Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080210469 | ANGLE DRILLING DEVICE - In an angle drilling device for introducing or expanding wellbores that are inclined in relation to the horizontal, an angle-adjustable bore rig for a movable feed drive is arranged on a base frame that is movable for example. The bore rig is pivotally connected with the base frame while a connection, for example a link bar, extends between the feed drive and the base frame and has a constant length to effect during travel of the feed drive a change in incline of the bore rig as a consequence of the distance between both pivot points for the bore rig and the point of articulation of the connection. | 09-04-2008 |
20080230272 | Method and System for Designing Bottom Hole Assembly Configuration - A method and system for designing bottom hole assembly configuration. The system and method include modeling the bottom hole assembly by dividing complicated BHA configurations into independent modules and segments. Modules are bounded by two stabilizers where segments are bounded by bottom hole assembly components. A recursive process is used to derive solutions for each of the segments and modules. Only two unknowns (and two non-linear equations) are left when the recursive process reaches to the bit. The two unknowns are then solved by iteration. | 09-25-2008 |
20080230273 | INSTANTANEOUS MEASUREMENT OF DRILLSTRING ORIENTATION - An orientation measurement system is deployed in a wellbore drilling system having one or more reservoir imaging and characterization tools, directional tools, and/or other known BHA tools in a rotating section. The orientation measurement system includes a processor receiving signals from a rotary position sensor measuring an angular position of the rotating section relative to the non-rotating section and receiving signals from an orientation sensor determining the orientation of the non-rotating section relative to a reference frame such as highside. The processor uses the first and second signals to determine a tool face of the rotating member relative to the highside and periodically and/or continuously transmits the determined tool face along the BHA via a suitable communication link. The determined tool face is used by the BHA tools to synchronize measurements with highside and/or to determine azimuth. | 09-25-2008 |
20080251292 | Device for Monitoring a Drilling or Coring Operation and Installation Comprising Such a Device - Device comprising equipment for measuring parameters of a drilling or coring operation by means of a drillbit fixed to the end of a drill string, measurement equipment ( | 10-16-2008 |
20080296064 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THREE DIMENSIONAL GEOSTEERING - A method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for drilling a borehole. Data is obtained from a tool in the borehole for a plurality of positions in the borehole that is being drilled to form acquired data. A plurality of distances identified to a boundary between formations in ground from the plurality of positions in the borehole using the acquired data. A trajectory of the borehole is identified using the plurality of distances, and a decision is made as to whether to change the trajectory of the borehole using a change in the distance between the trajectory and the boundary. The trajectory of the borehole may be changed in both inclination and azimuth. | 12-04-2008 |
20090008150 | Drilling System - A drilling system for drilling a borehole in an underground formation, comprises a rotary drill bit, a drilling drive mechanism that is capable of applying both rotating the drill bit and applying an axial force to the drill bit, and a control system that is capable of controlling the drive mechanism so as to control rotation of the drill bit and the axial force applied to the drill bit in order to control the depth of cut created by the drill bit when drilling through the formation. A method of drilling a borehole in an underground formation with a rotary drill bit, comprises applying rotation and an axial force to the drill bit and controlling the rotation and axial force so as to control the depth of cut created by the drill bit when drilling through the formation. | 01-08-2009 |
20090008151 | Rotary Steerable Motor System for Underground Drilling - A preferred embodiment of a system for rotating and guiding a drill bit in an underground bore includes a drilling motor and a drive shaft coupled to drilling motor so that drill bit can be rotated by the drilling motor. The system further includes a guidance module having an actuating arm movable between an extended position wherein the actuating arm can contact a surface of the bore and thereby exert a force on the housing of the guidance module, and a retracted position. | 01-08-2009 |
20090025980 | Modular coiled tubing and sectional pipe drilling rig - A drilling rig for use in both coiled tubing injection and rigid threaded pipe operations, and consisting of a number of separably transportable modules which are assembled on site for carrying out the operations. Included in the modules are a substructure component, a mast component and an injector component. In setting up for operation, the mast component is combined on site with the substructure component which supports the assembled rig over the borehole. The mast component in location provides a loading area to support the injector component in a position for ready loading of an injector included in the injector component into the mast when required for a coiled tubing operation. | 01-29-2009 |
20090038850 | Advanced Steering Tool System, Method and Apparatus - A steering tool is movable by a drill string to form an underground bore along an intended path. A sensing arrangement of the steering tool detects its pitch and yaw orientations at a series of spaced apart positions along the bore, each position is characterized by a measured extension of the drill string. The steering tool further includes a receiver. At least one marker is positioned proximate to the intended path, for transmitting a rotating dipole field to expose a portion of the intended path to the field for reception by the receiver. The detected pitch orientation, the detected yaw orientation and the measured extension of the drill string are used in conjunction with magnetic information from the receiver to locate the steering tool. The steering tool may automatically use the magnetic information when it is available. A customized overall position determination accuracy can be provided along the intended path. | 02-12-2009 |
20090038851 | SPINDLE FOR MUD PULSE TELEMETRY APPLICATIONS - A spindle for a mud pulse telemetry tool includes a seal section having an outer surface for contacting a lip seal of a spindle housing in which the spindle is mounted; a top section attachable to at least part of a valve assembly for generating mud pulses; and a base section having a proximal end attachable to a drive motor for moving the spindle and a distal end attachable to the top section such that the annular seal is fixed between the top and base sections. The seal section can be made of a ceramic material such as yttrium-stabilized zirconia. | 02-12-2009 |
20090050370 | Steering Device For Downhole Tools - An exemplary device carried on a rotating drill string includes an actuator that moves force application members and an associated controller. The force application members are actuated by an eccentricity between a force application members housing and the actuator. The controller synchronizes the extension of the force application members with the rotation of the drill string such that a steering force applied by the force application members is applied in the same azimuthal direction. The controller may also control magnitude of the steering force by adjusting the eccentricity. Another exemplary device maintains a wellbore device, such as a sensor, in a substantially non-rotating condition relative to a reference frame. The device includes a sensor conveyed by a rotating wellbore tubular, a drive configured to rotate the sensor; and a processor that controls the drive to maintain the sensor in a substantially non-rotating condition relative to the reference frame. | 02-26-2009 |
20090065251 | Downhole Jack Assembly Sensor - In one aspect of the invention, a drill string comprises a drill bit with a body intermediate a shank and a working face, and the working face comprises at least one cutting element. A jack assembly is disposed within the drill bit body and comprises a jack element disposed on a distal end of the assembly. The jack element substantially protrudes from the working face and is adapted to move with respect to the bit body. At least one position feedback sensor is disposed proximate the jack assembly and is adapted to detect a position and/or orientation of the jack element. | 03-12-2009 |
20090071717 | POSITION SENSOR FOR WELL TOOLS - A position sensor for well tools. A position sensor includes an indicator portion including a carrier supporting a resistive element and at least one contact, and a support device for supporting the carrier. Another position sensor includes an indicator portion including a slider for displacing at least one contact relative to a resistive element, the slider being displaceable between first and second limits, and an end load mechanism including a biasing device which exerts a biasing force on the slider as the slider approaches at least the first limit. Another position sensor includes an indicator portion including a resistive element and at least one contact which contacts and displaces across the resistive element, a change in position of the contact relative to the resistive element being indicated by a resistance change as the contact displaces across the resistive element. | 03-19-2009 |
20090071718 | Boring Technique Using Locate Point Measurements for Boring Tool Depth Prediction - A method is disclosed as part of an overall process in which a boring tool is moved through the ground within a given region along a particular path in an orientation which includes pitch. A locating signal is transmitted from the boring tool which signal exhibits a field defined forward point within a reference surface which field defined forward point is vertically above an inground forward point on the particular path through which the boring tool is likely to pass. The method establishes a predicted depth of the boring tool at the inground forward point by first identifying the field defined forward point. The signal strength of the locating signal is then measured at the field defined forward point as being representative of the depth of the boring tool at an inground upstream point which is the current location of the boring tool. With the boring tool at the upstream inground point, the pitch of the boring tool is determined. Using the measured signal strength and the determined pitch, the predicted depth of the boring tool is determined for the inground forward point based on the boring tool moving along an approximately straight path to the inground forward point. | 03-19-2009 |
20090071719 | Boring Tool Tracking Fundamentally Based on Drill String Length, Pitch, and Roll - A boring tool moves having a pitch orientation, a yaw orientation and a roll orientation and is steerable underground using the roll orientation. A maximum drill string curvature is established for steering. The boring tool is advanced over a path segment. An averaged roll characteristic is determined for movement of the boring tool along the path segment. A path segment pitch orientation is established based on at least one measured pitch orientation along the path segment. Using the maximum drill string curvature in combination with the averaged roll characteristic and the path segment pitch orientation, the yaw orientation is determined. The averaged roll characteristic is determined based on a series of incremental roll measurements that are spaced across the path segment. A set of coupled ordinary differential equations is used to characterize movement of the boring tool. | 03-19-2009 |
20090090555 | AUTOMATED DIRECTIONAL DRILLING APPARATUS AND METHODS - Methods and systems for drilling to a target location include a control system that receives an input comprising a planned drilling path to a target location and determines a projected location of a bottom hole assembly of a drilling system. The projected location of the bottom hole assembly is compared to the planned drilling path to determine a deviation amount. A modified drilling path is created to the target location as selected based on the amount of deviation from the planned drilling path, and drilling rig control signals that steer the bottom hole assembly of the drilling system to the target location along the modified drilling path are generated. | 04-09-2009 |
20090090556 | Methods and Systems to Predict Rotary Drill Bit Walk and to Design Rotary Drill Bits and Other Downhole Tools - Methods and systems may be provided to simulate forming a wide variety of directional wellbores including wellbores with variable tilt rates, relatively constant tilt rates, wellbores with uniform generally circular cross-sections and wellbores with non-circular cross-sections. The methods and systems may also be used to simulate forming a wellbore in subterranean formations having a combination of soft, medium and hard formation materials, multiple layers of formation materials, relatively hard stringers disposed throughout one or more layers of formation material, and/or concretions (very hard stones) disposed in one or more layers of formation material. Values of bit walk rate from such simulations may be used to design and/or select drilling equipment for use in forming a directional wellbore. | 04-09-2009 |
20090095530 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GUIDING THE DRILLING OF A HORIZONTAL WELL - System and methods for guiding the drilling of a horizontal well are disclosed. A current is provided in at least one conductor positioned in a target vertical well. A magnetic field generated by the current is measured at a drilling assembly that is drilling the horizontal well. A direction from the drilling assembly to the target vertical well is determined based at least in part on the measured magnetic field. A distance from the drilling assembly to the target vertical well is determined based at least in part on the measured magnetic field. The determination of the distance includes determining at least one gradient. | 04-16-2009 |
20090114445 | Method of Training Neural Network Models and Using Same for Drilling Wellbores - A method of creating and using a neural network model for wellbore operations is disclosed. The method, in one aspect, may include defining a plurality of a wellbore parameter; calculating a plurality of output values of a tool operating parameter using the plurality of values of the wellbore parameter as input to a preexisting model; and obtaining a neural network model by using the plurality of values of the wellbore parameter and the calculated plurality of output values of the tool operating parameter. The neural network may be utilized for any suitable wellbore operation, including in conjunction with a drilling assembly for drilling a wellbore. | 05-07-2009 |
20090120690 | BOREHOLE SURVEY METHOD AND APPARATUS - A method includes obtaining a first set of survey data at a first point along a wellbore, estimating a present wellbore position based on at least the first set of survey data, determining a related ellipse of uncertainty at the present wellbore position, comparing the related ellipse of uncertainty of the present wellbore position to a threshold, and selecting a methodology for a subsequent survey based on a comparison of the related ellipse of uncertainty to the threshold. | 05-14-2009 |
20090120691 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GUIDING THE DRILLING OF A HORIZONTAL WELL - System and methods for guiding the drilling of a horizontal well are disclosed. A current is provided in at least one conductor positioned in a target vertical well. A magnetic field generated by the current is measured at a drilling assembly that is drilling the horizontal well. A direction from the drilling assembly to the target vertical well is determined based at least in part on the measured magnetic field. A distance from the drilling assembly to the target vertical well is determined based at least in part on the measured magnetic field. The determination of the distance includes determining at least one gradient. | 05-14-2009 |
20090159336 | Integrated Quill Position and Toolface Orientation Display - Method and apparatus for visibly demonstrating a relationship between toolface orientation and quill position by: (1) receiving electronic data on an on-going basis, wherein the electronic data includes quill position data and at least one of gravity-based toolface orientation data and magnetic-based toolface orientation data; and (2) displaying the electronic data on a user-viewable display in a historical format depicting data resulting from a most recent measurement and a plurality of immediately prior measurements. | 06-25-2009 |
20090173541 | ROTARY STEERABLE TOOL - A rotary steerable tool for use in a downhole drilling apparatus for adjusting the direction of drilling is disclosed. The tool comprises a tubular outer housing and a row of steering pushers slidably mounted to the housing for movement between an extended position, in which the steering pusher engages a wall of a borehole formed by the drilling apparatus, and a withdrawn position, in which the steering pushers do not engage the wall of the borehole. A tubular sleeve is mounted inside the housing to transmit rotary drive to a drilling bit. A pressure chamber defined between the sleeve and the housing communicates with the steering pushers to move the steering pushers to the extended position. A piston is slidably mounted in the sleeve and is moved by changes in drilling fluid pressure between a first axial position, in which the interior of the sleeve communicates directly with the pressure chamber for directional drilling, and a second axial position, in which the interior of the sleeve does not communicate directly with the pressure chamber for straight drilling. | 07-09-2009 |
20090194333 | RANGING METHODS FOR DEVELOPING WELLBORES IN SUBSURFACE FORMATIONS - A method for forming two or more wellbores in a subsurface formation includes forming a first wellbore in the formation. A second wellbore is directionally drilled in a selected relationship relative to the first wellbore. At least one magnetic field is provided in the second wellbore using one or more magnets in the second wellbore located on a drilling string used to drill the second wellbore. At least one magnetic field is sensed in the first wellbore using at least two sensors in the first wellbore as the magnetic field passes by the at least two sensors while the second wellbore is being drilled. A position of the second wellbore is continuously assessed relative to the first wellbore using the sensed magnetic field. The direction of drilling of the second wellbore is adjusted so that the second wellbore remains in the selected relationship relative to the first wellbore. | 08-06-2009 |
20090250265 | Impact powered transmitter for directional drilling - A pneumatic earth boring tool includes a cylindrical body, a transmitter mounted in the body, the transmitter generating a signal usable for operating the earth boring tool, a linear generator mounted in the body for generating an electrical current to power the transmitter and a rectifier for converting the electrical current produced by the linear generator to direct current. Electrical power generated by the linear generator is used to power the transmitter to generate a signal useful for locating the tool. | 10-08-2009 |
20090255730 | Establishing Positions of Locating Field Detectors and Path Mapping in Underground Boring Tool Applications - Specific apparatus and associated methods are described for use in establishing the positions of locating field detectors and for path mapping within a region for the purpose of tracking and/or guiding the movement of an underground boring tool. In one aspect, an improvement is provided forming part of an arrangement for tracking the position and/or guiding the boring tool using an electromagnetic locating signal which is transmitted from the boring tool as the boring tool moves through the ground. At least two detectors are located at fixed positions within the region, each being operable in a transmit mode and in a receive mode such that each one of the detectors in the transmit mode is able to transmit a relative locating signal to the other detector for use in determining the relative position of one detector in relation to the other and such that both detectors receive the electromagnetic locating signal in the receive mode for use in determining the position of the boring tool within the region. Provisions are also described for extending drilling range by using additional detectors by moving a limited number of detectors. In another aspect, a system is provided including at least two above ground detectors for sensing the locating signal. The detectors are located at initial positions in the region. Electromagnetic data is generated by the detectors with the boring tool at multiple positions to generate electromagnetic data which is used to identify the positions of the detectors. A selected flux pathline steering technique is introduced. | 10-15-2009 |
20090260878 | METHOD FOR DRILLING WELLS IN CLOSE RELATIONSHIP USING MAGNETIC RANGING WHILE DRILLING - Methods for drilling wells using magnetic ranging while drilling to position the wells with respect to one another are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, a method of drilling a well includes leaving a drill string in position within a primary well, and drilling a secondary well using the drill string as a target for magnetic ranging while drilling such that the secondary well is positioned with a specified orientation relative to the drill string. | 10-22-2009 |
20090260879 | MAGNETIC RANGING WHILE DRILLING USING AN ELECTRIC DIPOLE SOURCE AND A MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR - A system and methods for drilling a well in a field having an existing well are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, a method of drilling a new well in a field having an existing well includes drilling the new well using a bottom hole assembly (BHA) having a drill collar divided by an insulated gap, generating a current on the drill collar of the BHA while drilling the new well, and measuring from the existing well a magnetic field caused by the current on the drill collar of the BHA. Using measurements of the magnetic field, the relative position of the new well to the existing well may be determined. | 10-22-2009 |
20090260880 | Method for determining a set of net present values to influence the drilling of a wellbore and increase production - A method is disclosed for modeling a first reservoir while drilling a wellbore into a corresponding second reservoir, the first reservoir having a plurality of stations, comprising: determining a plurality of values of net present value corresponding, respectively, to the plurality of stations of the first reservoir; and drilling the wellbore into the corresponding second reservoir in accordance with the plurality of values of net present value. | 10-22-2009 |
20090260881 | Formation Dip Geo-Steering Method - A method of drilling a well that includes calculating an estimated formation dip angle, wherein said estimated formation dip angle being based on offset well data, seismic data, core data, pressure data. Next, the method includes drilling a well with a logging while drilling means so that real time logging data is generated along with drilling data and calculating an instantaneous formation dip angle. Next, real time logging data is obtained and a target formation window is projected ahead of the well path that includes a top of formation and a bottom formation. The method includes monitoring the real time logging and drilling data and drilling the well through the target formation window. The method further includes changing the estimated instantaneous formation dip based on the obtained data and adjusting the target formation top and bottom window. | 10-22-2009 |
20090266609 | Downhole sample rate system - In one aspect of the invention, a downhole sensor system comprises at least one downhole sensor disposed on or within a downhole component of a tool string. The downhole sensor is adapted to detect at least one characteristic of a downhole formation adjacent the downhole component. The downhole sensor has a variable sampling rate controlled by a processing element. The processing element is in electrical communication with a tool string rate-of-penetration sensor and/or a tool string rotational speed sensor. The processing element is adapted to vary the sampling rate in response to the rate-of-penetration and/or rotational speed of the tool string. In some embodiments, the system is a closed loop system. | 10-29-2009 |
20090266610 | DETERMINATION OF AZIMUTHAL OFFSET AND RADIUS OF CURVATURE IN A DEVIATED BOREHOLE USING PERIODIC DRILL STRING TORQUE MEASUREMENTS - Methods and apparatus for determining the direction of borehole azimuthal offset and the borehole radius of curvature. Rotation rate of a borehole assembly is measured and mathematically converted into azimuthal torque imparted to the borehole assembly. Relative azimuthal offset is determined from variations in azimuthal torque over a rotation cycle of the borehole assembly. Relative radius of curvature is obtained from the magnitude of azimuthal torque over a rotation cycle. Relative azimuthal offset is converted to true azimuthal offset using an independent reference angle measurement. Relative borehole curvature is converted to true radius of curvature using a calibration constant determined in known borehole conditions. | 10-29-2009 |
20090266611 | POSITION INDICATOR FOR DRILLING TOOL - Embodiments described herein comprise a position indicator for use in a dowhole tool. The position indicator has a sensor that detects the position of a portion of the tool as the tool rotates. The sensor sends a signal to a controller to relay the position of the tool to a controller and/or operator. The rotational position of the tool may be controlled in order to perform downhole operations. | 10-29-2009 |
20090272579 | STEERABLE BIT - Steerable drilling systems for facilitating drilling according to a prescribed, three-dimensional trajectory are described. Steering may be achieved using passive actuators which require little or no power. For example, damping elements which couple a drill bit to a drill collar can be used to tilt the drill bit with respect to the drill collar. Alternatively, rotary cutting elements disposed on the drill bit may be used to control the force between the drill bit and the formation at different axial locations. The passive elements used to control the tilt or rotation of the rotary cutting elements are actuated in a certain pattern, e.g., geostationary, in order to achieve a desired deviation of the well bore while drilling ahead. One way to achieve this is through the use of field-sensitive materials, e.g. magnetorheological (MR) fluids, that change viscosity in response to an applied magnetic field. | 11-05-2009 |
20090294174 | DOWNHOLE SENSOR SYSTEM - A method includes sensing a parameter in a well using a sensor disposed on a drillstring, determining a position of the sensor in a wellbore based on a position of the sensor in the drillstring and a position of the drillstring in the wellbore. | 12-03-2009 |
20090301779 | EARTH BORING DEVICE - An earth boring device for forming horizontally extending bore holes beneath the surface of the earth and installing a conduit therein without substantially disturbing the surface of the earth is disclosed. The earth boring device is a generally elongate member having a cutting tool disposed at a leading end, and means to attach a conduit to be disposed in the bore hole at a trailing end. A pair of spaced apart drive augers is disposed between the leading end and the trailing end to propel the earth boring device through the earth. The earth boring device can include at least one flexible section to enable a bending of the earth boring device for boring a curved bore hole. | 12-10-2009 |
20090308657 | MAGNETIC RANGING AND CONTROLLED EARTH BOREHOLE DRILLING - A method for determining the distance and/or direction of a second earth borehole with respect to a first earth borehole, includes the following steps: providing, in the first borehole, first and second spaced apart magnetic field sources; providing, in the second borehole, a magnetic field sensor subsystem for sensing directional magnetic field components; activating the first and second magnetic field sources, and producing respective first and second outputs of the magnetic field sensor subsystem, the first output being responsive to the magnetic field produced by the first magnetic field source, and the second output being responsive to the magnetic field produced by the second magnetic field source; and determining distance and/or direction of the second earth borehole with respect to the first earth borehole as a function of the first output and the second output. | 12-17-2009 |
20090314546 | In-drilling alignment - To limit the growth of errors of an inertial navigation system for measurement-while-drilling, in-drilling alignment methods can be used. A pneumatics-based design of an apparatus for an in-drilling alignment method and its implementation downhole are described. | 12-24-2009 |
20100000791 | METHOD TO DETECT FORMATION PORE PRESSURE FROM RESISTIVITY MEASUREMENTS AHEAD OF THE BIT DURING DRILLING OF A WELL - Methods are described using resistivity ahead of a drill bit measurements obtained while drilling a subterranean well using a drilling mud. Resistivity data ahead of the bit is gathered during drilling and prior to penetrating a region of interest of a known subterranean formation using the drill bit and the drilling mud. The drill string progresses at known dip and azimuth angles toward the subterranean formation. The resistivity data is used to determine pore pressure ahead of the drill bit in the formation as a function of resistivity ahead of the drill bit in the formation while the drill bit advances toward but before the bit penetrates the formation while drilling. In certain embodiments, the methods include redirecting the drill bit while drilling toward locations in the formation where pore pressure is within an acceptable range. In other embodiments, a drilling mud parameter is adjusted based on the pore pressure in front of the bit. | 01-07-2010 |
20100012378 | PRESSURE ORIENTING SWIVEL - A pressure orienting swivel arrangement including a weight assembly and a pin adapter reactably interengagable with the weight assembly to orient the pin adapter to the weight assembly. A pressure orienting swivel arrangement including a housing, a spring compression mandrel within the housing, a spring disposed about the spring compression mandrel, a weight assembly rotatably supported in the housing, and a pin adaptor rotatably supported within the housing and reactably interengagable with the weight assembly to accept a torque from the weight assembly. A method for orienting a downhole tool. | 01-21-2010 |
20100018770 | System and Method for Drilling a Borehole - A technique facilitates drilling in a wide variety of applications and environments. The technique utilizes a coiled tubing bottom hole assembly constructed with a sensor system that provides the ability to steer a borehole within a reservoir. An orienter is connected to a top end of the bottom hole assembly to provide rotational movement of the bottom hole assembly. The orienter can be designed to provide continuous and bidirectional rotational movement of the coiled tubing bottom hole assembly. A telemetry system is provided to enable high data rate telemetry between the orienter and a surface location as well as communication between the bottom hole assembly and the orienter. | 01-28-2010 |
20100038137 | Apparatus and Method for Generating Sector Residence Time Images of Downhole Tools - An apparatus and method for providing images of a downhole tool during drilling of a wellbore are provided. A sensor on a rotating tool occupies a number of azimuthal sectors of the wellbore which are determined by a processor. The processor determines a time during which the sensor is in each of the azimuthal sectors during each revolution of the tool and provides a depth-correlated image of the sector residence times for the tool. | 02-18-2010 |
20100044109 | Sensor for Determining a Position of a Jack Element - In one aspect of the present invention, a drill string has a drill bit with a body intermediate a shank and a working face. The working face has at least one cutting element and a jack element disposed partially within the drill bit body substantially protruding from the working face. The jack element is adapted to rotate with respect to the bit body by a turbine disposed within a bore of the drill string. A generator with a rotor incorporated into a torque transmitting mechanism links the turbine to the jack element. When the jack element rotates, at least one waveform is produced in the generator. The waveform is processed by an electronic processing device to determine the rotational position of the jack element. | 02-25-2010 |
20100096186 | DOWNHOLE SURVEYING UTILIZING MULTIPLE MEASUREMENTS - Systems and methods for controlling a drill string are provided. A method comprises receiving one or more first signals from a first sensor package mounted in a first portion of the drill string at a first position within a wellbore. The first signals may be indicative of an orientation of the first portion of the drill string. The method also includes receiving one or more second signals from a second sensor package mounted in a second portion of the drill string at a second position within the wellbore. In certain embodiments, the second signals indicative of an orientation of the second portion of the drill string. The drill string may be adapted to bend between the first portion and the second portion and certain embodiments include calculating a first amount of bend between the first portion and the second portion in response to the first signals and the second signals. | 04-22-2010 |
20100108385 | Downhole Jack Assembly Sensor - In one aspect of the invention, a drill string comprises a drill bit with a body intermediate a shank and a working face, and the working face comprises at least one cutting element. A jack assembly is disposed within the drill bit body and comprises a jack element disposed on a distal end of the assembly. The jack element substantially protrudes from the working face and is adapted to move with respect to the bit body. At least one position feedback sensor is disposed proximate the jack assembly and is adapted to detect a position and/or orientation of the jack element. | 05-06-2010 |
20100108386 | SYSTEM, APPARATUS, AND METHOD OF CONDUCTING MEASUREMENTS OF A BOREHOLE - A method is provided for conducting measurements of a borehole while drilling the borehole in a geological formation. First, a rotatable drilling assembly is provided that has, at a forward end, a drill bit and a borehole measurement tool connected rearward of the drill bit. The measurement tool includes at least one caliper arm extendible outward from the measurement tool. The method involves drilling the borehole by operating the rotatable drilling assembly. While drilling, the wall of the borehole is contacted with at least one extendable caliper arm of the borehole measurement tool and the extension of the caliper arm contacting the borehole wall is measured, thereby determining a distance between the measurement tool and the borehole wall. During rotation of the drilling assembly, contact is maintained between the caliper arm and the borehole wall and the measuring step is repeated at multiple positions of the drilling assembly. | 05-06-2010 |
20100116551 | Rotary directional drilling apparatus and method of use - An apparatus for steering a drill string is disclosed herein, the apparatus comprising a drilling motor comprising a rotor, a stator, and at least one fluid passage for flowing drilling fluid to the stator. A blade is fixedly disposed on the exterior surface of the stator. A diverter valve controls the flow rate of drilling fluid to the stator, to provide counter rotational movement to the stator with respect to the rotor. Placement and movement of the blade is thereby controlled. When the blade is rotated such that it remains stationary with respect to a fixed point in a borehole, the drill bit is turned. When the blade is counter-rotated in a constant motion with respect to the rotor, the drill bit continues to drill in a straight direction. | 05-13-2010 |
20100133008 | MONITOR AND CONTROL OF DIRECTIONAL DRILLING OPERATIONS AND SIMULATIONS - An embodiment includes a method that includes performing a directional drilling operation. The method also includes receiving data from one or more sensors, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors output data related to a performance attribute of a downhole component that is from a group consisting of a downhole drilling motor and a rotary steerable tool. The downhole component comprises part of a drill string that is used to perform the directional drilling operation. The performance attribute is selected from a group consisting of rotations per unit of time of the downhole component, operating differential pressure across the downhole component and torque output of the downhole component. The method also includes displaying the data in a graphical and numerical representation on a graphical user interface screen. | 06-03-2010 |
20100133009 | Constant-Mode Auto-Drill with Pressure Derivative Control - Some embodiments of the invention concern HDD in an automatic drilling mode. Such embodiments can include maintaining a constant output parameter while performing a drilling operation using an HDD rig ( | 06-03-2010 |
20100139976 | DOWNHOLE POSITIONING SYSTEM - Downhole positioning systems and associated methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the system comprises a downhole source, an array of receivers, and a data hub. The downhole source transmits an electromagnetic positioning signal that is received by the array of receivers. The data hub collects amplitude and/or phase measurements of the electromagnetic positioning signal from receivers in the array and combines these measurements to determine the position of the downhole source. The position may be tracked over time to determine the source's path. The position calculation may take various forms, including determination of a source-to-receiver distance for multiple receivers in the array, coupled with geometric analysis of the distances to determine source position. The electromagnetic positioning signal may be in the sub-hertz frequency range. | 06-10-2010 |
20100155138 | WIRELINE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR DEEP WELLS - A wireline apparatus for deep well measurements in a borehole being drilled includes a drill string having multiple drill pipe sections connected end-to-end, with at least one of the drill pipe sections being electrically conductive and isolated to provide an electrode section. A nonmagnetic drill pipe section is connected in the drill string below said electrode section, and a hydraulic motor having a rotatable drill bit carrying a drill bit instrument sub having a magnetic field sensing instrument package is connected to a lowermost end of the drill string. A wireline locatable within said drill string incorporates an electrode locatable within the drill pipe electrode section, and carries at its distal end a wireline instrument package that is locatable within the nonmagnetic drill pipe section to receive data representing magnetic field data from the magnetic field sensing instrument package. A time-variable AC source is connected to the wireline to energize the drill pipe electrode section by way of the wireline electrode to produce a corresponding target current magnetic field to be detected at the drill bit instrument. | 06-24-2010 |
20100155139 | PROXIMITY DETECTION SYSTEM FOR DEEP WELLS - A method and apparatus for magnetic field measurements to determine the proximity of a nearby target incorporating electrically conductive material includes a drill string ( | 06-24-2010 |
20100163308 | DIRECTIONAL DRILLING CONTROL USING PERIODIC PERTURBATION OF THE DRILL BIT - A system for steering the direction of a borehole advanced by cutting action of a rotary drill bit by periodically varying action of a drill bit while continuously rotating a drill string to which the drill bit is operationally attached. The steering system comprises a bit perturbation device cooperating with a bent housing subsection and operationally connected to the drill string and to the drill bit. Drill bit action is varied by periodic varying the rotation speed or rate of penetration of the drill bit. Periodic drill bit action results in preferential cutting of material from a predetermined arc of the borehole wall which, in turn, resulting in borehole deviation. Action of the drill bit can be varied independent of the rotation rate of the drill string | 07-01-2010 |
20100175923 | ORIENTATION SENSOR FOR DOWNHOLE TOOL - A downhole drilling apparatus incorporating an orientation sensor ( | 07-15-2010 |
20100187008 | Phase Estimation From Rotating Sensors To Get a Toolface - Measurements made by a rotating sensor on a bottomhole assembly are used to determine the toolface angle of the BHA. The method includes using a phase locked loop (PLL) to determine a phase difference between the sensor output and a reference signal. | 07-29-2010 |
20100193245 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TESTING DRILLING CONTROL SYSTEMS - A device for the testing of an integrated control system ( | 08-05-2010 |
20100193246 | Device and Method for Measuring a Property in a Downhole Apparatus - A method and device for measuring a property, such as torque, includes a plurality of sensors, and a measuring device. The sensors attach to a downhole apparatus at a distance from one another. The sensors provide signals indicating their positions. A logic circuit may calculate an angle between the sensors. The logic circuit then calculates the property based on the angle, the distance between the sensors, and other known physical properties of the downhole apparatus. | 08-05-2010 |
20100200295 | Downhole Apparatus with a Wireless Data Communication Device Between Rotating and Non-Rotating Members - A drilling assembly is disclosed that in one embodiment includes a bi-directional wireless data transfer device between a rotating and a non-rotating member of the drilling assembly. Power may be supplied to the rotating member via any suitable method, including an inductive device and direct electrical connections. | 08-12-2010 |
20100218994 | BOREHOLE DRILLING CONTROL SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS - One embodiment includes an apparatus comprising a steerable well bore drilling tool having a main tool body. The steerable well bore drilling tool includes an inertial measurement unit to output a measurement used to determine an azimuthal deviation and inclination of the steerable well bore drilling tool during a drilling operation. | 09-02-2010 |
20100224411 | Boring Tool Tracking Fundamentally Based on Drill String Length, Pitch and Roll - A boring tool moves having a pitch orientation, a yaw orientation and a roll orientation and is steerable underground using the roll orientation. A maximum drill string curvature is established for steering. The boring tool is advanced over a path segment. An averaged roll characteristic is determined for movement of the boring tool along the path segment. A path segment pitch orientation is established based on at least one measured pitch orientation along the path segment. Using the maximum drill string curvature in combination with the averaged roll characteristic and the path segment pitch orientation, the yaw orientation is determined. The averaged roll characteristic is determined based on a series of incremental roll measurements that are spaced across the path segment. A set of coupled ordinary differential equations is used to characterize movement of the boring tool. | 09-09-2010 |
20100243326 | Common Interface Architecture for Horizontal Directional Drilling Machines and Walk-Over Guidance Systems - A system and method of interfacing a drilling machine with one of a number of different walk-over guidance systems involves receiving an ID signal from a particular walk-over guidance system selected for use with the drilling machine. A protocol library associated with the particular walk-over guidance system is accessed in response to the ID signal. The protocol library is used to effect communication between the particular walk-over guidance system and a control system of the drilling machine during cooperative use of the particular walk-over guidance system and drilling machine. Using the protocol library involves converting, as prescribed by the protocol library, locator signals received from the particular walk-over guidance system from a locator protocol to a common protocol used by the control system of the drilling machine. Locator and drilling machine data of various types can be presented to a drilling machine operator via an on-board display. | 09-30-2010 |
20100263930 | Impact Powered Transmitter For Directional Drilling - A pneumatic earth boring tool includes a cylindrical body, a transmitter mounted in the body, the transmitter generating a signal usable for operating the earth boring tool, a linear generator mounted in the body for generating an electrical current to power the transmitter and a rectifier for converting the electrical current produced by the linear generator to direct current. Electrical power generated by the linear generator is used to power the transmitter to generate a signal useful for locating the tool. | 10-21-2010 |
20100282512 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING MOVEMENT OF A DRILLING COMPONENT IN A WELLBORE - A system and a method determine movement of a drilling component, such as, for example, a tool, a drill bit or other wellbore device, within a wellbore. The system and method may process information obtained from the wellbore by using, for example, a numerical processing algorithm. The information may be data acquired during drilling of the wellbore. Rig surface data recording systems may track the position of the drill bit, the BHA and/or other component of the drill string during the time the component is within the wellbore. Downhole measuring devices may record data at various positions along the BHA and above the drill bit as a function of time. | 11-11-2010 |
20100300756 | Downhole Magnetic Measurement While Rotating and Methods of Use - Downhole magnetic measurement devices and methods are provided for estimation of magnetic fields during drilling. In certain embodiments, a triaxial vector magnetometer is provided and affixed to a drill string subassembly. While the drill string subassembly is rotating, as during drilling operations, an average total magnetic field value (B | 12-02-2010 |
20100307825 | EXCAVATION DEVICE AND PROFILE ANALYSES OF THE EXCAVATION ITSELF AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - An excavation device ( | 12-09-2010 |
20110005833 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MAKING BOREHOLES IN THE GROUND, THE CROSS SECTIONS OF WHICH BOREHOLES PARTIALLY INTERSECT - An apparatus for making a second borehole in the ground, a cross section of which second borehole partially intersects a cross section of an existing first borehole, includes a boring device and a guide device operatively connected to the boring device. The guide device includes a first guide element configured to interact with a first side of a wall of the existing first borehole facing the second borehole and a second guide element configured to interact with a second side of the existing first borehole remote from the second borehole. The guide device is configured to guide the boring device relative to the existing first borehole. | 01-13-2011 |
20110024191 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR GUIDING TOOLFACE ORIENTATION - Apparatus and methods for guiding a drilling operation are disclosed. The apparatus includes a drilling apparatus, a receiving apparatus, and a display apparatus. The drill apparatus includes a bit with a steerable motor having a toolface and a rotary drive adapted to steer the bit during the drilling operation. The receiving apparatus is adapted to receive electronic data on a recurring basis, wherein the electronic data comprises quill position data, at least one of actual gravity-based toolface orientation data and actual magnetic-based toolface orientation data, and recommended toolface orientation data. The display apparatus is adapted to display the electronic data on a user-viewable display in a historical format depicting data resulting from a recent measurement and a plurality of immediately prior measurements. | 02-03-2011 |
20110024192 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING DRILL BIT PERFORMANCE DATA - Drill bits and methods for sampling sensor data associated with the state of a drill bit are disclosed. A drill bit for drilling a subterranean formation comprises a bit body and a shank. The shank further includes a central bore formed through an inside diameter of the shank and configured for receiving a data analysis module. The data analysis module comprises a plurality of sensors, a memory, and a processor. The processor is configured for executing computer instructions to collect the sensor data by sampling the plurality of sensors, analyze the sensor data to develop a severity index, compare the sensor data to at least one adaptive threshold, and modify a data sampling mode responsive to the comparison. A method comprises collecting sensor data by sampling a plurality of physical parameters associated with a drill bit state while in various sampling modes and transitioning between those sampling modes. | 02-03-2011 |
20110031018 | HORIZONTAL DRILLING SYSTEM - A horizontal direction drilling system comprises a power pack coupled to a source of compressed air and a water reservoir and forms a mixture of compressed air, water, and oil. The horizontal direction drilling system further comprises a steerable horizontal drill. The steerable horizontal drill includes an air powered reciprocating hammer, and a drill head. The steerable horizontal drill receives the mixture to power the reciprocating hammer. The drill head includes a drill face and the mixture exits the steerable horizontal drill through the drill face. | 02-10-2011 |
20110031019 | Formation Dip Geo-Steering Method - A method of drilling a well that includes calculating an estimated formation dip angle, wherein said estimated formation dip angle being based on offset well data, seismic data, core data, pressure data. Next, the method includes drilling a well with a logging while drilling means so that real time logging data is generated along with drilling data and calculating an instantaneous formation dip angle. Next, real time logging data is obtained and a target formation window is projected ahead of the well path that includes a top of formation and a bottom formation. The method includes monitoring the real time logging and drilling data and drilling the well through the target formation window. The method further includes changing the estimated instantaneous formation dip based on the obtained data and adjusting the target formation top and bottom window. | 02-10-2011 |
20110048801 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLED BIDIRECTIONAL MOVEMENT OF AN OILFIELD TOOL IN A WELLBORE ENVIRONMENT - The method and apparatus regulates the position of an arm of a wellbore tool allowing bidirectional movement of the tool in the wellbore. The presented method and apparatus allows predicting and therefore acting in advance on the mechanism of an oilfield tool inside a wellbore, enhancing bidirectional movement and operation of the tool inside a wellbore environment typically for logging the well. The present method and apparatus provides for regulation or control between different sensing parts resulting in protective and corrective actions to prevent damage and provide optimal sensing contact with the wellbore or placement of the sensors in a desired proximity to the wellbore wall. | 03-03-2011 |
20110079431 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DENSELY PACKING WELLS USING MAGNETIC RANGING WHILE DRILLING - Systems and methods for drilling a plurality of densely packed wells to efficiently utilize available drilling space. In accordance with one embodiment, a method of drilling densely packed wells may include drilling a second well using magnetic ranging while drilling to control a distance between the second well and a first well (the first well being either existing or drilled immediately prior to starting to drill the second well), and drilling a third well using magnetic ranging while drilling to control a distance between the third well and the first and second wells. | 04-07-2011 |
20110094799 | PRESSURE RELEASE ENCODING SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATING DOWNHOLE INFORMATION THROUGH A WELLBORE TO A SURFACE LOCATION - A pressure release encoding system for communicating downhole information through a wellbore to a surface location include a downhole tool with a valve for providing a fluid restriction to fluid passing in the wellbore, a sensor positioned in the wellbore for sensing a downhole condition in the wellbore, a brake cooperative with the valve for moving the valve between at least two positions in timed relation to the downhole condition sensed by the sensor, and a detector positioned at the surface location for providing a measurement value at the surface location correlative to the time between the changes of the pressure of the fluid in the wellbore. The system associates position of the valve with pressure transduction. The sensor is an inclination sensor for sensing an angle of inclination of the wellbore. | 04-28-2011 |
20110100712 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING WELLBORE POSITION USING SEISMIC SOURCES AND SEISMIC RECEIVERS - A method for determining position of a wellbore in the Earth's subsurface includes actuating a plurality of seismic energy sources each disposed at a known geodetic position. Seismic energy from the sources is detected at a selected location along the wellbore. The geodetic position at the selected location is determined from the detected seismic energy. A corresponding method includes actuating a seismic energy source at a selected position within the wellbore. The seismic energy is detected at a plurality of known geodetic positions. The geodetic position of the source is determined from the detected seismic energy. | 05-05-2011 |
20110139507 | Method and Apparatus for Borehole Positioning - A method of drilling boreholes is provided. The method, according to one embodiment, may include drilling a borehole, transmitting a signal into the earth formation, receiving signals at least three spaced sensors responsive to the transmitted signals and estimating a path of the borehole using the signals received by the at least three sensors. In another aspect, the method may include drilling a borehole, transmitting signals into the earth formation from at least three spaced transmitters, receiving signals at least one sensor responsive to the transmitted signals and estimating a path of the borehole using the signals received by the at least one sensor. | 06-16-2011 |
20110147082 | System For Tracking And Maintaining An On-Grade Horizontal Borehole - A tracking receiver system is used to track the progress of a downhole tool along a subsurface path having a desired grade. The tracking receiver system is adapted to detect a reference line originating from a reference line receiver and to determine the position of the downhole tool along a desired subsurface path relative to the reference line. In an alternative embodiment the tracking receiver system may comprise a global positioning satellite system to provide information used to determine the position of the downhole tool relative to the desired subsurface path. | 06-23-2011 |
20110155463 | System and apparatus for directing a survey of a well - An apparatus receives survey instructions from a directed unit and measurement data from a measurement unit. The apparatus directs a survey workflow comprising a plurality of stages, determines the completion of at least one of the stages based upon at least one of the measurement data and the survey instructions, provides workflow information, selects survey data from the measurement data, and stores the survey data in a memory. The apparatus sends the workflow information to the directed unit. | 06-30-2011 |
20110162889 | BORING TOOL CONTROL USING REMOTE LOCATOR - A drilling system performs underground boring using a drill rig and a boring tool which is configured for moving through the ground under control of the drill rig to form an underground bore. A monitoring arrangement, forming part of the system, includes a detection arrangement at the drill rig for monitoring at least one operational parameter to produce a data signal relating to at least one of a utility to be installed in the underground bore, the drill rig and the boring tool. A portable device forms another part of the system for receiving the data signal relating to the operational parameter for use by the portable device. A communication arrangement, for example using telemetry, transfers the data signal from the drill rig to the portable device. The operational parameter may be monitored for the purpose of preventing equipment failure. | 07-07-2011 |
20110232967 | Formation Dip Geo-Steering Method - A method of drilling a well that includes calculating an estimated formation dip angle, wherein said estimated formation dip angle being based on offset well data, seismic data, core data, pressure data. Next, the method includes drilling a well with a logging while drilling means so that real time logging data is generated along with drilling data and calculating an instantaneous formation dip angle. Next, real time logging data is obtained and a target formation window is projected ahead of the well path that includes a top of formation and a bottom formation. The method includes monitoring the real time logging and drilling data and drilling the well through the target formation window. The method further includes changing the estimated instantaneous formation dip based on the obtained data and adjusting the target formation top and bottom window. | 09-29-2011 |
20110253446 | Apparatus and Methods for Estimating Tool Inclination Using Bit-Based Gamma Ray Sensors - A drill bit made according to one embodiment may include a bit body having a longitudinal axis, a plurality of gamma sensors placed in the bit body, at least two gamma ray sensors in the plurality of sensors are spaced-apart from each other along the longitudinal axis of the bit body, wherein each such sensor in the plurality of sensors is configured to detect gamma rays from the formation during drilling of the wellbore and to provide signals representative of the detected gamma rays, and a circuit configured to process at least partially the signals from each of the at least two gamma ray sensors for estimating an inclination of the bit body relative to the longitudinal axis. | 10-20-2011 |
20110278067 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR WELL POSITIONING USING PHASE RELATIONS BETWEEN TRANSVERSE MAGNETIC FIELD COMPONENTS OF A TRANSVERSE ROTATING MAGNETIC SOURCE - Systems and methods for well-drilling operations involving magnetic ranging with a rotating magnetic source are provided. In one embodiment, a system for determining a relative location of a magnetic source includes a three-axis magnetometer and data processing circuitry. The three-axis magnetometer may measure a time-dependent magnetic field caused by a magnetic source rotating about an axis, which may include two transverse components transverse to the axis and the data processing circuitry may determine a transverse angle of rotation of the measurements such that one of the two transverse components is ±π/2 radians out-of-phase with the other when the measurements are transformed by the transverse angle of rotation. The data processing circuitry may determine a spatial relationship between the magnetic source and the three-axis magnetometer based at least in part on the transverse angle of rotation. | 11-17-2011 |
20110308859 | System and Method for EM Ranging in Oil-Based Mud - Nearby conductors such as pipes, well casing, etc., are detectable from within a borehole filled with an oil-based fluid. At least some method embodiments provide a current flow between axially-spaced conductive bridges on a drillstring. The current flow disperses into the surrounding formation and causes a secondary current flow in the nearby conductor. The magnetic field from the secondary current flow can be detected using one or more azimuthally-sensitive antennas. Direction and distance estimates are obtainable from the azimuthally-sensitive measurements, and can be used as the basis for steering the drillstring relative to the distant conductor. Possible techniques for providing current flow in the drillstring include imposing a voltage across an insulated gap or using a toroid around the drillstring to induce the current flow. | 12-22-2011 |
20120006597 | DRILL HEAD - A drill head, particularly for a horizontal drilling device, includes a housing and a radar unit disposed within the housing. The radar unit generates electromagnetic waves that exit the housing. The housing of the drill head is made of a dielectric material at least in the region where the electromagnetic waves exit the housing. | 01-12-2012 |
20120031669 | Memory Logging Drill Bit With Connectable Pulser - The present invention discloses a novel drill bit system | 02-09-2012 |
20120061141 | METHOD FOR FINDING AND RE-ENTERING A LATERAL BORE IN A MULTI-LATERAL WELL - A system and method of locating and entering a lateral wellbore that extends from a primary wellbore are provided. The system may include a coiled tubing, jointed tubular, continuous rod, and/or wireline conveyance member, a connection assembly, an orientation assembly, a measurement assembly, a deflection assembly, a sub assembly, and a guide assembly. The method may include locating a tool string adjacent to a lateral wellbore that extends from a primary wellbore, measuring an inclination and azimuth of the tool string, comparing the measured data to existing survey data of at least one of the primary and lateral wellbores, orienting the tool string in the direction of the lateral wellbore, entering the lateral wellbore, and verifying that the tool string has entered the lateral wellbore. | 03-15-2012 |
20120067644 | Method and Apparatus for Directional Well Logging - A method and apparatus are provided for making directional measurements toward a formation of different resistivity that is proximate to the borehole, but which is not penetrated by the borehole. The disclosed methods and apparatus include the use of at least one insulated gap and at least one magnetometer positioned within a non-magnetic housing that is disposed within a non-magnetic tubular. An electric current is applied across the insulated gap, which results in current leaking into the surrounding formations. When a formation of contrasting resistivity is proximate to the logging apparatus, the magnetometer detects a secondary magnetic due to the contrasting formation. The direction of the secondary magnetic field can be used to determine the direction to the contrasting formation. The magnitude of the secondary magnetic field can be used to determine the distance position to the contrasting formation. | 03-22-2012 |
20120080228 | STATUS INDICATORS FOR USE IN EARTH-BORING TOOLS HAVING EXPANDABLE MEMBERS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING SUCH STATUS INDICATORS AND EARTH-BORING TOOLS - A status indicator for determining a position of an extendable member in an expandable apparatus. The status indicator is configured to decrease a cross-sectional area of a portion of a fluid path extending through an expandable causing a pressure of a fluid within the fluid path to increase when an extendable member of the expandable apparatus is in an extended position. By determining the pressure of the fluid within the fluid path, one can determine the position of the status indicator within the fluid path and thereby determine whether the extendable member of the expandable apparatus is in the extended or a retracted position. | 04-05-2012 |
20120085582 | ESTABLISHING POSITIONS OF LOCATING FIELD DETECTORS AND PATH MAPPING IN UNDERGROUND BORING TOOL APPLICATIONS - Specific apparatus and associated methods are described for use in establishing the positions of locating field detectors and a sonde. Two detectors can be located at positions within the region, each being operable in a transmit mode and in a receive mode such that each one of the detectors in the transmit mode is able to transmit a relative locating signal to the other detector for use in determining the relative position of one detector in relation to the other and such that both detectors receive an electromagnetic locating signal from the sonde in the receive mode for use in determining the position of the sonde and the detectors within the region. | 04-12-2012 |
20120103687 | Redundant Position Reference System for Multilateral Exit Construction and Method for Use of Same - A position reference system ( | 05-03-2012 |
20120111630 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF IMPROVED DEPTH OF CUT CONTROL OF DRILLING TOOLS - According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a method of configuring a depth of cut controller (DOCC) of a drill bit comprises determining a desired minimum depth of cut for a radial swath of the drill bit. The method additionally comprises identifying a cutting edge of a cutting element located on the drill bit. The cutting edge is located within the radial swath and a cutting zone of the cutting element. The method further comprises identifying cutting elements that each include at least a portion located within the radial swath. The method also comprises determining a radial position and an angular position of a depth of cut controller (DOCC) for placement on the bit face based on the cutting edge of the cutting element. The method additionally comprises determining an axial position of the DOCC based on each portion of the cutting elements located within the radial swath. | 05-10-2012 |
20120111631 | Formation Dip Geo-Steering Method - A method of drilling a well that includes calculating an estimated formation dip angle, wherein said estimated formation dip angle being based on offset well data, seismic data, core data, pressure data. Next, the method includes drilling a well with a logging while drilling means so that real time logging data is generated along with drilling data and calculating an instantaneous formation dip angle. Next, real time logging data is obtained and a target formation window is projected ahead of the well path that includes a top of formation and a bottom formation. The method includes monitoring the real time logging and drilling data and drilling the well through the target formation window. The method further includes changing the estimated instantaneous formation dip based on the obtained data and adjusting the target formation top and bottom window. | 05-10-2012 |
20120175167 | BORING TOOL TRACKING FUNDAMENTALLY BASED ON DRILL STRING LENGTH, PITCH AND ROLL - A boring tool moves having a pitch orientation, a yaw orientation and a roll orientation and is steerable underground using the roll orientation. A maximum drill string curvature is established for steering. The boring tool is advanced over a path segment. An averaged roll characteristic is determined for movement of the boring tool along the path segment. A path segment pitch orientation is established based on at least one measured pitch orientation along the path segment. Using the maximum drill string curvature in combination with the averaged roll characteristic and the path segment pitch orientation, the yaw orientation is determined. The averaged roll characteristic is determined based on a series of incremental roll measurements that are spaced across the path segment. A set of coupled ordinary differential equations is used to characterize movement of the boring tool. | 07-12-2012 |
20120186874 | DOWNHOLE SAND CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD WITH TOOL POSITION SENSOR - Systems and methods for monitoring a position of a service tool in a wellbore are provided. The service tool can have a sensor assembly coupled thereto and be positioned within the wellbore. The service tool can be moved within the wellbore. The distance travelled by the service tool in the wellbore can be measured with the sensor assembly. The position of the service tool in the wellbore can be determined by comparing the distance travelled to a stationary reference point. | 07-26-2012 |
20120193144 | MAGNETIC RANGING SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A DRILLING PROCESS - The invention relates to a ranging system ( | 08-02-2012 |
20120199394 | PROCESSING AND GEOSTEERING WITH A ROTATING TOOL - Various embodiments include apparatus and methods of processing and geosteering with respect to well logging. Apparatus and methods may include acquiring signals generated from operating a tool rotating in a borehole of a well, where the tool includes a receiver antenna tilted with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tool and two transmitter antennas. The acquired signals can be processed with respect to a direction in the rotation of the tool to determine properties associated with a formation and/or to determine a geosignal for geosteering a drilling operation. | 08-09-2012 |
20120205154 | AZIMUTHAL ORIENTATION DETERMINATION - Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to determine the rotating magnetic tool face associated with a rotating section of a drillstring, to determine angular displacement between the rotating section of the drillstring and a substantially fixed section housing the rotating the section, and to determine the magnetic tool face of the substantially fixed section by combining the rotating magnetic tool face and the angular displacement. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. | 08-16-2012 |
20120241218 | SONDE WITH INTEGRAL PRESSURE SENSOR AND METHOD - Generally, a sonde, associated components and methods are described which can be used in conjunction with an inground tool having an inground tool housing that defines an inground tool cavity such that the inground tool cavity is exposed to an ambient pressure environment which surrounds the inground tool during an inground operation. A sonde housing assembly includes an exterior configuration that is receivable within the inground tool cavity. The sonde housing assembly at least partially defines a sonde interior and is further configured for receiving the pressure sensor body of a pressure sensor in a pressure sealed engagement. A sonde electronics package is supported within the sonde interior and is at least configured to receive the pressure signal and transfer a corresponding pressure signal from the sonde. | 09-27-2012 |
20120247833 | DOWNHOLE DRILLING UTILIZING MEASUREMENTS FROM MULTIPLE SENSORS - A system and method for controlling a downhole portion of a drill string is provided. The method includes receiving signals from a first sensor package mounted at a first position to the downhole portion, the signals indicative of an orientation of the first sensor package. The method also includes receiving signals from a second sensor package mounted at a second position to the downhole portion, the signals indicative of an orientation of the second sensor package. The method further includes calculating a first amount of bend between the first and second sensor packages in response to the signals and transmitting control signals to an actuator which responds by adjusting the downhole portion to have a second amount of bend between the first and second sensor packages. | 10-04-2012 |
20120255780 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CALCULATING AND CORRECTING FOR DIRECTIONAL DRILLING TOOL FACE OFFSETS - A method for correcting for tool face offset in directional drilling components, namely between a directional sensor reference point and a high side of a bent sub. Graduated markings applied on an outer surface of a UBHO sub containing the directional sensor and a reference marking on drill pipe indicating high side of the bent sub, or alternatively graduated markings applied to drill pipe relative to the high side of the bent sub and a reference marking on the outer surface of the UBHO, are together utilized to determine the tool face offset, which is then provided to a software program to permit the software programme to then indicate a correct bent sub angular orientation to the directional drilling operator at surface. Bottom hole components utilizing graduated markings on one of such bottom hole components and having a reference marking on the other of the components, are also disclosed. | 10-11-2012 |
20120267169 | Apparatus and Method for Tool Face Control Using Pressure Data - A method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for drilling a wellbore is disclosed. A fluid is pumped to rotate a drilling assembly at an end of a drill string in the wellbore. A plurality of measurements of pressure of the fluid is obtained. A standard deviation of the mud pressure is estimated from the plurality of fluid pressure measurements, and a variation of a tool face angle of the drilling assembly to the pumped fluid is estimated from a comparison of the estimated standard deviation of pressure to a selected criterion. A drilling parameter can be altered to drill the wellbore based on the estimated variation of the tool face angle. | 10-25-2012 |
20120273272 | LOCKABLE CORE BARREL HEAD FOR DRILLING SYSTEM AND SURVEY INSTRUMENT ASSEMBLY PROVIDED WITH A CONNECTION LINK FOR ARRANGEMENT IN A DRILLING SYSTEM - Core barrel head for connection to a core barrel for collecting core samples, and for connection to a latch assembly, to mount a drill assembly in a bore hole, with a sleeve for carrying the inner tube. A controllable locking device is arranged inside the core barrel head for locking the sleeve in a fixed rotational position relatively to the attached latch assembly, to allow measurement of the inclination and the orientation of the core. The invention also includes a survey instrument assembly provided with a connection link for connection to a spearhead, drill pipe, latch assembly, core barrel head or other drilling or geotechnical equipment. | 11-01-2012 |
20120292110 | SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR MODELING THE BEHAVIOR OF A DRILLING ASSEMBLY - A method for drilling a borehole includes obtaining, while drilling the borehole, sensor data for the drilling assembly, analyzing, while drilling the borehole, the sensor data using a drilling behavior model to obtain results, and adjusting the drilling of the borehole based on the results. The drilling behavior model models drilling of the borehole using a distance drilled, a number of touch points, a number of bend angles, a number of external moments, a number of lengths of distributed weights, a lateral displacement of a center of the borehole at a bit, at least one vertical displacement from the center of the borehole, at least one angular offset, at least one force, and at least one mass per unit length. | 11-22-2012 |
20120292111 | Formation Dip Geo-Steering Method - A method of drilling a well that includes calculating an estimated formation dip angle, wherein said estimated formation dip angle being based on offset well data, seismic data, core data, pressure data. Next, the method includes drilling a well with a logging while drilling means so that real time logging data is generated along with drilling data and calculating an instantaneous formation dip angle. Next, real time logging data is obtained and a target formation window is projected ahead of the well path that includes a top of formation and a bottom formation. The method includes monitoring the real time logging and drilling data and drilling the well through the target formation window. The method further includes changing the estimated instantaneous formation dip based on the obtained data and adjusting the target formation top and bottom window. | 11-22-2012 |
20120305313 | Apparatus and Method for Determining Inclination and Orientation of a Downhole Tool Using Pressure Measurements - In one aspect, a method of estimating one of inclination and orientation of a downhole device is provided that includes the features of taking pressure measurements at a plurality of locations on the downhole device in the wellbore, wherein at least one location in the plurality of locations is vertically displaced from at least one other location, and estimating the one of the inclination and orientation of the downhole device from the plurality of pressure measurements. In another aspect, a downhole tool is disclosed that in one configuration includes a device for estimating inclination and/or orientation of the downhole tool that further includes a body containing a liquid therein and a plurality of pressure sensors arranged in the body configured to provide pressure measurements of the liquid in the body, wherein a pressure sensor in the plurality of pressure sensors is vertically disposed from at least one other sensor in the plurality of sensors. | 12-06-2012 |
20130000980 | System and Method for Determining Soil Characteristics and Drillstring Instability During Horizontal Directional Drilling - Disclosed is a system and method for horizontal directional drilling (HDD). The system and method utilize predictive algorithms to both characterize the soil within the borehole and to quantify instability within the drillstring. The soil characteristics are represented by a soil coefficient (α), which relates the curvature of the borehole with the length of thrust of the drill rig as well as by comparison of thrust while thrusting with torque while drilling. The value of (α) is obtained by comparison of the historical orientation of the drilling head over the length of the borehole and the borehole shape as determined by an arbitrary navigation sensor. Drillstring instability is determined as a function of historical thrust and torque efficiencies and windup over the length of the borehole. | 01-03-2013 |
20130000981 | CONTROL OF DOWNHOLE SAFETY DEVICES - A drilling system for drilling a borehole includes a drill string including a bottom hole assembly and a telemetry system coupled together and a communication device coupled to the drillstring configured to transmit sensor data to and receive control data from a control unit located at a surface location through the telemetry system. The system also includes a sensor coupled to the drillstring, the sensor providing the sensor data to the communication device and a downhole safety device coupled to the drill string and in operable communication with the communication device, the downhole safety device configured to actuate after receiving an activation signal initiated by the control unit. | 01-03-2013 |
20130014992 | Data Transfer In A Two-Pipe Directional Drilling System - A downhole tool for a dual member drill string for detecting information and sending a signal containing that information up a wireline. The tool comprises a beacon supported on a housing for collection of orientation information. The wireline is located within a drill stem in the housing. The beacon communicates a signal to the wireline using a slip ring or a receiver for receiving a wireless signal from the beacon. The downhole tool may have a steering feature such as a deflection shoe for changing the path of the downhole tool. | 01-17-2013 |
20130020129 | METHODS FOR DIRECTING VERTICAL DRILLING - Methods allowing precise directional drilling are provided. Such methods include use of directional drilling equipment which include a drill string with a hollow bottom rod connected to a boring tool by means of an obtuse-angle connection piece or “bent sub”. In order to restore the verticality of the drilling a vertical borehole section (F) is formed and then a probe equipped with an inclinometer is lowered inside the bottom rod. The string may be rotated into four angular positions and the inclination values of the probe in each angular position are detected at the depth reached. The string is rotated so as to bring it into an angular position corresponding to the maximum inclination value detected. The string is moved so as to move the boring tool further downwards and the inclination of the probe is detected again in order to check that verticality has been reached. | 01-24-2013 |
20130020130 | Drill Bits With Sensors for Formation Evaluation - In one aspect, a method of making a drill bit is disclosed that includes selecting a drill bit configuration, obtaining a stress map for the drill bit configuration relating to a drilling operation, performing a mechanical test with an actual drill bit having the selected configuration, and selecting a location on a surface of the drill bit for installing a sensor thereat based on a location of low stress from the stress map and results of the mechanical test, and placing a sensor at the selected location. | 01-24-2013 |
20130025939 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AND MONITORING A DRILLING OPERATION USING REFINED SOLUTIONS FROM A PANISTIC INVERSION - During a drilling operation, measured data from the drilling operation may be received with a panistic inversion and risk estimate module. The panistic inversion and risk estimate module may generate a plurality of mathematical solutions from a panistic inversion that uses the measured data and one or more earth models. The one or more earth models having various parameters may be selected prior to drilling and/or while the drilling operation occurs. For each solution of the plurality of mathematical solutions generated from the panistic inversion, the panistic inversion and risk estimate module may determine if the measured data exceeds one or more probability risk thresholds associated with the drilling operation. If the measured data exceeds the probability risk threshold associated with the drilling operation, then the panistic inversion and risk estimate module may generate an alert. | 01-31-2013 |
20130032404 | Pulsed-Electric Drilling Systems and Methods With Formation Evaluation and/or Bit Position Tracking - Pulsed-electric drilling systems can be augmented with multi-component electromagnetic field sensors on the drillstring, at the earth's surface, or in existing boreholes in the vicinity of the planned drilling path. The sensors detect electrical fields and/or magnetic fields caused by the electrical pulses and derive therefrom information of interest including, e.g., spark size and orientation, bit position, at-bit resistivity and permittivity, and tomographically mapped formation structures. The at-bit resistivity measurements can be for anisotropic or isotropic formations, and in the former case, can include vertical and horizontal resistivities and an orientation of the anisotropy axis. The sensors can illustratively include toroids, electrode arrays, tilted coil antennas, magnetic dipole antennas aligned with the tool axes, and magnetometers. The use of multiple such sensors increases measurement accuracy and the number of unknown model parameters which can be derived using an iterative inversion technique. | 02-07-2013 |
20130056272 | PROXIMITY DETECTION SYSTEM FOR DEEP WELLS - A method and apparatus for magnetic field measurements to determine the proximity of a nearby target incorporating electrically conductive material includes a drill string ( | 03-07-2013 |
20130062123 | STEERING HEAD - A steering head for use with a casing, the steering head having a generally cylindrical body with a first body end with a lead edge, a second body end with a rear edge, and a body surface extending from the lead edge to the rear edge, an outer tube with an internal side generally facing the body surface, the outer tube extending from the first body end to the second body end, and a steering flap disposed on an external side of the outer tube having a first flap face facing radially inwardly and a second flap face facing radially outwardly. A biased hinge is secured to both the outer tube and the steering flap, the biased hinge being operative to retract the steering flap into a retracted position from an extending position. | 03-14-2013 |
20130092440 | BORING TOOL TRACKING FUNDAMENTALLY BASED ON DRILL STRING LENGTH, PITCH AND ROLL - A boring tool moves having a pitch orientation, a yaw orientation and a roll orientation and is steerable underground using the roll orientation. A maximum drill string curvature is established for steering. The boring tool is advanced over a path segment. An averaged roll characteristic is determined for movement of the boring tool along the path segment. A path segment pitch orientation is established based on at least one measured pitch orientation along the path segment. Using the maximum drill string curvature in combination with the averaged roll characteristic and the path segment pitch orientation, the yaw orientation is determined. The averaged roll characteristic is determined based on a series of incremental roll measurements that are spaced across the path segment. A set of coupled ordinary differential equations is used to characterize movement of the boring tool. | 04-18-2013 |
20130098686 | Dynamic Steering Tool - The present invention is directed to a dynamic steering tool for use with a horizontal directional drilling machine. The tool comprises and inner member, an outer member, a steering member, a drill stem, and a drill bit. The drill stem extends from within a borehole to the surface while the outer member only extends the length of the inner member within the borehole. The outer member is powered via the use of a progressive cavity motor. In operation, the drill stem, inner member, and drill bit rotate in a clockwise position while the outer member rotates in a counterclockwise direction. Rotating the outer member opposite the inner member allows the outer member to remain stationary and cause the tool to steer while the inner member continues to rotate. | 04-25-2013 |
20130105224 | Method and Apparatus For Sensing Elongated Subterranean Anomalies | 05-02-2013 |
20130118809 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STEERING A RELIEF WELL - A system and method for steering a relief well to intersect a previously drilled wellbore. In one embodiment, a system includes a drill string disposed in the relief well and a surface processing system. The drill string includes a plurality of sections of wired drill pipe connected end-to-end, and a bottom hole assembly disposed at a downhole end of the drill string. The bottom hole assembly includes a drill bit, a steering tool configured to direct the drill bit towards a target, and an acoustic sensing tool. The acoustic sensing tool includes a plurality of acoustic sensors configured to detect acoustic signals emanating from fluid flow in a target wellbore. The surface processing system is coupled to the uphole end of the drill string, and is configured to determine a direction to the target wellbore based on the acoustic signals detected by the acoustic sensors. | 05-16-2013 |
20130118810 | BORING TOOL CONTROL USING REMOTE LOCATOR - A drilling system performs underground boring using a drill rig and a boring tool which is configured for moving through the ground under control of the drill rig to form an underground bore. A monitoring arrangement, forming part of the system, includes a detection arrangement at the drill rig for monitoring at least one operational parameter to produce a data signal relating to at least one of a utility to be installed in the underground bore, the drill rig and the boring tool. A portable device forms another part of the system for receiving the data signal relating to the operational parameter for use by the portable device. A communication arrangement, for example using telemetry, transfers the data signal from the drill rig to the portable device. The operational parameter may be monitored for the purpose of preventing equipment failure. | 05-16-2013 |
20130126240 | METHOD FOR SALT AND CROSS-BED PROXIMITY DETECTION USING DEEP DIRECTIONAL ELECTROMAGNETIC MEASUREMENTS WHILE DRILLING - A method for drilling a wellbore proximate a salt structure includes measuring formation resistivity azimuthally. A map of spatial distribution of resistivity is determined from the azimuthal resistivity measurements. A distance from the wellbore to an edge of the salt structure is determined from the three dimensional volume map. | 05-23-2013 |
20130126241 | DIRECTIONAL DRILLING CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHODS - Apparatus and methods to steer a hydraulic motor when elongating a wellbore having a non-vertical component that includes a quill adapted to transfer torque, rotation, or position between a drive assembly and a drillstring, a bottom hole assembly (BHA) including a toolface orientation detector and at least one measurement while drilling (MWD) instrument or wireline-conveyed instrument, and a controller configured to transmit operational control signals to minimize friction between a drillstring and a wellbore, wherein the instrument is configured to detect pressure between an external surface of the BHA and an inner diameter of the wellbore. | 05-23-2013 |
20130140088 | Formation Dip Geo-Steering Method - A method of drilling a subterranean well from a surface location. The method comprises estimating a target formation depth, estimating a target formation dip angle and calculating a target line that creates a top and bottom of the target formation that forms a first projection window. The method further includes drilling within the first projection window, transmitting information from the subterranean well and projecting a target deviation window. The method may further comprise ceasing the drilling of the well and performing a well survey so that well survey information is generated. The method may then include estimating a formation dip angle with the well survey information and rig surface equipment monitoring data, calculating a target line that creates a revised top and bottom of the target formation that forms a second projection window, and drilling within the second projection window. | 06-06-2013 |
20130153297 | Adjustable Bent Drilling Tool Having in situ Drilling Direction Change Capability - An adjustable bent drilling tool capable of changing in situ drilling direction to facilitate horizontal drilling. The drilling tool may be controlled from the surface and eliminates the need to bring the tool to the surface for reconfiguration. In one embodiment, the drilling tool utilizes a communications module to communicate with upstream sections of the tool. The communications module is connected to a programmable electronic control module which controls an electric motor. A hydraulic valve assembly follows the control module, which receives input signals and controls a pilot piston between two fixed points of a mid-assembly typically located adjacent to and downstream of the hydraulic valve assembly on the drill tool. A lower assembly is attached to the drill tool immediately following the mid-assembly, and provides both a safety release sub-assembly as well as a bendable sub-assembly which directs the adjustable drill tool to change drilling angle and direction. | 06-20-2013 |
20130153298 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENHANCING CELL-EDGE USER PERFORMANCE AND SIGNALING RADIO LINK FAILURE CONDITIONS VIA DOWNLINK COOPERATIVE COMPONENT CARRIERS - A wireless communication network and method are described for enhancing cell-edge performance of a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU). The WTRU may establish a connection with a plurality of sites via respective downlinks (DLs). Each DL may include at least one DL component carrier (CC) that operates on a frequency that is the same or different than one or more of the other CCs. The sites may manipulate their transmit power for a particular CC operating frequency such that the distance from a particular one of the sites to its cell boundary may become larger by increasing its transmit power on the particular frequency, and the distance from at least one of the other sites to its respective cell boundary may become smaller by decreasing its transmit power on the particular frequency. Thus, a coverage overlap between different CC frequencies may be created while maintaining a frequency reuse pattern of one. | 06-20-2013 |
20130153299 | ESTABLISHING POSITIONS OF LOCATING FIELD DETECTORS AND PATH MAPPING IN UNDERGROUND BORING TOOL APPLICATIONS - Specific apparatus and associated methods are described for use in establishing the positions of locating field detectors and for path mapping within a region for the purpose of tracking and/or guiding the movement of an underground boring tool. In one aspect, an improvement is provided forming part of an arrangement for tracking the position and/or guiding the boring tool using an electromagnetic locating signal which is transmitted from the boring tool as the boring tool moves through the ground. At least two detectors are located at fixed positions within the region, each being operable in a transmit mode and in a receive mode such that each one of the detectors in the transmit mode is able to transmit a relative locating signal to the other detector for use in determining the relative position of one detector in relation to the other and such that both detectors receive the electromagnetic locating signal in the receive mode for use in determining the position of the boring tool within the region. Provisions are also described for extending drilling range by using additional detectors by moving a limited number of detectors. In another aspect, a system is provided including at least two above ground detectors for sensing the locating signal. The detectors are located at initial positions in the region. Electromagnetic data is generated by the detectors with the boring tool at multiple positions to generate electromagnetic data which is used to identify the positions of the detectors. A selected flux pathline steering technique is introduced. | 06-20-2013 |
20130175092 | DIRECTIONAL DRILLING TARGET STEERING APPARATUS AND METHOD - An apparatus and method are used in conjunction with a system for performing horizontal directional drilling, the system including a drill string extending from a drill rig to a boring tool such that the boring tool is steerable based on a roll orientation. The system also includes an arrangement for generating steering commands for guiding the boring tool to a target position. Responsive at least in part to the steering commands, a display is configured to selectively indicate each of a rotate command, a push command and a spin command. A steering indicator is described which indicates a current roll orientation of the boring tool. A 3-D grid can be animated and centered on either a steering or target indicator. Rounding of a steering command ratio can limit the display of target roll orientations to only those that a given boring tool transmitter is capable of sensing and indicating. | 07-11-2013 |
20130180779 | Wellbore Conditioning System - A wellbore conditioning system is disclosed. The system comprises at least one shaft and at least two eccentric unilateral reamers, wherein the unilateral reamers are positioned at a predetermined distance from each other and the unilateral reamers are positioned at a predetermined rotational angle from each other. | 07-18-2013 |
20130213713 | DIRECTIONAL DRILLING SYSTEMS - A directional drilling system for use in drilling a wellbore can include a bit deflection assembly with a bit axis deflection mechanism which applies a deflecting force to a shaft connected to a drill bit. The deflecting force may deflect the shaft, without being reacted between the deflection mechanism and the drill bit. The deflecting force may deflect the shaft between the drill bit and a radial bearing which maintains the shaft centered in the bit deflection assembly. The deflection mechanism may both angularly deflect and laterally displace the bit axis in the deflection mechanism. | 08-22-2013 |
20130248250 | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF LANDING A WELL IN A TARGET ZONE - Various embodiments include apparatus and methods to land a well in a target zone with minimal or no overshoot of target zone. The well may be directed to a target in the target zone based on the separation distance between a transmitter sensor ( | 09-26-2013 |
20130306375 | DRILLING TOOL, APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR UNDERREAMING AND SIMULTANEOUSLY MONITORING AND CONTROLLING WELLBORE DIAMETER - The Smart Reamer® Tool, Apparatus or Method is used to underream an oil or natural gas well while interlinked calipers and calibration sensors simultaneously record data relating to the geometry of the drilling operation (well diameter, diameter of the underreamed zone) and drilling fluid properties (density). Further sensors provide data on the relative position of the cutting and stabilizing blocks. Other sensors measure vibration data. All the sensors are interlinked by means of microprocessors which compare and correlate said data to automatically verify and deliver a desired wellbore diameter without the need to unnecessarily stop drilling or trip out of the hole. | 11-21-2013 |
20130341095 | Instrumented Drilling System - A technique facilitates drilling of wellbores or other types of bore holes in a variety of applications. A steerable system is designed with a main shaft coupled to a drill bit shaft by a universal joint to provide steering functionality. A sensor system is mounted on the steerable system and comprises at least one sensor positioned to measure desired parameters, such as weight on bit and/or torque on bit parameters during drilling. | 12-26-2013 |
20140027178 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DRILLING A BOREHOLE - A system and method is provided for drilling a wellbore including a rotary drill bit with a bit body having a plurality of mechanical cutters to cut away formation material as the wellbore is formed; and a directed energy mechanism to direct energy into the formation such that energy from the directed energy mechanism causes fracturing of surrounding material to facilitate drilling in the direction of the directed energy. | 01-30-2014 |
20140034388 | Seismic Navigation - A sensor array system includes a sensor array comprising a first sensor disposed underground and a second sensor disposed underground, and a processor communicatively coupled to the sensors of the sensor array, the processor operative to receive signals from the sensors of the sensor array indicative of seismic activity, and identify a position of a portion of a borehole machine operative to induce the seismic activity while disposed in an underground borehole. | 02-06-2014 |
20140034389 | CORE SAMPLE ORIENTATION - A core orientation device ( | 02-06-2014 |
20140048332 | SEALED AND HYDROSTATICALLY LOCKABLE RETRIEVABLE MWD LANDING SYSTEM - A sealed mule shoe assembly for use in directional drilling, comprising an outer mule shoe and an inner housing for containing a directional measurement tool which is slidably insertable in the outer mule shoe. The mule shoe assembly advantageously has half-moon mating surfaces which advantageously allow use circumferential seals to thereby prevent ingress of abrasive materials into the landing area between the outer mule shoe and the inner housing, thereby greatly prolonging the life of the mule shoe assembly. Such seals further make use of hydrostatic forces downhole which cause locking landed engagement of the inner tool within the outer mule shoe. Cup seals or a check valve are used to allow escape of fluid when the inner tool is inserted within the outer mule shoe, and similarly prevent ingress of abrasive fluids and drill cuttings into the area of landed engagement. | 02-20-2014 |
20140069721 | MAGNETIC RANGING WHILE DRILLING USING AN ELECTRIC DIPOLE SOURCE AND A MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR - A system and methods for drilling a well in a field having an existing well are provided. Specifically a method of drilling a new well in a field having an existing well includes drilling the new well using a bottom hole assembly (BHA) having a drill collar divided by an insulated gap, generating a current on the drill collar of the BHA while drilling the new well, and measuring from the existing well a magnetic field caused by the current on the drill collar of the BHA. Using measurements of the magnetic field, a relative position of the new well to the existing well may be determined. | 03-13-2014 |
20140090889 | MINING DRILL WITH GRADIENT SENSING - A drill for excavating a bore in the earth includes a steerable boring tool configured to excavate a bore and sensors coupled to the boring tool. The sensors are spaced apart from one another at multiple azimuthal locations around the steerable boring tool and the sensors are configured to detect a mineral property in the earth adjacent the steerable boring tool. | 04-03-2014 |
20140090890 | Detection Of Tool In Pipe - Methods and systems for determining whether a tool has been deployed below a drill pipe are provided. A downhole tool can measure various characteristics, which then can be analyzed to determine the likelihood of a tool having been deployed below the drill pipe. For example, density and porosity measurements can be affected by the presence of casing or drill pipe, and thus such measurements can provide an indication of whether the tool has been deployed below the drill pipe. | 04-03-2014 |
20140102795 | Attitude Reference for Tieback/Overlap Processing - A method for calculating orientation changes within a borehole using a gyro sensor to detect angular deflection rates in an attitude reference interval as a MWD system is moved from a first to a second location within the borehole. A compass shot may be taken at one or more of the first and second locations using a magnetometer and accelerometer or gyro sensor and accelerometer. Tieback and/or overlap processing may be applied to increase the accuracy of measured orientation within the borehole. Additionally, tieback and/or overlap processing may be applied to adjust sensor model parameters in response to discrepancies between calculated and measured locations. Iterated calculations of orientation change between subsequent intervals may allow MWD orientation to be computed for an entire drilling operation using only a single compass shot. | 04-17-2014 |
20140131101 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING ENHANCED EQUIVALENT CIRCULATING DENSITY AND INTERVAL SOLIDS CONCENTRATION IN A WELL SYSTEM USING MULTIPLE SENSORS - Multiple sensors on a drill string can be utilized to perform equivalent circulation density (ECD) analysis. By utilizing multiple ones of the sensors, the pressure drop in each section of the wellbore can be classified. Additionally, the inclusion of multiple sensors in the drill string allows a wellbore to be sectioned into intervals bounded by any two sensors. Pressure events occurring in a single section of the wellbore bounded by any two sensors can be isolated and analyzed. The isolation can be achieved by subtracting the pressure measured on the shallower sensor from that measured on the deeper sensor. | 05-15-2014 |
20140131102 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING INCREMENTAL PROGRESSION BETWEEN SURVEY POINTS WHILE DRILLING - A system and method for surface steerable drilling are provided. In one example, the system receives toolface information for a bottom hole assembly (BHA) and non-survey sensor information corresponding to a location of the BHA in a borehole. The system calculates an amount of incremental progress made by the BHA based on the non-survey sensor information and calculates an estimate of the location based on the toolface information and the amount of incremental progress. The system repeats the steps of receiving toolface information and non-survey sensor information and calculating an amount of incremental progress to calculate an estimate of a plurality of locations representing a path of the BHA from a first survey point towards a second sequential survey point. | 05-15-2014 |
20140131103 | ESTABLISHING POSITIONS OF LOCATING FIELD DETECTORS AND PATH MAPPING IN UNDERGROUND BORING TOOL APPLICATIONS - Specific apparatus and associated methods are described for use in establishing the positions of locating field detectors and for path mapping within a region for the purpose of tracking and/or guiding the movement of an underground boring tool. In one aspect, an improvement is provided forming part of an arrangement for tracking the position and/or guiding the boring tool using an electromagnetic locating signal which is transmitted from the boring tool as the boring tool moves through the ground. At least two detectors are located at fixed positions within the region, each being operable in a transmit mode and in a receive mode such that each one of the detectors in the transmit mode is able to transmit a relative locating signal to the other detector for use in determining the relative position of one detector in relation to the other and such that both detectors receive the electromagnetic locating signal in the receive mode for use in determining the position of the boring tool within the region. Provisions are also described for extending drilling range by using additional detectors by moving a limited number of detectors. In another aspect, a system is provided including at least two above ground detectors for sensing the locating signal. The detectors are located at initial positions in the region. Electromagnetic data is generated by the detectors with the boring tool at multiple positions to generate electromagnetic data which is used to identify the positions of the detectors. A selected flux pathline steering technique is introduced. | 05-15-2014 |
20140138158 | GRAPH TO ANALYZE DRILLING PARAMETERS - A method for presenting drilling information includes presenting a display including a graph having a first axis and a second axis. The first axis represents a rate of penetration (ROP) of a drill bit into a borehole and the second axis representing a mechanical specific energy (MSE) of a drilling system that includes the drill bit. The method also includes plotting time based or foot based data with a computing device for one or more drilling runs on the graph and overlaying the graph with lines of constant power. | 05-22-2014 |
20140144704 | Borepath Analyzer - A tracker used to analyze a desired borepath prior to horizontal directional drilling operations. The tracker analyzes an amount of interference present at a plurality of different frequencies at multiple locations along the borepath and maps a plot of the interference at the different frequencies. The lower the point on the plot, the less interference present at that frequency at the location analyzed. The tracker summarizes the overall interference along the desired borepath for the different frequencies analyzed and will recommend a preferred frequency. An operator may program the beacon prior to boring operations to emit a beacon signal at the preferred frequency. The operator may also tune the tracker to receive the preferred frequency. The tracker and beacon may then communicate during boring operations at the preferred frequency in order to detect the position of the beacon underground relative to the tracker. | 05-29-2014 |
20140151123 | Micro Tunneling Machine - The present disclosure relates to a tunneling apparatus including a drill head including a main body and a steering member that is movable relative to the main body. The tunneling apparatus includes a steering target attached to the main body. The tunneling apparatus also includes a camera mounted within the main body. Further, the tunneling apparatus includes a shell position indicator mounted to the steering member in the field of view of the camera. The shell position indicator is adapted to indicate relative movement between the target and the shell position indicator. Additionally, the position indicator frames the target when no relative movement between the target and shell position indicator is indicated. | 06-05-2014 |
20140158430 | DRILLING TOOL, APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR UNDERREAMING AND SIMULTANEOUSLY MONITORING AND CONTROLLING WELLBORE DIAMETER - The Smart Reamer® Tool, Apparatus or Method is used to underream an oil or natural gas well while interlinked calipers and calibration sensors simultaneously record data relating to the geometry of the drilling operation (well diameter, diameter of the underreamed zone) and drilling fluid properties (density). Further sensors provide data on the relative position of the cutting and stabilizing blocks. Other sensors measure vibration data. All the sensors are interlinked by means of microprocessors which compare and correlate said data to automatically verify and deliver a desired wellbore diameter without the need to unnecessarily stop drilling or trip out of the hole. | 06-12-2014 |
20140174826 | Method and Device for Determining a Drill Bit's Position in a Borehole - A method is for determining the position of a lower portion of a drill string in a bore hole. The drill string comprises a number of drill string components, each drill string component being interconnected by means of at least one joint. Several ultrasonic sensors are arranged after each other along a drill string. The method comprises localizing the position of the chamfer of the joint relative to the ultrasonic sensors. | 06-26-2014 |
20140182935 | CORE AND DRILL BITS WITH INTEGRATED OPTICAL ANALYZER - A disclosed method for obtaining a core sample includes directing light at a core sample being collected, receiving reflected light from the core sample, and analyzing the received reflected light to determine one or more characteristics of the core sample and/or form an image of the core sample. Characteristics include rock type, hydrocarbon type, water concentration, porosity, and permeability. The light may be infrared (IR), visible, and/or ultraviolet (UV). The received reflected light may be passed through one or more multivariate optical elements (MOEs). Measurements made at two different positions on the core sample may be used to determine a coring rate. A described coring bit includes a barrel to receive a core sample, a light source illuminating the core sample as it enters the barrel, a detector system that receives reflected light from the core sample, and an optical transmission system communicating light to and from the core sample. | 07-03-2014 |
20140196951 | POSITIONING METHOD FOR A DRILLING HEAD - Positioning method of a bit or a drill head ( | 07-17-2014 |
20140231141 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATIC WEIGHT ON BIT SENSOR CALIBRATION AND REGULATING BUCKLING OF A DRILLSTRING - Disclosed are systems and methods for automatic weight on bit sensor calibration and regulating buckling of a drillstring. One method includes taking a first survey recording at a first depth within a borehole, the first survey recording providing inclination and azimuth of a drillstring at the first depth, measuring a weight on a drill bit at the first depth with a sensor sub arranged on a bottom hole assembly, the bottom hole assembly forming part of the drillstring and the drill bit being disposed at an end of the drillstring, calculating a predicted borehole curvature at a second depth within the borehole, the predicted curvature including a predicted inclination and a predicted azimuth of the drillstring at the second depth, calculating a weight correction value based on the predicted hole curvature, and calibrating the sensor sub with the weight correction value. | 08-21-2014 |
20140251688 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING AND CONTROLLING UNDERGROUND DRILLING - A system and method for monitoring underground drilling in which vibration is monitored by creating a model of the drill string using finite element techniques or finite difference techniques and (i) predicting vibration by inputting real time values of operating parameters into the model, and then adjusting the model to agree with measured vibration data, (ii) predicting the weight on bit and drill string and mud motor speeds at which resonance will occur, as well as when stick-slip will occur, so that the operator can avoid operating regimes that will result in high vibration, (iii) determining vibration and torque levels along the length of the drill string based on the measured vibration and torque at one or more locations, (iv) determining the remaining life of critical components of the drill string based on the history of the vibration to which the components have been subjected, and (v) determining the optimum drilling parameters that will avoid excessive vibration of the drill string. | 09-11-2014 |
20140291024 | Closed-Loop Geosteering Device and Method - A closed-loop method for geosteering a subterranean borehole includes rotating a roll-stabilized control unit in the borehole, obtaining formation evaluation sensor measurements via sensors located in the control unit, and processing downhole the sensor measurements to obtain a corrective steering tool setting that may be applied to a steering tool to control a direction of drilling. A logging while drilling method includes obtaining sensor measurements via sensors located on a rotating roll-stabilized control unit and processing the sensor measurements to obtain an LWD image. A downhole tool includes a downhole tool body and a roll-stabilized control unit. The roll-stabilized control unit is deployed in a through bore of the tool body such that it is free to rotate with respect to the tool body. A tool face sensor and a partially shielded gamma ray sensor are deployed in the roll-stabilized control unit. | 10-02-2014 |
20140311802 | CIRCUMFERENTIAL AND LONGITUDINAL CUTTER COVERAGE IN CONTINUATION OF A FIRST BIT DIAMETER TO A SECOND EXPANDABLE REAMER DIAMETER. - The Smart Reamer® Tool, Apparatus or Method is used to underream an oil or natural gas well while interlinked calipers and calibration sensors simultaneously record data relating to the geometry of the drilling operation (well diameter, diameter of the underreamed zone) and drilling fluid properties (density). Further sensors provide data on the relative position of the cutting and stabilizing blocks. Other sensors measure vibration data. All the sensors are interlinked by means of microprocessors which compare and correlate said data to automatically verify and deliver a desired wellbore diameter without the need to unnecessarily stop drilling or trip out of the hole. | 10-23-2014 |
20140311803 | Directing a Drilling Operation Using an Optical Computation Element - Various embodiments include apparatus and methods to operate a tool downhole in a well, where the tool has an optical computation element to determine different properties of downhole structures. Such an optical computation element can be structured to provide optical analysis of fluid and material composition of the downhole environment associated with a drilling operation. The data measurements from the optical computation element can be used in a geosteering operation. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. | 10-23-2014 |
20140338977 | BOTTOMHOLE ASSEMBLY DESIGN METHOD TO REDUCE ROTATIONAL LOADS - A method for estimating a location for disposing a tool in a drill tubular having a drill bit includes performing a modal analysis of the drill tubular to determine natural eigenfrequencies and corresponding eigenmodes of torsional oscillations of the model and selecting a predominant natural eigenfrequency and corresponding eigenmode from the determined natural eigenfrequencies and corresponding eigenmodes. The method further includes performing a forced modal analysis of the drill tubular at the predominant eigenfrequency with a force or moment acting on the drill bit to provide a correlation between forced torsional deflection amplitude and position and estimating the position to be within a range of positions wherein a vibration qualification of the tool is greater or equal to the torsional deflection amplitude throughout the range. | 11-20-2014 |
20140353036 | Apparatus and Method for Measuring Inclination in Subsea Running, Setting, and Testing Tools - A system for jetting a borehole in a seafloor, the system including a tubular, and a jetting tool inserted into the tubular and having an end from which fluid is selectively discharged to excavate the borehole. An electrical inclination sensor is attached to the stem of the tubular, and is in communication a transmitter. A receiver is positioned proximate the sea surface and is in communication with the transmitter through the fluid in a drill pipe, so that when the jetting tool is excavating the borehole, an inclination of the tubular is sensed by the inclination sensor, which inclination is communicated from the transmitter to the receiver. | 12-04-2014 |
20140353037 | Determining Correct Drill Pipe Length And Formation Depth Using Measurements From Repeater Subs Of A Wired Drill Pipe System - A method includes accepting as input to a processor measurements of a characteristic of a subsurface formation made at a plurality of spaced apart positions along a pipe string moved along a wellbore. Measurements are made of pipe string depth in the wellbore from the Earth's surface. The measurements of pipe string depth include measurements of apparent depth of each of the spaced apart locations. The subsurface formation is identified from the measurements of the characteristic. A true depth of the subsurface formation is made using the measurements of pipe string depth and apparent depth of the formation from each of the spaced apart positions. A record of measurements of the characteristic with respect to depth corrected for changes in length of the pipe string caused by axial forces along the pipe string is generated. | 12-04-2014 |
20140360781 | FORMATION DIP GEO-STEERING METHOD - A method of drilling a subterranean well from a surface location. The method comprises estimating a target formation depth, estimating a target formation dip angle and calculating a target line that creates a top and bottom of the target formation that forms a first projection window. The method further includes drilling within the first projection window, transmitting information from the subterranean well and projecting a target deviation window. The method can further comprise ceasing the drilling of the well and performing a well survey so that well survey information is generated. The method can then include estimating a formation dip angle with the well survey information and rig surface equipment monitoring data, calculating a target line that creates a revised top and bottom of the target formation that forms a second projection window, and drilling within the second projection window. | 12-11-2014 |
20140367169 | Mud Sensing Hole Finder - A mud sensing hole finder comprising: a front steering wheel assembly, a rear wheel assembly, a sensor package, a corrosion package, a ported housing, and a tapered spring joint; wherein the mud sensing hole finder is capable of attachment to a wireline logging tool-string. | 12-18-2014 |
20140367170 | Phase Estimation From Rotating Sensors To Get A Toolface - Measurements made by a near-bit magnetic sensor on a bottomhole assembly are used to determine the azimuth of the BHA. The sensor may be uncalibrated. The measurement may include a cross-axial component of the magnetic field. The method may include estimating the axial component of the near-bit magnetic field using the measurement. The method may include using the estimated azimuth of the BHA for controlling a direction of drilling. The method may include estimating the component Hxy. The method may include correcting the estimated axial component using an offset between a gravitational toolface and a magnetic toolface. | 12-18-2014 |
20140374159 | POSITIONING TECHNIQUES IN MULTI-WELL ENVIRONMENTS - A method is provided to determine a distance, a direction, or both between an existing first wellbore and at least one sensor module of a drill string within a second wellbore being drilled. The method includes using the at least one sensor module to measure a magnetic field and to generate at least one first signal indicative of the measured magnetic field. The method further includes using the at least one sensor module to gyroscopically measure an azimuth, an inclination, or both of the at least one sensor module and to generate at least one second signal indicative of the measured azimuth, inclination, or both. The method further includes using the at least one first signal and the at least one second signal to calculate a distance between the existing first wellbore and the at least one sensor module, a direction between the existing first wellbore and the at least one sensor module, or both a distance and a direction between the existing first wellbore and the at least one sensor module. | 12-25-2014 |
20150027779 | Dynamic Calibration of Axial Accelerometers and Magnetometers - A method to perform a drilling operation. The method includes calibrating an axial survey sensor of a bottom hole assembly (BHA) by obtaining, from the axial survey sensor, a data log as a first function of azimuthal angle within a borehole, generating, by a computer processor of the BHA and using a pre-determined algorithm, a fitted curve as a second function of the azimuthal angle, wherein the fitted curve is generated based on the data log to represent a calibration error of the axial survey sensor, and extracting, by the computer processor of the BHA, a calibration parameter from the fitted curve. Accordingly, the drilling operation is performed using at least the axial survey sensor based on the calibration parameter. | 01-29-2015 |
20150047902 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF ROBUST DETERMINATION OF BOUNDARIES - Various embodiments include apparatus and methods to operate a drilling operation relative to formation boundaries. The apparatus and methods can include operating one or more transmitters in a borehole in a formation having a thickness between two boundaries, selecting thickness models based on applying responses from operating the one or more transmitters such that the thickness of the formation is between the two thickness models, and generating a value of a distance to a nearest boundary based on linearization of the thickness models with respect to a long distance investigation parameter and a short distance investigation parameter. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. | 02-19-2015 |
20150068805 | LINER DRILLING BOTTOM HOLE ASSEMBLY LOCATOR SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method for locating a bottom hole assembly during liner drilling. The system and method employ a liner and a drill string. The liner may include a stop sub. The drill string may include a bottom hole assembly position indicator. In one or more embodiments, the bottom hole assembly position indicator is configured to engage the stop sub and arrest further advancement of the drill string. | 03-12-2015 |
20150075866 | Systems and Methods for Detecting Movement of Drilling/Logging Equipment - Remote sensing systems and methods for analyzing characteristics of moving drilling equipment, for example, rotational movement rate, longitudinal movement rate, geometry or combinations thereof, are provided. The sensing systems may include a detectable substance, marking equipment for marking the drilling equipment with the detectable substance, detection equipment for detecting the detectable substance and capturing data from which drilling equipment movement and/or geometry may be estimated, and processing equipment for estimating movement and/or geometry information from the captured data. The methods include marking the drilling equipment with a detectable substance, detecting the detectable substance, and using data captured during the detection to analyze movement and geometry of the drilling equipment. | 03-19-2015 |
20150090496 | HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILLING SYSTEM INCLUDING SONDE POSITION DETECTION USING GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEMS - A locator device and methods of use are disclosed. The locator device includes a first locating system configured to generate to sense an electromagnetic field emanating from a sonde associated with a drill head, and a second locating system including a global positioning system. The locator device includes a display on the locating system configured to display a map of the area in which the locator device resides based on a location detected by the global positioning system. The locator device also includes control electronics configured to, upon receipt of an input from a user, record location data in a memory associated with the locator device for use by a horizontal directional drilling control system. | 04-02-2015 |
20150096805 | Downhole Closed Loop Drilling System with Depth Measurement - A method, system and drilling apparatus for directional drilling are disclosed. A drill bit is located at a downhole end of a drill string in a borehole. A length of the borehole between a surface location and the drill bit at the downhole end of a drill string is determined and an azimuth angle and inclination of the drill bit is obtained. The length of the borehole may be determined by recording an arrival time at a downhole location of an acoustic pulse travelling from a surface location to the downhole location and determines the travel time and borehole length therefrom. A downhole processor determines a position and orientation of the drill bit from the determined length, azimuth angle and inclination and alters a steering parameter of the drill bit using the determined position and orientation of the drill bit to obtain a selected trajectory for drilling the borehole. | 04-09-2015 |
20150107902 | Mud Actuated Drilling System - A technique facilitates drilling of a variety of a wellbores. The technique comprises providing a directional drilling system with a drill bit mounted at the end of a collar having an internal flow passage for drilling fluid. The collar is rotatably positioned in a steering structure to which a plurality of steering members is mounted for lateral motion with respect to the steering structure. The design allows the steering structure to remain rotationally stationary with respect to the surrounding borehole wall as the collar and drill bit are rotated to perform a drilling operation. The drilling orientation of the collar and the drill bit may be adjusted by routing drilling fluid from the internal flow passage to at least one of the steering members to cause lateral displacement of the steering member while the steering structure remains in the rotationally stationary position. | 04-23-2015 |
20150107903 | Rotational Downlinking to Rotary Steerable System - A downhole steering tool comprising a first member, fixedly coupled with a drill string, and a second member, proximate the first member and rotatable substantially freely with respect to the first member. A first sensor is operable to measure a difference in rotation rates of the first and second members. A second sensor is operable to measure a substantially real-time rotation rate of the second member in the wellbore. A tool controller is operable to process sensor signals from the first and second sensors to determine a rotation rate of the drill string. Surface-initiated changes in the rotation rate of the drill string are then utilized by the downhole steering tool for steering and other control. | 04-23-2015 |
20150122548 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DIRECTIONAL DRILLING AND COUPLING SUB - The present invention provides a system and method for directional drilling of a borehole in a formation along a predetermined trajectory. The method comprising the steps of: providing a directional drilling system, comprising a rotatable drill string comprising a first drill string section and a second drill string section; a drill bit connected to a downhole end of the drill string; and a coupling sub comprising a first end connected to the first drill string section; a second end connected to the second drill string section; a hinge member between the first end and the second end allowing hinging of the second end relative to the first end; and locking means, operable between a hinge mode and a locking mode for locking the hinge member to prevent hinging of the second end relative to the first end; operating the directional drilling system with the locking means in the locking mode to drill a substantially straight section of the trajectory; and operating the directional drilling system with the locking means in the hinge mode to drill a curved section of the trajectory. | 05-07-2015 |
20150144401 | HYDRAULICALLY ACTUATED TOOL WITH ELECTRICAL THROUGHBORE - A bottom hole assembly includes a drill string, a bit coupled to an end of the drill string, a rotary steerable system coupled to the drill string above the bit, a hydraulically actuated tool assembly coupled to the drill string above the rotary steerable system, and an electrically controlled tool coupled to the drill string above the hydraulically actuated tool assembly and electrically coupled to the rotary steerable system. A method includes running a bottom hole assembly downhole, the bottom hole assembly including a drill bit, a rotary steerable system, an electrically controlled tool, and a hydraulically actuated tool assembly disposed between the rotary steerable system and the electrically controlled tool. The method includes cutting a formation with the drill bit, actuating the hydraulically actuated tool assembly, and maintaining an electrical connection between the rotary steerable system and the electrically controlled tool during the running, the cutting, and the actuating. | 05-28-2015 |
20150308260 | System for Drilling Parallel Wells for SAGD Applications - A system for ranging between two wellbores. The target wellbore includes a conductive body (e.g., casing) disposed within a portion of the target wellbore. A second wellbore includes an electromagnetic field sensing instrument positioned within the wellbore. A current delivered to the conductive body in the target wellbore results in a magnetic field emanating from the target wellbore. The electromagnetic field sensing instrument is utilized to measure an electromagnetic gradient based on the magnetic field, which electromagnetic gradient can be utilized to determine the range between the wellbores. | 10-29-2015 |
20150315902 | Rotation Activated Downhole Orientation System and Method - A rotation activated orientation system | 11-05-2015 |
20150330150 | DIRECTIONAL CASING-WHILE-DRILLING - A directional casing-while-drilling system includes a rotary steerable system disposed within a casing string used as a drill string during casing-while-drilling operations. The casing string of some embodiments may include an upper section and a lower section coupled by a swivel, which may enable the upper section of the casing string to be rotated without substantially rotating the lower section. The rotary steerable system may be disposed at least partially within the lower section of the casing string, and coupled to a drill bit and/or under-reamer. The rotary steerable system may enable radial diversion of the drill bit and/or under-reamer, for example by actuation of one or more components in the rotary steerable system. | 11-19-2015 |
20150345222 | DIRECTIONAL SYSTEM DRILLING AND METHOD - A directional drilling system consisting of a four-motor drilling head for better steering in directional drilling and vertical/horizontal drilling is developed. The rotational speed of each motor is independently controlled. The use of four motors in coordination with other traditional drilling variables allow precise control of the drilling direction and optimization of the rate of penetration (ROP). The top and right motors rotate in opposite directions to the bottom and left rotors to stabilize the roll rotation of the drilling head. Inclination (pitch) movement is obtained by increasing/decreasing the speed of the top motor while decreasing/increasing the speed of the lower motor. The Azimuth (yaw) movement is obtained similarly using the right and left motors. The drilling power is derived from down hole motors. A drill string transmits the drilling fluid and force on bit. | 12-03-2015 |
20150369036 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RANGING TO A NEARBY WELL FROM AHEAD OF A DRILL BIT - A method and apparatus for ranging from ahead of a drill bit is described. The ranging apparatus includes a ranging probe with at least one sensor that may be deployed ahead of the drill bit. The ranging probe may be conveyed via a cable through the interior of a drill string. In an alternative embodiment, the ranging probe may be attached to a ram that is seated inside of the drill string and that may be extended and retracted. In such an embodiment, the ranging probe may be retrievable by cable. The ranging probe optionally includes collapsible arms that retract when the ranging probe is inside the drill string or drill bit and that extend when the ranging probe is deployed ahead of the drill bit. One or more ranging sensors may be coupled to the collapsible arms. Ranging measurements may be communicated to the surface using telemetry. | 12-24-2015 |
20150377003 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SURFACE STEERABLE DRILLING TO PROVIDE FORMATION MECHANICAL ANALYSIS - A method for determining geological formation characteristics involves driving a bottom hole assembly (BHA) in a borehole. At least one mechanical drilling parameter generated is detected responsive to operation of the BHA in the borehole. At least one geological formation characteristic is identified responsive to the detected at least one mechanical drilling parameter. The identified at least one geological formation characteristic is provided to a surface steerable drilling system. Operation of the surface steerable drilling system is controlled responsive to the at least one geological formation characteristic. | 12-31-2015 |
20160010450 | Pulsed-Electric Drilling Systems and Methods with Formation Evaluation and/or Bit Position Tracking | 01-14-2016 |
20160040526 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING COMPLEX DOWNHOLE INFORMATION - A system and method for communicating downhole information through a wellbore to a surface location includes a drill string with a downhole tool, a pump for flowing drilling mud through the drill string and wellbore, a valve for flow restriction of the drilling mud, a sensing module for measuring downhole conditions in first and second orientations of the downhole tool, an actuator between two static positions, and a detector for measurement values at the surface location correlative to time between changes of pressure of the drilling mud. The time between pressure changes, as the actuator moves between static positions, conveys encoded data to the detector. The encoded data is compiled from downhole conditions measured by the sensing module, in addition to orientation of the downhole tool. Complex downhole conditions dependent on knowing the multiple orientations of the sensing module can now be communicated by a pressure releasing encoding system. | 02-11-2016 |
20160047224 | Downhole Triaxial Electromagnetic Ranging - A ranging system calculates the distance, direction and orientation of a target well through rotationally invariant analysis of triaxial electric and magnetic field measurements from a bottom hole assembly (“BHA”) having electromagnetic sensors. The triaxial electric and magnetic field sensors can be deployed in any downhole device without explicitly needing to process or retrieve rotational information about the downhole BHA or wireline device. Also, the distance, direction and orientation of the target well can be retrieved from a single measurement position. | 02-18-2016 |
20160061024 | DRILLHEAD ASSEMBLY WITH CHAMBERED SONDE HOUSING - A drill assembly with a drill body coupled to a drilling string and a sonde body having a least one chamber defined therein for receiving locating electronics therein. In disclosed embodiment, the one or more chambers may be provided and the electronics can include a battery, a sensor, a transmitter, an antenna and connecting wires. One or more secure windows may be provided in the sonde body to allow the locating electronics to wirelessly transmit outside of the sonde body. The electronics may be potted within the chamber with a solidifying potting agent to improve durability of the electronics in a drilling environment. | 03-03-2016 |
20160084009 | In Situ Pump For Downhole Applications - An apparatus for providing pressurized fluid to a formation that includes a power source body configured to contain a gas-generating fuel and a tool body comprising a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber is configured to hold a fluid, and the second chamber is configured to receive gas from the gas-generating fuel within the power source body. The apparatus further comprises a piston sealed between the first chamber and the second chamber and configured to stroke through the first chamber in response to a pressure increase within the second chamber, and a hose configured to generate a high-pressure jet of the fluid and to extend from the tool body or a diverter sub into the formation when the piston strokes through the first chamber. | 03-24-2016 |
20160102544 | Well Trajectory Planning Using Bounding Box Scan For Anti-Collision Analysis - A method for evaluating a planned well trajectory for avoidance of collision with an existing wellbore includes constructing a bounding box about the planned well trajectory and a bounding box for a trajectory of at least one existing wellbore. If there is no intersection between the bounding boxes, the planned well trajectory is used for drilling a well. | 04-14-2016 |
20160108679 | Pad in Bit Articulated Rotary Steerable System - A rotary steerable system (RSS) including an upper stabilizer connected to a collar of a drill string, an articulated section connected by a flexible joint to the collar, a drill bit connected to the articulated section opposite from the flexible joint, a lower stabilizer located proximate to the flexible joint and an actuator located with the articulated section and selectively operable to tilt an axis of the drill bit and the articulated section relative to the collar. A method includes drilling with the RSS a bias phase of a drilling cycle on a demand tool face and drilling a neutral phase of the drilling cycle on a 180 degree offset tool face from the demand tool face. | 04-21-2016 |
20160108726 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMING SOIL CHARACTERISTICS AND DRILLING INSTABILITY DURING HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILLING - Disclosed is a system and method for horizontal directional drilling (HDD). The system and method utilize predictive algorithms to both characterize the soil within the borehole and to quantify instability within the drillstring. The soil characteristics are represented by a soil coefficient (α) which relates the curvature of the borehole with the length of thrust of the drill rig as well as by comparison of thrust while thrusting with torque while drilling. The value of (α) is obtained by comparison of the historical orientation of the drilling head over the length of the borehole and the borehole shape as determined by an arbitrary navigation sensor. Drillstring instability is determined as a function of historical thrust and torque efficiencies and windup over the length of the borehole. | 04-21-2016 |
20160123082 | Method For Steering A Well Path Perpendicular To Vertical Fractures For Enhanced Production Efficiency - A method for drilling a wellbore includes drilling a well along a path substantially along a bedding direction of a selected subsurface formation having at least one substantially vertical fracture therein. A direction of the at least one substantially vertical fracture is determined with respect to a direction of the prior to drilling therethrough. A direction of the path is adjusted so that the well will intersect the at least one substantially vertical fracture substantially perpendicularly to the direction. | 05-05-2016 |
20160123134 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING WELLBORE POSITION - An improved method and apparatus for determining wellbore position in deviated or horizontal wells. Continuous inclination values captured while drilling can be used to provide a more accurate model of a wellbore path, particularly true vertical depth, than would be produced using conventional methods of measuring inclination only at static survey points. | 05-05-2016 |
20160138390 | Drilling Method and Apparatus - A method of locating a drilling apparatus and/or a borehole in a subterranean region. The method may include the steps of transmitting seismic waves into the subterranean region during a subterranean drilling operation, the seismic waves being transmitted from a location remote from the drilling apparatus, detecting a seismic response from the drilling apparatus or borehole, and comparing the detected response with predetermined seismic survey data of the subterranean region to determine the location of the apparatus or borehole. | 05-19-2016 |
20160153238 | METHOD OF FORMING A BORE | 06-02-2016 |
20160160631 | ALIGNMENT SYSTEM FOR ALIGNMENT OF A DRILL ROD DURING DRILLING - A laser alignment device for a drill rig having an elongate drill rod, the laser alignment device including a head unit having at least a pair of laser emitting devices mounted independently to one another thereon, each of the laser devices movable in one plane only and oriented in substantially opposite directions to one another, an attachment means to attach the head unit to a drill rig and a length adjustable assembly to adjust the separation distance between the head unit and the drill rod, wherein the alignment device is used to align at least the azimuth of the drill rod relative to survey marks. | 06-09-2016 |
20160168977 | OPTIMIZED SAGD WELL PLACEMENT UTILIZING TEMPERATURE AND ELECTROMAGNETIC MEASUREMENTS | 06-16-2016 |
20160177628 | METHOD FOR STEERING A DIRECTION OF A DRILLING DEVICE DRILLING A HOLE INTO THE GROUND | 06-23-2016 |
20160177699 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SURFACE STEERABLE DRILLING | 06-23-2016 |
20160177703 | Motor MWD Device and Methods | 06-23-2016 |
20160177705 | Electromagnetic Ranging Source Suitable for Use in a Drill String | 06-23-2016 |
20170234070 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF OPERATING DIRECTIONAL DRILLING RIGS | 08-17-2017 |
20170234072 | HYBRID DOWNHOLE MOTOR WITH ADJUSTABLE BEND ANGLE | 08-17-2017 |
20170234124 | CHANNEL ESTIMATION IN MUD PULSE TELEMETRY | 08-17-2017 |
20180023385 | Determining Directional Data for Device within Wellbore using Contact Points | 01-25-2018 |
20180024000 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING AND CONTROLLING UNDERGROUND DRILLING | 01-25-2018 |