Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Methods and apparatus for controlled directional drilling of boreholes

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6904131

An apparatus adapted for controlling the direction in which a borehole is being excavated is described and comprises: a body adapted to be coupled to rotatable earth-boring apparatus and dependently supported in a borehole from a tubular drill string in which a drilling fluid is circulating; first means cooperatively arranged on the body and adapted for dividing a drilling fluid circulating in a tubular drill string supporting the body into at least two fluid streams to be respectively discharged from rotating earth-boring apparatus coupled to the body and into angularly-spaced sectors of a borehole being excavated; and second means cooperatively arranged on the body. A method is described for selectively excavating an inclined borehole with rotatable earth-boring apparatus suspended from a tubular drill string having a drilling fluid circulating therethrough. The earth-boring apparatus has fluid passages respectively arranged therein for discharging a stream of the drilling fluid into an adjacent sector of the inclined borehole as the earth-boring apparatus is being advanced.

Assignee:
Schlumberger Technology Corp., New York, NY
Patent Number(s):
US 4637479
OSTI ID:
6904131
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English