Self-aligning bearing assembly for downhole tools
AssigneeBaker Hughes Holdings LLC
InventorVolker Peters
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for use in a drill string configured for use in a subterranean formation includes a drive shaft coupled to a drill bit, the drill bit configured to continuously rotate and penetrate within the subterranean formation, a drill string housing that houses the drive shaft, the drive shaft continuously rotating within the drill string housing relative to the drill string housing, and a bearing assembly configured bear the drive shaft within the drill string housing, the bearing assembly comprising a first bearing surface having a first curvature.
Claims22
An apparatus for use in a drill string configured for use in a subterranean formation, the apparatus comprising:
- a drive shaft coupled to a drill bit, the drill bit configured to continuously rotate and penetrate within the subterranean formation;
- a drill string housing that houses the drive shaft, the drive shaft continuously rotating within the drill string housing relative to the drill string housing;
- and
- a bearing assembly configured to bear the drive shaft within the drill string housing, the bearing assembly comprising:
- a first bearing surface having a first curvature defined by a first spheroid,
- a second bearing surface having a second curvature defined by a second spheroid,
- a third bearing surface having a third curvature defined by a third spheroid, and
- a fourth bearing surface having a fourth curvature defined by a fourth spheroid and
- wherein the first spheroid, the second spheroid, the third spheroid, and the fourth spheroid have a common center point.
A method for drilling a curved borehole in a subterranean formation, comprising:
- forming a drill string, the drill string comprising:
- a drive shaft coupled to a drill bit, the drill bit configured to continuously rotate and penetrate within the subterranean formation;
- a drill string housing that houses the drive shaft, the drive shaft continuously rotating within the drill string housing relative to the drill string housing;
- a bearing assembly configured bear the drive shaft within the drill string housing, the bearing assembly comprising a bearing surface having a curvature;
- penetrating the subterranean formation with the drill string;
- and
- drilling the curved borehole with the drill string.
An apparatus for use in a drill string configured for use in a subterranean formation, the apparatus comprising:
- a drive shaft coupled to a drill bit, the drill bit configured to continuously rotate and penetrate within the subterranean formation;
- a drill string housing that houses the drive shaft, the drive shaft continuously rotating within the drill string housing relative to the drill string housing;
- a bearing assembly configured to bear the drive shaft within the drill string housing, the bearing assembly comprising a first bearing surface having a first curvature;
- and
- an intermediate ring in radial direction between the drill string housing and the drive shaft, the intermediate ring comprising an outer ring bearing surface having an outer ring bearing curvature and an inner ring bearing surface having an inner ring bearing curvature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.