Method and apparatus for self orienting a drill string while drilling a well bore

Patent · Tue Sep 02 04:00:00 EDT 1980

OSTI ID:6697324

Hamilton, J E

The low side of a well bore drilled by a rotary drill string with a drill bit thereon is instrumentally determined as to direction and inclination. An eccentric tubular member is rotatably supported on the drill string and is provided with projection means extending beyond the drill bit diameter and lowered into the well bore. The eccentric tubular member rotates so that the heavy side thereof rests on the low side of the well bore and positions the projection thereon in a predetermined circumferentially spaced and angular relationship relative to the low side of the well bore so that the projection engages the well bore wall during drilling operations and urges the bit laterally of the well bore. During drilling operations, the projection means assumes authority over the drill bit since it extends beyond the diameter of the drilling bit and thus positions the drilling bit laterally in the well bore in a predetermined manner as the drill string is rotated to drill the well bore. The self orienting directional drilling control arrangement includes the eccentric member, support means to support the member in the drill string for relative rotation therebetween and the projection means on the eccentric member which is circumferentially spaced relative to the heavy side thereof and extends radially beyond the drill bit diameter which is secured in the drill string.

• Assignee: IFI; ERA-06-011393; EDB-81-034163
• Patent Number(s): US 4220213
• OSTI ID: 6697324
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420206* -- Engineering-- Mining & Drilling Equipment & Facilities-- (1980-1989)
BOREHOLES
CAVITIES
DESIGN
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
DRILLS
EQUIPMENT
ORIENTATION
POSITIONING
ROTARY DRILLS