Integrated directional under-reamer and stabilizer
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsDonald Jewkes, Volker Krueger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is an apparatus for use in drilling operations. It uses an under-reamer having a plurality of elongated arms with cutting elements at the ends of the arms for enlarging a previously drilled borehole drilled by a drill bit. One or more stabilizers in close proximity to the under-reamer provide stability to the under-reamer and the drill bit. The stabilizer could be rotating or non-rotating; and could be positioned between the under-reamer and the drill bit, or above the under reamer or above a directional device on the drillstring. The cutting arms are selectively operable to perform the enlargement. The stabilizer may be provided with members that closely fit the size of the borehole.
Claims9
A drilling tool for forming a borehole in an earth formation, comprising:
- (a) a drill bit at an end of the drilling tool, said drill bit upon rotation forming a first portion of the borehole having a first size;
- (b) a cutting device uphole of the drill bit, said cutting device upon rotation forming a second portion of the borehole which is greater in size than the first portion;
- (c) a drilling motor carried by the drilling tool, said drilling motor rotating the drill bit and the cutting device when a fluid under pressure is passed through the drilling motor, thereby forming the first and second portions of the borehole;
- (d) a first stabilizer between the drill bit and the cutting device for providing lateral stability and drilling direction guidance to the drill bit;
- and
- (e) a second stabilizer uphole of the cutting device, said second stabilizer including at least one member adapted to extend radially from the tool to contact the borehole to provide radial stability to the drilling tool during drilling of the borehole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.