The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 12, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 11, 1998
Alain P Dorel, Houston, TX (US);
Schlumberger Technology Corporation, Sugar Land, TX (US);
Abstract
An actively controlled rotary steerable drilling system for directional drilling of wells, the system having a rotary drive component rotatable within a tubular sliding tool collar that incorporates elastic anti-rotation members to maintain a coupled relation with the borehole wall during drilling. An offsetting mandrel is supported within the tool collar by a knuckle joint for pivotal movement and for rotation relative to the tool collar and has a lower end extending from the tool collar and supporting a drill bit. To achieve controlled steering of the rotating drill bit, orientation of the tool collar is sensed and the offsetting mandrel is maintained geostationary and selectively axially inclined relative to the tool collar by orienting it about the knuckle joint. An alternator and a hydraulic pump, located within the tool collar, are driven by relative rotation of the rotary drive component with the tool collar to produce electric power and hydraulic pressure for the electronics package of the tool and for actuation of hydraulic system components. Hydraulic cylinder and piston assemblies, actuated by tool position signal responsive solenoid valves, control the angular position of the offsetting mandrel with respect to the tool collar. The hydraulic pistons are servo-controlled responsive to signal input from tool position sensing systems such as magnetometers and accelerometers which provide real-time position signals to the hydraulic control system.