Oil wells are created by drilling a hole into the earth, in some cases using a drilling rig that rotates a drill string (e.g., drill pipe) having a drill bit attached thereto. In other cases, the drilling rig does not rotate the drill bit. For example, the drill bit can be rotated down-hole. The drill bit, aided by the weight of pipes (e.g., drill collars) cuts into rock within the earth. Drilling fluid (e.g., mud) is pumped into the drill pipe and exits at the drill bit. The drilling fluid may be used to cool the bit, lift rock cuttings to the surface, at least partially prevent destabilization of the rock in the wellbore, and/or at least partially overcome the pressure of fluids inside the rock so that the fluids do not enter the wellbore. Other equipment can also be used for evaluating formations, fluids, production, other operations, and so forth.
Aspects of the disclosure can relate to a displacement assembly that includes a housing that defines a passage to be in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid supply proximate to a first end of the passage. The displacement assembly also includes a displacement mechanism slidably coupled with the housing to reciprocate in the passage from a first orientation where the displacement mechanism is proximate to the first end of the passage toward a second orientation where the displacement mechanism is proximate to a second end of the passage opposite the first end. The displacement mechanism and the housing define a seal for preventing pressurized fluid from the pressurized fluid supply from migrating through the passage when the displacement mechanism is in the first orientation. The displacement mechanism and the housing allow pressurized fluid to migrate through the passage when the displacement mechanism is in the second orientation.
Aspects of the disclosure can also relate to a displacement assembly that includes a housing that defines a passage to be in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid supply proximate to a first end of the passage. The displacement assembly also includes a piston slidably coupled with the housing to reciprocate in the passage from a first orientation where the piston is proximate to the first end of the passage toward a second orientation where the piston is proximate to a second end of the passage opposite the first end. The piston and the housing define a seal for preventing pressurized fluid from the pressurized fluid supply from migrating through the passage when the piston is in the first orientation. The piston and the housing allow pressurized fluid to migrate through the passage when the piston is in the second orientation.
Aspects of the disclosure can further relate to a displacement assembly that includes a housing that defines a passage to be in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid supply proximate to a first end of the passage. The displacement assembly also includes a displacement mechanism slidably coupled with the housing to reciprocate in the passage from a first orientation where the displacement mechanism is proximate to the first end of the passage toward a second orientation where the displacement mechanism is proximate to a second end of the passage opposite the first end. The displacement mechanism and the housing define a seal for preventing pressurized fluid from the pressurized fluid supply from migrating through the passage when the displacement mechanism is in the first orientation. The displacement mechanism defines an exhaust path that connects the first end of the passage to the second end of the passage when the displacement mechanism is in the second orientation that allows the pressurized fluid to migrate through the passage from the first end of the passage to the second end of the passage when the displacement mechanism is in the second orientation. The displacement mechanism defines a chamber at the end of the exhaust path. The displacement assembly further includes a valve for fluid communication with the pressurized fluid supply. The value can be biased to move to a first position when the displacement mechanism is in the second orientation, and to move to a second position when the displacement mechanism is in the first orientation.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Embodiments of displacement assembly with a displacement mechanism defining an exhaust path therethrough are described with reference to the following figures. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components.
Various steering techniques can be used for directional drilling systems. These systems employ down hole equipment that responds to commands (e.g., from surface equipment) and steers into a desired direction. For example, pistons may be used to generate force against a borehole wall or to cause angular displacement of one steerable system component with respect to another to cause a drill bit to move in the desired direction of deviation. The pistons can be actuated using, for example, drilling fluid pumped downwardly through a drill string. When actuating a hydraulic pad or piston in a bias unit for a steering system, an exhaust line can be included somewhere in the supply line to allow the piston or pad to return back to its closed (e.g., unactuated) position. In this manner, full steerability can be achieved by providing a full range of motion in the hole. However, the exhaust is continuously open, resulting in a constant pressure leak that can lead to inefficiencies and/or a reduction in available pressure behind the pad or piston. With reference to
The present disclosure describes apparatus, systems, and techniques that can provide one or more exhaust flow channels in the body of the piston itself. The flow of fluid to annular can be choked by one or more sealing members (e.g., pads) that seal against the piston. When pressure pushes the piston outward, the exhausts are opened gradually against the pads allowing fluid to flow out of the piston. The more the piston moves, the more the exhaust opens. As described herein, drilling applications are provided by way of example and are not meant to limit the present disclosure. In other embodiments, systems, techniques, and apparatus as described herein can be used with other down-hole operations, such as with equipment for applications including, but not necessarily limited to: well testing, simulation, completion, and so forth. Further, such systems, techniques, and apparatus can be used in other applications not necessarily related to down-hole operations. For example, in some embodiments, a displacement assembly as described herein can be used to implement a damped valve (e.g., for a plumbing application).
A bottom hole assembly (BHA) 116 is suspended at the end of the drill string 104. The bottom hole assembly 116 includes a drill bit 118 at its lower end. In embodiments of the disclosure, the drill string 104 includes a number of drill pipes 120 that extend the bottom hole assembly 116 and the drill bit 118 into subterranean formations. Drilling fluid (e.g., mud) 122 is stored in a tank and/or a pit 124 formed at the wellsite. The drilling fluid can be water-based, oil-based, and so on. A pump 126 displaces the drilling fluid 122 to an interior passage of the drill string 104 via, for example, a port in the rotary swivel 114, causing the drilling fluid 122 to flow downwardly through the drill string 104 as indicated by directional arrow 128. The drilling fluid 122 exits the drill string 104 via ports (e.g., courses, nozzles) in the drill bit 118, and then circulates upwardly through the annulus region between the outside of the drill string 104 and the wall of the borehole 102, as indicated by directional arrows 130. In this manner, the drilling fluid 122 cools and lubricates the drill bit 118 and carries drill cuttings generated by the drill bit 118 up to the surface (e.g., as the drilling fluid 122 is returned to the pit 124 for recirculation).
In some embodiments, the bottom hole assembly 116 includes a logging-while-drilling (LWD) module 132, a measuring-while-drilling (MWD) module 134, a rotary steerable system 136, a motor, and so forth (e.g., in addition to the drill bit 118). The logging-while-drilling module 132 can be housed in a drill collar and can contain one or a number of logging tools. It should also be noted that more than one LWD module and/or MWD module can be employed (e.g. as represented by another logging-while-drilling module 138). In embodiments of the disclosure, the logging-while drilling modules 132 and/or 138 include capabilities for measuring, processing, and storing information, as well as for communicating with surface equipment, and so forth.
The measuring-while-drilling module 134 can also be housed in a drill collar, and can contain one or more devices for measuring characteristics of the drill string 104 and drill bit 118. The measuring-while-drilling module 134 can also include components for generating electrical power for the down-hole equipment. This can include a mud turbine generator (also referred to as a “mud motor”) powered by the flow of the drilling fluid 122. However, this configuration is provided by way of example and is not meant to limit the present disclosure. In other embodiments, other power and/or battery systems can be employed. The measuring-while-drilling module 134 can include one or more of the following measuring devices: a weight-on-bit measuring device, a torque measuring device, a vibration measuring device, a shock measuring device, a stick slip measuring device, a direction measuring device, an inclination measuring device, and so on.
In embodiments of the disclosure, the wellsite system 100 is used with controlled steering or directional drilling. For example, the rotary steerable system 136 is used for directional drilling. As used herein, the term “directional drilling” describes intentional deviation of the wellbore from the path it would naturally take. Thus, directional drilling refers to steering the drill string 104 so that it travels in a desired direction. In some embodiments, directional drilling is used for offshore drilling (e.g., where multiple wells are drilled from a single platform). In other embodiments, directional drilling enables horizontal drilling through a reservoir, which enables a longer length of the wellbore to traverse the reservoir, increasing the production rate from the well. Further, directional drilling may be used in vertical drilling operations. For example, the drill bit 118 may veer off of a planned drilling trajectory because of the unpredictable nature of the formations being penetrated or the varying forces that the drill bit 118 experiences. When such deviation occurs, the wellsite system 100 may be used to guide the drill bit 118 back on course.
The drill assembly includes a body for receiving a flow of drilling fluid. The body comprises one or more crushing and/or cutting implements, such as conical cutters and/or bit cones having spiked teeth (e.g., in the manner of a roller-cone bit). In this configuration, as the drill string is rotated, the bit cones roll along the bottom of the borehole in a circular motion. As they roll, new teeth come in contact with the bottom of the borehole, crushing the rock immediately below and around the bit tooth. As the cone continues to roll, the tooth then lifts off the bottom of the hole and a high-velocity drilling fluid jet strikes the crushed rock chips to remove them from the bottom of the borehole and up the annulus. As this occurs, another tooth makes contact with the bottom of the borehole and creates new rock chips. In this manner, the process of chipping the rock and removing the small rock chips with the fluid jets is continuous. The teeth intermesh on the cones, which helps clean the cones and enables larger teeth to be used. A drill assembly comprising a conical cutter can be implemented as a steel milled-tooth bit, a carbide insert bit, and so forth. However, roller-cone bits are provided by way of example only and are not meant to limit the present disclosure. In other embodiments, a drill assembly is configured differently. For example, the body of the bit comprises one or more polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) cutters that shear rock with a continuous scraping motion.
In embodiments of the disclosure, the body of the drill assembly defines one or more nozzles that allow the drilling fluid to exit the body (e.g., proximate to the crushing and/or cutting implements). The nozzles allow drilling fluid pumped through, for example, a drill string to exit the body. For example, as discussed with reference to
The drill assembly also includes one or more extendable displacement mechanisms, such as a piston mechanism that can be selectively actuated by an actuator to displace a pad toward, for instance, a borehole wall to cause the drill assembly to move in a desired direction of deviation. In embodiments of the disclosure, the displacement mechanism is actuated by drilling fluid routed through the body of the drill assembly. For example, as discussed with reference to
In some embodiments, a displacement mechanism can be positioned proximate to a bit of a drive assembly. However, in other embodiments, a displacement mechanism can be positioned at various locations along a drill string, a bottom hole assembly, and so on. For example, in some embodiments, a displacement mechanism is positioned in a rotary steerable system 136 (
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Although only a few example embodiments have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the example embodiments without materially departing from a displacement assembly with a displacement mechanism defining an exhaust path therethrough. Features shown in individual embodiments referred to above may be used together in combinations other than those which have been shown and described specifically. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. Thus, although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may be equivalent structures. It is the express intention of the applicant not to invoke means-plus-function for any limitations of any of the claims herein, except for those in which the claim expressly uses the words ‘means for’ together with an associated function.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/116,537, filed on Feb. 15, 2015, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
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International Search Report and Written Opinion issued in related PCT application PCT/US2016/017638 dated May 11, 2016, 15 pages. |
International Preliminary Report on Patentability issued in International Patent application PCT/US2016/017638 dated Aug. 15, 2017, 11 pages. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20160237784 A1 | Aug 2016 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62116537 | Feb 2015 | US |