drilling assembly for underreaming a wellbore to form an enlarged borehole, comprising:

a drill bit to drill the wellbore;

a first expandable tool having at least one moveable arm configured for underreaming, said first expandable tool being positioned directly above the drill bit; and

a second expandable tool having the same design as said first expandable tool, said second expandable tool being positioned above the first expandable tool;

wherein said first expandable tool may be used to form said enlarged borehole or to control the directional tendencies of said drilling assembly.

56. The drilling assembly of claim 55 wherein said second expandable tool may be used to form said enlarged borehole or to control the directional tendencies of said drilling assembly.

57. The drilling assembly of claim 55 wherein each of said first expandable tool and said second expandable tool operate between a collapsed position and an expanded position.

58. The drilling assembly of claim 57 wherein each of said first expandable tool and said second expandable tool is adapted to provide an indication at the surface corresponding to its position.

59. The drilling assembly of claim 57 wherein said first expandable tool must be selectively aligned and said second expandable tool must be selectively aligned to enable translation between said collapsed position and said expanded position in response to a differential pressure.

60. The drilling assembly of claim 57 wherein said first expandable tool automatically translates between said collapsed position and said expanded position and the second expandable tool must be selectively aligned to enable translation between said collapsed position and said expanded position in response to a differential pressure.

61. The drilling assembly of claim 57 wherein said first expandable tool must be selectively aligned to enable translation between said collapsed position and said expanded position and said second expandable tool automatically translates between said collapsed position and said expanded position in response to a differential pressure.

62. The drilling assembly of claim 55 wherein each of said expandable tools comprises:

a tubular body including a plurality of angled channels and an axial flowbore extending therethrough; and

at least one moveable arm;

wherein said at least one moveable arm translates along said plurality of angled channels between a collapsed position and an expanded position in response to a differential pressure.

63. The drilling assembly of claim 62 wherein each of said expandable tools further comprises at least one nozzle that translates with said at least one moveable arm to direct fluid across a borehole engaging pad.

64. The drilling assembly of claim 62 wherein said at least one moveable arm includes a plurality of angled extensions that slideably interfit between said plurality of angled channels.

65. The drilling assembly of claim 64 wherein plurality of angled extensions extend substantially along the length of said at least one moveable arm.

66. The drilling assembly of claim 64 wherein said channels and extensions provide support to said at least one moveable arm in said expanded position.

67. The drilling assembly of claim 62 wherein each of said expandable tools further comprises a chamber in fluid communication with said flowbore.

68. The drilling assembly of claim 67 wherein each of said expandable tools further comprises an inner member with ports therethrough that enable fluid communication between said chamber and said flowbore.

69. The drilling assembly of claim 68 wherein each of said expandable tools further comprises means for selectively opening said ports.

70. The drilling assembly of claim 68 wherein each of said expandable tools further comprises a stinger biased to close said ports, thereby preventing said at least one moveable arm from translating between said collapsed position and said expanded position in response to said differential pressure.

71. The drilling assembly of claim 70 wherein each of said expandable tools further comprises an actuator for aligning said stinger to open said ports.

72. The drilling assembly of claim 62 wherein said at least one moveable arm comprises at least one borehole engaging pad adapted to accommodate cutting structures or wear structures or a combination thereof.

73. The drilling assembly of claim 72 wherein said at least one borehole engaging pad comprises two upper pads, a middle pad, and two lower pads.