Patent · US Active

Tool face sensor method

US7669669B2 · kind B2 · utility

12Cited by
25References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 30, 2007
Grant dateMar 2, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 12, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B7/067
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

Exhaust pressure from at least one actuator (34,36) which can tilt joint 6 of a bottom hole assembly 4 can be utilized to determine the direction 26 tiltable joint 6 is pointing (e.g., orientation, angular displacement, and/or inclination and azimuth). In one embodiment, a known exhaust pressure can be correlated to a known orientation and/or angular displacement, and the measured exhaust pressure can be compared to the known exhaust pressure to determine the orientation and/or angular displacement. In another embodiment, the flow rate of fluid exhausted from an actuator (34,36) can be derived from the exhaust pressure. The exhaust flow rate can then be used to calculate the state of actuation, which can allow determination of the angular displacement of the tiltable joint 6. Orientation and/or angular displacement with respect to the bottom hole assembly 4 can be resolved into an inclination and azimuth with respect to a formation 14.

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