EP1346128B1 - Adjustable stabiliser for directional drilling - Google Patents
Adjustable stabiliser for directional drilling Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1346128B1 EP1346128B1 EP01996667A EP01996667A EP1346128B1 EP 1346128 B1 EP1346128 B1 EP 1346128B1 EP 01996667 A EP01996667 A EP 01996667A EP 01996667 A EP01996667 A EP 01996667A EP 1346128 B1 EP1346128 B1 EP 1346128B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- mandrel
- tool
- piston
- actuate
- bore
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 239000003381 stabilizer Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 37
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 29
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000004913 activation Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000000740 bleeding effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000013022 venting Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 8
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001351 cycling effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B23/00—Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells
- E21B23/004—Indexing systems for guiding relative movement between telescoping parts of downhole tools
- E21B23/006—"J-slot" systems, i.e. lug and slot indexing mechanisms
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
- E21B17/10—Wear protectors; Centralising devices, e.g. stabilisers
- E21B17/1014—Flexible or expansible centering means, e.g. with pistons pressing against the wall of the well
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B34/00—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells
- E21B34/06—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in wells
- E21B34/10—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in wells operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole
- E21B34/108—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in wells operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole with time delay systems, e.g. hydraulic impedance mechanisms
Definitions
- the present invention relates to down-hole tools and particularly to stabilisers for drill strings, especially near-bit stabilisers.
- An adjustable stabiliser has a base diameter larger than the drill string, but not as large as the hole bore being drilled. It prevents the drill string from contacting the sides of the bore. When actuated however, its diameter increases and so the drill string is constrained to run concentric with the hole being drilled. Thus an adjustable stabiliser near the drill bit steers the drill bit depending on its actuation.
- Down-hole motors are frequently used in drilling.
- the string itself is not rotated. Instead, the motor near the end of the string rotates just the bit at the end.
- the motor is hydraulically driven by drilling mud pumped from the surface.
- the down-hole motor should be as close to the drill bit as possible, but a stabiliser can be interposed between them in order to provide steerage.
- a stabiliser is hydraulically operated, employing fluid pressure of pressurised drilling mud to actuate the stabiliser by a piston mandrel moving axially in a bore of the body of the stabiliser and having ramps or cams which move a stabiliser bar radially outward.
- a long, and strong, spring returns the stabiliser to a deactivated position when the fluid pressure is released.
- a control piston that is hydraulically actuated rotates a sleeve which, in one position, permits movement of a mandrel to actuate the tool, and in another position inhibits such movement, despite the same hydraulic forces being applied to the mandrel in either case.
- Said pressure position may alternately be one of an actuate position and a de-actuate position axially spaced along the mandrel bore from said actuate position, the tool being actuated by mud pressure when the piston is in said actuate position and de-actuated when in said de-actuate position.
- the actuate position may be between the de-actuate and low-pressure positions of the piston.
- the piston and mandrel may have inter-digitating castellations which, when they oppose one another in a first angular position of the piston with respect to the mandrel, as determined by the barrel cam, permit the piston to move to one of said actuate and de-actuate positions and, when they inter-digitate, permit the piston to move to the other of said actuate and de-actuate positions.
- the track is preferably so arranged that the castellations abut in either the actuate or de-actuate positions and transmit axial hydraulic forces between the piston and mandrel before the pin reaches the end of the track.
- the diameter of the chambers are preferably different, the chamber serving to actuate the tool when pressurised having the larger diameter.
- a choke may be activated when the tool is actuated, such activation to change the pressure drop of the drilling mud across the tool so as to signal the states of actuation of the tool.
- the piston may carry a piston restrictor plate across the piston bore in face to face contact with a mandrel restrictor plate, the restrictor plates being angularly fixed with respect to the piston and mandrel respectively and restricting mud flow through the tool in dependence upon their relative angular position.
- the mandrel restrictor plate is angularly fixed with respect to the body, the body being angularly fixed with respect of the mandrel.
- Said piston may serve to open and close a port between said bleed chamber and the body bore.
- said piston when it moves from said low-pressure position to said pressure position, only opens said port when it moves to said actuate position.
- a drill string stabiliser 10 comprises a body 12 in two parts 12a, 12b.
- a mandrel 14 is slidable in bore 16 of the body 12.
- the mandrel likewise comprises two parts 14a, 14b.
- a control piston 18 is slidable in a bore 20 of the mandrel 14.
- the track 72 is so arranged in relation to the castellations 78a on the piston 18, and the castellations 78b in the mandrel 18 are so arranged in relation to the pins 74, that, when the pin reaches position B in the track 76, the castellations 78a, 78b inter-digitate, as shown in Figure 6b.
- This means that the piston can move down the bore 20 of the mandrel until chamfered edge 84 of the castellations 78a contact and abut chamfered base 86 of the castellation element 80.
- the track 76 is so arranged that contact between the castellations occurs before the pin contacts the end of the track 76 at C, so that, when further load is imposed between the piston 18 and mandrel 14, it is transmitted through the more substantial abutments between castellation surfaces 84, 86 than through the pin 74 and track 76.
- the castellations 78a, 78b face one another, so that the piston can only advance until chamfered edge 84 abuts chamfered face 88 of the castellations 78b.
- the castellations 78a, 78b abut one another before the pin 76 impacts the base of the track 76 at G.
- the mandrel 14 is provided with a first port 120 which communicates the bore 20 of the mandrel with the first annular chamber 102.
- the mandrel 14 has a second port 130 which communicates the second annular chamber 104 with the bore 20 of the mandrel.
- the port 120 opens into the piston annular chamber 54 between the seals 50, 52 on the piston 18. Therefore, chamber 102 is isolated from the bore 46 of the piston 18 and the -pressure of the drilling mud therein. In fact, by virtue of intermediate port 60 in the mandrel 14, which is vented to the outside through passages 62, 66, 70, (and isolated by seals 63) the annular chamber 102 is likewise vented to the outside.
- chamber 104 is in communication with the drilling mud under pressure in bore 46 of the piston 18 by virtue of the second port 130 and a number of slots 122 in the piston 18.
- the piston 18 also moves leftwardly with respect to the mandrel, and if the piston is in such a position that the castellations 78a, 78b oppose one another and abut through chamfered faces 84, 88, this leftward movement of the mandrel persists. In that event, the inclined surfaces 34 of the mandrel 14 press the piston members 24 radially outwardly until ring 112 abuts the end of the body part 12a. Indeed, the final diameter of the stabiliser 10 when actuated is determined by the axial extent of permitted movement of the mandrel 14, and this can be controlled by shimming out the ring 112.
- a piston restrictor plate 150 is fitted in the mouth of the bore 46 of the piston 18.
- a sleeve 153 is a sliding fit, without rotation, in bore 11 of the body 12.
- a mandrel restrictor plate 152 In the end of the sleeve 153 facing the piston restrictor plate 150 is a mandrel restrictor plate 152.
- Figure 1c is an end view of a restrictor plate which is circular but has three 60° open sectors 154. Both restrictor plates 150, 152 have identical profiles so that when they are perfectly aligned, a central bore 156 is open, as well as the 60° sectors 154.
- FIG. 3 is a schematic representation showing the principle of operation of the tool shown in Figures 1 and 2.
- Phantom line 200 is the centre line of the down-hole tool 10'.
- Body 12 is provided with vent aperture 62 extending through return step 64.
- Mandrel 14 receives piston 18 and has first and second ports 120, 130.
- First and second annular chambers 102, 104 are here labelled a, b.
- Intermediate port 60 communicates vent port 62 with passage 54 between piston 18 and mandrel 14.
- the piston is shown in two axial positions 18a, 18b. In position 18a annular chamber 104(b) is vented to atmosphere through second port 130, passage 54, intermediate port 60 and vent 62, while first annular chamber 102(a) is connected to main pump pressure (P 1 ) through first port 120.
- P 1 main pump pressure
- the area of the mandrel 14 under the step 64 is A 2 , which is dependent on the diameter of the step 64.
- the areas A 1 of the mandrel under the chambers 102, 104 is determined by the diameter of those chambers.
- the chambers have the same diameter.
- Figure 4 shows an alternative arrangement in which the step 64' is formed as part of the mandrel 14' so that the chambers 102', 104' are in a recess of the body 12' rather than in a recess of the mandrel 14'. While this creates different issues of construction, the operation is in principle identical with that described above in relation to Figure 3.
- Figure 8b shows a de-actuated position of the piston 18" relative to the mandrel 14".
- the piston 18" is positioned between a body cup 12b forming an annular valve chamber 151.
- One or several apertures 152 connect the body bore up-stream (16a) and down-stream (16b) of the body cup 12b.
- piston 18" is pressed leftwardly in the drawing against the force of return spring 40" to the position shown in Figure 8b.
- a sealing ring 153 has not passed over a bleed port 155 in the wall of the mandrel 14". Therefore a bleed chamber 157 cannot be vented, it being sealed at its ends by seal rings 132" and 135", and possibly intermediate seal ring 160.
- the piston 18" clears internal edge 162 of the body cup 12b so that the fluid flow passage formed between the two is substantially enlarged and so that the pressure drop across the arrangement is substantially reduced.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
- Drilling And Boring (AREA)
- Pens And Brushes (AREA)
- Surgical Instruments (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to down-hole tools and particularly to stabilisers for drill strings, especially near-bit stabilisers.
- Directional drilling is either sophisticated, expensive and unreliable or simple, reliable but rather limited. For the most part, the latter type meets all requirements. This type relies entirely on gravity and can only adjust the inclination of a hole, rather than its horizontal direction.
- An adjustable stabiliser has a base diameter larger than the drill string, but not as large as the hole bore being drilled. It prevents the drill string from contacting the sides of the bore. When actuated however, its diameter increases and so the drill string is constrained to run concentric with the hole being drilled. Thus an adjustable stabiliser near the drill bit steers the drill bit depending on its actuation.
- Down-hole motors are frequently used in drilling. The string itself is not rotated. Instead, the motor near the end of the string rotates just the bit at the end. The motor is hydraulically driven by drilling mud pumped from the surface. The down-hole motor should be as close to the drill bit as possible, but a stabiliser can be interposed between them in order to provide steerage.
- Thus a short stabiliser is called for. Down-hole stabilisers have been actuated in a number of different ways.
- In
EP-A-0251543 , a fairly short stabiliser is disclosed, but it involves using mechanical compressive forces on the drill string to set and unset it. - In
US-A-4951760 , a stabiliser is hydraulically operated, employing fluid pressure of pressurised drilling mud to actuate the stabiliser by a piston mandrel moving axially in a bore of the body of the stabiliser and having ramps or cams which move a stabiliser bar radially outward. A long, and strong, spring returns the stabiliser to a deactivated position when the fluid pressure is released. - In the same patent a throttle member increases the pressure drop across the tool, serving both to accelerate movement of the mandrel for actuation of the tool and to signal to the surface the state of actuation of the tool.
- In
GB-A-2346443 - It is an object, at least in one aspect of the present invention, to provide a down-hole tool which is relatively short and does not suffer the disadvantages of the prior art, or at least mitigates their effects.
- In another aspect, it is an object of the present invention to provide a down hole tool which minimises mechanical contact between components in order to reduce opportunity for jamming, as well as wear.
-
US-A-3974886 discloses a down hole tool comprising: - a body having a through-bore;
- a mandrel having a through bore, being axially slidable in the body bore to actuate and de-actuate the tool; and
- a valve having an actuate and a deactuate position, wherein, in the actuate position, drilling mud pumped under pressure along said body bore (16) actuates the tool and in the deactuate position, drilling mud pumped under pressure along said body bore (16) does not actuate the tool.
- In accordance with the present invention there is provided a down-hole as defined above, characterised in that:
- said valve is switchable by change in pressure of said drilling mud, thereby to control hydraulically the movement of the mandrel,
- Preferably said valve controls the drilling mud to drive the mandrel hydraulically both to actuate and de-actuate the tool. Thus, by hydraulically driving the mandrel in both directions, the need for a strong return spring is avoided.
- Said pressure position may alternately be one of an actuate position and a de-actuate position axially spaced along the mandrel bore from said actuate position, the tool being actuated by mud pressure when the piston is in said actuate position and de-actuated when in said de-actuate position. The actuate position may be between the de-actuate and low-pressure positions of the piston.
- A return step is preferably formed in the body and mandrel to define annular chambers between them on either side of the return step, one chamber, when pressurised with mud, serving to actuate the tool while the other serves to de-actuate the tool.
- Said control piston may have an axially disposed passage and a seal against the mandrel at both ends of the passage, the mandrel having two ports communicating each of said annular chambers with the mandrel bore and an intermediate port venting said passage, the piston in the actuate position connecting one chamber with the passage and the other chamber with the piston bore beyond the seals, and vice-versa in said de-actuate position.
- Preferably, the mandrel bore and piston are stepped, the annular piston chamber formed by said step between them being vented so that pressure of drilling mud in the body moves the piston along the mandrel to close said piston chamber.
- The piston and mandrel between them preferably define a barrel cam so that the piston rotates on axial movement thereof relative to the mandrel, the cam permitting different strokes of the piston in dependence upon the angular position of the piston in the mandrel.
- The piston and mandrel may have inter-digitating castellations which, when they oppose one another in a first angular position of the piston with respect to the mandrel, as determined by the barrel cam, permit the piston to move to one of said actuate and de-actuate positions and, when they inter-digitate, permit the piston to move to the other of said actuate and de-actuate positions.
- The barrel cam may comprise a pin in a track and the track is arranged so that rotation of the piston with respect to the mandrel is complete before the castellations engage one another. The track may be on the piston and the pin on the mandrel.
- The track is preferably so arranged that the castellations abut in either the actuate or de-actuate positions and transmit axial hydraulic forces between the piston and mandrel before the pin reaches the end of the track.
- Preferably, the return step is inward of the body and comprises two rings interconnected and captivating between them ring sectors received in an annular groove in the body.
- A passage through the return step may be vented and communicate with said intermediate port of the mandrel, the mandrel being sealed to the return step on either side of said passage and intermediate port.
- The diameter of the chambers are preferably different, the chamber serving to actuate the tool when pressurised having the larger diameter.
- Additionally, or alternatively, the diameter of the mandrel in the body on the sides of the chambers remote from the return step is larger on the side where hydraulic pressure moves the mandrel to actuate the tool.
- Both these differences serve to increase the force with which the tool is actuated which, in the case of a stabiliser, may be necessary if the drill string is not already central in the hole being drilled.
- A choke may be activated when the tool is actuated, such activation to change the pressure drop of the drilling mud across the tool so as to signal the states of actuation of the tool. The piston may carry a piston restrictor plate across the piston bore in face to face contact with a mandrel restrictor plate, the restrictor plates being angularly fixed with respect to the piston and mandrel respectively and restricting mud flow through the tool in dependence upon their relative angular position.
- Preferably, the mandrel restrictor plate is angularly fixed with respect to the body, the body being angularly fixed with respect of the mandrel.
- Preferably, the restrictor plates have a central aperture in register with one another and alternating sector spaces and sector lobes so that, when the lobes on the piston and mandrel plates are in register with one another, mud flows through both the central aperture and spaces, and when the lobes and spaces are in register, mud flows through the central aperture.
- In a different aspect of the present invention, said mandrel is moved to actuate the tool by hydraulic pressure of said drilling mud when said valve permits bleeding of a bleed chamber. Preferably, in this event, the mandrel is moved to de-actuate the tool, on release of said hydraulic pressure, by a mandrel return spring.
- Said bleed chamber may be formed by a step between the mandrel and body.
- Said piston may serve to open and close a port between said bleed chamber and the body bore. Preferably, said piston, when it moves from said low-pressure position to said pressure position, only opens said port when it moves to said actuate position.
- Preferably, said body defines, with the ends of said piston and mandrel, a valve chamber, said choke comprising a path between said piston and body which is opened when said piston moves to said actuate position and the mandrel moves to actuate the tool, and which is restricted when the piston moves to said de-actuate position.
- In one application of the present invention, the tool is a stabiliser and comprises members radially disposed in the body and pressed outwardly during actuation of the tool to increase the effective diameter of the stabiliser.
- Indeed, the invention provides a drill string comprising a drill bit and a near-bit stabiliser as defined above.
- The invention is further described hereinafter, by way of example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
- Figures 1a and 1b are a longitudinal section when joined end to end along lines X-X in each drawing through a stabiliser in accordance with the present invention;
- Figure 1c is an end view of a restrictor plate;
- Figures 2a to 2f are longitudinal sections through the stabiliser of Figure 1 in different states of actuation;
- Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the tool actuating arrangement of a tool in accordance with the present invention;
- Figure. 4 is a schematic diagram of an alternative arrangement;
- Figure: 5 is a schematic illustration similar to Figures 3 and 4 of a further preferred embodiment corresponding with the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2 above;
- Figure 6a is a side profile of the barrel cam track employed on a control piston in accordance with the present invention, Figure 6b comprising an enlarged section through the control piston;
- Figure 7 is an illustration of a down-hole drill string; and
- Figures 8 a and b are sections through an alternative arrangement of present invention.
- Referring to Figures 1a and 1b, a
drill string stabiliser 10 comprises abody 12 in twoparts mandrel 14 is slidable inbore 16 of thebody 12. The mandrel likewise comprises twoparts control piston 18 is slidable in abore 20 of themandrel 14. - The
body 12 has enlarged stabiliser bars 22 comprising spirally formed bars in whichpistons 24 are disposed in radially directed bores 26 through the wall of thebody 12.Springs 28 acting on cross pins 30 (fixed in the pistons 24) and studs 32 (fixed in the stabiliser bars 22), press thepiston 24 radially inwardly against wedge surfaces 34 formed on themandrel 14. When themandrel 14 moves leftwardly in Figure 1, thepistons 24 are pressed radially outwardly to increase the effective diameter of thestabiliser 10. The angular position of themandrel 14 is fixed by apin 36 in thebody 12 engaging aslot 38 in the side of themandrel 14. - A
return spring 40 is disposed in thebore 20 of themandrel 14 and bears on ashoulder 42 of the mandrel at one end and, through a thrust-bearing 44, on thepiston 18. - The
piston 18 has its own through-bore 46 so that a clear passage extends from an upstream end 10a to adownstream end 10b of thetool 10. Thepiston 18 is sealed to thebore 20 of themandrel 14 through ring seals 50, 52 which, it.will be noted, are of different diameters. Consequently, sincepiston chamber 54 is vented (as explained further below), any increase in hydraulic pressure in thebore 46 will result in leftward movement of the piston as shown in Figure 1. -
Piston chamber 54 communicates withintermediate port 60 ofmandrel 14, which in turn communicates withpassage 62 instep ring 64, and then withaperture 66 inring sectors 68 and finally ventport 70 in the wall of thebody 12. - Thus, as is well known in the art, drilling mud pumped under pressure down the drill string and through the
stabiliser 10. It returns under reduced pressure around the outside of the drill string andstabiliser 10. Consequently, when the drill string is pressurised with drilling mud thepiston 18 moves leftwardly in the drawing compressing thespring 40. Abarrel cam 72 is formed on dne end of thepiston 18, themandrel 14 being provided withpins 74 whose ends engage thebarrel cam 72. - Turning to Figures 6a and 6b, the
barrel cam 72 is shown having acam track 76. The arrows in the drawing show the movement of thepins 74 as the piston moves backwards and forwards in the axial direction. If thepin 74 starts in the position Z as shown in Figure 6b, then as the barrel cam moves downwardly in the drawing, the pin will impact the side oftrack 76 at point A, whereupon further axial movement of the piston will result in rotation of the piston until point B is reached. The piston can continue axial movement until the pin reaches point C. When the mud pressure is reduced, thespring 40 returns the' piston, which moves axially until thepin 74 impacts the wall of thetrack 76 at D, whereupon the piston rotates in the same direction as when moving from A to B until it reaches point E. The next time the mud pressure is increased again, the piston will move axially until thepin 74 strikes thewall 76 of the track at point F, where again the piston will be turned to rotate in the same direction and until the pin reaches point G. On the next cycle, when the mud pressure is again reduced, the pin strikes thetrack 76 at H before turning the piston once more until thepin 74 reaches point I which is equivalent to the start position. - The
piston 18 is provided withcastellations 78a on an external surface thereof and which castellations matchinternal castellations 78b in themandrel 14. Indeed, thecastellations 78b may be provided on aseparate element 80 bolted to the base of astep 82 in themandrel 14, which step 82, in fact, defines thepiston chamber 54. - The
track 72 is so arranged in relation to thecastellations 78a on thepiston 18, and thecastellations 78b in themandrel 18 are so arranged in relation to thepins 74, that, when the pin reaches position B in thetrack 76, thecastellations bore 20 of the mandrel until chamferededge 84 of thecastellations 78a contact and abut chamferedbase 86 of thecastellation element 80. Indeed, thetrack 76 is so arranged that contact between the castellations occurs before the pin contacts the end of thetrack 76 at C, so that, when further load is imposed between thepiston 18 andmandrel 14, it is transmitted through the more substantial abutments between castellation surfaces 84, 86 than through thepin 74 andtrack 76. On the other hand, when the pin is in position G, thecastellations edge 84 abuts chamferedface 88 of thecastellations 78b. Likewise, thecastellations pin 76 impacts the base of thetrack 76 at G. - There are preferably three
castellations castellations - The
internal return step 64 of thebody 12 is provided in thebore 16 of thebody 12 by tworings bolts 94 around the peripheries of therings internal grove 96 is formed in thebody 12 and threering sectors 98, each of about 120° of arc, are captivated in thegrove 96 by clamping together the step rings 90, 92.Shims 100 can be inserted on either side of thering sectors 98 in order to adjust the axial position of thestep 64 in thebore 16 of thebody 12. - The
step 82 in themandrel 14 creates a firstannular chamber 102. After assembly of thepiston 18 in themandrel part 14b and insertion thereof in thebore 16, and after fixing of the step rings 64 in thebore 16, thesecond part 14a of the mandrel is connected to thefirst part 14b. This is effected byring sectors 106 and pins 108 retained in engagement withinset holes 110 in the surface of themandrel 14 byring 112 retained onflange 14c of themandrel part 14a by means not shown. -
Mandrel part 14a defines with the step 64 a secondannular chamber 104. Thestep 82 is a return step because thechambers - The
mandrel 14 is provided with afirst port 120 which communicates thebore 20 of the mandrel with the firstannular chamber 102. Themandrel 14 has asecond port 130 which communicates the secondannular chamber 104 with thebore 20 of the mandrel. - However, with respect to the
first chamber 102, theport 120 opens into the pistonannular chamber 54 between theseals piston 18. Therefore,chamber 102 is isolated from thebore 46 of thepiston 18 and the -pressure of the drilling mud therein. In fact, by virtue ofintermediate port 60 in themandrel 14, which is vented to the outside throughpassages annular chamber 102 is likewise vented to the outside. On the other hand,chamber 104 is in communication with the drilling mud under pressure inbore 46 of thepiston 18 by virtue of thesecond port 130 and a number ofslots 122 in thepiston 18. - Thus, from the position shown in Figure 1a, when the pressure of the drilling mud increases, the pressure in
chamber 104 rises and begins to urge themandrel 14 leftwardly in the drawing. Themandrel 14 is sealed at both ends to thebore 16 of thebody 12 byseals bore 16 inbody part 12b is slightly greater than the diameter of the mandrel inbody part 12a. Therefore, there is net leftward force on themandrel 14 which moves in that direction since theannular space 134 formed by the step between thebody parts piston members 24. At the same time thepiston 18 also moves leftwardly with respect to the mandrel, and if the piston is in such a position that thecastellations inclined surfaces 34 of themandrel 14 press thepiston members 24 radially outwardly untilring 112 abuts the end of thebody part 12a. Indeed, the final diameter of thestabiliser 10 when actuated is determined by the axial extent of permitted movement of themandrel 14, and this can be controlled by shimming out thering 112. - However, if the
castellations piston 18 continues leftward movement, and in this event two hydraulic switches occur. The first is that theseal 50 passes thefirst port 120 so that instead of communicating the firstannular chamber 102 with a vent throughintermediate port 60, theannular chamber 102 is connected to mud pressure behind thepiston 18. Secondly, theseal 52 at the other end of the piston passes thesecond port 130 in themandrel 14, so that, instead of the secondannular chamber 104 being connected to mud pressure inside the bore of thepiston 18, that chamber is instead put in communication with theintermediate port 60 and, thereby, thevent mandrel 14 and it moves to the position shown in Figure 1a where thepistons 24 are fully retracted and thestabiliser 10 is de-actuated. - Figures 2a to 2f show the sequence of cycling. In Figure 2a the position is as shown in Figures 1a and 1b. In Figure 2b fluid pressure has moved the piston rightwardly in the drawing until the
castellations first chamber 102 is vented whilesecond chamber 104 is connected to higher pressure. Therefore, themandrel 14 moves rightwardly in the drawing to the position shown in Figure 2C. Here, secondannular chamber 104 is fully developed and firstannular chamber 102 is now closed. Moreover, thepistons 24 are now radially extended. In Figure 2D fluid pressure in the drill string has been switched off so thatspring 40returns piston 18 to its position in the mandrel it has in Figure 2a. However, because thespring 40 is acting between the piston and mandrel, the mandrel does not move in thebody 12. - In Figure 2e, fluid pressure in the drill string is once again reinstated and accordingly the
piston 18 moves rightwardly in the drawing and this time thecastellations piston 18 moves further rightwardly in the mandrel than it did in the previous half-cycle (as shown in Figure 2C). There is therefore the reversal mentioned above in that the secondannular chamber 104 is now vented and the firstannular chamber 102 is connected to fluid pressure. In this event, themandrel 18 moves leftwardly in the drawing to the position shown in Figure 1 where thepistons 24 are fully withdrawn and thestabiliser 10 has a minimum diameter. Thespring 40 is nevertheless fully compressed. - Returning to Figure 1A, a piston
restrictor plate 150 is fitted in the mouth of thebore 46 of thepiston 18. Asleeve 153 is a sliding fit, without rotation, inbore 11 of thebody 12. In the end of thesleeve 153 facing the pistonrestrictor plate 150 is a mandrelrestrictor plate 152. Figure 1c is an end view of a restrictor plate which is circular but has three 60°open sectors 154. Bothrestrictor plates central bore 156 is open, as well as the 60°sectors 154. However, by rotating the piston through 60° with respect to the mandrel, and hence thebody 12 and mandrelrestrictor plate 152,open segments 154 of the restrictor plate coincide withclosed segments 158 of the otherrestrictor plate 152. Consequently, in this arrangement, the only passage through therestrictor plates central opening 156. There is therefore a marked pressure difference across the restrictor plates which is detectable at the surface. Since an increased pressure difference increases the leftward forces on thepiston 18, and hence on themandrel 14, therestrictor plates passage 156 exists through them) when thepiston castellations 84 abut the tips of the mandrel castellations 88 and in which the mandrel is urged leftwardly to its actuated position. - Figure 3 is a schematic representation showing the principle of operation of the tool shown in Figures 1 and 2.
Phantom line 200 is the centre line of the down-hole tool 10'.Body 12 is provided withvent aperture 62 extending throughreturn step 64.Mandrel 14 receivespiston 18 and has first andsecond ports annular chambers Intermediate port 60 communicatesvent port 62 withpassage 54 betweenpiston 18 andmandrel 14. The piston is shown in twoaxial positions position 18a annular chamber 104(b) is vented to atmosphere throughsecond port 130,passage 54,intermediate port 60 and vent 62, while first annular chamber 102(a) is connected to main pump pressure (P1) throughfirst port 120. - In Figure 3, the area of the
mandrel 14 under thestep 64 is A2, which is dependent on the diameter of thestep 64. Likewise, the areas A1 of the mandrel under thechambers mandrel 14 when thepiston 18 is in theposition 18a is given by -
- Thus, the value of the force on the
mandrel 14 is the same in both positions of thepiston 18, except that it is reversed in direction. - Figure 4 shows an alternative arrangement in which the step 64' is formed as part of the mandrel 14' so that the chambers 102', 104' are in a recess of the body 12' rather than in a recess of the mandrel 14'. While this creates different issues of construction, the operation is in principle identical with that described above in relation to Figure 3.
- Figure 5 illustrates a preferred arrangement in which the forces acting in the direction of actuation (arrow F in Figure 5) is greater than in the reverse. In Figure 5,
whereas
where
Fa and Fb are the forces acting in the direction of the arrow F when chambers a and b are respectively pressurised with mud pressure P1. In this scenario Fa is in the direction of the arrow F because (A1 + A2) is greater than (A3 + A4), whereas Fb is in the opposition direction because A3 is greater than A4. However, the value of Fa is much larger than the value of Fb, which is desirable because the potential force required to push the pistons radially outward is much larger than that potentially required to release them. - Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a
drill string 200 in awell bore 210, the drill string terminating in adrill bit 220 driven by a down-hole motor 230 which is spaced from the drill bit by a near-bit stabiliser 240. Aremote stabiliser 250 is spaced some distance from themotor 230. If thestabiliser 240 is de-actuated, then the weight of themotor 230 anddrill bit 220 tends to drop the drill string vertically so that the drill tends to vertical. On the other hand, if thestabiliser 240, is actuated, then the drill string tends to follow a straight line. - Finally, Figures 8 a, b show an alternative arrangement, being a half longitudinal section through a
tool 10". Here actuation of thetool 10" is effected by movement of themandrel 14", which slides in a stepped body bore 16" of thebody 12". - Figure 8b shows a de-actuated position of the
piston 18" relative to themandrel 14". Thepiston 18" is positioned between abody cup 12b forming anannular valve chamber 151. One orseveral apertures 152 connect the body bore up-stream (16a) and down-stream (16b) of thebody cup 12b. When hydraulic pressure of drilling mud in thebore 16a rises,piston 18" is pressed leftwardly in the drawing against the force ofreturn spring 40" to the position shown in Figure 8b. However, here, a sealingring 153 has not passed over ableed port 155 in the wall of themandrel 14". Therefore ableed chamber 157 cannot be vented, it being sealed at its ends byseal rings 132" and 135", and possiblyintermediate seal ring 160. -
Piston 18" is prevented from moving further than shown in Figure 8b by abarrel cam arrangement 72" similar to that described above. When the hydraulic pressure is lowered sufficient to permit thereturn spring 40" to urge thepiston 18" to its low pressure position (not shown) then it rotates, as described above. Thus, when the hydraulic pressure again rises, the piston moves on themandrel 14", under hydraulic action, to the position shown in Figure 8a. - In this position,
port 155 is exposed, so that hydraulic pressure urges the mandrel leftwardly in the drawing and pressurises bleedchamber 157. The fluid in it escapes intovalve chamber 151 and permits the mandrel to move to the position in thebody 12" shown in Figure 8a. Here, thepiston members 24 are pressed outwardly. - Furthermore, the
piston 18" clearsinternal edge 162 of thebody cup 12b so that the fluid flow passage formed between the two is substantially enlarged and so that the pressure drop across the arrangement is substantially reduced. Such reduction in pressure drop, and maintenance of a high pressure drop in the case of the de-actuated position in Figure 8b, informs the user of the state of actuation bf thetool 10". - Nevertheless, while mud pressure remains high, the pressure drop across
throat 162 is sufficient to keep the piston in the position shown. However, when the pressure drops, the piston moves rightwardly in the drawings. The mandrel likewise moves rightwardly, driven by amandrel return spring 164. However, it may be possible for thepiston 18" to cover theport 155 before the mandrel has moved all the way to the de-actuated position of Figure 8b. Consequently anon-return valve 166 may be provided in the end of themandrel 14" to permit mud to enter thebleed chamber 157. - While this arrangement employs a mandrel return spring and is therefore necessarily longer than the previous embodiment, nevertheless it removes the necessity of employing mechanical detent means which must be shifted between the mandrel and body to permit and restrain the movement of the mandrel.
Claims (28)
- A down-hole tool (10) comprising;a body (12) having a through-bore (16);a mandrel (14) having a through bore (20), being axially slidable in the body bore to actuate and de-actuate the tool; anda valve having an actuate and a deactuate position, wherein, in the actuate position, drilling mud pumped under pressure along said body bore (16) actuates the tool and in the deactuate position, drilling mud pumped under pressure along said body bore (16) does not actuate the tool,
characterised in that:said valve (18) is switchable by change in pressure of said drilling mud, thereby to control hydraulically the movement of the mandrel (14),wherein the valve comprises a control piston (18) slidable in the mandrel bore (20), against the force of a return spring (40), by drilling mud pressure from a low-pressure position to a pressure position. - A tool (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said valve controls the drilling mud to drive the mandrel (14) hydraulically both to actuate and de-actuate the tool.
- A tool (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein, said pressure position is alternately one of said actuate position and said de-actuate position axially spaced along the mandrel bore (20) from said actuate position, the tool (10) being actuated by mud pressure when the piston (18) is in said actuate position and de-actuated when in said de-actuate position.
- A tool (10) as claimed in claim 3, in which the actuate position is between the de-actuate and low-pressure positions of the piston (18).
- A tool (10) as claimed in claim 3 or 4, when dependent on claim 2, in which a return step (64) is formed in the body (12) and mandrel (14) to define annular chambers between them on either side of the return step, one chamber (102, 104), when pressurised with mud, serving to actuate the tool while the other serves to de-actuate the tool.
- A tool (10) as claimed in claim 5, in which said control piston (18) has an axially disposed passage (46) and a seal (50, 52) against the mandrel at both ends of the passage, the mandrel (14) having two ports (120, 130) communicating each of said annular chambers (102, 104) with the mandrel bore (20) and an intermediate port (60) venting said passage (46), the piston (18) in the actuate position connecting one chamber with the passage and the other chamber with the piston bore beyond the seals (50, 52), and vice-versa in said de-actuate position.
- A tool (10) as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6, in which the mandrel bore (20) and piston (18) are stepped, the annular piston chamber (46) formed by said step (64) between them being vented so that pressure of drilling mud in the body moves the piston along the mandrel to close said piston chamber.
- A tool (10) as claimed in any of claims 4 to 7, in which the piston (18) and mandrel (14) between them define a barrel cam (72') so that the piston rotates on axial movement thereof relative to the mandrel (14), the cam permitting different strokes of the piston (18) in dependence upon the angular position (18) of the piston in the mandrel (14).
- A tool (10) as claimed in claim 8, in which the piston (18) and mandrel (14) have inter-digitating castellations (78a, 78b) which, when they oppose one another in a first angular position of the piston (18) with respect to the mandrel (14), as determined by the barrel cam (72'), permit the piston (18) to move to one of said actuate and de-actuate positions and, when they inter-digitate, permit the piston (18) to move to the other of said actuate and de-actuate positions.
- A tool (10) as claim in claim 9, in which the barrel cam (72') comprises a pin (74) in a track (76) and the track (76) is arranged so that rotation of the piston (18) with respect to the mandrel (14) is complete before the castellations (78a, 78b) engage one another.
- A tool (10) as claimed in claim 10, in which the track (76) is on the piston (18) and the pin (74) is on the mandrel (14).
- A tool (10) as claimed in claim 10 or 11, in which the track (76) is so arranged that the castellations (78a, 78b) abut in either the actuate or de-actuate positions and transmit axial hydraulic forces between the piston (18) and mandrel (14) before the pin (74) reaches the end of the track (76).
- A tool ('10) as claimed in claim 5, or any of claims 6 to 12 when dependent on claim 5, in which the return step (64) is inward of the body (12) and comprises two rings (90, 92) interconnected and captivating between them ring sectors (98) received in an annular groove (96) in the body (12).
- A tool (10) as claimed in claims 6 and 13, in which a passage (62) through the return step (64) is vented and communicates with said intermediate port (60) of the mandrel '(14), the mandrel (14) being sealed to the return step (64) on either side of said passage and intermediate port (62).
- A tool (10) as claimed in claim 5, or any of claims 6 to 14 when dependent on claim 5, in which the diameter of the chambers (102, 104) are different, the chamber (102, 104) serving to actuate the tool (10) when pressurised having the larger diameter.
- A tool (10) as claimed in claim 5, or any of claims 6 to 15 when dependent on claim 5, in which the diameter of the mandrel (14) in the body (12) on the sides of the chambers (102, 104) remote from the return step (64) is larger on the side where hydraulic pressure moves the mandrel (14) to actuate the tool.
- A tool (10) as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a choke is activated when the tool (10) is actuated, such activation to change the pressure drop of the drilling mud across the tool (10) so as to signal the states of actuation of the tool (10).
- A tool (10) as claimed in claim 17, in which the piston carries a piston restrictor plate (150) across the piston bore (46) in face to face contact with a mandrel restrictor plate (152), the restrictor plates (150,152) being angularly fixed with respect to the piston (18) and mandrel (14) respectively and restricting mud flow through the tool in dependence upon their relative angular position.
- A tool (10) as claimed in claim 18, in which the mandrel restrictor plate (152) is angularly fixed with respect to the body (12), the body being angularly fixed with respect of the mandrel (14).
- A tool (10) as claimed in claim 18 or 19, in which the restrictor plates (150, 152) have a central aperture (156) in register with one another and alternating sector spaces (154) and sector lobes (158) so that, when the lobes (158) on the piston (18) and mandrel plates (150, 152) are in register with one another, mud flows through both the central aperture (156) and spaces (154), and when the lobes and spaces are in register, mud flows through the central aperture (156).
- A tool (10) as claimed in claim 1, or in any of claims 2 to 20 when not dependent on claim 2, in which said mandrel (14) is moved to actuate the tool (10) by hydraulic pressure of said drilling mud when said valve permits bleeding of a bleed chamber (157).
- A tool (10) as claimed in claim 21, in which said mandrel (14) is moved to de-actuate the tool (10), on release of said hydraulic pressure, by a mandrel return spring (164).
- A tool (10) as claimed in claim 21 or 22, in which said bleed chamber (157) is formed by a step between the mandrel (14) and body (12).
- A tool (10) as claimed in claim 23, in which said piston (18) serves to open and close a port (155) between said bleed chamber (157) and the body bore (16).
- A tool (10) as claimed in claims 3 and 24, in which said piston (18), when it moves from said low-pressure position to said pressure position, only opens said port (16) when it moves to said actuate position.
- A tool (10) as claimed in claim 17 and claim 24 or 25, in which said body (12) defines, with the ends of said piston (18) and mandrel (14), a valve chamber (15), said choke comprising a path between said piston (18) and body (12) which is opened when said piston (18) moves to said actuate position and the mandrel (14) moves to actuate the tool (10), and which is restricted when the piston (18) moves to said de-actuate position.
- A stabiliser comprising a tool (10) as claimed in any preceding claim, and members radially disposed in the body (12) and pressed outwardly by the mandrel (14) during actuation of the tool to increase the effective diameter of the stabiliser.
- A drill string comprising a drill bit (220), and a near-bit stabiliser (240) as claimed in claim 27.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB0028243 | 2000-11-20 | ||
GB0028243A GB2369136A (en) | 2000-11-20 | 2000-11-20 | A down-hole tool |
PCT/GB2001/005057 WO2002040823A1 (en) | 2000-11-20 | 2001-11-15 | Adjustable stabiliser for directional drilling |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1346128A1 EP1346128A1 (en) | 2003-09-24 |
EP1346128B1 true EP1346128B1 (en) | 2007-09-12 |
Family
ID=9903489
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP01996667A Expired - Lifetime EP1346128B1 (en) | 2000-11-20 | 2001-11-15 | Adjustable stabiliser for directional drilling |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1346128B1 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE373159T1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2002218396A1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2429459C (en) |
DE (1) | DE60130483T2 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2369136A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2002040823A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7004266B2 (en) | 1999-03-05 | 2006-02-28 | Mark Alexander Russell | Adjustable downhole tool |
GB2347443B (en) * | 1999-03-05 | 2003-03-26 | Cutting & Wear Resistant Dev | Adjustable down-hole tool |
Family Cites Families (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3974886A (en) * | 1975-02-27 | 1976-08-17 | Blake Jr Jack L | Directional drilling tool |
US3986554A (en) * | 1975-05-21 | 1976-10-19 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Pressure controlled reversing valve |
EP0190529B1 (en) | 1985-01-07 | 1988-03-09 | S.M.F. International | Remotely controlled flow-responsive actuating device, in particular for actuating a stabilizer in a drill string |
ES2022895B3 (en) | 1986-07-03 | 1991-12-16 | Charles Abernethy Anderson | DRILLING STABILIZERS. |
GB8915302D0 (en) * | 1989-07-04 | 1989-08-23 | Andergauge Ltd | Drill string stabiliser |
GB9117810D0 (en) * | 1991-08-17 | 1991-10-09 | Barold Technology Inc | Drill bit steering |
FR2703102B1 (en) * | 1993-03-25 | 1999-04-23 | Drillflex | Method of cementing a deformable casing inside a wellbore or a pipe. |
GB9508803D0 (en) * | 1995-05-01 | 1995-06-21 | Pbl Drilling Systems Limited | Tubular actuator component for use in a drill-string |
CA2234495C (en) * | 1998-04-09 | 2004-02-17 | Dresser Industries, Inc. | Adjustable gauge downhole drilling assembly |
GB2342935B (en) * | 1998-10-12 | 2000-12-06 | Pilot Drilling Control Ltd | Indexing mechanism and apparatus incorporating the same |
GB2347443B (en) * | 1999-03-05 | 2003-03-26 | Cutting & Wear Resistant Dev | Adjustable down-hole tool |
-
2000
- 2000-11-20 GB GB0028243A patent/GB2369136A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2001
- 2001-11-15 WO PCT/GB2001/005057 patent/WO2002040823A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2001-11-15 AT AT01996667T patent/ATE373159T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2001-11-15 CA CA2429459A patent/CA2429459C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2001-11-15 DE DE60130483T patent/DE60130483T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2001-11-15 EP EP01996667A patent/EP1346128B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2001-11-15 AU AU2002218396A patent/AU2002218396A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE60130483T2 (en) | 2008-06-12 |
EP1346128A1 (en) | 2003-09-24 |
AU2002218396A1 (en) | 2002-05-27 |
GB0028243D0 (en) | 2001-01-03 |
DE60130483D1 (en) | 2007-10-25 |
GB2369136A (en) | 2002-05-22 |
ATE373159T1 (en) | 2007-09-15 |
CA2429459A1 (en) | 2002-05-23 |
CA2429459C (en) | 2011-11-22 |
WO2002040823A1 (en) | 2002-05-23 |
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