Smith International, Inc.

Brian Cruickshank

Charles H Dewey

Navish Makkar

Michael George Azar

Bruce H McGarian

John Edward Campbell

Benjamin Bianchi

Richard Messa

John P Boyce

Christopher J Caton

Wei Xu

Manoj D Mahajan

Ian A Gillies

Sameer Bhoite

Richard C Davis

Bruce McGarain

A secondary cutting structure for use in a drilling assembly includes a tubular body, and a block, extendable from the tubular body, the block including a first arrangement of cutting elements disposed on a first blade, a first stabilization section disposed proximate the first arrangement of cutting elements, a second arrangement of cutting elements disposed on the first blade, and a second stabilization section disposed proximate the second arrangement of cutting elements. A method of drilling includes disposing a drilling assembly in a wellbore, the drilling assembly including a secondary cutting structure having a tubular body and a block, extendable from the body, the block including at least three blades, actuating the secondary cutting structure, wherein the actuating includes extending the block from the tubular body, and drilling formation with the extended block.

Apparatuses and methods for stabilizing downhole tools

The expandable tools disclosed herein may be used as an underreamer to enlarge a borehole, or may be used to stabilize a drilling system in a previously underreamed borehole or in a borehole that is being underreamed while drilling progresses. At least one moveable arm, which translates between a collapsed and expanded position in response to a differential pressure between the axial flowbore and the wellbore, includes a borehole-engaging surface with cutting elements and at least one nozzle to direct a fluid across the borehole-engaging surface. Flow directing elements on the external surface of the tool may be used to decrease the flow area in an annulus between the tool and the wellbore and directs fluid flow in the annulus toward the borehole-engaging surface.

Jet arrangement on an expandable downhole tool

A method for hardening a portion of the outer surface of a downhole tool body includes friction stirring the vulnerable surface of the tool. Such friction stirring generally includes rotating a friction stir weld tool in contact with the surface until a portion of the tool penetrates the tool. The friction stir weld tool is then translated (while rotating) across a predetermined region of the surface thereby creating a friction stir zone. The friction stir zone is generally considerably harder, and therefore more wear resistant, than the parent material that makes up the tool body. The resulting downhole tool includes at least one surface with a hard friction stir zone.

Downhole tool having a friction stirred surface region

A wireline cutter comprises a primary housing with a first axial bore configured to receive a wireline positioned within a well bore, and a first blade mounted within the primary housing and operable to cut the wireline. A method of cutting a wireline in a well bore comprises running a wireline cutter into the well bore, receiving the wireline within the wireline cutter, and cutting the wireline with the wireline cutter. A one-trip cutting system for use in a well bore comprises a wireline cutter, and a coiled tubing cutter. A method for cutting a coiled tubing with a wireline disposed therein comprises running a system comprising a wireline cutter and a coiled tubing cutter into the well bore, cutting the coiled tubing with the coiled tubing cutter, and cutting the wireline with the wireline cutter, wherein both cutting steps are performed in one trip into the well bore.

Coiled tubing wireline cutter

An orienting apparatus including at least one housing element configured to couple with a drill string; an actuator disposed inside the at least one housing element; a nozzle coupled to the actuator; a torque generator coupled to the actuator and extending axially downward through the at least one housing, wherein the torque generator is configured to rotate in a first direction as it moves downward; a mandrel coupled to the torque generator; and a stroke adjuster at least partially disposed in an upper end of the mandrel, wherein rotation in the first direction is caused by an increase in differential pressure is disclosed.

Orientation tool

An expandable downhole anchoring tool positionable within a wellbore for use in cooperation with drilling equipment comprises a body including a plurality of angled channels formed into a wall thereof, and a plurality of moveable slips disposed in the same radial plane around the body, wherein the plurality of moveable slips are hydraulically translatable along the plurality of angled channels between a collapsed position and an expanded position. A method of setting an expandable anchor within a wellbore comprises running the anchor into the wellbore in a collapsed position, and expanding the anchor into gripping engagement with the wellbore, wherein the anchor is adapted to expand up to at least 1.5 times a collapsed diameter of the anchor.

Expandable anchor

A liner running system for placing a liner in a well bore comprises a latch sleeve connected to the liner and a running tool releasably attached to the latch sleeve. The latch sleeve has a wall thickness substantially the same as the wall thickness of the liner, and the running tool has an outer diameter less than or equal to the inner diameter of the liner. The latch sleeve may be connected into the liner at any location along its length. The running tool is releasable from the latch sleeve via hydraulic actuation or mechanical actuation. Optionally, a swivel may be connected to the liner. The swivel has a wall thickness substantially the same as the wall thickness of the liner. The method for lowering the liner into the well bore via the liner running system comprises rotating the liner, pushing the liner, pulling the liner, or a combination thereof.

Liner running system and method

The present invention relates to methods and equipment for recovering use of a well-bore in circumstances where the well bore has become blocked by downhole equipment. The invention provides a method comprising the steps of separating, at a release joint, a portion of equipment from a jammed portion () of equipment; running the separated portion of equipment uphole out of the wellbore (); running a deflector assembly () downhole into the wellbore (); and deflecting a milling tool () from the wellbore into surrounding formation. The method is characterised by restricting relative movement between the deflector assembly () and the wellbore () by engaging, prior to deflecting the milling tool (), the deflector assembly () with said jammed portion () of equipment.

Wellbore recovery operation

The retrieval tool includes a cylindrical member having a body, an inner passage, a guide cylinder and an engaging member. The engaging member may slide within the cylindrical member in order to frictionally engage a whipstock against an inner surface of the guide cylinder, facilitating removal of the whipstock from a borehole. A actuating member, piston, retainer and swivel sub may be used to connect the engaging member to the retrieval tool and enhance the mobility of the engaging member within the cylindrical member. A spring may also facilitate locking engagement of the engaging member and whipstock. Contact between the retrieval tool and the whipstock may lead to an increase of pressure within the inner passage, such pressure increasing the engagement between the engaging member and whipstock.

Whip retrieval method and apparatus

A lockable motor assembly for use in a well bore comprises a PDM motor having a rotor and a stator. A locking member has a splined projection which is received within a splined recess of the rotor and external splines which mate with splines provided on a sub connected to the stator. The components are held in this configuration by a shear ring until the fluid pressure within a chamber defined between the locking member and the sub is sufficient to cause the shear ring to shear. The locking member may then move out of the engagement with the rotor to free the motor for operation. The locking member is held in this position by a ratchet mechanism.

Lockable motor assembly for use in a well bore

Methods and apparatus are described for forming a window of optimum dimensions in casing wall. A window of maximum width is cut when the center line of the mill tool is located inside of the inner diameter of the casing where a maximum amount of casing is drilled away by the mill tool. A whipstock is described which deviates the mill tool outwardly so that the center line of the mill tool is in approximately this position. The whipstock then maintains the mill tool at this approximate location until a window of desired length is cut having a substantially maximum width. The whipstock then deviates the mill tool such that the centerline is outside of the casing to drill a rathole into the formation.

Method and apparatus for forming an optimized window

A lockable motor assembly ( ) for use in a well bore comprises a PDM motor ( ) having a rotor ( ) and a stator ( ). A locking member ( ) has a splined projection ( ) which is received within a splined recess ( ) of the rotor and external splines ( ) which mate with splines provided on a sub ( ) connected to the stator. The components are held in this configuration by a shear ring ( ) until the fluid pressure within a chamber ( ) defined between the locking member ( ) and the sub ( ) is sufficient to cause the shear ring to shear. The locking member ( ) may then move out of the engagement with the rotor to free the motor for operation. The locking member is held in this position by a ratchet mechanism ( ).

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The Woodlands, TX, United States of America

Brian Cruickshank