System and Method to Control Adjustable Pads for Use in Downhole Directional Drilling Assemblies

A method of directional drilling a wellbore with a wall, comprising:

• rotating a drill bit on a drilling assembly with a fluid-driven motor in the wellbore, the drilling assembly comprising a bent housing comprising an upper section, a lower section, and a bend between the upper and lower sections;
• radially extending an adjustable pad from the exterior of the drilling assembly using a fluid control system operable to control extension of the pad to engage or disengage the wellbore wall to adjust the drilling direction of the bit;
• and
• extending the wellbore with drill bit in the direction set by the adjustable pad.

A system, comprising:

• a drill string;
• and
• a drilling assembly coupled to the drill string, the drilling assembly comprising:
• a bent housing comprising an upper section, a lower section, a bend between the upper and lower sections, and a bore extending from the upper to lower sections;
• a drill bit coupled to a lower end of the bent housing,
• a fluid-driven motor coupled to the bent housing and comprising a drive shaft coupled to the drill bit, and
• an adjustable pad extendable and retractable from an exterior of the bent housing to engage and disengage the wellbore wall to adjust a drilling direction of the drill bit;
• and
• a fluid control system operable to control extension of the pad;