Downhole turbine
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsDavid R. Hall, Scott Dahlgren, Jonathan Marshall
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one aspect of the present invention, a drill bit has a jack element that is substantially coaxial with an axis of rotation of the drill bit and the jack element has an asymmetrical distal end that extends beyond a working face of the drill bit. A turbine is located within a bore formed in the drill bit and a flow valve is actuated by the turbine. The flow valve is adapted to route a drilling fluid in the bore into a porting mechanism adapted to extend the jack element farther beyond the working surface of the drill bit. The turbine is also adapted to rotate the jack element at variable speeds.
Claims17
A pipe segment, comprising;
- a cylindrical body having an inner surface defining a longitudinal bore;
- an inlet in fluid communication with said longitudinal bore, said inlet adapted to receive a flow of a fluid;
- a turbine having a plurality of blades and said turbine being disposed within said longitudinal bore;
- a flow guide disposed within said longitudinal bore about said plurality of blades, said flow guide adapted to guide said flow of a fluid in said pipe segment across said turbine;
- an actuating mechanism disposed within said longitudinal bore and configured to cause said flow guide to change from a first position to a second position;
- a jack element disposed proximate a working surface of the pipe segment;
- a porting mechanism adapted to extend said jack element beyond the working surface of the pipe segment;
- and
- a flow valve in mechanical communication with said turbine, said flow valve being actuated by said turbine and adapted to route said flow of a fluid into said porting mechanism to extend said jack element.
A method for adjusting the rotational speed of a turbine, the method comprising the steps of:
- accessing a pipe segment having a turbine with a plurality of blades, said turbine located within a bore of said pipe segment, a flow guide disposed in said bore about said plurality of blades said flow guide having a first end with a diameter larger than a diameter of a second end, and an actuator disposed within said bore adapted to move said flow guide along a central axis of the bore towards and away from a bottom end of the turbine;
- directing a drilling fluid flow across said turbine;
- and
- causing said actuator to move said flow guide along a central axis of the bore towards or away from a bottom end of said turbine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.