# US 12,084,970 B2 · Directional drilling > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,084,970 B2 - Document ID: US12084970B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/355,593 - Filed: 2023-07-20 - Published: 2023-11-09 - Granted: 2024-09-10 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-06 - Assignees: Priority Drilling Ltd - Applicants: Priority Drilling Ltd - Inventors: Michael Dineen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12084970B2 ## CPC - E21B 7/061: {the tool shaft advancing relative to a guide, e.g. a curved tube or a whipstock} - E21B 7/067: {with means for locking sections of a pipe or of a guide for a shaft in angular relation, e.g. adjustable bent sub} - E21B 23/01: for anchoring the tools or the like (E21B23/02 - E21B23/06 take precedence; anchoring of drives in the borehole E21B4/18) - E21B 23/0411: {specially adapted for anchoring tools or the like to the borehole wall or to well tube} - E21B 25/02: the core receiver being insertable into, or removable from, the borehole without withdrawing the drilling pipe - E21B 47/024: of devices in the borehole (determining slope or direction of the borehole E21B47/022) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract In preparation for directional drilling, a wedge supported distally ahead of a tubular drill string is advanced along a parent hole. The wedge is connected to the drill string by a rigid link that extends along a central longitudinal axis through an annular cutting head. The wedge may be connected to the drill string via an inner dropper mechanism that can be engaged by a wireline lifting system. After locking the wedge at a kick-off point in the hole at a desired azimuth, the connection of the link is broken. The dropper mechanism can then be retrieved and replaced by an inner core tube, without moving the drill string. The drill string is then advanced to drill a daughter hole that branches from the parent hole on the azimuth determined by the wedge. Advantageously, there is no need to withdraw the drill string before drilling the daughter hole can commence. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of directional drilling, the method comprising: advancing a wedge from a drilling rig to a kick-off point in a parent hole while supporting the wedge distally with respect to a tubular drill string via a longitudinally extending rigid link that extends along a central longitudinal axis through an annular cutting head to connect the wedge to the drill string; locking the wedge at the kick-off point in the parent hole at a desired azimuth; breaking the longitudinally extending rigid link to break the connection made by the longitudinally extending rigid link between the drill string and the locked wedge; after breaking the connection, withdrawing at least part of the longitudinally extending rigid link through the cutting head and out of the parent hole; and without withdrawing the drill string, advancing the drill string to drill a daughter hole that branches from the parent hole on the azimuth determined by the wedge. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising orienting the wedge to the desired azimuth by turning the drill string about the central longitudinal axis to apply torque to the wedge via the link. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising fracturing the link to break the connection while leaving a distal portion of the link embedded in the wedge. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising supporting the wedge via a dropping mechanism within the drill string. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising retrieving the dropping mechanism to the drilling rig after breaking the connection. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising engaging the dropping mechanism with a wireline lifting system advanced within the drill string. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising replacing the dropping mechanism with an inner core tube that is advanced within the drill string before advancing the drill string to drill the daughter hole. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, performed without disassembling the drill string. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising conveying locking energy to the wedge via the link. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising locking the wedge by applying fluid pressure through the link, and resisting locking of the wedge until a threshold fluid pressure is exceeded. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising diverting drilling fluid through the link to lock the wedge, wherein the drilling fluid is diverted by applying over-threshold pressure to the fluid at the drilling rig. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising conveying fluid through the link on a serpentine path to trap particles entrained in the fluid. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising advancing a surveying tool within the drill string to determine the azimuth of the wedge before locking the wedge. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising engaging the surveying tool with a dropping mechanism, wherein the dropping mechanism is rigidly connected to the wedge via the link. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising engaging the surveying tool with a proximally-facing wireline retriever system of the dropping mechanism. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising turning the surveying tool into alignment with the dropping mechanism in consequence of distal movement of the surveying tool relative to the dropping mechanism. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising applying aligning force to the wedge to pivot the wedge about a pivot axis transverse to the central longitudinal axis, wherein the aligning force is applied while locking the wedge. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising pivoting the wedge to force a proximal edge of the wedge against a surrounding wall of the parent hole. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising pulling the drill string proximally to break the connection. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising reaming a junction between the parent hole and the daughter hole by advancing the drill string. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein breaking the connection made by the link between the drill string and the locked wedge comprises breaking the longitudinally extending link at a line of weakness in the longitudinally extending link.