Directional Drilling Flow Diverter for Conventional Drill Bits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing directional drilling methods require substantial modifications to conventional drill bits, leading to increased costs and reduced efficiency, as well as reliability issues due to complex designs and rotating seals, which are vulnerable and limit the use of conventional drill bits for both curved and straight sections of boreholes.
Innovation Solution
A directional drilling system that decouples fluid flow from drill string rotation, using a control circuit to regulate the flow diverter's position through an electric load, allowing for conventional drill bits to be used without modifications, and enabling the system to be easily retrieved and reused, thus reducing operational costs and improving reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional drill bits are substantially modified to achieve directional drilling, then directional control is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The directional drilling system is divided into separate functional components: the conventional drill bit remains unmodified while a separate downhole assembly contains the flow diverter mechanism. This segmentation allows the drill bit to be used in its standard form while directional control is achieved through the auxiliary flow diversion system.
Solution Approach 2:
A flow diverter positioned in the annulus between the drill string and borehole acts as an intermediary element to redirect drilling fluid flow. This intermediary device enables directional control without requiring modifications to the drill bit itself, thereby maintaining drill bit simplicity while achieving precise directional drilling.
2Manufacturing precision
If complex designs with rotating seals are used for directional drilling, then directional control capability is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to vulnerability of rotating seals
Solution Approach 1:
The problematic rotating seals are extracted from the directional control mechanism. Instead of using sealed rotating joints to control flow direction, the system employs a flow diverter that can be positioned and oriented without requiring rotation through sealed interfaces, thereby eliminating the reliability issue associated with rotating seals.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical rotating seal system is replaced with a flow diverter positioning system that uses drill string rotation combined with a fixed or selectively orientable flow diverter. This substitution eliminates the need for complex rotating seal mechanisms while maintaining directional control capability.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional drill bits are modified for directional drilling, then directional drilling performance is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to reduced efficiency and increased downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables a single conventional drill bit to serve multiple functions: it can be used for both directional drilling sections and straight borehole sections without modification. The flow diverter can be activated only when directional control is needed, allowing the drill bit to operate at full efficiency during straight section drilling while providing directional control when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow diverter device can be discarded or deactivated after completing the directional drilling section, allowing recovery of the conventional drill bit for subsequent straight section drilling. This approach eliminates the need to permanently modify the drill bit, thereby maintaining drilling efficiency and reducing downtime between different drilling operations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides a robust and cost-effective directional drilling method that maintains high efficiency for both curved and straight borehole sections, reducing the need for complex drill bit modifications and minimizing downtime by allowing the use of conventional drill bits, while ensuring precise directional control.
Implementation Method 1
the drilling fluid rotating a first rotor section arranged within the fluid passage of the drill string with respect to the drill string in a first direction
Implementation Method 2
the drilling fluid rotating a second rotor section, which encloses at least part of the first rotor section, with respect to the first rotor section in a second direction opposite to the first direction
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~5
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Directional drilling of a borehole in a formation, comprising the steps of: providing a drill string (16) having a drill bit (10) at a downhole end thereof, the drill string comprising a central fluid passage (202) extending along a longitudinal axis (18) of the drill string for passing drilling fluid (49) to the drill bit, and the drill bit comprising a plurality of nozzles (35, 38) for expelling the drilling fluid, each nozzle being arranged eccentrically with respect to the longitudinal axis (18); introducing a bit steering assembly (201) for steering the drill bit in the central fluid passage (202) of the drill string; rotating the drill string including the drill bit; pumping drilling fluid (49) through the central fluid passage (202) of the drill string towards the drill bit; the drilling fluid (49) activating a first impeller (216) of a first rotor section (210) to rotate in a first direction with respect to the drill string (16); the drilling fluid (49) activating a second impeller (232) of a second rotor section (212) to rotate in a second direction opposite the first direction; and adjusting a coupling between the first rotor section (210) and the second rotor section (232) to maintain the first rotor section (210) in a predetermined position with respect to the formation.