EP1983148B1 - Tige de foret flexible - Google Patents

Tige de foret flexible Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1983148B1
EP1983148B1 EP07106674A EP07106674A EP1983148B1 EP 1983148 B1 EP1983148 B1 EP 1983148B1 EP 07106674 A EP07106674 A EP 07106674A EP 07106674 A EP07106674 A EP 07106674A EP 1983148 B1 EP1983148 B1 EP 1983148B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
wire
drill shaft
section
spring
cross
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.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP07106674A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1983148A1 (fr
Inventor
Jose Teixeira
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Services Petroliers Schlumberger SA
Gemalto Terminals Ltd
Schlumberger Holdings Ltd
Prad Research and Development NV
Schlumberger Technology BV
Original Assignee
Services Petroliers Schlumberger SA
Gemalto Terminals Ltd
Schlumberger Holdings Ltd
Prad Research and Development NV
Schlumberger Technology BV
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to EP07106674A priority Critical patent/EP1983148B1/fr
Application filed by Services Petroliers Schlumberger SA, Gemalto Terminals Ltd, Schlumberger Holdings Ltd, Prad Research and Development NV, Schlumberger Technology BV filed Critical Services Petroliers Schlumberger SA
Priority to DE602007013700T priority patent/DE602007013700D1/de
Priority to AT07106674T priority patent/ATE504716T1/de
Priority to CNA2008100870714A priority patent/CN101333912A/zh
Priority to CA002628981A priority patent/CA2628981A1/fr
Priority to US12/103,480 priority patent/US20080257606A1/en
Publication of EP1983148A1 publication Critical patent/EP1983148A1/fr
Priority to US12/695,200 priority patent/US20100147045A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1983148B1 publication Critical patent/EP1983148B1/fr
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B7/00—Special methods or apparatus for drilling
    • E21B7/04—Directional drilling
    • E21B7/06—Deflecting the direction of boreholes
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP 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
    • E21B17/20—Flexible or articulated drilling pipes, e.g. flexible or articulated rods, pipes or cables
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP 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
    • E21B17/22—Rods or pipes with helical structure

Definitions

  • This invention relates to flexible drill shafts and in particular flexible drill shafts able to transmit a high torque during drilling of lateral boreholes.
  • drainholes In oil and gas wells, it is often desirable to drill holes laterally out from a main vertical borehole to increase the communication with the formation surrounding the main borehole and the drainage area. These lateral holes are generally known as drainholes. They provide a passageway through the surrounding formation and can increase the flow rate of the hydrocarbons into the well casing of the main borehole and improve the amount of hydrocarbon extracted.
  • the equipment or apparatus used to drill the drainholes In order to have drainholes having a significant length, the equipment or apparatus used to drill the drainholes generally have a flexible shaft to have the ability to change the direction of the apparatus from the main borehole and the lateral borehole and to transmit the rotational power and the rate of penetration to the drill bit.
  • US 6,220,372 discloses an apparatus for drilling lateral drainholes comprising a flexible shaft formed from at least two helically wound coil springs.
  • the document discloses that the springs should be formed from wire having a circular cross section.
  • US 4,658,916 discloses a flexible drill shaft formed from at least two helically wound coil springs formed from wires having rectangular cross section. This document describes that the wire used to form the coils springs has a rectangular cross section.
  • GB2030678 also discloses a flexible drill shaft formed from a pair of helical springs. The document discloses that the springs are formed from flat bands having a rectangular cross section. However if a coiled spring is formed from rectangular cross sectional wire, during the winding process the wire can be distorted due to the pressures altering the final cross section shape of the wire that is forming the spring, such that is no longer rectangular, as shown in figure 1 .
  • One of the difficulties of having a flexible shaft is that while the flexibility allows it curve to direct the drill bit at an angle away from the main borehole to drill a drainhole and therefore help the drilling apparatus negotiate the bend in the bore hole so that it can drill in a path at an angle away from the main borehole.
  • the flexibility of the shaft can reduce stability of the shaft when it is required to drill in a straight path and can reduce the torque that is provided to the drill bit.
  • One aspect of the invention comprises a flexible drill shaft for drilling lateral boreholes comprising: a helical outer wire coil spring; and at least one inner helical wire coil spring residing concentrically within the outer coil spring, with the coils of adjacent springs having an opposite pitch; wherein the wire forming each helical coil springs has a cross section such that when the drill shaft is in a straight alignment there is planar contact between the wire of adjacent coils of the spring and characterised in that the contact surfaces of adjacent coils comprise at least one of ridges, grooves and combinations. There is planar contact between the adjacent coils when a rotational force and an axial load are applied to the drill shaft during drilling in a straight pathway. Having planar contact between the coils forming each coiled spring helps prevent buckling of the drill shaft.
  • the cross section of the wires is such that planar contact between adjacent coils is maintained even when the drill shaft is drilling in a straight direction.
  • the cross section of the wire is prismatic. More preferably the cross section of the wire of the flexible drill shaft is square, rectangular or lozenge. These cross section shapes allows for planar contact between the adjacent coils of a coil spring.
  • the coiled springs can be formed from at least two wires coiled in parallel. Having two or more wires coiled in parallel allows more torque to be transmitted and reduces the coiling angle.
  • a flexible drill shaft can be formed from coil springs having a preload. Having a preload between spires gives the springs a longitudinal stiffness which helps provide the shaft with stability during drilling in a straight trajectory.
  • the flexible drill shaft can further comprise a torque spike filter. This protects the shaft from damage caused by a torque spike.
  • the filter can be placed at any place along the shaft.
  • the flexible drill shaft can further comprise a drill bit at the lower end of the shaft.
  • a another aspect of the invention comprises a method of making a flexible drill shaft as described above comprising: providing a wire having an intial cross section; winding the wire to form a helical coil spring; applying a mechanical deformation to the wire as it is being wound to deform deform the initial cross section of the wire; and using the helical coil spring to form a flexible drill shaft; wherein the initial cross section of the wire is selected such that mechanical deformation applied results in the wire having a final cross section after being wound such that when an axial load is applied to the drill shaft there is planar contact between adjacent coils of the spring.
  • the method comprises applying a preload to the wire as it is being wound.
  • the method can comprise using dimensional or thermal expansion to tightly assemble two or more coil springs together. This can help reduce the gap between coil springs of the flexible drill shaft.
  • the flexible shaft is formed of a helically wound outer coil spring and one or more helically wound and smaller inner coils springs residing concentrically therein.
  • Each successively smaller inner coil spring has an outer diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the adjacent larger coil spring.
  • Each coil spring is wound in the opposite direction to that of the adjacent coil springs, the outer coil spring sets the winding reference direction, and is wound in the same direction as the direction that the drill bit will rotate.
  • the springs are held rigid in relation to each of the other coil springs at the drill shafts upper and lower ends.
  • the springs are close wound with axially adjacent coils of each coil spring in contact with each other. During assembly dimensional or thermal expansion can be used to remove any gaps between adjacent coil springs, so that the coil springs are assembled tightly together.
  • Each of the springs is formed of wound wire, having a geometric cross section.
  • the winding process can cause the initial cross section of the wire to deform as it is being coiled to form a spring. Therefore the wire forming the spring has a different final cross section, once formed into the spring than what it initially starts off with before it is coiled.
  • a wire with an initial square cross section is deformed into a wire having a trapezium cross section due to the compression forces placed on the wire as it is being formed into the coil spring.
  • a coil spring that is formed from wire having a trapezium cross section along its length, as in figure 1 does not have planar contact between adjacent coils of the spring.
  • a wire having an initial trapezium cross section when used to form a coiled spring the final shape of the cross section of the wire once formed into the spring is a square due to the compression forces placed on the wire during the winding process.
  • the angle, ⁇ is the angle by which the cross section of the wire is corrected by to compensate for the deformation that the wire will under go during the winding process to form the spring.
  • the final square cross section allows for planar connect between the adjacent coils.
  • the angle correction to the initial wire used for forming the spring can be done by either applying an opposite mechanical deformation to the wire during the winding process, or by directly wire drawing with a cross section that when altered due to the compression forces applied during the winding process will result in a final cross section that allows planar connect between coils.
  • Planar contact between the coils improves the performance of the flexible shaft when drilling in a straight path. Planar contact between the adjacent coils gives the shaft a better anti- buckling effect and ensures rigidity of the shaft, when placed under an axial load, such as during drilling.
  • Planar contact between the surfaces of coils increases the friction this reduces the shrinking of the diameter of the spring under torque. Reducing the shrinking of the diameter of the spring under torque can also be helped by having a spring with a lozenge cross section.
  • the wire has a lozenge section as indicated in figure 3 , there will be planar connect between adjacent coils.
  • Wire having a lozenge cross section to be used to form a coiled spring will have an angle ⁇ , where angle ⁇ is equal to the corrected angle ⁇ , to take into account deformation that occurs due winding process, and an additional angle such that the wire maintains a lozenge cross section after the winding process.
  • the springs used to form the flexible shaft can be preloaded springs. A preload is applied during the winding process of the spring. This gives the drill shaft a lengthwise stiffness allowing the shaft to have stability when drilling in a straight direction.
  • ridges 2 and/or grooves 3 are added to the wire forming the coils.
  • Processes for forming the ridges and grooves on the wire can include mechanical deformation of the formed wire or directly wiredrawing, however other methods may be used. Increasing the friction ratio between adjacent coils, will reduce the slippage that can occur between the adjacent surfaces, and therefore improve the stability of the drill shaft.
  • a drilling apparatus comprising the flexible drill shaft according to the invention with a drill bit attached to the lower end of the shaft is lowered down into the wellbore.
  • the flexible shaft is guided so as to turn and direct the drill bit to drill laterally into the side of the main borehole.
  • the flexibility of the shaft enables the shaft to turn in a short radius.
  • a rotary motor enables rotation of the shaft and the drill bit. Rotation is imparted by a motor and axial load is transmitted through to the flexible drill shaft causing the drill bit to rotate and drilling to proceed. A rotating torque and an axial force are applied to the drill bit through the flexible drill shaft.
  • the applied torque and axial force is more effective in the drilling process.
  • the torque transmitted to the drill bit is improved.
  • the transmissible torque is the sum of the rotational torque 4 and clutch effect which is due to the combination of the axial force 5 down the length of the shaft and the friction ratio between the contact surfaces of adjacent coils.

Claims (9)

  1. Tige de foret flexible pour percer des trous de forage latéraux comprenant :
    un ressort hélicoïdal à fil externe hélicoïdal ; et
    au moins un ressort hélicoïdal à fil hélicoïdal interne positionné de manière concentrique à l'intérieur du ressort hélicoïdal interne, avec les spires (1) des ressorts adjacents qui ont un pas opposé ;
    dans lequel le fil formant chaque ressort hélicoïdal a une section transversale de sorte que lorsque la tige de foret est dans un alignement droit, on assiste à un contact plan entre les spires adjacentes du ressort et caractérisée en ce que la surface de contact des spires adjacentes comprend au moins l'une parmi des crêtes (2), des rainures (3) et leurs combinaisons.
  2. Tige de foret flexible selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle la section transversale du fil est carrée, rectangulaire ou losange.
  3. Tige de foret flexible selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 ou 2, dans lequel les ressorts hélicoïdaux sont formés à partir d'au moins deux fils enroulés en parallèle.
  4. Tige de foret flexible selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans laquelle les ressorts hélicoïdaux ont une précharge.
  5. Tige de foret flexible selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, comprenant un filtre à pointe de couple.
  6. Appareil de forage comprenant la tige de foret selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5 et un foret fixé à l'extrémité inférieure de la tige.
  7. Procédé pour réaliser une tige de forage flexible selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, comprenant les étapes consistant à :
    fournir un fil ayant une section transversale initiale ;
    enrouler le fil afin de former un ressort hélicoïdal ;
    appliquer une déformation mécanique sur le fil au fur et à mesure qu'il est enroulé afin de déformer la section transversale initiale du fil ; et
    utiliser le ressort hélicoïdal afin de former une tige de foret flexible ;
    dans lequel la section transversale initiale du fil est choisie de sorte que la déformation mécanique appliquée se traduit par un fil ayant une section transversale finale après avoir été enroulé de sorte que lorsqu'une charge axiale est appliquée sur la tige de foret, il existe un contact plan entre les spires adjacentes (1) du ressort.
  8. Procédé pour fabriquer une tige de foret flexible selon la revendication 7, comprenant l'étape consistant à :
    appliquer une précharge au fur et à mesure que le fil est enroulé.
  9. Procédé selon les revendications 7 ou 8, comprenant l'étape consistant à utiliser la dilatation dimensionnelle ou thermique pour assembler de manière serrée deux ressorts hélicoïdaux ou plus.
EP07106674A 2007-04-20 2007-04-20 Tige de foret flexible Not-in-force EP1983148B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE602007013700T DE602007013700D1 (de) 2007-04-20 2007-04-20 Flexible Bohrwelle
AT07106674T ATE504716T1 (de) 2007-04-20 2007-04-20 Flexible bohrwelle
EP07106674A EP1983148B1 (fr) 2007-04-20 2007-04-20 Tige de foret flexible
CA002628981A CA2628981A1 (fr) 2007-04-20 2008-04-11 Arbre de foret flexible
CNA2008100870714A CN101333912A (zh) 2007-04-20 2008-04-11 柔性钻柱
US12/103,480 US20080257606A1 (en) 2007-04-20 2008-04-15 Flexible Drill Shaft
US12/695,200 US20100147045A1 (en) 2007-04-20 2010-01-28 Flexible drill shaft

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP07106674A EP1983148B1 (fr) 2007-04-20 2007-04-20 Tige de foret flexible

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1983148A1 EP1983148A1 (fr) 2008-10-22
EP1983148B1 true EP1983148B1 (fr) 2011-04-06

Family

ID=38460603

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP07106674A Not-in-force EP1983148B1 (fr) 2007-04-20 2007-04-20 Tige de foret flexible

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (2) US20080257606A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP1983148B1 (fr)
CN (1) CN101333912A (fr)
AT (1) ATE504716T1 (fr)
CA (1) CA2628981A1 (fr)
DE (1) DE602007013700D1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (8)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130165908A1 (en) * 2011-12-02 2013-06-27 Barosense, Inc. Positioning device and articulation assembly for remote positioning of a tool
AU2013313339B2 (en) * 2012-09-10 2016-04-14 Jeremy C. Jacobson Apparatus and method for lateral well drilling
DE112014007202T5 (de) * 2014-11-24 2017-08-03 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. System und Verfahren zum Herstellen von Untertagewerkzeugkomponenten
JP6847417B2 (ja) * 2017-05-22 2021-03-24 大成建設株式会社 削孔装置および削孔方法
US10428606B2 (en) * 2017-07-12 2019-10-01 Saudi Arabian Oil Company Collecting drilling microchips
US10695847B2 (en) 2018-04-09 2020-06-30 Robert Bosch Tool Corporation Saw height adjustment mechanism having a flexible shaft
DE102019106835B4 (de) * 2019-03-18 2021-01-14 Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG Rotorwelle einer elektrischen Maschine und Verfahren zur Herstellung einer Rotorwelle
RU2704155C1 (ru) * 2019-04-23 2019-10-24 Хармен Йоханнес Антониус Елсма Хендрикус Система и способ бурения пилотного ствола через стенку скважины

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE602007013700D1 (de) 2011-05-19
CA2628981A1 (fr) 2008-10-20
ATE504716T1 (de) 2011-04-15
EP1983148A1 (fr) 2008-10-22
CN101333912A (zh) 2008-12-31
US20100147045A1 (en) 2010-06-17
US20080257606A1 (en) 2008-10-23

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