Expandable Stabilizer With Movable Bearing Pads For Borehole Trimming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for stabilizing and enlarging subterranean boreholes face challenges such as sticking during upward movement, undesirable lateral vibration, and the need for retraction to overcome obstructions, which limits the ability to efficiently trim or enlarge boreholes in both down-hole and up-hole directions.
Innovation Solution
A drilling system comprising an expandable reamer with extensible blades and an expandable stabilizer with up-hole and down-hole cutting structures, allowing for simultaneous stabilization and enlargement of boreholes in either direction without deactivation, using fluid flow or pressure to extend blades and pads for trimming and reaming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional stabilizer systems are used during upward movement, then stabilization is provided, but the system sticks and requires deactivation/retraction
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing pads are made movable and adjustable rather than fixed, allowing them to dynamically adapt to different operational conditions. The pads can be repositioned along the stabilizer body to change their axial position, enabling the system to maintain contact with the borehole wall during both downward and upward movements without sticking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the positional parameter of the bearing pads along the axial direction. By adjusting the axial position of the bearing pads relative to the stabilizer body, the system optimizes contact characteristics during upward and downward movements, preventing sticking and eliminating the need for deactivation.
2Device complexity
If fixed bearing pads are used, then simple structure is maintained, but the system cannot effectively trim obstructions in both directions
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing pads are designed with movable capability along the axial direction of the stabilizer body. This dynamic adjustment allows the pads to be positioned optimally for trimming obstructions during both downward and upward drilling operations, providing bidirectional trimming capability while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable bearing pads serve multiple functions: they provide stabilization during drilling and simultaneously enable obstruction trimming in both downward and upward directions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate trimming devices, maintaining structural simplicity while enhancing versatility.
3Productivity
If extensible blades are used for enlargement, then borehole diameter is increased, but lateral vibration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizer is equipped with bearing pads at specific axial positions to provide localized stabilization. By positioning bearing pads at strategic locations along the stabilizer body, the system counteracts lateral vibrations generated by the extensible blades during borehole enlargement, allowing productive operation without excessive vibration.
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
Enables efficient enlargement and stabilization of boreholes in both down-hole and up-hole directions without retraction, reducing vibration and allowing for effective trimming of borehole obstructions, thereby improving drilling performance and reducing the risk of under-gage boreholes.
Implementation Method 1
an expandable stabilizer with up-hole and down-hole cutting structures, allowing for simultaneous stabilization and enlargement of boreholes in either direction without deactivation, using fluid flow or pressure to extend blades and pads
Implementation Method 2
using fluid flow or pressure to extend blades and pads for trimming and reaming
Data Source
AI summary
Drilling systems and methods for enlarging a borehole that include an expandable reamer and an expandable stabilizer axially coupled above the expandable reamer are disclosed. The expandable reamer includes a tubular body having a longitudinal axis and a drilling fluid flow path therethrough, a plurality of generally radially and longitudinally extending blades carried by the tubular body, and a cutting structure carried by at least one blade of the plurality of blades, wherein at least one blade of the plurality of blades is movable outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis. The expandable stabilizer includes a tubular body having a longitudinal axis and a drilling fluid flow path therethrough, a plurality of generally radially and longitudinally extending bearing pads carried by the tubular body, wherein at least one bearing pad of the plurality of bearing pads includes an up-hole cutting structure carried thereupon and is movable outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis.