Steerable drilling device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12252986-B2
Application number	US-202118248907-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 15, 2021
Priority date	Oct 16, 2020
Publication date	Mar 18, 2025
Grant date	Mar 18, 2025

Abstract

A steerable drilling device has an outer tube extending along a longitudinal axis; a drill bit joint inserted into said outer tube, a lower end of said drill bit joint extending out of a lower end of said outer tube for connection to a drill bit; a joint drive mechanism, provided in said outer tube and configured to drive said drill bit joint to swing relative to the longitudinal axis; and a lower connection mechanism. The lower connection mechanism has a connection body connected to said joint drive mechanism in such a manner that said joint drive mechanism is non-rotatable with respect to said connection body, a first centralizer arranged between said connection body and said outer tube, a circuit system arranged in said connection body and configured to provide an electrical signal to said joint driving mechanism, and an attitude sensor arranged in said connection body.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A steerable drilling device, comprising:
an outer tube extending along a longitudinal axis;
a drill bit joint inserted into said outer tube, a lower end of said drill bit joint extending out of a lower end of said outer tube for connection to a drill bit, said drill bit joint being configured to rotate with said outer tube;
a joint drive mechanism, provided in said outer tube and configured to drive said drill bit joint to swing relative to the longitudinal axis; and
a lower connection mechanism, which comprises:
a connection body, which is connected to said joint drive mechanism in such a manner that said joint drive mechanism is non-rotatable with respect to said connection body;
a first centralizer, arranged between said connection body and said outer tube, and rotatably connected to said connection body;
a circuit system, arranged in said connection body and configured to provide an electrical signal to said joint drive mechanism for driving said drill bit joint to swing; and
an attitude sensor, arranged in said connection body and configured to measure deflection and orientation of a well and transmit measurement data to said circuit system,

wherein said circuit system is configured to provide the electrical signal to said joint drive mechanism through a wire extending in said connection body and said joint drive mechanism,
said joint drive mechanism comprises at least three drive assemblies, which are arranged circumferentially spaced apart from each other around an upper end of said drill bit joint, and
wherein each drive assembly of the at least three drive assemblies comprises a push rod extending in a radial direction, said push rod being configured to move in the radial direction to engage with the upper end of said drill bit joint, so as to push said drill bit joint to swing when the push rod moves in the radial direction.

2. The steerable drilling device according to claim 1 , wherein the upper end of said drill bit joint is formed with a second spherical engagement protrusion, and an inner end of said push rod is formed with a second spherical engagement groove, which is configured to receive said second spherical engagement protrusion.

3. The steerable drilling device according to claim 1 , wherein each drive assembly of the at least three drive assemblies further comprises:
a motor electrically connected to said circuit system via the wire for receiving the electrical signal from said circuit system;
a reducer, provided downstream of said motor and coupled thereto;
an output shaft, extending from a lower end of said reducer in parallel to the longitudinal axis;
a driving gear having an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis, said driving gear being configured as a bevel gear and fixedly connected to a lower end of said output shaft, and being rotatable under drive of said motor; and
a driven gear having an axis extending in the radial direction, said driven gear being configured as a bevel gear in engagement with said driving gear and driven in rotation by the driving gear, wherein said driven gear is provided with a central hole extending along its axis and having a first threaded portion formed therein,
wherein a second threaded portion is formed on an outer end of said push rod, which is configured to be inserted into the central hole so that said first threaded portion and said second threaded portion come into engagement with each other, and
wherein said driven gear is rotatable relative to said push rod, so as to move said push rod in the radial direction through said first threaded portion and said second threaded portion in engagement with each other.

4. The steerable drilling device according to claim 3 , wherein each drive assembly of the at least three drive assemblies further comprises a drive housing accommodating the motor, the reducer, the output shaft and the driving gear, wherein said drive housing is fixedly connected to said connection body, and said wire extends within said connection body and said drive housing.

5. The steerable drilling device according to claim 4 , wherein the driven gear and the push rod extend at least partially out of said drive housing from an opening in said drive housing,
wherein each drive assembly of the at least three drive assemblies further comprises a retractable sleeve, which is arranged around said driven gear and said push rod extending at least partially out of said drive housing from the opening of said drive housing, one end of said retractable sleeve being sealingly connected to the opening of said drive housing and the other end thereof being sealingly connected to the inner end of said push rod, and
wherein at least a portion of said retractable sleeve and said drive housing are filled with hydraulic oil.

6. The steerable drilling device according to claim 5 , wherein said retractable sleeve is a bellows.

7. The steerable drilling device according to claim 1 , wherein said steerable drilling device further comprises a central shaft disposed centrally in said outer tube along the longitudinal axis, said central shaft being rotatably supported on said outer tube through an upper connection mechanism and said lower connection mechanism, and fixedly connected to the connection body of said lower connection mechanism,
wherein a power generation mechanism is mounted on said central shaft, and said power generation mechanism comprises:
a generator assembly connected to said circuit system to supply power to said circuit system;
an upper turbine, arranged above said generator assembly and configured to rotate freely in a first direction of rotation relative to said central shaft;
a lower turbine, arranged below said generator assembly and configured to rotate freely in a second direction of rotation relative to said central shaft; and
an electromagnetic stabilization assembly arranged below said lower turbine,
wherein said first direction of rotation and said second direction of rotation are opposite to each other and both perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

8. The steerable drilling device according to claim 7 , wherein said upper connection mechanism comprises:
a first cylinder, arranged in said outer tube and attached thereto through a second centralizer arranged between the first cylinder and the outer tube; and
a second cylinder, arranged in said first cylinder and rotatably fit with said first cylinder with a bearing assembly, said second cylinder being connected to said central shaft.

9. The steerable drilling device according to claim 8 , wherein an upper sensing element is provided within said first cylinder, above said second cylinder and spaced apart therefrom, and a lower sensing element is provided within said second cylinder, and
wherein said upper and lower sensing elements are configured to transmit a signal from ground to the circuit system of the lower connection mechanism, or to transmit a signal from the circuit system to the ground.

Assignees

• China Petroleum & Chem Corp
• Sinopec Petroleum Engineering Tech Service Co Ltd
• Sinopec Shengli Petroleum Eng Co Ltd
• Sinopec Matrix Corp
• Geosteering & Logging Res Institute Sinopec Matrix Corporation

Inventors

• Ma Qingming
• Zhu Jieran
• Yang Ningning
• Li Guangquan
• Li Yufeng
• Lin Nan
• Tang Haiquan
• Du Haiyang
• Lu Chao

Classifications

• E21B47/022

  of the borehole, e.g. using geomagnetism · CPC title

• E21B41/0085

  Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes · CPC title

• E21B17/05

  Swivel joints · CPC title

• E21B17/10

  Wear protectors; Centralising devices {, e.g. stabilisers} · CPC title

• E21B44/00

  Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a drilling operation without intervention of a human operator, e.g. computer-controlled drilling systems; Systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions · CPC title