Directional drilling method and apparatus
AssigneeGoldrus Producing Company
InventorLarry R. Forney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A directional or horizontal hole may be drilled into a formation by first positioning or orienting a window turning shoe in an original well bore. Once the window turning shoe has been positioned, a window is milled through the casing with a window mill. The window mill is then removed and a guide tool is then latched to the window turning shoe. Once in position, the guide tool enables a mechanical motor driven curve drilling assembly to create a curved hole. Following the completion of the curved hole, the directional or horizontal hole is extended with a conventional drilling assembly.
Claims7
A method for forming a lateral bore hole away from a casing lined original well bore, said method comprising:
- inserting a window turning shoe with a window milling assembly into the original well bore at a first predetermined directional orientation;
- milling a window in the casing using said window mill;
- removing said window milling assembly from the original well bore leaving said window turning shoe in place in the well bore;
- inserting a guide tool and a mechanical curve drilling assembly into said window turning shoe;
- latching said guide tool with a second predetermined directional orientation into said window turning shoe;
- drilling a curved hole away from the original well bore using said curve drilling assembly;
- removing said guide tool and said curve drilling assembly from said window turning shoe;
- inserting a conventional drilling apparatus into said original well bore, past said window turning shoe and through said curved hole;
- drilling a lateral bore hole away from said original well bore using said conventional drilling apparatus.
A system for drilling a curved hole through the casing of an original well bore, said system comprising:
- a window turning shoe constructed and arranged to be positionable at a predetermined depth and directional orientation with respect to said original well bore;
- means for drilling the curved hole including:
- a guide tool constructed and arranged to engage and be directionally oriented by said window turning shoe;
- a non-rotating sleeve body constructed and arranged to be guided by said guide tool;
- a torque tube constructed and arranged to pass through said non-rotating sleeve body;
- and
- a rotary drilling apparatus constructed and arranged to be driven by said torque tube and to drill a curved hole.
A system for drilling a curved hole through the casing of an original well bore, said system comprising:
- a window turning shoe constructed and arranged to be positionable at a predetermined depth and directional orientation with respect to said original well bore;
- means for drilling the curved hole including:
- a guide tool constructed and arranged to engage and be directionally oriented by said window turning shoe;
- a non-rotating sleeve body constructed and arranged to be guided by said guide tool;
- a stabilized tube constructed and arranged to be guided by said guide tube;
- and
- a mud motor drilling apparatus constructed and arranged to be driven by said stabilized tube and to drill a curved hole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.