Drilling assembly with steering unit integrated in drilling motor

US8689905B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Baker Hughes Holdings LLC · US

Inventors

• Sven Krueger · Trossingen, DE
• Michael Koppe · Erfurt, DE
• Bernd Santelmann · Duderstadt, DE
• Thomas Kelch · Braunschweig, DE
• Niko Spreckelmeyer · Sulingen, DE
• Olof Hummes · Schwelm, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 23, 2010
• Grant date: Apr 8, 2014
• Expiry date: May 14, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC E): Fixed Constructions
• CPC primary: E21B7/068
• WIPO field: Civil engineering
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

An apparatus for use in a wellbore is provided, which in one embodiment includes a drilling motor and a steering unit placed about a shaft between a lower section of a stator in the motor and a drill bit. The steering unit includes a substantially non-rotating member and a force application member on the non-rotating member configured to radially extend the force application member from the non-rotating member. In another embodiment, the steering unit may include, rotating member configured to rotate a drill bit, a steering member configured to orient the drill bit along a selected direction, a first steering device configured to orient the steering member in the wellbore, and a second steering device configured to maintain orientation of the steering member when drilling the wellbore.