Adjustable bent housing apparatus and method

An apparatus for controlling the direction of a drill bit within a wellbore, wherein said drill bit has as a drill bit axis, the apparatus comprising:

• a first housing with a first housing axis therein, said first housing having a first outer cylindrical surface having a cam end surface, said first housing having a first threaded opening having a first threaded opening axis, and wherein said first threaded opening extends from said cam end surface, wherein an axial length of said first outer cylindrical surface varies along a circumference of said cam end surface from a maximum axial length to a minimum axial length, and wherein said cam end surface comprises a cam shoulder interconnecting said maximum axial length and said minimum axial length;
• a second housing having a second housing axis, said second housing having a second threaded opening having a second threaded opening axis configured to engage with said first threaded opening, and wherein said second housing having an end surface;
• a collar having a radial collar end and a collar cam end surface, wherein a collar axial length of said collar varies along a circumference of said collar cam end surface from a maximum collar axial length to a minimum collar axial length, wherein said collar cam end surface comprises a collar cam shoulder interconnecting said maximum collar axial length and said minimum collar axial length, and wherein said radial collar end engages said end surface of said second housing and said collar cam end surface engages said cam end surface of said first outer cylindrical surface, and wherein said collar cam end surface is configured reciprocal to the cam end surface, and rotational displacement of said first housing relative to the collar will angularly displace the inclination of the drill bit axis;
• means for locking said collar in place relative to said first housing and said second housing.

A method of drilling a well with a drill bit comprising:

• providing a drill tool assembly within the well, said drill tool assembly being connected to the drill bit via a drive shaft, said drill tool assembly comprising:
• a first housing with a first housing axis therein, said first housing having a first outer cylindrical surface having a cam end surface, said first housing having a first threaded opening having a first threaded opening axis, and wherein said first threaded opening extends from said cam end surface, wherein an axial length of said first outer cylindrical surface varies along a circumference of said cam end surface from a maximum axial length to a minimum axial length, wherein said cam end surface comprises a cam shoulder interconnecting said maximum axial length and said minimum axial length;
• a second housing having a second housing axis, said second housing having a second threaded opening having a second threaded opening axis configured to engage with said first threaded opening, and wherein said second housing having an end surface;
• a collar having a radial collar end and a collar cam end surface, wherein a collar axial length of said collar varies along a circumference of said collar cam end surface from a maximum collar axial length to a minimum collar axial length, wherein said collar cam end surface comprises a collar cam shoulder interconnecting said maximum collar axial length and said minimum collar axial length, and wherein said radial collar end engages said end surface of said second housing and said collar cam end surface engages said cam end surface of said first outer cylindrical surface, and wherein said collar cam end surface is at a reciprocal angle to the cam end surface;
• drilling the well with the drill bit at a first angle of inclination;
• retrieving the drill tool assembly from the well;
• unscrewing said first housing and said second housing;
• rotating the collar from said first housing;
• adjusting the collar's axial position relative to said first housing and said second housing, by rotationally displacing said first housing relative to the collar in order to angularly displace the drill bit at a second angle of inclination;
• locking said first housing with said second housing;
• running into the well with the drill tool assembly;
• drilling the well at said second angle of inclination.

An apparatus for controlling the direction of a tubular, the apparatus comprising:

• a first housing with a first housing axis therein, said first housing having a first outer cylindrical surface having a cam end surface, said first housing having a first threaded opening having a first threaded opening axis offset from said first housing axis, and wherein said first threaded opening extends from said cam end surface, wherein an axial length of said first outer cylindrical surface varies along a circumference of said cam end surface from a maximum axial length to a minimum axial length, and wherein said cam end surface comprises a cam shoulder interconnecting said maximum axial length and said minimum axial length;
• a second housing having a second housing axis, said second housing having a second threaded opening having a second threaded opening axis offset from said second housing axis and wherein said second threaded opening is configured to engage with said first threaded opening, and wherein said second housing having an end surface;
• a collar having a radial collar end and a collar cam end surface, wherein a collar axial length of said collar varies along a circumference of said collar cam end surface from a maximum collar axial length to a minimum collar axial length, wherein said collar cam end surface comprises a collar cam shoulder interconnecting said maximum collar axial length and said minimum collar axial length, and wherein said radial collar end engages said end surface of said second housing and said collar cam end surface engages said cam end surface of said first outer cylindrical surface, and wherein said collar cam end surface is configured reciprocal to the cam end surface;
• and wherein in a first position, rotational displacement of said first housing relative to the collar will align said first housing axis with said second housing axis and in a second position, rotational displacement of said first housing relative to the collar will deviate the first housing axis relative to said second housing axis;
• means for locking said collar in place relative to said first housing and said second housing.