Directional Drilling System With Axially Movable Steering Pads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional directional drilling methods are inefficient and costly, as they require multiple rig setups and teardowns to access multiple wells, and struggle with navigating complex rock formations, leading to increased wear on drilling components and reduced resource recovery efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A directional drilling system featuring a drill bit with an outer and inner portion made of different materials, a drive shaft with a bearing system, and a steering system with axially movable steering pads that adjust the drilling direction by changing the steering angle, allowing for precise control of borehole trajectory and reduced wear on drilling components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional drilling methods are used to access multiple wells, then multiple wells can be accessed, but multiple rig setups and teardowns are required which increases time and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The steering pad is designed with axial movement capability within the steering sleeve, allowing dynamic adjustment of the steering angle during drilling operations. This enables the drill bit to change direction multiple times without requiring rig setup changes, thereby accessing multiple wells from a single location and reducing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the steering angle parameter by moving the steering pad axially to different positions within the steering sleeve. This parameter adjustment allows the borehole trajectory to be modified dynamically, enabling access to multiple wells or reservoirs from the same rig location.
2Reliability
If conventional drilling methods are used, then drilling can be performed, but wear on drilling components increases due to inability to navigate complex rock formations efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The movable steering pad allows the drill bit to navigate complex rock formations by dynamically adjusting the steering angle. This reduces the wear on drilling components that would otherwise occur from forced directional changes and enables more efficient navigation through challenging geological structures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the steering pad is fixed within the steering sleeve, then the structure is simple, but the drilling direction cannot be changed multiple times
Solution Approach 1:
The steering pad incorporates axial movement capability within the steering sleeve, transforming it from a fixed to a dynamic component. This allows the drilling direction to be changed multiple times by adjusting the steering pad position, providing the necessary adaptability for complex well trajectories while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A directional drilling system that includes a drill bit that drills a bore through rock. The drill bit includes an outer portion of a first material and an inner portion coupled to the outer portion. The inner portion includes a second material.