Method and apparatus for indicating the orientation of a down hole drilling assembly
AssigneeTexas Dynamatics, Inc.
InventorJohn Doise Jeter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drilling assembly is equipped with apparatus that includes a device that periodically changes the resistance to the flow of drilling fluid through the drill pipe to create pressure pulses that can be detected at the earth surface and a sensor for controlling the pulse orienting device in response to the orientation of the drilling assembly relative to a preselected orientation relative to earth.
Claims21
A method of indicating at the earth surface when a drilling assembly connected to a drill string is in a preselected orientation with respect to earth, said method comprising the steps of pumping drilling fluid down the drill string, and temporarily changing the resistance to flow of drilling fluid in the drill string to create occasional pressure pulses in the drilling fluid that can be detected at the earth surface to indicate by their presence alone that a down hole assembly is in a preselected orientation relative to earth.
A method of indicating at the earth surface when a drilling assembly connected to a drill string is in a preselected orientation with respect to the low side of a non-vertical well bore, said method comprising the steps of pumping drilling fluid down the drill string, and temporarily changing the resistance to the flow of drilling fluid in the drill string to create occasional pressure pulses in the drilling fluid that can be detected at the earth surface to indicate by their presence alone that the drilling assembly is in said preselected orientation.
A method of indicating at the earth surface when a down hole drilling assembly connected to a drill string is in a preferred orientation with respect to a magnetic field, said method comprising the steps of pumping drilling fluid down the drill string, and temporarily changing the resistance to the flow of drilling fluid in the drill string to create occasional pressure pulses in the drilling fluid that can be detected at the earth surface to indicate by their presence alone that the assembly is in said preselected orientation.
A method of indicating at the earth surface when a down hole drilling assembly connected to a drill string is within a preselected angle of deviation from earth vertical, said method comprising the steps of pumping drilling fluid down the drill string, and temporarily changing the resistance to the flow of drilling fluid in the drill string to create occasional pressure pulses in the drilling fluid that can be detected at the earth surface to indicate by their presence alone that the drilling assembly is within said preselected angle of deviation from earth vertical.
A method of indicating at the earth surface when a drilling assembly that is connected to a drill string and includes a down hole motor having a stator and a rotor is in a preselected orientation relative to the low side of a non-vertical well bore, said method comprising the steps of pumping drilling fluid down the drill string, actuating the down hole motor to rotate the rotor relative to the stator, and temporarily changing the resistance to the flow of drilling fluid down the drill string at time intervals related to the rotation rate of the rotor to create pressure pulses in the drilling fluid that can be detected at the earth surface to indicate by their presence alone that the assembly is in said preselected orientation.
A method of indicating at the earth surface when a drilling assembly that is connected to a drill string and includes a down hole motor having a stator and a rotor is in a preselected orientation relative to a magnetic field, said method comprising the steps of pumping drilling fluid down the drill string, actuating the down hole motor to rotate the rotor relative to the stator and temporarily changing the resistance to the flow of drilling fluid in the drill string at time intervals related to the rotation rate of the rotor to create pressure pulses in the drilling fluid that can be detected at the earth surface to indicate by their presence alone that the assembly is in said preselected orientation.
A method of indicating at the earth surface when a drilling assembly that is connected to a drill string and includes a down hole motor having a stator and a rotor is in a preselected limit of deviation from earth vertical, said method comprising the steps of pumping drilling fluid down the drill string, actuating the down hole motor to rotate the rotor relative to the stator and temporarily changing the resistance to the flow of drilling fluid in the drill string at time intervals related to the rotation rate of the rotor to create pressure pulses in the drilling fluid that can be detected at the earth surface to indicate by their presence alone that the assembly is in said preselected limit of deviation from earth vertical.
Apparatus for indicating at the earth surface when a drill string supported down hole drilling assembly is in a given orientation relative to the earth, comprising means for creating a temporary change in the resistance to the flow of drilling fluid in the drill string to create a pressure pulse in the drilling fluid that is detectable at the earth surface, means for actuating said pressure pulse creating means periodically during uninterrupted drilling fluid flow, and means for preventing the creating of said pressure pulses when the drilling assembly is in a given orientation relative to said preselected orientation with respect to the earth.
Apparatus for indicating at the earth surface when a drill string supported down hole drilling assembly is in a given orientation relative to the low side of a non-vertical well bore, comprising means for creating a temporary change in the resistance to the continuous flow of drilling fluid in the drill string to create a pressure pulse in the drilling fluid that is detectable at the earth surface, means for actuating said pressure pulse creating means periodically when the drilling fluid is flowing, and means for preventing the creating of said pressure pulses when the drilling assembly is in a given orientation relative to said preselected orientation with respect to the low side of the well bore.
Apparatus for indicating at the earth surface when a drill string supported down hole drilling assembly is in a given orientation relative to a magnetic field, comprising means for creating a temporary change in resistance to the flow of drilling fluid in the drill string to create an occasional pressure pulse during continuous drilling fluid flow that is detectable at the surface, means for actuating said means for creating a temporary change in the resistance to the flow of drilling fluid periodically when the drilling fluid is flowing, and means for preventing the creation of said pressure pulse when the drilling assembly is not in a preselected orientation with respect to a magnetic field.
Apparatus for indicating at the earth surface when a drill string supported down hole drilling assembly is within a particular error limit of a preselected orientation relative to the earth, comprising means for creating a temporary change in resistance to the flow of drilling fluid through the drill string to create a pressure pulse that is detectable at the earth surface, means for actuating said pressure pulse creating means periodically when the drilling fluid is flowing, and means for preventing the creation of said pressure pulse when the drilling assembly is not within a particular error limit of the preselected orientation relative to earth, with means responsive to a first preselected rate of flow of drilling fluid to activate a first sensor to sense the deviation from earth vertical of the down hole drilling assembly as an orientation limit so that deviation from earth vertical within a preselected limit results in a pressure pulse being created, said means responding to a second preselected drilling fluid flow rate to activate a second sensor to detect as an orientation limit the azimuthal orientation of the down hole drilling assembly with respect to the low side of a non-vertical well bore to cause the creation of a pressure pulse in the drilling fluid stream if the azimuthal orientation is within preselected limits.
Appratus for indicating at the earth surface when a drill string supported down hole drilling assembly is within a particular error limit of a preselected orientation relative to the arth, comprising means for creating a temporary change in resistance to the flow of drilling fluid through the string to create a pressure pulse that is detectable at the earth surface, means for actuating pressure pulse creating means periodically when the drilling fluid is flowing, and means for preventing the creation of said pressure pulse when the drilling assembly is not within a particular error limit of the preselected orientation relative to earth with means responsive to a first preselected rate of flow of drilling fluid to activate a first sensor to sense the orientation of the down hole drilling assembly relative to a magnetic field as an orientation limit with said means to respond to a second preselected drilling fluid flow rate to activate a second sensor to detect as an orientation limit the azimuthal orientation of the down hole drilling assembly with respect to the low side of a non-vertical well bore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.