Patent · US Expired

Drill bit steering

US5311953A · kind A · utility

76Cited by
19References
33Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 7, 1992
Grant dateMay 17, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 7, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B17/1014
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

For steering a drill bit, a trajectory control sub has a lower part adjustable relative to the upper part to produce an axial bend to angularly offset the drill bit so that drilling proceeds along a curved path. Adjustable stabilizer blades are mounted on the sub and are movable between extended positions and retracted positions. An actuator is provided which selectively maintains the drill bit in axial alignment with the section of borehole being drilled, and which is actuable to move the blades into their retracted positions and subsequently, with the blades in their retracted positions, to effect tilting of the lower part relative to the upper part to produce the axial bend leading to tilting of the drill bit.

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