Downhole hole cleaning joints and method of using same

A hole cleaning system for drilling a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, comprising:

• a drill string deployable from a rig;
• a bottomhole assembly carried by the drill string;
• and
• a hole cleaning joint, comprising:
• a tubular body connectable to the drill string;
• and
• a hole cleaning section positionable about the tubular body, the hole cleaning section having an outer surface engageable with a wall of the wellbore, the outer surface having spiral grooves extending therein defining blades therebetween, the spiral grooves having an uphole end and a downhole end with a spiral cavity therebetween;
• wherein at least a portion of the spiral cavity having a width that decreases towards the uphole end of the spiral cavity to define a tapered flow channel to receive cuttings therethrough whereby uphole movement of cuttings is facilitated during drilling.

A method of drilling a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, comprising:

• deploying a downhole tool from a rig via a drill string;
• operatively connecting at least one hole cleaning joint to the drill string, the hole cleaning joint having a hole cleaning section with spiral grooves extending into an outer surface thereof, the spiral grooves having a width that decreases towards an uphole end thereof to define a tapered flow channel therethrough;
• generating cuttings by advancing a downhole tool into the subterranean formation via the drill string;
• facilitating flow of the cuttings to the surface by passing a drilling fluid through the drill string and up an annulus between the drill string and a wall of the wellbore such that at least a portion of the cuttings pass through the tapered flow channel of the spiral grooves.

A hole cleaning joint for a drill string deployable into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, comprising:

• a tubular body connectable to the drill string;
• and
• a hole cleaning section positionable about the tubular body, the hole cleaning section having an outer surface engageable with a wall of the wellbore, the outer surface having spiral grooves extending therein defining blades therebetween, the spiral grooves having an uphole end and a downhole end with a spiral cavity therebetween;
• wherein the spiral cavity has a sloped portion and an inclined portion with an obtuse angle therebetween defining a localized agitation area therein whereby uphole movement of cuttings is facilitated during drilling.