Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Baroid Technology, Inc.

Dresser Industries, Inc.

Elis Vandenberg

Laurier E Comeau

Edward James Cargill

John Ransford Hardin, Jr

Colin Walker

Ian Gillis

Terrance Dean Maxwell

Bryan James Restau

Frank Seadio Ramirez

Rick Hay

Ian G Gillis

John Ransford Hardin

A fulcrum bearing assembly for rotatably supporting a shaft within a housing, including at least one row of spherical thrust bearings positioned at a first axial position within the housing, at least one row of spherical thrust bearings positioned at a second axial position within the housing and at least one row of spherical radial bearings positioned at a third axial position within the housing. The third axial position is located between the first and second axial positions. Further, a bearing preload assembly for maintaining a bearing assembly in a preloaded condition, including a thrust bearing shoulder associated with a housing and a thrust bearing collar. The bearing assembly is axially maintained within the housing between the thrust bearing shoulder and the thrust bearing collar, wherein the thrust bearing collar is axially adjustable relative to the thrust bearing shoulder in order to preload the bearing assembly therebetween.

Steerable rotary drilling device

In a drilling apparatus of the type comprising a housing, a proximal seal, a distal seal, a fluid chamber defined by an interior of the housing between the proximal seal and the distal seal, the fluid chamber containing a lubricating fluid having a fluid chamber pressure, a pressure compensation system for compensating for the effects of an ambient pressure exerted on an exterior of the apparatus. The pressure compensation system includes a pressure port in the housing so that the ambient pressure can be communicated to the fluid chamber and a supplementary pressure source for exerting a supplementary pressure on the lubricating fluid contained in the fluid chamber so that the fluid chamber pressure is maintained higher than the ambient pressure.

A method for orienting a rotary drilling system comprised of a rotatable drilling string, a drilling string communication system and a drilling direction control device, the drilling direction control device comprising a deflectable drilling shaft connected with the drilling string. The method for orienting the rotary drilling system may involve the steps of orienting the drilling string at a desired orientation and sensing the desired orientation of the drilling string with the drilling string communication system. Further, the method involves the steps of communicating a desired orientation of the drilling string to a drilling direction control device and then actuating the drilling direction control device to deflect the drilling shaft to reflect the desired orientation of the drilling shaft. The desired orientation of the drilling shaft may be communicated directly to the drilling direction control device or to the drilling direction control device through a drilling string communication system.

Steerable rotary directional drilling method

A drilling direction control device, improvements in drilling direction control devices, methods for orienting a rotary driling system, and methods for rotary drilling. The drilling direction control device includes a rotatable drilling shaft, a housing for rotatably supporting a length of the drilling shaft, and a deflection assembly contained within the housing for bending the drilling shaft between a first support location and a second support location. The deflection assembly includes an outer ring which is rotatably supported on a circular inner peripheral surface of the housing and which has a circular inner peripheral surface that is eccentric with respect to the housing. The deflection assembly also includes an inner ring which is rotatably supported on the circular inner peripheral surface of the outer ring and which has a circular inner peripheral surface which engages the drilling shaft and which is eccentric with respect to the circular inner peripheral surface of the outer ring. Methods for orienting a rotary drilling system involve communicating a desired orientation of the drilling string to a drilling direction control device and then actuating the drilling direction control device to deflect the drilling shaft to reflect the desired orientation of the drilling shaft. The desired orientation of the drilling shaft may be communicated directly to the drilling direction control device or to the drilling direction control device through a drilling string communication system.

Steerable rotary drilling device and directional drilling method

A fail-safe tubular receiving member for use in combination with a latch assembly to longitudinally support and rotationally orient the latch assembly in a wellbore. The latch assembly includes at least one outwardly biased, radially movable latch member which is receivable within a bore of the receiving member. A first recessed area and a second recessed area, accessible from the first recessed area, are defined by the bore. The first recessed area defines a first increased radial distance and is configured so that upon longitudinal alignment of the latch member and the first recessed area, the latch member moves radially outward for receipt in the first recessed area to support the latch assembly longitudinally such that longitudinal movement of the latch assembly relative to the receiving member further downhole is prevented. The second recessed area defines a second increased radial distance, greater than the first increased radial distance, and is configured so that upon rotational alignment of the latch member and the second recessed area, the latch member moves radially outward for receipt in the second recessed area to orient the latch assembly rotationally such that rotation of the latch assembly relative to the receiving member is inhibited.

Fail-safe coupling for a latch assembly

A single trip tool and method for cutting a subsurface window through a well casing and installing an anchoring and orienting sleeve in the casing adjacent the window for subsequent downhole well procedures and equipment installation. A mill held in position within the casing by a hydraulic and weight-set tubular anchor sleeve is used to cut multiple vertical slots in the casing wall to form a single, large window. An indexing mechanism controls circumferential placement of the mill to ensure contact between adjacent slots. The mill is supported for rotation and longitudinal movement by a carriage mount that advances along dual sloping rails causing the mill to form an increasingly deeper cut during its initial cutting movement. Following formation of the window, the mill is retrieved leaving the anchoring sleeve in place for subsequent well procedures. A second embodiment anchors and orients the cutting assembly with an internally contoured coupling that is part of the casing string.

Multicut casing window mill and method for forming a casing window

A joint of tubular casing with a pre-formed window in its sidewall has a tubular sleeve fixedly attached to the interior of the tubular casing by a plurality of shearable set screws. The exterior surface of the sleeve is sealed to the interior surface of the tubular casing on opposing sides of the window. The window is filled with a fluid, and then the window is covered with one or more layers of a composite material such as fiberglass. In use, the joint of tubular casing is run down to the depth of interest in an earth borehole, and then the window is oriented with respect to the formation of interest at the depth. The joint of tubular casing is then cemented in place, after which the tubular sleeve is retrieved by the use of a fishing tool, causing the set screws to shear upon the upward movement of the fishing tool. After the interior sleeve is retrieved, a whipstock is lowered into the cased borehole, until it is oriented and anchored therein. The assembly automatically fixes the axial and circumferential orientation of the whipstock within a surrounding casing joint and holds the assembly in place. Alignment and fixing of the whipstock ensures proper engagement and orientation of a drill bit with an access window formed in the casing wall. A drilling assembly is lowered into the casing and a lateral bore is drilled off the whipstock through the composite material and into the surrounding formation.

Internal pressure sleeve for use with easily drillable exit ports

A keyless latch assembly automatically aligns and fixes the axial and circumferential position of a whipstock within a surrounding casing joint. Alignment and fixing of the whipstock ensures proper engagement and orientation of a drill bit relative to an access window formed in the casing wall. Spring loaded latches in the assembly register with and extend into corresponding receiving recesses formed on the inner surface of the casing joint. The recesses, which are spaced circumferentially around the interior of the casing joint, contain differing profiles that uniquely mate with corresponding profiles on the latches. The position of the latches relative to the recesses determines the amount of radial latch movement which controls the anchoring and orientation of the assembly within the casing. Confirmation of correct axial location and proper circumferential orientation may be made by surface monitoring of the setting string weight and turning torque. The spring loaded latches release from anchored, oriented position in response to an upward axial force exerted by the drill string to provide a straight pull release of the assembly.

Growing community of inventors

Sherwood Park, Canada

Elis Vandenberg