Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Baroid Technology, Inc.

Ian Gillis

Laurier E Comeau

James Fehr

Elis Vandenberg

Charles M Reid

Gary M Crase

Christopher W Konschuh

Paul Roberts

Richard Thomas Hay

Colin Walker

Daniel P Lupien

Benji Smith

Radu Nicolae Nistor

Timothy Edward LaGrange

Craig Knull

An actuator for an orienting device for orienting a borehole apparatus in a borehole and an orienting device comprised of the actuator, wherein the orienting device is comprised of an orienting mechanism which is actuated by longitudinal movement. The actuator is comprised of a housing having a first end and a second end and a fluid passageway extending through the housing from the first end to the second end. Further, a longitudinally reciprocable piston, positioned within and providing a first partial obstruction of the fluid passageway, engages with the orienting mechanism such that longitudinal movement of the piston actuates the orienting mechanism. Finally, a flow restrictor, positioned within and providing a second partial obstruction of the fluid passageway, is associated with the piston such that the first partial obstruction is longitudinally aligned with the second partial obstruction for a portion of a longitudinal range of travel of the piston to provide a combined obstruction of the fluid passageway.

Piston actuator assembly for an orienting device

A pack-off bushing for placement inside an outer conduit while a fluid is passed through an inner conduit positioned within the outer conduit. The bushing includes a mandrel having a mandrel passage extending axially therethrough, a housing carried on the mandrel and capable of axial movement relative to the mandrel and a balancing system associated with the mandrel and the housing for applying a balancing force to the mandrel to oppose an axial mandrel force applied to the mandrel.

Pack-off bushing

A downhole drilling assembly including a housing having an upper end for connection to a drill string and a lower end, a fluid passage extending through the housing from the upper end to the lower end, a power unit contained within the housing, a drive assembly extending within the housing between the power unit and the lower end of the housing such that a mandrel chamber is defined between the drive assembly and the housing, a radially movable first stabilizer associated with the housing and located between the power unit and the lower end of the housing, an axially movable mandrel contained within the mandrel chamber, the mandrel being associated with a stabilizer actuator for causing radial movement of the first stabilizer in response to axial movement of the mandrel, and a sensor apparatus located between the power unit and the lower end of the housing for sensing at least one drilling parameter. The drilling assembly may also include a second stabilizer located between the power unit and the lower end of the housing and a bent housing assembly located between the power unit and the lower end of the housing.

Adjustable gauge downhole drilling assembly

A drilling assembly and a method for directional drilling using the drilling assembly. The drilling assembly comprises a drilling bit, a near bit stabilizer and an adjustable gauge stabilizer. The near bit stabilizer is located a first axial distance from a distal end of the drilling assembly and has a near bit stabilizer gauge which is greater than a nominal drilling assembly gauge. The adjustable gauge stabilizer is located a second axial distance from the distal end, which is greater than the first axial distance, and is adjustable between an extended and retracted gauge. The retracted gauge is less than the near bit stabilizer gauge. A bit drop angle is created between the drilling assembly and the drilling bit, while a stabilizer angle is created between the near bit stabilizer and the adjustable gauge stabilizer. The combination of the bit drop angle and the stabilizer angle results in a net build angle of the drilling assembly, when the adjustable gauge stabilizer is adjusted to the retracted gauge, and a net drop angle when adjusted to the extended gauge.

Pneumatic hammer drilling assembly for use in directional drilling

A downhole drilling assembly including a housing having an upper end for connection to a drill string and a lower end, a fluid passage extending through the housing from the upper end to the lower end, a power unit contained within the housing, a drive assembly extending within the housing between the power unit and the lower end of the housing such that a mandrel chamber is defined between the drive assembly and the housing, a radially movable stabilizer associated with the housing, and an axially movable mandrel contained within the mandrel chamber, the mandrel being associated with a stabilizer actuator for causing radial movement of the stabilizer in response to axial movement of the mandrel.

An apparatus and method for directing a first and a second object into a primary and a secondary borehole respectively from a main borehole communicating therewith at a borehole junction. The apparatus includes a deflector for positioning at the borehole junction to direct the first and second objects into the primary and secondary boreholes. A retainer holds the objects relative to each other such that when the first object is aligned to be directed into the primary borehole, the second object is aligned to be directed into the secondary borehole. A retainer orienting mechanism orients the retainer relative to the borehole junction so that the objects are aligned to be directed into the boreholes. The method includes positioning the deflector at the borehole junction and inserting the objects and the retainer into the main borehole. The retainer is oriented relative to the borehole junction so that the objects are aligned to be directed into their respective boreholes. The objects are then directed into the boreholes by bringing them into contact with the deflector.

Multiple string completion apparatus and method

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.

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Ian Gillis