WO2012027271A2 - Système de forage contrarotatif - Google Patents

Système de forage contrarotatif Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2012027271A2
WO2012027271A2 PCT/US2011/048617 US2011048617W WO2012027271A2 WO 2012027271 A2 WO2012027271 A2 WO 2012027271A2 US 2011048617 W US2011048617 W US 2011048617W WO 2012027271 A2 WO2012027271 A2 WO 2012027271A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
mandrel
hole motor
gear
drilling system
drilling
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2011/048617
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2012027271A3 (fr
Inventor
David A. H. Wells
Original Assignee
Wells David A H
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
Application filed by Wells David A H filed Critical Wells David A H
Publication of WO2012027271A2 publication Critical patent/WO2012027271A2/fr
Publication of WO2012027271A3 publication Critical patent/WO2012027271A3/fr

Links

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
    • E21B7/00—Special methods or apparatus for drilling
    • E21B7/04—Directional drilling
    • 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
    • E21B7/00—Special methods or apparatus for drilling
    • E21B7/04—Directional drilling
    • E21B7/06—Deflecting the direction of boreholes
    • E21B7/068—Deflecting the direction of boreholes drilled by a down-hole drilling motor

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to systems and apparatuses used in drilling holes for oil and gas exploration and production. More specifically, the invention relates to a modification to down-hole drilling motors so that the holes drilled with these motors are less likely to wander away from a straight line.
  • drill bits of different sizes, shapes and materials are attached to the end of drill pipe and placed against the formations.
  • the drill bits are then rotated either directly from the surface or by down- hole motors located between end of the drill Pipe and the drill bit.
  • the combination of the load and the rotation causes the rock to break up.
  • the broken up pieces are then removed from the well bore by drilling fluids.
  • a drilling system made according to this invention includes a gear box with three main parts: (1) a first mandrel having a gear-profiled spline portion and connectable at its upper end to a shaft of a down hole motor and at its lower end to a first drill bit; (2) a second mandrel having one or more spaced-apart rotators with a gear-profiled spline portion, which may be housed in a cage, and connectable at its lower end to a second drill bit; and (3) a housing having a gear-profiled spline portion located and connectable to a body of the down hole motor.
  • the first mandrel resides within a perimeter of the rotators of the second mandrel, the second mandrel resides within a perimeter of the housing, and each gear-profiled spline portion meshes with an opposing gear-profiled spline portion.
  • Sealing means prevent external drilling fluids from contacting the gear- profiled spline portions and balancing means balance the internal oil pressure with that of the external drilling fluids.
  • the first mandrel rotates in a same direction of rotation as the shaft of the down-hole motor, the housing is prevented from rotating relative to the shaft of the down-hole motor, and the rotators of the second mandrel rotate in a direction opposite that of the first mandrel. A substantially zero net torque is experienced by the down-hole motor.
  • Objects of this invention are to (1) enable bore holes to be drilled straight without having to apply other measures to correct the inherent problem of wandering with existing single bits; (2) enable the use of two concentric drill bits and to cause them to rotate in opposing directions for drilling holes into the earth's various formations; (3) greatly reduce the net torque experienced at the top of the motor when drilling, which is of special advantage when drilling with coiled tubing; and (4) provide a drilling system that is quite simple with relatively few moving parts that are well protected from drilling fluids.
  • FIG. 1 is a cross-section front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of a gear box used in a counter rotation drilling system made according to this invention.
  • the gear box includes an inner mandrel which is connectable to the shaft of a down-hole motor, an outer mandrel, and a housing which is connectable to the body of the down- hole motor.
  • FIG. 2 is a view of the gear box of FIG. 1 taken along section line 2-2 of FIG. 1.
  • the gear-profiled spline portions of the inner mandrel mesh with those of the outer mandrel and the gear-profiled spline portions of the outer mandrel mesh with those of the housing. Because the inner mandrel is connected to the shaft of the down-hole motor, and because the housing is prevented from rotating relative to the motor, a counter- rotation effect is achieved between the inner and outer mandrels.
  • FIG. 3 is cross-section, front elevational view of the gear box of FIG. 1 with the inner mandrel removed.
  • the rotators of the outer mandrel reside between pillars which form a cage located toward the upper end of the outer mandrel,
  • a retaining plate and bearing ball arrangement keeps the outer mandrel aligned with the housing.
  • FIG. 4 is a partial cross section front elevational view of the housing of the gear box of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the cage portion of the outer mandrel of the gear box of FIG. 1.
  • FIGS. 7 to 9 are front, top and bottom views, respectively, of the retaining plate which retains the cage portion of the outer mandrel of the gear box of FIG. 1. is a top view of the cage portion of the outer mandrel of the gear box of FIG. 1
  • FIG. 10 is a table which presents examples of the relationship between the drive and inner mandrel, cage and outer mandrel, and the housing. Elements and numbering used in the drawings and detailed description:
  • a drilling system 10 made according to this invention enables the use of two concentric drill bits (not shown) which rotate in opposing directions during drilling operations. By providing this counter-rotation, the tendency of one drill bit to wander in one direction is countered by the tendency of the other drill bit to wander in the opposite direction, thereby resulting in holes that are drilled straighter than current single bit assemblies.
  • a gear box convertor (“gear box") 20 is employed onto which the two drill bits are attached at one end and a down-hole motor of a type well-known in the art (not shown) is attached at the other end.
  • the shaft of the down-hole motor inputs rotation in one direction and the gear box 20 provides two concentric counter rotating mandrels 30, 50.
  • the first or inner drill bit of the two drill bits is attached to the first or inner mandrel 30 and the second or outer drill bit is attached to the second or outer mandrel 50.
  • the bit surface areas and rotation speeds must be taken into account ⁇ see e.g. FIG. 10).
  • the gear box 20 consists of three main parts: inner mandrel 30, outer mandrel 50, and housing 80.
  • the inner mandrel 30, which is also the drive mandrel, is a hollow mandrel that, at its upper end 31 , connects to the shaft of the down-hole motor and, at its lower end 33, connects to the inner drill bit.
  • a section 43 of the inner mandrel 30 includes gear-profiled splines 35. Above and below the spline section 43 are seal and bearing areas ⁇ see e.g. two-way floating seal 39 in seal area 37) and, on each end 31, 33, the connections 45, 47 to the shaft of the down-hole motor and the inner drill bit, respectively.
  • the central bore 41 of the inner mandrel 30 receives the drilling fluid that powers the down-hole motor.
  • the inner mandrel 30 resides within the outer mandrel 50.
  • a retaining sleeve 73 located toward the lower end 33 of the inner mandrel 30 surrounds the inner mandrel 30.
  • the outer mandrel 50 includes a cage 57, located at its upper end 51, which is formed by longitudinal slots 59 and pillars 75 left by the longitudinal slots. Three or more rotators 65 are located within longitudinal slots and are received by a retaining plate 61 that is bolted to the pillars 75.
  • the rotators 65 are solid bars with gear-profiled splines 67 machined along their lengths and axle systems 69 on each end 51, 53 that fit, with bearings, into recesses 58, 62 of the cage 57 and the retaining plate 61 , respectively.
  • the lower end 53 of the outer mandrel 50 includes seal areas (see e.g. two-way floating seal 39) and the connection 79 for the second or outer drill bit.
  • Housing 80 which connects at its upper end 81 to the body of the down-hole motor, has gear-profiled splines 87 machined on part of the internal diameter 85.
  • the lower end 83 of the housing 80 has seals 91 that act against the outer mandrel 50 to prevent drilling fluids entering the gear box 20.
  • the inner bit load is transmitted by the drive mandrel 30 directly to the shaft of the down-hole motor.
  • the outer bit load is transmitted by the cage and outer mandrel 50 through a thrust bearing 63 to the body of the down-hole motor.
  • the thrust bearing 63 is located between the retaining plate 61 of the cage 57 and an oil seat or seal plate 77. If desired, this load could be divided between the shaft of the down-hole motor and the body of the down-hole motor.
  • Seal systems totally enclose the gear box 20.
  • the gear box 20 is filled with oil so none of the gear-profiled splined sections 35, 67, 87, nor any of the bearings 93, are exposed to drilling fluids.
  • the flow of the drilling fluid from the down-hole motor could be directed to both the inner and outer bits through flow passages (not shown).
  • a two- way floating seal system 39 balances the internal oil and external drilling fluids pressures.
  • FIG. 9 presents examples of the relationship between the housing 80, rotator 65, and mandrel 30 for various sizes of gear boxes 20.
  • a counter rotating drilling system 10 comprised of a 6-1/2 inch (16.51 cm) gear box, with a 2-3/8 inch (6.032 cm) box thread for the inner bit and a 4-1/2 inch (11.43 cm) pin thread for the outer bit, has an inner diameter of the gear-profiled splines 87 on the housing 80 of about 5 inches (12.7 cm), an outer diameter of the drive mandrel 30 of about 3 inches (7.62 cm), and an outer diameter of the rotators 65 of about 1.3 inches (3.302 cm).
  • the rotation-to-speed ratio works out at about 1.8.
  • the inner drill bit would have an outer diameter of about 5.6 inches (14.224 cm). Allowing for space between the pillars 75 of 10% more than the diameter of the rotators 65, five rotators 65 can be used. The five rotators 65 take up about 60% of the mean diameter of the cage 57, leaving about 40% as the pillars 75.
  • each bit By having two drill bits, sized with the rotational speed of each considered, the torque generated by each bit will be substantially equal and opposite, and thus there will be zero net torque. This means that the tendency for the bit assembly to wander is eliminated, and wells will be drilled straight, in the direction that the bits are pointed.
  • the counter-rotating drill bits are made possible by the gear box 20 described above.
  • a counter rotating drilling system 10 made according to this invention may be used in any application in which bore holes or wells are required to be drilled straight. Although the system requires the use of a down-hole motor, use of a down-hole motor is less expensive than contracted controlled drilling packages.
  • the counter rotation drilling system 10 also has application where thin walled and coiled pipes are used. These pipes have very low torsional strengths, so their use for drilling is very restricted. By using the system in conjunction with a down-hole motor, these types of pipes can be used for drilling, as there is zero net torque at the top of the down-hole motor to which the pipes would be connected.

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention se rapporte à un système de forage (10) qui comprend une boîte à engrenages (20) comportant un premier mandrin (30) présentant une partie de cannelure profilée pour les engrenages (35) et qui peut être raccordé au niveau de son extrémité supérieure (31) à un arbre d'un moteur de fond de trou et au niveau de son extrémité inférieure (35) à un premier trépan ; un second mandrin (50) ayant un ou plusieurs rotateurs espacés (65) présentant une partie de cannelure profilée pour les engrenages (67) et qui peut être raccordé au niveau de son extrémité inférieure (53) à un second trépan ; et un carter (80) présentant une partie de cannelure profilée pour les engrenages (80) et qui peut être raccordé à un corps du moteur de fond de trou. Lorsque la boîte à engrenage (20) est mise en prise lors d'une opération de forage, le premier mandrin (30) tourne dans la même direction de rotation que l'arbre du moteur de fond de trou, le carter (80) ne peut pas tourner par rapport à l'arbre, et les rotateurs (65) du second mandrin (50) tournent dans une direction opposée à celle du premier mandrin (30). Un couple net sensiblement nul est subi par le moteur de fond de trou.
PCT/US2011/048617 2010-08-26 2011-08-22 Système de forage contrarotatif WO2012027271A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US37726010P 2010-08-26 2010-08-26
US61/377,260 2010-08-26

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2012027271A2 true WO2012027271A2 (fr) 2012-03-01
WO2012027271A3 WO2012027271A3 (fr) 2013-03-21

Family

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Country Status (1)

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WO (1) WO2012027271A2 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3073044A1 (fr) * 2015-03-27 2016-09-28 TRACTO-TECHNIK GmbH & Co. KG Dispositif de perçage de couche de recouvrement et procede de perçage d'un noyau dans une couche de recouvrement
CN106639882A (zh) * 2015-10-30 2017-05-10 中石化石油工程技术服务有限公司 一种滑动钻进模式下的随钻微扩眼器

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4683964A (en) * 1985-10-25 1987-08-04 Maxi-Torque Drill Systems, Inc. Downhole drill bit drive apparatus
US5845721A (en) * 1997-02-18 1998-12-08 Southard; Robert Charles Drilling device and method of drilling wells
US6092610A (en) * 1998-02-05 2000-07-25 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Actively controlled rotary steerable system and method for drilling wells
US6109372A (en) * 1999-03-15 2000-08-29 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Rotary steerable well drilling system utilizing hydraulic servo-loop
US7607496B2 (en) * 2007-03-05 2009-10-27 Robert Charles Southard Drilling apparatus and system for drilling wells
EP2260172B1 (fr) * 2008-03-13 2017-10-11 BBJ Tools Inc. Accélérateur de forage de puits et connexion tubulaire

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
None

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3073044A1 (fr) * 2015-03-27 2016-09-28 TRACTO-TECHNIK GmbH & Co. KG Dispositif de perçage de couche de recouvrement et procede de perçage d'un noyau dans une couche de recouvrement
US10443311B2 (en) 2015-03-27 2019-10-15 Tracto-Technik Gmbh & Co. Kg Top surface drilling device and methods for drilling a core in a top surface
CN106639882A (zh) * 2015-10-30 2017-05-10 中石化石油工程技术服务有限公司 一种滑动钻进模式下的随钻微扩眼器

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2012027271A3 (fr) 2013-03-21

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