Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Schlumberger Technology Corporation

Baker Hughes Corporation

Smith International, Inc.

Anadrill, Inc.

Pralay K Das

Michael Dewayne Finke

Svetozar Dimitrov Simeonov

Maxim Nikolayevich Yushko

Junichi Sugiura

Brian David Breaux

Ruchir S Patwa

Neelesh V Deolalikar

Anand Prakash

Haoshi Song

Joe Marzouk

Eric Deutsch

Al Jerabek

Mark J Clarkson

Hector R Guzman

Charles Haynes

Aspects of the subject technology relate to a sensor for a downhole tool. The downhole tool can include a collar and a sensor. The sensor can be secured to the collar for measuring one or more operational characteristics of the downhole tool during operation of the downhole tool. The sensor can include a substrate. The sensor can also include a plurality of strain gauges disposed on the substrate. The plurality of strain gauges can be configured to measure axial strains and torsional strains on the collar for measuring the one or more operational characteristics of the downhole tool.

Integrated collar sensor for measuring health of a downhole tool

According to various aspects of the subject technology, a tool collar is provided. The tool collar may include a recessed portion comprising a component segment and a threaded segment, a pressure sleeve covering the recessed portion, and a threaded component mated to the threaded segment and configured to compress the pressure sleeve against a shoulder of a downhole tool. According to some aspects, a downhole tool is provided. The downhole tool may include a recessed portion comprising a component segment and a threaded segment, an unrecessed portion comprising a shoulder, a pressure sleeve covering the recessed portion of the downhole tool, and a threaded component mated to the threaded segment and configured to compress the pressure sleeve against the shoulder of the unrecessed portion.

Unitized downhole tool segment

Aspects of the subject technology relate to a sensor for a downhole tool. The downhole tool can include a collar and a sensor. The sensor can be secured to the collar for measuring one or more operational characteristics of the downhole tool during operation of the downhole tool including the performance characteristics of a drill motor. The sensor can include a substrate. The sensor can also include a plurality of strain gauges disposed on the substrate. The plurality of strain gauges can be configured to measure axial strains and torsional strains on the collar for measuring the one or more operational characteristics of the downhole tool.

Integrated collar sensor for measuring performance characteristics of a drill motor

A tubular string includes a first tubular member with a pin end with pin threads and a pin external load shoulder. The tubular string also includes a second tubular member with a box end with a box external load shoulder and box threads, the pin threads being threadable into the box threads to form a connection, wherein the pin external load shoulder has an outer diameter (OD) that is different than an OD of the box external load shoulder. A load distribution sleeve is locatable between the first and second tubular members when threaded together and includes a first end facing the first tubular member and a second end facing the second tubular member, wherein the ODs of the load distribution sleeve first and second ends match the ODs of the pin and box external load shoulders respectively. The load distribution sleeve contacts the pin and box external load shoulders and distributes a make-up load between the pin and box external load shoulders when the connection is made up.

Tubular string with load distribution sleeve for tubular string connection

Integrated collar sensor for a downhole tool

Integrated collar sensor for measuring mechanical impedance of the downhole tool

A downhole tool includes a downlinking system deployed in a downhole tool body having an internal through bore. The downlinking system includes a differential pressure transducer configured to measured a pressure difference between drilling fluid in the internal through bore and drilling fluid external to the tool (in the borehole annulus). The differential transducer is electrically connected with an electronic controller (deployed substantially anywhere in the drill string) that is configured to receive and decode pressure waveforms.

Downhole downlinking system employing a differential pressure transducer

A downhole steering tool includes distinct hydraulic and electronics modules deployed about a shaft. The hydraulics module includes a plurality of hydraulically actuated blades. The electronics module includes electronic circuitry configured to control blade actuation. The hydraulics and electronics modules are physically and electrically connected to one another via a timed connection.

Rotary steerable tool employing a timed connection

A downhole tool includes a slip ring assembly deployed radially between a shaft and a housing. The slip ring assembly may be configured as a stand-alone assembly and is further configured to provide a plurality of distinct electrical communication channels between the shaft and housing. These communication channels are suitable for transmitting electrical power and/or electronic data. Electrical connection is made between the housing and the slip ring assembly via a connector block that is fastened to a plurality of stator rings in the slip ring assembly. The connector block extends radially outward from the stator rings and physically engages an opening in the housing thereby rotationally coupling the stator rings to the housing.

Slip ring apparatus for a rotary steerable tool

An integrated, single collar measurement while-while-drilling tool is presented that comprises formation sensors, directional sensors, pressure sensors, a mud pulse telemetry device, and a turbine-generator power device configured in a single collar housing that is no longer than a standard drill collar. No electrical connections are made across drill collar tool joints. The tool provides high reliability and ease of transportation.

Integrated, single collar measurement while drilling tool

A downhole tool for use in a wellbore, comprises a tubular member, such as a drill collar housing, in a drill string. The tubular member has at least one cavity formed on an external surface. At least one housing is adapted to be insertable and extractable in the cavity without further tool disassembly. The housing has at least one electrical device such as a battery stack disposed within. In another aspect, sensors are disposed in the housing for measuring downhole parameters of interest including, but not limited to, annulus pressure and annulus temperature. A method of replacing an electrical device in a downhole tool, comprises removing a first housing containing the electrical device from a cavity on an external surface of the downhole tool, and installing a second housing containing a second electrical device in the cavity without disassembling the tool further.

Replaceable electrical device for a downhole tool and method thereof

A load cell for sensing weight and torque on a drill bit during a drilling operation includes a cylindrical load cell made from a material with minimum residual stress. A plurality of strain gages are arranged symmetrically on each load cell and electrically coupled to form two Wheatstone bridges. The load cells are mounted 180 degrees apart in radial pockets drilled in a drill collar wall. A half Wheatstone bridge from one load cell is electrically coupled with a half Wheatstone bridge from the other load cell to form a Wheatstone bridge for measuring WOB and a similar coupling is made to form another Wheatstone bridge for measuring TOB. In another embodiment, additional strain gages in another Wheatstone bridge measure differential pressure. The output of the pressure and weight bridges are electrically combined to provide a weight signal unaffected by differential pressure fluctuations. The load cells are force fit in the radial pockets in the drill collar and a cap is installed on each pocket housing a load cell to protect the load cell from drilling fluid. The strain gages in each load cell are placed to minimize the effects of bending, hydrostatic pressure, temperature, differential pressure and cross talk between WOB and TOB measurements. The load cells can be replaced easily and drill collar gauging is not required. Since the strain gages are not directly attached to the drill collar, the high residual stress in the drill collar does not cause the strain gages to drift.

Load cells for sensing weight and torque on a drill bit while drilling a

An apparatus and method for measuring differential pressure of mud internal a drill string and mud in a borehole annulus is disclosed. The apparatus typically comprises: a drill collar having a pressure balancing piston in hydraulic contact with the borehole annulus mud; a shaped cylinder in contact with the mud internal the drill string and supported by the drill collar but attached such that axial forces on the drill collar are not transferred to the shaped cylinder, wherein the shaped cylinder has relatively thicker end portions in contact with the drill collar, and a relatively thinner middle portion such that a gap is formed between the relatively thinner middle portion of the shaped cylinder and the drill collar; a fluid filling the gap and in hydraulic contact with the pressure balancing piston; a plurality of strain gauges axially and circumferentially disposed around the relatively thinner middle portion of the shaped cylinder, wherein the axially disposed strain gauges provide an indication of axial stress and the circumferentially disposed strain gauges provide an indication of hoop stress; and method for obtaining at least one axial and hoop stress measurement from the plurality of strain gauges, for taking the difference between hoop and axial measurements, and for providing a pressure determination representing the difference of mud pressure.

Apparatus and method for measuring differential pressure while drilling

In the representative embodiments of the present invention described herein, new and improved methods and apparatus are disclosed for measuring various forces acting on an intermediate body between the lower end of a drill string and the earth-boring apparatus coupled thereto whereby the magnitudes and angular directions of bending moments and side forces acting on the earth-boring apparatus can be readily determined so that predictions can be made of the future course of excavation of the apparatus.

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Sugar Land, TX, United States of America

Pralay K Das