Isodrill, Inc.

Saad Bargach

Stephen D Bonner

James Patrick Massey

Raymond V Nold, Iii

Jon Brunetti

Madhusudhan Nagula

Raymond V Nold Iii

Jon A Brunetti

Raymond V Iii Nold

A gap sub uses a plurality of insulating members in conjunction with at least two metallic members to effect a mechanically and electrically robust configuration. The gap sub includes an upper end portion, a lower end portion, an outer sleeve, an inner sleeve, an insulating outer washer, an insulating inner washer, and an insulating spider. The insulating outer washer is configured to transfer a first axial load between the upper end portion and the outer sleeve. The insulating inner washer is configured to transfer a second axial load between the inner sleeve and the lower end portion. The insulating spider is configured to transfer a torsional load between outer sleeve and the inner sleeve. Because the insulating washers are utilized to transfer axial loads and the insulating spider is utilized to transfer torsional loads, each insulator may be manufactured so that the strongest axis of the material can be optimally and advantageously oriented to be coincident with the forces applied to each insulator, thereby making the gap sub more mechanically robust than a conventional insulated gap collar while permitting reliable and fast transmission of sensor data to the surface.

Data transmission system

A data transmission system for use with a drill string in a primary wellbore is disclosed. The data transmission system includes a toroidal antenna assembly. The toroidal antenna assembly is disposed around the drill string at a primary downhole location within the primary wellbore and configured to transmit a signal from a transmitter. The signal corresponds to sensor data. The toroidal antenna assembly includes a plurality of toroidal antennas, wherein each toroidal antenna is configured to transmit the same signal from the transmitter. Because a plurality of toroidal antennas are utilized to transmit the same signal, construction of the drill string can be more mechanically robust than a conventional insulated gap collar while permitting reliable and fast transmission of sensor data to the surface.

A dynamically controllable variable displacement axial piston pump is described. In an embodiment, the pump comprises a rotating cylinder with hydraulic pistons that contact the face of a swash plate. The angle of the swash plate can be controlled to thereby control the movement of the pistons, the displacement of the pump, and the power generated by the pump. The dynamically controllable variable displacement axial piston pump may be used in combination with a rotary steerable apparatus, including such an apparatus as described herein that uses hydraulic pistons to actuate the deflection of the bit, or in combination with other downhole tools and devices. When used down hole in a drill string with a drilling mud powered turbine, the dynamically controllable variable displacement pump limits and regulates the power provided to the tool over a wide range of drilling mud weights and flow rates.

Downhole power conversion and management using a dynamically variable displacement pump

The rotary steerable drilling tool and system described herein combines both point-the-bit and push-the-bit techniques to actively change the direction of the borehole trajectory. In this system, the deflection of the drill bit is limited to a single degree of freedom relative to a coordinate system that is fixed to and rotates with the rotary steerable drilling tool, resulting in a simplified attachment of the bit assembly and bias unit mechanics. Further, steering of the well is accomplished by dynamically controlling the spatial phase and amplitude of the coherent symmetrical bidirectional reciprocating deflections of the drill bit relative to a fixed terrestrial datum as the tool is rotating, simultaneously pointing and pushing the bit. Alternatively, when not being used to change the direction of the borehole trajectory, the rotary steerable drilling tool apparatus can be used to mitigate or abate the stick-slip tendencies of the drill string by dithering the bit using spatially variable asynchronous symmetrical bidirectional reciprocating deflections of the drill bit at frequencies that are different from the rotational frequency of the bottom hole assembly. When neither steering nor stick-slip abatement is active, the bit can be mechanically locked into the neutral position.

Downhole apparatus and method for torsional oscillation abatement

The rotary steerable drilling tool and system described herein combines both point-the-bit and push-the-bit techniques to actively change the direction of the borehole trajectory. In this system, the deflection of the drill bit is limited to a single degree of freedom relative to a coordinate system that is fixed to and rotates with the rotary steerable drilling tool, resulting in a simplified attachment of the bit assembly and bias unit mechanics. Further, steering of the well is accomplished by dynamically controlling the spatial phase and amplitude of the coherent symmetrical bidirectional reciprocating deflections of the drill bit relative to a fixed terrestrial datum as the tool is rotating, simultaneously pointing and pushing the bit. The amplitude and force of the bit deflections can be variably controlled during steering operations to dynamically adjust the instantaneous build rate as needed. When steering is not active, the bit can be mechanically locked into the neutral position.

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Bellville, TX, United States of America

Saad Bargach