Schlumberger Technology Corporation

Attilio C Pisoni

Spyro J Kotsonis

Ruben Martinez

Stuart A Schaaf

Dzevat Omeragic

Jacques R Tabanou

Jean P Seydoux

Keith A Moriarty

Alain P Dorel

Michael R Johnson

Dimitrios K Pirovolou

Agustin Gambaretto

Alexandre G Kosmala

Pat Patterson

An automated system for managing gas in an annulus of a production well at a well site, the automated system including: an electrically-controlled valve fluidly coupled to the annulus of the production well, wherein the valve is located at or near the surface at the well site; at least one well sensor configured to measure operational characteristics of the production well at or near the surface; and a gateway device, located at the well site and operably coupled to the valve and the at least one well sensor, wherein the gateway device is configured to collect first sensor data communicated from the at least one well sensor, and process the first sensor data in autonomous control operations that automatically generate and issue commands that are communicated from the gateway device to the valve to regulate the outflow of accumulated gas from the annulus of the production well over time.

Automated system for managing annular gas in a production well

A resistivity logging sensor for logging while drilling a well using an oil-based mud includes a sensor body; a first current injector electrode disposed on the sensor body, wherein the first current injector electrode is electrically insulated from the sensor body; at least two current return electrodes disposed on the sensor body at a selected distance from the first current injector electrode, wherein the at least two current return electrodes are disposed proximate to each other and are electrically insulated from the sensor body; and an electrical source configured to energize the first current injector electrode with a current having a voltage of no less than 50 mvolts and a frequency of no less than 1 KHz.

Apparatus and methods for imaging wells drilled with oil-based muds

A directional casing drilling system including a casing string for rotation of a drill bit, a shaft coupled to the casing string, and a sleeve having pads that are hydraulically extensible. The sleeve may be positioned about a portion of the shaft. The invention may also include a tube connecting the sleeve to the drill collar, the tube adapted to conduct drilling fluid, and a valve system adapted to operatively conduct at least a portion of the drilling fluid to the pads whereby the pads move between an extended position and a retracted position.

Directional casing drilling

The invention refers to a rotary steerable drilling tool having a tool collar and a bit shaft. The bit shaft is supported within the tool collar for pivotal movement about a fixed position along the bit shaft. Moreover, the rotary steerable drilling tool includes a variable bit shaft angulating mechanism, located within the interior of the tool collar. The variable bit shaft angulating mechanism includes a motor, an offset mandrel, and a variable offset coupling. The motor is attached to the upper end of the offset mandrel and adapted to rotate the offset mandrel. The upper end of the variable offset coupling is uncoupleably attached to an offset location of the lower end of the offset mandrel, and the upper end of the bit shaft is rotatably coupled to the variable offset coupling. The rotary steerable drilling tool also includes a torque transmitting coupling adapted to transmit torque from the tool collar to the bit shaft at the fixed position along the bit shaft. Finally, a seal system is adapted to seal between the lower end of the tool collar and the bit shaft.

Rotary steerable drilling tool

An actively controlled rotary steerable drilling system for directional drilling of wells having a tool collar rotated by a drill string during well drilling. A bit shaft has an upper portion within the tool collar and a lower end extending from the collar and supporting a drill bit. The bit shaft is omni-directionally pivotally supported intermediate its upper and lower ends by a universal joint within the collar and is rotatably driven by the collar. To achieve controlled steering of the rotating drill bit, orientation of the bit shaft relative to the tool collar is sensed and the bit shaft is maintained geostationary and selectively axially inclined relative to the tool collar during drill string rotation by rotating it about the universal joint by an offsetting mandrel that is rotated counter to collar rotation and at the same frequency of rotation. An electric motor provides rotation to the offsetting mandrel with respect to the tool collar and is servo-controlled by signal input from position sensing elements such as magnetometers, gyroscopic sensors, and accelerometers which provide real time position signals to the motor control. In addition, when necessary, a brake is used to maintain the offsetting mandrel and the bit shaft axis geostationary. Alternatively, a turbine is connected to the offsetting mandrel to provide rotation to the offsetting mandrel with respect to the tool collar and a brake is used to servo-control the turbine by signal input from position sensors.

Actively controlled rotary steerable system and method for drilling wells

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Attilio C Pisoni