US 2008/0277166 A1 · Downhole Drilling of a Lateral Hole

Abstract

A system for drilling a lateral hole departing from a main well. The system comprises a motor assembly (415) including a motor (412) to generate a rotating torque, an axial thruster (411) to generate an axial force, a blocking system (410) to fix the motor and the axial thruster downhole. The motor assembly further includes a drive shaft (414) to transmit the rotating torque. The system further comprises a first and second connector (402, 404) for transmitting the rotating torque and the axial force from the motor assembly to a drill string assembly. The first connector is connectable to the drill string assembly so as to transmit the axial force only to the drill pipe (401), and to transmit the rotating torque to a further drive (405) shaft positioned within the drill pipe. The second connector (402) is connectable to the drill string assembly so as to transmit both the axial force and the rotating torque to the drill pipe (401).

Claims49

Dependent claims

A system for drilling a lateral hole departing from a main well, the system comprising:

a motor assembly including:
a motor to generate a rotating torque;
an axial thruster to generate an axial force;
a blocking system to fix the motor and the axial thruster downhole;
a drive shaft to transmit the rotating torque;
and
a connector for transmitting the rotating torque and the axial force from the motor assembly to a drill string assembly, the drill string assembly comprising a drill pipe and a drill bit, the connector providing a fluid communication channel between the motor assembly and an inside of the drill pipe;
wherein the connector is one of a first connector or a second connector, the first connector being connectable to the drill string assembly so as to transmit the axial force only to the drill pipe, and to transmit the rotating torque to a further drive shaft positioned within the drill pipe, and the second connector being connectable to the drill string assembly so as to transmit both the axial force and the rotating torque to the drill pipe.

5 more elements

A method for drilling a lateral hole departing from a main well, the method comprising:

blocking a motor and an axial thruster downhole, the motor and the axial thrusters respectively allowing to generate a rotating torque and an axial force;
providing a connector for transmitting the rotating torque and the axial force from a motor assembly to a drill string assembly, the motor assembly including the motor, the axial thruster and a drive shaft, the drill string assembly including a drill pipe and a drill bit;
wherein:
the connector provides a fluid communication channel between the motor assembly and the inside of the drill pipe;
the connector is either one of the first connector or a second connector the first connector being connectable to the drill string assembly so as to transmit the axial force only to the drill pipe, and to transmit the rotating torque to a further drive shaft positioned within the drill pipe, and the second connector being connectable to the drill string assembly so as to transmit both the axial force and the rotating torque to the drill pipe.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Downhole Drilling of a Lateral Hole

Life of this patent

Downhole Drilling of a Lateral Hole

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims49