Directional drilling using magnetic biasing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9303457-B2
Application number	US-201213586653-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 15, 2012
Priority date	Aug 15, 2012
Publication date	Apr 5, 2016
Grant date	Apr 5, 2016

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for directionally drilling an earth formation where magnet arrays are utilized to provide net lateral force between a first member coupled to a drill bit and another member that either extends through or around the first member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A directional drilling apparatus, comprising:
a tubular member having an inner surface;
an elongated member having an outer surface and extending inside said tubular member;
a controller that controls at least one of a rotational and an axial alignment of said tubular member and said elongated member;
a drilling bit coupled to one of said tubular member and said elongated member;
a first array of magnets coupled to said tubular member;
a second array of magnets coupled to said elongated member, wherein said first array of magnets and said second array of magnets are arranged in a first configuration controlled by said controller to provide a net lateral force to said one of said tubular member and said elongated member coupled to said drilling bit, the net lateral force directionally controlling said drilling bit.

2. A directional drilling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
said tubular member is a drill collar.

3. A directional drilling apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:
said elongated member is an essentially geostationary mandrel.

4. A directional drilling apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein:
said drilling bit is coupled to said drill collar.

5. A directional drilling apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising:
first and second sets of bearings, axially spaced and located between said outer surface of said mandrel and said inner surface of said drill collar, said second set of bearings located distal said first set of bearings, wherein said first array of magnets and said second array of magnets are located axially between said second set of bearings and said drilling bit.

6. A directional drilling apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising:
first and second sets of bearings, axially spaced and located between said outer surface of said mandrel and said inner surface of said drill collar, said second set of bearings located distal said first set of bearings, wherein said first array of magnets and said second array of magnets are located axially between said first set of bearings and said second set of bearings.

7. A directional drilling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
said elongated member is an essentially geostationary mandrel.

8. A directional drilling apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a universal joint member positioned between said inner surface of said tubular member and said outer surface of said elongated member and coupled to said tubular member, wherein said first array of magnets is positioned on an inner surface of said universal joint member, and said drilling bit is attached to said universal joint member.

9. A directional drilling apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein:
said elongated member is an essentially geostationary mandrel.

10. A directional drilling apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein:
said first array of magnets extend circumferentially around said inner surface of said universal joint member, are radially oriented and have a first polarity, and
said second array of magnets extend circumferentially around said outer surface of said essentially geostationary mandrel, and are radially oriented, wherein a first group of said second array of magnets have said first polarity, and a second group of said second array of magnets have a second polarity opposite said first polarity.

11. A directional drilling apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein:
said first group of said second array of magnets extends substantially a first 180 degrees about said outer surface of said essentially geostationary mandrel, and said second group of said second array of magnets extends substantially a second 180 degrees about said outer surface of said essentially geostationary mandrel.

12. A directional drilling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
said tubular member is a substantially stationary collar, and
said elongated member is a rotating shaft connected to said drilling bit.

13. A directional drilling apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein:
said elongated member is a shaft of a mud motor and said substantially stationary collar is a stator collar of said mud motor.

14. A directional drilling apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising:
first and second sets of bearings, axially spaced and located between said outer surface of said elongated member and said inner surface of said collar, said second set of bearings located distal said first set of bearings, wherein said first array of magnets and said second array of magnets are located axially between said first set of bearings and said second set of bearings.

15. A directional drilling apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein:
said controller controls said rotational orientation of said tubular member.

16. A directional drilling apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a sleeve positioned between said inner surface of said tubular member and said outer surface of said elongated member and rotationally coupled to said elongated member, wherein said second array of magnets is positioned on an outer surface of said sleeve, said elongated member is a drive shaft, and said drilling bit is attached to said drive shaft.

17. A directional drilling apparatus according to claim 16 , further comprising:
first and second sets of bearings, axially spaced and located between said outer surface of said drive shaft and said inner surface of said tubular member, said second set of bearings located distal said first set of bearings, wherein said first array of magnets and said second array of magnets are located axially between said first set of bearings and said second set of bearings.

18. A directional drilling apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein:
said sleeve is axially displaceable relative to said drive shaft.

19. A directional drilling apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein:
said first array of magnets includes a plurality of sets of magnets axially spaced from each other with each set extending circumferentially around said inner surface of said tubular member, being radially oriented and having a first polarity, and
said second array of magnets includes a plurality of sets of magnets axially spaced from each other with each set extending circumferentially around said outer surface of said sleeve, being radially oriented, wherein a first group of each set of said second array of magnets has said first polarity, and a second group of each set of said second array of magnets has a second polarity opposite said first polarity.

20. A directional drilling apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein:
said controller controls said rotational orientation of said sleeve.

21. A directional drilling apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein:
said first group of each set of said second array of magnets extends substantially a first 180 degrees about said outer surface of said sleeve, and said second group of each set of said second array of magnets extends substantially a second 180 degrees about said outer surface of said sleeve.

22. A directional drilling apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a sleeve positioned between said inner surface of said tubular member and said outer surface of said elongated member and coupled but axially displaceable relative to said elongated member, wherein said second array of magnets is positioned on an outer surface of said sleeve, said elongated member is a drive shaft, and said drilling bit is attached to s

Assignees

• Pabon Jahir
• Downton Geoffrey Charles
• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Pabon Jahir
• Downton Geoffrey Charles

Classifications

• E21B7/062 Primary

  the tool shaft rotating inside a non-rotating guide travelling with the shaft (E21B7/067 and E21B7/068 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B7/06 Primary

  Deflecting the direction of boreholes · CPC title

• E21B7/04 Primary

  Directional drilling · CPC title

• E21B7/046

  horizontal drilling (drilling with mechanical conveying means E21B7/003) · CPC title

• E21B7/043

  for underwater installations · CPC title