US 9,803,425 B2 · Rotary steerable drilling system

Abstract

A rotary steerable drilling system includes a housing, a drive shaft passing through the housing, a shaft/housing locking mechanism disposed to selectively engage the drive shaft and the housing, and an anti-rotation mechanism disposed to engage a wellbore wall. Shaft/housing locking mechanism includes a first configuration in which rotation of the drive shaft is independent of the housing, and a second configuration in which rotation of the drive shaft causes rotation of the housing. Anti-rotation mechanism includes a first configuration in which the anti-rotation mechanism extends radially relative to the drive shaft, and a second configuration in which the anti-rotation mechanism retracts from engagement with the wellbore wall. A timing mechanism may be employed to transition the anti-rotation mechanism from the first configuration to the second configuration before the shaft/housing locking mechanism transitions from the first configuration to the second configuration.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A rotary steerable drilling system, comprising:

a housing;
a drive shaft located in the housing;
a shaft/housing locking mechanism having a first position in which rotation of the drive shaft is independent of the housing and a second position in which rotation of the drive shaft is coupled to rotation of the housing;
and
an anti-rotation mechanism separate from and independent of said shaft/housing locking mechanism coupled to the housing;
wherein the anti-rotation mechanism has a first configuration in which the anti-rotation mechanism is extended radially relative to the drive shaft;
and
wherein the anti-rotation mechanism has a second configuration in which the anti-rotation mechanism is retracted towards the drive shaft relative to the first configuration.

5 more elements

A method for rotary steerable drilling, comprising:

providing a drill string including a housing, a drive shaft within the housing, a shaft/housing locking mechanism and an anti-rotation mechanism, wherein said anti-rotation mechanism is separate from and independent of said shaft/housing locking mechanism;
actuating the shaft/housing locking mechanism and driving it into a first configuration such that rotation of the drive shaft is independent of the housing;
actuating the anti-rotation mechanism and driving it into a first configuration in which the anti-rotation mechanism is extended into engagement with a formation;
performing a rotary steerable drilling operation in the formation;
actuating the anti-rotation mechanism and driving it into a second configuration in which the anti-rotation mechanism disengages the formation;
actuating the shaft/housing locking mechanism and driving it into a second configuration such that rotation of the drive shaft causes rotation of the housing;
and
rotating the drive shaft to cause rotation of the housing.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Rotary steerable drilling system

Life of this patent

Rotary steerable drilling system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12