National Oilwell Varco, L.p.

Aps Technology, Inc.

Nov Downhole Eurasia Limited

David Anderson Coull

Alan Martyn Eddison

Derek James Stuart

Malcolm George Vie

A rotary steering apparatus for a drill string in which a bending section induces a bend in a portion of the bottom hole assembly of the drill string by using the rotation of the drive shaft that drives the drill bit during normal drilling, while operating at a reduced or zero drilling mud flow rate, to drive a reduction gear that rotates a nut or cam so as to place a tension tube into tension. The tension tube abuts a flexible housing and places the flexible housing in compression. The flexible housing has a local weakening formed in it that causes it to preferentially bend in a predetermined direction. Compression in the flexible housing causes the housing to bend, which bends a portion of the bottom hole assembly so as to alter the direction of drilling. Rotation of the drive shaft at reduced or zero mud flow rate also causes the drive shaft to drive rotation of a second reduction gear the output of which rotates the bent portion of the bottom hole assembly thereby altering its tool face angle.

Rotary steerable drilling apparatus

A method of translating a member through a bore involving moving fluid through a tubular member such as a drill string, and generating impulses on the member by varying the passage of fluid through the member using a valve which opens at a first rate and closes at a different second rate to urge the member to advance in a selected direction. The valve may close quickly and open slowly, or may close slowly and open quickly.

Downhole tractor

A fluid actuated downhole tool for inducing movement of a downhole apparatus is described. The tool comprises a body for coupling to downhole apparatus, the body being adapted to accommodate now of fluid therethrough and including a flow-modifying arrangement for modifying the flow of fluid through the body. The flow-modifying arrangement is configurable in an inactive configuration and in an active configuration. The fluid activated tool is selectively operated from the surface by varying an operating condition which causes the flow through the tool to either bypass or flow through the flow-modifying arrangement to induce movement of the downhole apparatus.

Growing community of inventors

Montrose, United Kingdom

David Anderson Coull