Abstract:
Downhole drilling often requires passing drilling fluid containing water mixed with mud through a downhole drill pipe. Such drill pipe may comprise cavities therein for working units such as motors, generators, solenoids and the like. It may be desirable to lubricate and cool such working units with water from the drilling fluid, however, mud particulate may damage such devices. The present invention comprises various embodiments of a dynamic seal assembly designed to allow fluid communication between a cavity and a fluid flow while blocking certain particulate matter within the fluid flow from entering the cavity. The fluid communication may occur through and the particulate matter may be blocked by a defined clearance between two complementary surfaces that are movable relative to each other.
Abstract:
In one aspect of the present invention, a steering assembly for downhole directional drilling comprises an outer bit comprising a bore and an outer cutting area and in inner bit comprising an inner cutting area and connected to a shaft that is disposed within the bore. At least one biasing mechanism is disposed around the shaft. At least one fluid channel is disposed within the outer bit and redirects fluid to the at least one biasing mechanism causing the at least one biasing mechanism to push the shaft and alter an axis of the inner bit with respect to an axis of the outer bit.
Abstract:
In one aspect of the present invention, an inductive coupling comprises a pin section and a box section. The pin section comprises an inner electrical conductor supported in an exterior tapered surface of the pin section. The box section comprises an outer electrical conductor supported in an interior tapered surface of the box section. The exterior and interior tapered surfaces are configured to align each other such that the interior and exterior tapered surfaces are coaxial with each other when fully engaged.
Abstract:
A hammer assembly comprises a jack element substantially coaxial with an axis of rotation of a drill bit. The jack element includes a distal end extending beyond a working face of the drill bit. A porting mechanism within the bore comprises a first and second disc substantially contacting along a flat interface that is substantially normal to the axis of rotation. The first disc is attached to a turbine which is adapted to rotate the first disc with respect to the second disc. The first disc comprises a first set of ports adapted to align and misalign with a second and third set of ports in the second disc. As the first disc rotates, the sets of ports are adapted to route a drilling fluid into a piston chamber where a porting mechanism causes the jack element to repeatedly extend further beyond the working surface of the drill bit and then retract at a constant frequency.
Abstract:
In one aspect of the present invention, a drill bit has a jack element that is substantially coaxial with an axis of rotation of the drill bit and the jack element has an asymmetrical distal end that extends beyond a working face of the drill bit. A turbine is located within a bore formed in the drill bit and a flow valve is actuated by the turbine. The flow valve is adapted to route a drilling fluid in the bore into a porting mechanism adapted to extend the jack element farther beyond the working surface of the drill bit. The turbine is also adapted to rotate the jack element at variable speeds.
Abstract:
In one aspect of the present invention an expandable tool for an earth boring system comprises a mandrel comprising a tubular body and an outer diameter, a plurality of blades disposed about the outer diameter, and a slidable sleeve positioned around the outer diameter and capable of manipulating the plurality of blades into collapsed and expanded positions.
Abstract:
In one aspect of the present invention, a downhole rotary steerable system comprises a fluid path defined by a bore formed within a drill string component. A valve located within a wall of the bore which hydraulically connects the bore with a fluid cavity. A steering nozzle disposed on the drill string component and in communication with the fluid cavity. The valve is configured to control flow from the bore to the fluid cavity with an azimuthal sensing mechanism configured to determine the azimuth of the steering nozzle and instrumentation configured to control the valve based off of input from the azimuthal sensing mechanism.
Abstract:
In one aspect of the present invention, a downhole tool string component has a first and second threaded end on a mandrel, the first threaded end attached to a first sleeve and the second threaded end attached to a second sleeve. An intermediate sleeve assembly is disposed circumferentially around the mandrel and intermediate the first and second threaded ends, and the intermediate sleeve assembly is primarily isolated from stress of the first or second sleeve.
Abstract:
In one aspect of the present invention, a system for a downhole string comprises a fluid path defined by a bore formed within a tubular component. A reciprocating valve is located within a wall of the bore hydraulically connecting the bore with a fluid passage. The valve comprises a substantially cylindrical shaped housing. First and second ports are disposed on a circumference of the housing, and a fluid pathway is disposed intermediate the first and second ports. The valve comprises an axially slidable spool disposed within and coaxial with the housing and comprises a blocker. The blocker is configured to slide axially so to block and unblock the fluid pathway to control a flow from the bore to the fluid passage. The valve comprises a plurality of seals. Each seal is disposed opposite of the blocker causing pressure to be equally applied to the blocker and the plurality of seals.
Abstract:
In one aspect of the present invention, a crawler system for an earth boring system comprises at least two expandable tools along a common axis and spaced apart from each other along the common axis by a piston cylinder device. The at least two expandable tools comprise a mandrel comprising a tubular body and an outer diameter, a plurality of blades, and a slidable sleeve capable of manipulating the plurality of blades into collapsed and expanded positions. The plurality of blades of one of the at least two expandable tools expand to an expanded position and engage a borehole wall. The piston cylinder device anchors against the engagement between the borehole wall and one of the at least two expandable tools to axially translate the other of the at least two expandable tools.