Smith International, Inc.

Glenn L Allison

Charles H Dewey

Bruce H McGarian

Praful C Desai

Thomas E Winship

Daniel B Justman

Jaye M Shelton

Garland Vance Ford

Gary Pfannenstiel

A junction for the intersection of a main borehole and a lateral borehole includes a main tubular having a main window with a ramp aligned with the main window and a lateral tubular adapted to be telescopingly received within the main tubular and having a lateral window. The main tubular and lateral tubular each have an orientation surface. The lateral tubular has a first position with one end partially disposed within the main tubular. The lateral tubular is telescoped into the main tubular with the end of the lateral tubular engaging the ramp which guides the end of the lateral tubular through the main window and into the lateral bore. The orientation surfaces engage to orient the lateral window with the main window and form a common opening between the tubulars.

Method and apparatus for multilateral junction

The rotary drilling head assembly of the present invention includes a housing having a bore for receiving a drive member. The drive member has an outer diameter of less than 17 &frac12; inches to pass through a 17&frac12; inch opening in a rotary table. A bearing assembly is disposed between the housing and drive member allowing the drive member to rotate within the housing and includes an outer stationary portion and an inner rotating portion. Retaining clamps attach the outer stationary portion to the housing and the rotating portion to the drive member. Rotary seal assemblies isolate the bearing assembly and its lubrication system from the drilling fluid and prevent premature wear and failure of the bearing. The bearing assembly includes a plurality of opposing disc-like members that have flat bearing surfaces meeting on a substantially planar surface of contact. The disc-like members are preferably made of a polycrystalline diamond material.

Rotary drilling head assembly

A roller reamer-stabilizer tool includes a tubular body having threaded pin and box connectors at each end adapted to be connected in a drill string and providing a fluid passage connecting the upper part of the drill string with the lower part. Rollers having integral pins at their ends are mounted in pockets in the sides of the body. The pins are journaled in holes in arcuate cross section bearing blocks received in correlative sockets in the body at the ends of the pockets. The blocks make an interference fit with the body. Release bar access passages allow a release bar to be inserted behind each block to drive, wedge or pry it out. The holes in the blocks extend only part way through the blocks, the hole in the block at one end of each roller being blind, and the wall at the end of the hole in the block at the other end of each roller being ported. Each bearing is sealed by an O ring at the mouth or open end of the hole in the block. An additional O ring is provided adjacent the end wall of the ported block. Grease is stored in a bore extending axially in each roller through the pins at each end. Radial ports in the pins communicate the bore with the bearings. A flexible elastomeric boot closes the bore at the end of each roller received in the respective ported block, the port subjecting the interior of the boot to drilling fluid pressure.

Reamer-stabilizer

A drilling fluid roller reamer-stabilizer includes a tubular body having threaded pin and box connectors at each end adapted to be connected in a drill string and providing a fluid passage connecting the upper part of the drill string with the lower part. Rollers having integral pins at their ends are mounted in pockets in the sides of the body. The pins extend into holes in arcuate cross section bearing blocks received in correlative sockets in the body at the ends of the pockets. Each block makes an interference fit with the sockets in the body. Tool access passages allow a tool to be inserted behind each block to drive or pry it out. Slotted, resilient bearing sleeves are provided in the holes in the blocks where the roller pins are received. The sleeves extend beyond the holes toward the rollers to take axial thrust. Flanges on the ends of the sleeves provide additional thrust area.

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Spring, TX, United States of America

Glenn L Allison