Directional Drilling Steering Pad Axial Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional directional drilling methods are inefficient and costly, particularly when attempting to access multiple small hydrocarbon reservoirs from a single location, as they require frequent rig setup and teardown, leading to increased time and environmental impact.

Innovation Solution

A directional drilling system featuring a drill bit with a shaft transferring rotational power and a steering system comprising a sleeve and steering pad, where axial movement of the steering pad adjusts the steering angle to control the drill bit's direction, allowing for precise trajectory changes and efficient access to multiple reservoirs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional drilling methods are used to access multiple small reservoirs, then each reservoir can be accessed individually, but the rig must be frequently set up and taken down, increasing time and cost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of wells drilled from single locationVSAvoidrig setup and teardown time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The drilling system is segmented into modular components including a drill bit assembly, steering system with adjustable pads, and power transmission elements. This segmentation allows the drill bit to be redirected without removing the entire rig, enabling multiple wells to be drilled from a single location by simply repositioning the modular drill bit assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The steering system incorporates dynamically adjustable steering pads that can be repositioned axially along the drill bit shaft. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the drilling direction to be changed in real-time during operation, enabling the drill bit to access multiple reservoirs without requiring rig teardown and resetup

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If directional drilling is used to extend wellbores laterally through target formations, then resource recovery is improved, but the steering system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelateral wellbore extension capabilityVSAvoidsteering system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The steering system employs localized steering pads positioned at specific locations on the drill bit assembly. Each pad can be independently adjusted to steer the drill bit in desired directions, providing localized control without requiring complex system-wide modifications. This local quality approach enables lateral wellbore extension through target formations while maintaining relatively simple overall system architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The steering pads act as intermediary elements between the power transmission shaft and the rock formation. By adjusting the position of these intermediate pads, the drilling direction can be controlled without directly modifying the entire drill bit assembly or power transmission system, thus reducing overall system complexity while achieving the desired lateral extension

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11434696B2Directional drilling systems and methods

Publication Date: 2022.09.06 SCHLUMBERGER TECH CORP

AI summary

A directional drilling system that includes a drill bit capable of drilling a bore through rock. A shaft couples to the drill bit. The shaft transfers rotational power from a motor to the drill bit. A steering system controls a drilling direction of the drill bit. The steering system includes a sleeve coupled to the shaft. A steering pad couples to the sleeve. The steering pad forms a steering angle with the drill bit. Axial movement of the steering pad with respect to the drill bit changes the drilling direction by changing the steering angle.