Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for optional straight hole drilling or directional drilling in earth formations

US5099931A · kind A · utility

21Cited by
17References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 5, 1991
Grant dateMar 31, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 5, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B7/068
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for navigational driling in earth formations, the apparatus including a downhole drilling assembly having a drill bit driven by a downhole motor and a deflection element or elements in the assembly for imparting an angle of deflection to the drill bit relative to the drill string above the drilling assembly. At least two stabilization points for the drilling assembly in the borehole are used, with the drill bit, to define an arcuate path for the drilling assembly when the downhole motor is operating but the drill string is not rotating. When the drill string is rotated, the drilling assembly drills a substantially straight or linear borehole.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.