Europäisches Patentamt

(19) European Patent Office *EP000710764B1*

Office européen des brevets (11) EP 0 710 764 B1
(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Date of publication and mention (51) Int Cl.7: E21B 7/06
of the grant of the patent:
31.07.2002 Bulletin 2002/31

(21) Application number: 95307647.8

(22) Date of filing: 26.10.1995

(54) Directional drilling motor assembly

Motoranordnung zum Richtungsbohren
Ensemble de moteur pour forage dirigé

(84) Designated Contracting States: (56) References cited:

DE DK FR GB IT NL • ROSS K C ET AL: "MEDIUM RADIUS
ASSEMBLIES DRILL UNIQUE WELL PROFILES"
(30) Priority: 01.11.1994 US 332682 WORLD OIL, vol. 213, no. 3, 1 March 1992,
HOUSTON, TEXAS, US, pages 55-56, 58, 60 - 62,
(43) Date of publication of application: XP000249921
08.05.1996 Bulletin 1996/19 • GOLDMAN W A: "ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
APPLICATIONS ENHANCE DIRECTIONAL
(73) Proprietors: CONTROL" PETROLEUM ENGINEER
• Anadrill International SA INTERNATIONAL, vol. 65, no. 2, 1 February 1993,
Panama City (PA) CLEVELAND, OHIO, US, pages 15-16, 18, 20 - 22,
Designated Contracting States: XP000349994
DE DK GB IT NL • GOLDMAN W A ET AL: "GEOSTEERING
• SERVICES PETROLIERS SCHLUMBERGER CHEVRON’S FIRST HORIZONTAL WELL IN
75007 Paris (FR) CALIFORNIA" PETROLEUM ENGINEER
Designated Contracting States: INTERNATIONAL, vol. 64, no. 10, 1 October 1992,
FR CLEVELAND, OHIO, US, pages 23-27, 29 - 30,
XP000309763
(72) Inventor: Eddison, Alan M. • KOOT L ET AL: "BENT-HOUSING TURBODRILLS
Stonehaven, AB3 2YS, Scotland (GB) IMPROVE HARD-FORMATION DIRECTIONAL
DRILLING" OIL AND GAS JOURNAL, vol. 91, no.
(74) Representative: Macquet, Christophe et al 7, 15 February 1993, TULSA, OKLAHOMA, US,
Schlumberger Cambridge Research Ltd, pages 63-64, 65 - 66, XP000350021
High Cross,
Madingley Road
Cambridge CB3 0EL (GB)
EP 0 710 764 B1

Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give
notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in
a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art.
99(1) European Patent Convention).

Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)

 1 EP 0 710 764 B1
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to a downhole
drilling motor and bit assembly for use in rapidly chang-
ing the inclination of a borehole, and provides an artic-
ulated assembly that is adapted to drill a curved well
bore section having a relatively short radius of curva-
ture.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0002] When curved well bores are drilled with con-
ventional techniques and equipment, a relatively long
radius of curvature in the range of several hundred feet
or more is required. Thus the overall length of the curved
section is quite long and must be carefully monitored to
ensure that the outer end of the section arrives at a spec-
ified location. Such equipment typically includes a mud
motor having a bend angle built into its housing above
the bit bearing section but below the power section of
the motor. An undergage stabilizer usually is run above
the bit to generally center it in the borehole while allow-
ing it to drill a hole that curves gradually upward as the
inclination angle builds up. The radius of curvature is
controlled primarily by the bend angle being used, which
typically can be in the range of from 1-3°. However, even
when a bend angle on the upper end of this range is
employed, the radius of curvature still is rather long.
[0003] There are numerous circumstances where the
drilling of a curved well bore section having a relatively
short radius of curvature is advantageous. One example
is where a vertical well bore is turned to the horizontal
through vertical fractures in order to increase produc-
tion. Also, the geology above the production zone may
make it desirable to drill vertically through a certain rock
layer and then curve the borehole sharply below it.
Moreover, a relatively short radius of curvature allows
the surface facilities to be closer to a position generally
over the production zone than if a long radius curved
section is drilled. It may also be desirable to drill several
horizontal boreholes at different azimuths from a single
vertical borehole to improve drainage. When a number
of wells are drilled from an offshore platform, one or
more wells having a horizontal section may be neces-
sary to tap the production not directly below the site of
the platform. Other occasions where a horizontal well
bore is needed will be apparent to those familiar with the
art. In each case a short radius curve can be drilled in
less time with reduced cost.
[0004] U.S. patent 2,687,282 describes a drilling
structure having a reaming bit, the reaming bit being
connected to flexible shafting by a universal joint. How-
ever, the flexible shafting and bit are rotated from the
surface, and no mention is made of a downhole motor.
2
Ross et al, in an article entitled "MEDIUM RADIUS AS-
SEMBLIES DRILL UNIQUE WELL PROFILES",
WORLD OIL, vol. 213, no. 3, pages 55-56, 58, and
60-62, March 1992, describe a steerable medium radius
5 drilling assembly, the assembly being characterized by
a double kickoff downhole motor incorporating a double
bend.
[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide
a new and improved drilling motor assembly that is con-
10 structed and arranged to drill a curved borehole on a
relatively short radius of curvature.
[0006] Another object of the present invention is to
provide a new and improved articulated drilling motor
assembly which allows the drilling of a curved borehole
15 section having a short radius of curvature.
[0007] According to another aspect of the present in-
vention, there is provided a new and improved articulat-
ed drilling motor assembly which includes spaced sta-
bilizer means having a bend angle therebetween to al-
20 low the inclination angle to build up at a high rate during
drilling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
25 [0008] More specifically, the present invention pro-
vides an articulated directional drilling motor assembly
including a power section that responds to the flow of
drilling fluids to provide a rotary output that is coupled
by a drive shaft and a bearing mandrel to a drill bit on
30 the lower end of the assembly. A first articulative joint
means connects the housing of the power section to a
lower housing having a drill bit at its lower end. The first
articulative joint means may include ball means on one
of said housings engaged in socket means on the other
35 of said housings. The lower housing includes an upper
section and a lower section that are connected together
in a manner that defines a bend angle. Wall-engaging
pads and a hydraulic piston are mounted on respective
opposite sides of the upper housing section, and a sta-
40 bilizer is mounted on the lower housing section near the
bit. An articulative joint that prevents relative rotation
connects the motor housing and lower housing to one
another. During drilling, fluid pressure in the housing ex-
tends the hydraulic piston, and reaction forces shift the
45 opposed pads against the low side of the borehole. This
tilts the upper end of the upper section toward the low
side of the borehole, and, in effect increases the bend
angle so that the assembly drills on a sharper curve. An-
other articulative joint connects the upper end of the mo-
50 tor housing to a wireline orientation sub or an MWD tool
which allows the trajectory of the curved hole to be mon-
itored at the surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
55
[0009] The present invention has the above as well
as other objects, features, and advantages which will
become more clearly apparent in connection with the
2
 3 EP 0 710 764 B1
following detailed description of a preferred embodi-
ment, taken in conjunction with the appended drawings
in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic view of a well having a short
radius directional section that is curving from the
vertical toward the horizontal;
Figures 2A-2C are longitudinal cross-sectional
views of the articulated drilling motor assembly of
the present invention;
Figure 3 is a somewhat enlarged cross-section tak-
en on line 3-3 of Figure 2B;
Figure 4 is a cross-section on line 4-4 of Figure 2B;
and
Figure 5 is a cross section on line 5-5 of Figure 2C.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0010] Referring initially to Figure 1, a borehole 10 is
shown extending downward, substantially vertically,
from a surface site 11 where a drilling rig (not shown) is
located. At some depth below the surface, depending
on geology and other factors, the borehole 10 is shown
being curved through a section 14 that eventually will
bring its outer end to the horizontal. The radius of cur-
vature R of the section 14 is relatively short, and through
use of the present invention can be in the order of about
18 meters (about 60 feet) for an assembly that is used
to drill a borehole having a diameter of about 16 cm. (6
1/8 inches). The curved section 14 is drilled with an ar-
ticulated drilling motor assembly 15 that is constructed
in accordance with the present invention. The motor as-
sembly 15 is run on a drill string 16 that typically includes
a length of heavy drill collars 17 suspended below a
length of drill pipe 18. A lower section of drill pipe 18' is
used in the curved section 14 of the borehole 10, since
the drill collars usually are too stiff to negotiate the curve
and still function to apply weight. A drill bit 20 on the
lower end of the motor assembly 15 can be either a roll-
ing cone or a diamond device. The power section 21 of
the motor assembly 15 preferably is the well-known
Moineau-type design where a helical rotor rotates in a
lobed stator in response to drilling mud being pumped
through it under pressure. The lower end of the rotor is
coupled by a universal-joint shown schematically at 24
to an intermediate drive shaft 73 whose lower end is
coupled by another universal joint 25 to the upper end
of a hollow mandrel 27. The mandrel 27 is journaled for
rotation in a bearing assembly 28, and the drill bit 20 is
attached to a bit box 30 on the lower end of the mandrel
27.
[0011] The upper end of the drilling motor assembly
15 can include a tubular orienting sub 32 that is connect-
ed to the upper end of the power section 21 by a ball
joint assembly 33. The lower end of the housing 65 of
the power section 21 is connected by another ball joint
assembly 35 to the upper end of a lower housing 36.
The housing 36 includes upper and lower sections that
4
are connected together in a manner such that their lon-
gitudinal centerlines intersect within the connection to
establish a bend angle at about bend point B. As will be
explained in detail below, the upper section of the lower
5 housing 36 carries a pair of angularly spaced, outwardly
extending pads 130 whose outer faces engage the low
side of the borehole 14 and provide an upper touch
point. The upper section of the lower housing 36 also
carries a hydraulically operable piston means 38 on the
10 side thereof opposite the pads 130 that tends to extend
under pressure and engage the high side of the bore-
hole 14. Alternatively, piston means 38 may be spring
actuated. A concentric stabilizer 40 is mounted in fixed
position on the lower section of the housing 36 below
15 the bend point B, and includes a plurality of angularly
spaced, longitudinal ribs 41 whose outer faces lie in a
cylinder having a longitudinal axis that is coincident as
the axis of the mandrel 27 so as to centralize the lower
housing section in the borehole. The stabilizer 40 may
20 be full gage, generally about .16 cm. (1/16 inch) or less
smaller than borehole diameter, or it may be slightly un-
dergage depending upon drilling conditions. The ribs 41
may be considered as providing a second touch point
with the borehole 14. The operation of the pads 130, the
25 piston means 38, the stabilizer 40 and the bend angle
will be explained in detail below. Generally, however,
these components together with the articulative joints
35 and 33 enable the bit 20 to drill on a relatively sharp
curve by allowing rapid build-up of the inclination angle
30 of the borehole 14 as drilling proceeds.
[0012] Turning now to Figure 2A for a more detailed
description of the present invention, the orienting sub
32 has threads 42 by which its upper end is connected
to an adapted sub 9 which attaches to the lower end of
35 the drill string 16. The sub 32 has an enlarged diameter
bore 43 which extends down to a shoulder 44 so that a
typical guide sleeve (not shown) can be inserted into the
bore and held therein by a radial lock pin 45. An orienting
mandrel (not shown) may be lowered through the drill
40 string 16 on an electric wireline and seated in such
sleeve so that directional parameters such as inclina-
tion, azimuth and toolface can be read out at the surface.
These parameters can be used to properly orient the
assembly 15 at the kick-off point where the curved bore-
45 hole section 14 begins, and to monitor the progress of
the hole as needed. In the alternative, the sub 32 can
be used with a typical measuring-while-drilling (MWD)
tool having sensors to measure the above-mentioned
parameters and transmit mud pulse signals to the sur-
50 face which are representative thereof. An MWD tool of
this type is disclosed in U.S. Patents No. 4,100,528,
4,103,281, 4,167,000 and 5,237,540.
[0013] The lower end of the sub 32 is threaded at 46
to the neck 47 of an articulative coupling in the form of
55 a ball 48. The spherical outer surfaces 50, 51 of the ball
48 are engaged by companion surfaces on upper and
lower ring members 52, 53 that seat in upper and lower
internal annular recesses 54, 55 in the upper end of ball
3
 5 EP 0 710 764 B1
joint housing 56. The upper ring 52 has a conical upper
surface 57 that when engaged by outer surfaces on the
neck 47 limit off-axis pivotal movement of the ball 48 to
a selected angle such as 5°. The upper ring member 52
can be threaded into the recess 54, and held by a re-
tainer ring 58 that is fixed by one or more screws. A plu-
rality of ball bearings 60, 61 which seat in semi-spherical
recesses on the sides of the ball 48 engage in longitu-
dinal slots 62, 63 in the housing 56 to co-rotatively cou-
ple the ball to the housing so that torque can be trans-
mitted through the ball joint.
[0014] The lower end of the ball joint housing 56 is
connected by threads 64 to the upper end of the housing
65 of the mud motor power section 21. The internal de-
tails of the power section 21 are well known and need
not be set forth herein. As shown in Figure 2B, the lower
end portion 66 of the power section rotor is threaded at
67 to the driving member 68 of the upper universal joint
24. The member 68 has a depending skirt 70 that carries
a retaining ring 71, and the driven member 72 of the uni-
versal joint 24 is mounted on the upper end of an inter-
mediate drive shaft 73 that extends down through the
retaining ring. The driven member 72 carries a plurality
of drive balls 74, 75 that are seated in semi-spherical
recesses and engage in longitudinal slots 76, 77 inside
the lower end of the driving member 68. The balls 74,
75 transmit torque from the rotor 66 to the drive shaft 73
while allowing wobbling motion of the lower end portion
of the rotor to occur. If desired, an enlarged diameter
ball bearing 78 which is received in opposed semi-
spherical recesses in the member 72 and in an upper
block 80 that fits in a recess in the driving member 68
can be employed to stabilize the universal joint during
orbital motion.
[0015] The lower end of the power section housing 65
is threaded at 83 to a lower articulative ball joint housing
84. Here again a ball member 85 is fitted between upper
and lower ring members 86, 87 which seat in upper and
lower internal recesses 88, 90 in the lower portion of the
housing 84. The lower ring member 87 has a conical
inner surface 91 to limit off-axis pivotal rotation of the
ball 85 and its neck 92 to about 5°. Balls 93, 94 which
engage in longitudinal grooves 95, 96 co-rotatively se-
cure the ball member 85 to the housing 84. A retainer
ring 97 and a screw hold the ring members 86, 87 and
the ball member 85 assembled. The neck 92 is connect-
ed by threads 98 to the upper end of the lower housing
36. The housing 36 has an internal recess 100 which
houses the lower universal joint assembly 25 by which
the lower end of the drive shaft 73 is connected to the
upper end of the bearing mandrel 27. The driving mem-
ber 101 of the universal joint assembly 25 has recesses
which carry a plurality of drive balls 102, 103 that engage
in longitudinal slots 104, 105 on the driven member 106.
As in the previously described universal joint, an en-
larged diameter ball bearing 107 that seats in a bearing
block 108 stabilizes rotation. A skirt 110 on the driven
member 106 carries a retaining ring 111 on its upper
6
end.
[0016] The outer peripheries of the skirt 110 and the
driven member 106 are spaced inwardly of the inner
walls 112 of the lower housing 36 to provide an annular
5 fluid passageway 126 that leads to radial ports 113, 114
which communicate with a bore 115 so that mud flow
can enter the central bore 116 of the bearing mandrel
27 and pass downward toward the bit 20. The upper end
of the mandrel 27 is connected by threads 117 to the
10 lower end of the driven member 106 and is thus rotated
thereby. As shown in Figure 2C, the housing 143 of the
bearing assembly 28 surrounds a bearing 145, and the
upper portion 120 thereof is threaded at 118 to the lower
end of the housing 36. A seal sleeve 121 (Fig. 2B) is
15 fixed inside the upper portion 120 of the housing 143. A
bearing sleeve 124 whose upper end is engaged by a
nut 123 that is threaded onto the bearing mandrel 27 at
129 extends through the seal sleeve 121 and is posi-
tioned between it and the upper portion of the bearing
20 mandrel 27. A seal ring 127 prevents leakage between
the sleeve 124 and the mandrel 27, and another seal
ring 127' prevents leakage between the seal sleeve 121
and the housing 143.
[0017] As shown in cross-section in Figure 4, the up-
25 per section of the lower housing 36 has a pair of out-
wardly extending pads 130 on one side of its longitudinal
axis. The pads 130 are angularly spaced at about 90°
to one another, and the outer face of each pad is some-
what undergage. For example, each outer face is arcu-
30 ate and formed on a radius of about 1.1 cm. (about 2.75
inches) for a borehole diameter of about 16 cm. (6 1/8
inches). Thus when the pads touch the low side of the
borehole wall, the upper end of the lower housing 36 is
radially offset by about 0.8 cm. (about 5/16 inch) toward
35 such low side. Referring now to Figures 2B and 3, a hy-
draulically operable piston or button 131 is mounted in
a radial bore 132 on the opposite side of the housing 36
from the pads 130. The piston 131 can move along a
radial line 139 which is parallel to a line 139' (Fig. 4)
40 which has the pads 130 at equal angles on opposite
sides thereof. The piston 131 has an annular shoulder
133 on the rear thereof which cooperates with an in-
wardly facing stop shoulder 134 to limit outward move-
ment under pressure. A seal ring 135 prevents fluid leak-
45 age past the piston 131. A guide pin 136 on the housing
36 whose inner end portion engages in a slot 137 in a
side of the piston 131 prevents the same from turning.
The piston 131 has an arcuate outer face 138 on its cen-
tral portion and inwardly inclined upper and lower faces
50 140, 141 (Fig. 2B) which keep the piston from hanging
up on the well bore wall. The outer faces of the piston
131 and the pads 130 may incorporate hardfacing ma-
terial to minimize wear. When the piston 131 is retracted
as shown in Figures 2B and 3, the outer surfaces of the
55 enlarged region of the housing 36 adjacent thereto, and
the outer surfaces of the pads 130 are generally sym-
metrical about the longitudinal axis of the mandrel 27.
However, when the piston 131 is extended as shown in
4
 7 EP 0 710 764 B1
phantom lines in Figure 3 in response to drilling fluid
pressure acting on the inner wall thereof, the upper end
of the housing 36 is forced toward the opposite wall of
the borehole 10 until the pads 130 engage such wall.
When the piston 131 is retracted as shown, the motor
assembly 15 can be run into a straight borehole 10 hav-
ing the same diameter as the curved section 14 to be
drilled.
[0018] As shown in Figure 2C, the housing 143 and
the bearing mandrel 27 define an internal annular cham-
ber 144 in which a bearing 145 is mounted. The bearing
145 includes a plurality of inner and outer race rings 146,
147 which carry a plurality of ball bearings 148. A collar
150 which is threaded into the lower end portion of the
housing 143 surrounds a radial bearing sleeve 151 that
fits over the enlarged diameter lower end portion 152 of
the mandrel 27. The upper end of the bearing sleeve
151 engages a stop ring assembly 153. The inwardly
inclined upper shoulder 154 of the mandrel 27 engages
a transfer ring 155 which in turn engages the lower end
of the inner race ring 146. A spacer sleeve 156 engages
between the upper end of the collar 150 and the lower
end of the outer race ring 147. The upper end of the
inner race ring 146 engages a short collar 149 which is
up against the bearing sleeve 124. Thus arranged, the
bearing assembly 28 carries both thrust and radial loads
which can be quite high during directional drilling oper-
ations.
[0019] A lower stabilizer indicated generally at 40 is
carried on the housing 143 immediately above the bit
box 30. As shown in Figures 2C and 5, the stabilizer 40
includes an elongated sleeve member 157 having inter-
nal threads 158 at its upper end portion which engage
external threads below an enlarged diameter shoulder
160 on the housing 143 in order to fix the same thereto.
The sleeve member 157 has a plurality, for example,
five, angularly spaced, outwardly extending longitudinal
ribs 41 with each rib having an arcuate outer face that
can be covered with a hard facing material to reduce
wear. A cylinder that contains the outer faces of the ribs
41 preferably is concentric with respect to the longitudi-
nal axis of the sleeve 157 so that the ribs provide touch
points around both the high and low sides of the hole
tending to center the lower end of the mandrel 27 there-
in. The diameter of such cylinder is generally equal to,
or only slightly smaller than, the gage diameter of the bit
20.
[0020] The threaded connection 118 between the low-
er housing 36 and the housing 143 is constructed so
that the centerlines of these members are not coaxial,
but intersect one another at about point B in Figure 2C.
This construction establishes a small bend angle be-
tween the housings 36 and 143 that preferably has a
value between 1-3° so that the axis of rotation of the bit
20 is tilted to the right, as viewed in the drawing Fig. 2C,
in the plane of the drawing sheet. Such plane also con-
tains the radial centerline 139 of the piston 131 and the
radial line 139' in Figure 4, and also defines the toolface
8
angle of the bit 20 with respect to a reference such as
the low side of the borehole section 14. In this instance
the toolface angle is 0°, which means that the bit 20 will
build up the inclination angle without drilling to the right
5 or the left of the previously drilled hole, as viewed from
above.
[0021] Drilling mud flows down through the motor as-
sembly 15 as follows. Drilling fluid or mud under pres-
sure is pumped down the drill string 16 where it flows
10 through the orienting sub 32 and the ball joint 48, re-
spectively. Seal rings 164, 165 on the ball 48 and the
lower ring member 53 prevent leakage to the outside.
Then the mud flows through the bore 166 of the ball joint
housing 56 and into the upper end of the mud motor
15 power section housing 65 where it causes the rotor 66
to turn within the stator and thus drive the shaft 73, the
bearing mandrel 27 and the drill bit 20. The mud flow
emerges from the lower end of the power section of the
motor 21 through the annular passageway 167 (Fig. 2B)
20 around the lower end portion of the rotor 66, and passes
via additional annular passageways 168, 170 which sur-
round the upper universal joint 24 and the intermediate
drive shaft 73 as it passes through the lower ball joint
35. The lower ball joint 35 also includes seal rings 171,
25 172 which prevent leakage to the outside. As noted
above, the mud flow then goes down through the annu-
lar passageway 126 around the lower universal joint 25,
inwardly via the radial ports 113, 114, and into the bore
116 of the bearing mandrel 27. Eventually the mud flows
30 through jets or orifices in the drill bit 20 and into the bot-
tom of the borehole 10 where it circulates back up to the
surface through the annulus. The presence of the bit jets
or nozzles creates a back pressure so that during drilling
the pressures inside the motor assembly 15 are some-
35 what greater than the pressure of drilling fluids in the
well bore outside the assembly. The pressure difference
acts across the hydraulic piston 131 to force it outward
in its bore 132.
[0022] The chamber 144 in which the bearing 145 is
40 located can be filled with a suitable lubricating oil, or mud
lubrication can be employed as shown (no seal between
the sleeves 121 and 124, or between collar 150 and
sleeve 151). The positive internal pressure keeps de-
bris-laden mud around the bit 20 from coming into the
45 chamber 144 at its lower end.
OPERATION
[0023] In operation, the articulated directional drilling
50 tool 15 is assembled as shown in the drawings and then
is lowered into the well bore 10 on the drill string 16.
When the bit 20 tags bottom, an orienting tool (not
shown) can be run on electric wireline and seated in the
orienting sub 32 where it is automatically oriented with
55 respect to the tool assembly 15. Alternatively, a meas-
uring-while-drilling (MWD) tool can be seated in the ori-
enting sub 32 to make directional measurements and
transmit mud pulse signals representative thereof to the
5
 9 EP 0 710 764 B1
surface. In either case the tool assembly 15 is turned
slowly by the drill string 16 until the tool face angle of
the bit 20 has the desired value. The motor power sec-
tion 21, which is a positive displacement device, turns
in response to mud circulation and rotates the drive shaft
73, the bearing mandrel 27, the bit box 30 and the bit
20. Drill string weight is imposed on the tool assembly
15 to commence drilling the hole section 14.
[0024] The stabilizer 40 on the housing 143 engages
the borehole walls to provide a fulcrum, and pressure
forces on the piston 131 cause it to move radially out-
ward and engage the high side of the hole. The reaction
force pushes the upper end of the housing 36 over to-
ward the low side of the borehole until the outer faces
of the pads 130 engage the walls thereof. Such reaction
force employs the fulcrum of the stabilizer 40 to gener-
ate lateral deflection force on the bit 20 which causes it
to drill a rather sharp curve. The ball joints 48, 85 allow
angle build-up to occur much more severely than would
be the case if these joints were not present. The outer
ball bearings 60, 61, 93, 94 of each joint prevent relative
rotation of the housings so that reactive torque due to
operation of the bit 20 is transmitted to the drill string 16.
In case a wireline orientation tool is used, the drilling can
be periodically stopped, and a survey made by lowering
and seating the tool in the sub 32. Where an MWD tool
is used to measure directional parameters and toolface,
such measurements can be made continuously as drill-
ing proceeds.
[0025] Several features of the present invention act in
concert to cause the curved section 14 of the borehole
10 to be drilled at a relatively short radius of curvature
R. The presence of bend point B between the stabilizer
40 and the pads 130 causes the bit 20 to build up or
increase the inclination angle at a high rate. The fact
that the pads 130 are undergage allows use of the sta-
bilizer 40 as a fulcrum which increases angle build-up.
Additionally, the piston 131 moves out under pressure
and tends to force the pads 130 against the opposite
side wall. The fact that there is a ball joint 85 between
the lower end of the motor housing 65 and the upper
end of the lower housing 36 also enhances the curve
drilling capability of the present invention by preventing
the length and stiffness of the motor housing 65 from
impeding the development of the curve. Once a bore-
hole curvature has been obtained, the weight of the drill
string 16 tends to force the pads 130 against the low
side of the borehole section 14, and the piston 131 may
not actually touch the high side of the borehole as drilling
proceeds. Thus the section 14 of the borehole 10 can
be drilled with a relatively short radius R of curvature
compared to prior rigid directional drilling tool strings.
[0026] The present invention also can be used to drill
a lateral borehole section that is substantially straight.
For this purpose the assembly would be modified by re-
placing the upper pads 130 with pads which are slightly
over-gage to nullify the effect of the bend angle. In this
configuration the bit 20 will drill substantially straight
10
ahead in response to operation of the mud motor 21.
[0027] If wireline or MWD measurements indicate that
the "toolface" angle needs correction, this can be done,
for example, by applying torque to the drill string 16 at
5 the surface during additional drilling to gradually curve
the lower end portion of the section 14 of the borehole
10 back to where the toolface angle has the desired val-
ue.
[0028] It now will be recognized that a new and im-
10 proved articulated drilling motor assembly has been pro-
vided which allows relatively short radius curved bore-
holes to be drilled.
15 Claims
1. A directional drilling assembly (15) for causing a drill
bit (20) to drill a curved borehole (14) having a rel-
atively short radius of curvature, said curved bore-
20 hole having a high side and a low side, comprising
mud motor means (21) for rotating a drive shaft (73)
which is coupled to said drill bit, said mud motor
means having an upper housing (65) and a lower
housing (36), said lower housing containing bearing
25 means (28) for supporting a portion of said drive
shaft; said lower housing including upper and lower
sections connected together to form a bend angle
(B); lower stabilizer means (40) on said lower sec-
tion of said lower housing; said assembly being
30 characterized in upper stabilizer means (130,38)
on said upper section of said lower housing, said
upper stabilizer means being undergage; and artic-
ulative joint means (35) connecting said lower hous-
ing to said upper housing to allow relative pivotal
35 movement therebetween as said curved borehole
is drilled.
2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said upper stabi-
lizer means includes outwardly extending means
40 (130) adapted to engage the low side of the bore-
hole and normally retracted means (38) adapted to
be extended into engagement with the high side of
the borehole during drilling to force said outwardly
extending means against said low side, and where-
45 in said lower stabilizer means is full gage.
3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said normally re-
tracted means includes piston means (131) mount-
ed for radial movement on said upper section of said
50 lower housing section, said piston means having a
rear face subject to the pressure of fluids used to
operate said motor means.
4. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said lower stabi-
55 lizer means includes a plurality of angularly distrib-
uted longitudinal ribs (41) adapted to engage the
walls of the borehole adjacent said drill bit.
6
 11 EP 0 710 764 B1
5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said articulative
joint means includes ball means (85) on one of said
housings engaged in socket means (84) on the oth-
er of said housings; means (93-96) for co-rotatively
securing said ball and socket means, and means
(91) for limiting said pivotal movement.
6. The assembly of claim 1 further including means
(32) coupled to the upper end of said upper housing
for enabling the rotational orientation of said assem-
bly in the borehole to be measured and telemetered
to the surface.
7. The assembly of claim 6 further including second
articulative joint means (33) between said upper
housing and said enabling means for permitting rel-
ative pivotal movement; and second means (60-63)
for co-rotatively coupling said upper housing and
said enabling means.
8. An articulated directional drilling assembly (15) for
use in drilling a curved borehole (14) having a high
side and a low side and a relatively short radius of
curvature, comprising positive displacement motor
means (21) responsive to flow of drilling fluids for
producing a rotary output, said motor means includ-
ing upper and lower housings (65,36), said lower
housing (36) having upper and lower sections con-
nected together to define a bend angle (B) between
the respective longitudinal axes thereof; drive
means (24,73,25,27,30) for coupling said rotary
output to a drill bit (20) on said lower housing sec-
tion; said drilling assembly being characterized in
upper stabilizer means (130,38) on the upper sec-
tion of said lower housing including first wall-engag-
ing means (130) adapted to engage said low side
of said borehole, said first wall-engaging means
having a lesser radius than the radius of said bore-
hole; lower stabilizer means (40) on the lower sec-
tion of said lower housing including second wall-en-
gaging means (41) adapted to engage said low side
and said high side of said borehole; and articulative
coupling means (35) for connecting said upper and
lower housings to one another in a manner to allow
limited pivotal movement.
9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein said upper stabi-
lizer means further includes normally retracted, ra-
dially extendable piston means (131), said piston
means being arranged when extended to engage
said high side of said borehole and force said upper
housing section and said first and second wall-en-
gaging means toward said low side of said bore-
hole.
10. The assembly of claim 9 further including means
subjecting said piston means to the pressure of drill-
ing fluids flowing through said motor means.
12
11. The assembly of claim 9 further including means
(93-96) in said articulative coupling means for co-
rotatively securing said upper and lower housing
members.
5
12. The assembly of claim 11 further including means
(32) connected to said upper housing for measuring
and telemetering to the surface the rotational orien-
tation of said assembly in said borehole with respect
10 to a reference.
13. The assembly of claim 12 further including another
articulative coupling means (33) for connecting said
measuring and telemetering means to said upper
15 housing, said another articulative coupling means
including means (60-63) for co-rotatively coupling
said measuring and telemetry means and said up-
per housing.
20 14. A method of drilling a curved borehole (14) having
a relatively short radius of curvature, said borehole
having a low side and a high side, comprising the
steps of providing a tubular housing assembly (15)
having an upper section and a lower section that
25 are connected together in a manner such that their
longitudinal centerlines intersect to form a bend an-
gle (B); mounting a drill bit (20) on said lower hous-
ing section and rotating said drill bit in response to
flow of drilling fluids through said housing assembly;
30 said method being characterized by using stabiliz-
er means on said upper section including outwardly
extending means (130) adapted to engage the low
side of the borehole, and normally retracted means
(38) adapted to be extended into engagement with
35 the high side of the borehole and force said out-
wardly extending means against said low side; and
forcing said outwardly extending means against
said low side of said borehole by extending said nor-
mally retracted means against the high side of the
40 borehole.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein said normally re-
tracted means comprises a radially movable piston
(131) and the forcing step includes applying the
45 pressure of said drilling fluid to the radially movable
piston to shift said piston into engagement with said
high side of said borehole to produce reactive forc-
es which force said outwardly extending means
against the low side of the borehole.
50
16. The method of claims 14 or 15 wherein the outward-
ly extending means comprise wall-engaging means
(138) adapted to engage said low side of said bore-
hole, said wall-engaging means having outer faces
55 on a lesser radial dimension than the radius of said
borehole.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the drill bit is driven
7
 13 EP 0 710 764 B1
with the power section (21) of a mud motor, the mud
motor being connected to said upper housing sec-
tion with an articulative joint (35) that allows angular
displacement while preventing relative rotation and
wherein stabilizer means which are full gage are
provided on the lower section of the assembly.
18. The method of claim 17 including the further steps
of providing a means (32) for measuring and telem-
etering to the surface the rotational orientation of
said assembly in the borehole with respect to a ref-
erence, and connecting said measuring and telem-
etering means being co-rotatively coupled to said
power section with an articulative joint (33) that al-
lows angular displacement.
19. The method of claim 16 wherein said wall-engaging
means and said piston are arranged in a symmet-
rical manner about a longitudinal plane through the
centerline of said upper housing section.
Patentansprüche
1. Richtungsbohr-Baueinheit (15), die eine Bohrkrone
(20) dazu veranlaßt, ein gekrümmtes Bohrloch (14)
mit verhältnismäßig kleinem Krümmungsradius zu
bohren, wobei das gekrümmte Bohrloch eine hohe
Seite und eine tiefe Seite besitzt, wobei die Bauein-
heit umfaßt: Schlammotormittel (21), die eine mit
der. Bohrkrone verbundene Antriebswelle (73) dre-
hen und ein oberes Gehäuse (65) sowie ein unteres
Gehäuse (36) besitzen, wobei das untere Gehäuse
Lagermittel (28) für die Unterstützung eines Ab-
schnitts der Antriebswelle enthalten; wobei das un-
tere Gehäuse obere und untere Abschnitte auf-
weist, die miteinander verbunden sind, um einen
Biegewinkel (B) zu bilden; untere Stabilisierungs-
mittel (40) am unteren Abschnitt des unteren Ge-
häuses; wobei die Baueinheit gekennzeichnet ist
durch obere Stabilisierungsmittel (130, 38) am
oberen Abschnitt des unteren Gehäuses, die unter-
maßig sind; und Gelenkverbindungsmittel (35), die
das untere Gehäuse mit dem oberen Gehäuse ver-
binden, um zwischen diesen eine relative Schwenk-
bewegung zuzulassen, wenn das gekrümmte Bohr-
loch gebohrt wird.
2. Baueinheit nach Anspruch 1, bei der die oberen
Stabilisierungsmittel nach außen abstehende Mittel
(130), die so beschaffen sind, daß sie mit der tiefen
Seite des Bohrlochs in Eingriff gelangen, sowie nor-
malerweise eingefahrene Mittel (38) umfassen, die
so beschaffen sind, daß sie sich während des Boh-
rens in einen Eingriff mit der hohen Seite des Bohr-
lochs erstrecken, um die nach außen abstehenden
Mittel gegen die untere Seite zu pressen, wobei die
unteren Stabilisierungsmittel vollmaßig sind.
14
3. Baueinheit nach Anspruch 2, bei der die normaler-
weise eingefahrenen Mittel Kolbenmittel (131) um-
fassen, die für eine radiale Bewegung am oberen
Abschnitt des unteren Gehäuseabschnitts ange-
5 bracht sind und eine hintere Fläche besitzen, die
mit dem Druck von Fluiden beaufschlagt wird, die
zum Betreiben der Motormittel verwendet werden.
4. Baueinheit nach Anspruch 2, bei der die unteren
10 Stabilisierungsmittel mehrere verteilte, angewinkel-
te Längsrippen (41) umfassen, die so beschaffen
sind, daß sie in der Umgebung der Bohrkrone mit
den Wänden des Bohrlochs in Eingriff gelangen.
15 5. Baueinheit nach Anspruch 1, bei der die Gelenkver-
bindungsmittel Kugelmittel (85) an einem der Ge-
häuse, die in Buchsenmitteln (84) am anderen der
Gehäuse in Eingriff sind; Mittel (93-96), die die Ku-
gel- und Buchsenmittel drehfest verbinden, sowie
20 Mittel (91), die die Schwenkbewegung begrenzen,
umfassen.
6. Baueinheit nach Anspruch 1, die ferner Mittel (32)
umfaßt, die mit dem oberen Ende des oberen Ge-
25 häuses verbunden sind, um die Messung und Fern-
übertragung zur Oberfläche der rotatorischen Ori-
entierung der Baueinheit im Bohrloch zu ermögli-
chen.
30 7. Baueinheit nach Anspruch 6, die ferner zweite Ge-
lenkverbindungsmittel (33) zwischen dem oberen
Gehäuse und den Ermöglichungsmitteln, die eine
relative Schwenkbewegung ermöglichen; und zwei-
te Mittel (60-63) für eine gemeindrehfeste Verbin-
35 dung des oberen Gehäuses und der Ermögli-
chungsmittel umfassen.
8. Gelenkige Richtungsbohr-Baueinheit (15) für die
Verwendung beim Bohren eines gekrümmten Bohr-
40 lochs (14), das eine hohe Seite und eine tiefe Seite
und einen verhältnismäßig kleinen Krümmungsra-
dius besitzt, wobei die Baueinheit (15) umfaßt: Ver-
drängungsmotormittel (21), die als Antwort auf die
Strömung von Bohrfluiden eine rotatorische Aus-
45 gangsleistung erzeugen und obere und untere Ge-
häuse (65, 36) umfassen, wobei das untere Gehäu-
se (36) obere und untere Abschnitte besitzt, die mit-
einander verbunden sind, um einen Biegewinkel (B)
zwischen den jeweiligen Längsachsen zu definie-
50 ren; Antriebsmittel (24, 73, 25, 27, 30), die die rota-
torische Ausgangsleistung an eine Bohrkrone (20)
am unteren Gehäuseabschnitt übertragen; wobei
die Bohrbaueinheit gekennzeichnet ist durch
obere Stabilisierungsmittel (130, 38) am oberen Ab-
55 schnitt des unteren Gehäuses, die erste Wandein-
griffmittel (130) enthalten, die so beschaffen sind,
daß sie mit der tiefen Seite des Bohrlochs in Eingriff
gelangen, und einen Radius besitzen, der kleiner
8
 15 EP 0 710 764 B1
als der Radius des Bohrlochs ist; untere Stabilisie-
rungsmittel (40) am unteren Abschnitt des unteren
Gehäuses, die zweite Wandeingriffmittel (41) ent-
halten, die so beschaffen sind, daß sie mit der tiefen
Seite und mit der hohen Seite des Bohrlochs in Ein-
griff gelangen; und Gelenkverbindungsmittel (35),
die die oberen und unteren Gehäuse miteinander
in der Weise verbinden, daß eine begrenzte
Schwenkbewegung möglich ist.
9. Baueinheit nach Anspruch 8, bei der die oberen
Stabilisierungsmittel ferner normalerweise einge-
fahrene, radial ausfahrbare Kolbenmittel (131) um-
fassen, die so beschaffen sind, daß sie im ausge-
fahrenen Zustand mit der hohen Seite des Bohr-
lochs in Eingriff gelangen und den oberen Gehäu-
seabschnitt und die ersten und zweiten Wandein-
griffmittel zur tiefen Seite des Bohrlochs pressen.
10. Baueinheit nach Anspruch 9, die ferner Mittel ent-
hält, die die Kolbenmittel mit dem Druck von Bohr-
fluiden, die durch die Motormittel strömen, beauf-
schlagen.
11. Baueinheit nach Anspruch 9, die ferner Mittel
(93-96) in den Gelenkverbindungsmitteln enthält,
die die oberen und unteren Gehäuseelemente
drehfest verbinden.
12. Baueinheit nach Anspruch 11, die ferner Mittel (32)
enthält, die mit dem oberen Gehäuse verbunden
sind und die rotatorische Orientierung der Bauein-
heit im Bohrloch in bezug auf eine Referenz mes-
sen und eine Fernübertragung zur Oberfläche be-
wirken.
13. Baueinheit nach Anspruch 12, die ferner weitere
Gelenkverbindungsmittel (33) enthält, die die Meß-
und Fernübertragungsmittel mit dem oberen Ge-
häuse verbinden, wobei die weiteren Gelenkverbin-
dungsmittel Mittel (60-63) enthalten, die die Meß-
und Fernübertragungsmittel mit dem oberen Ge-
häuse drehfest verbinden.
14. Verfahren zum Bohren eines gekrümmten Bohr-
lochs (14) mit verhältnismäßig kleinem Krüm-
mungsradius, wobei das Bohrloch eine tiefe Seite
und eine hohe Seite besitzt, wobei das Verfahren
die folgenden Schritte umfaßt: Vorsehen einer rohr-
förmigen Gehäusebaueinheit (15), die einen obe-
ren Abschnitt und einen unteren Abschnitt besitzt,
die miteinander in der Weise verbunden sind, daß
sich ihre longitudinalen Mittellinien schneiden, um
einen Biegewinkel (B) zu bilden; Anbringen einer
Bohrkrone (20) am unteren Gehäuseabschnitt und
Drehen der Bohrkrone als Antwort auf die Strömung
von Bohrfluiden durch die Gehäusebaueinheit; wo-
bei das Verfahren gekennzeichnet ist durch die
16
Verwendung von Stabilisierungsmitteln am oberen
Abschnitt, die nach außen abstehende Mittel (130),
die so beschaffen sind, daß sie mit der tiefen Seite
des Bohrlochs in Eingriff gelangen, sowie normaler-
5 weise eingefahrene Mittel (38), die so beschaffen
sind, daß sie in einen Eingriff mit der hohen Seite
des Bohrlochs ausgefahren werden können und die
nach außen abstehenden Mittel gegen die tiefe Sei-
te pressen, umfassen; und Pressen der nach außen
10 abstehenden Mittel gegen die tiefe Seite des Bohr-
lochs durch Ausfahren der normalerweise einge-
fahrenen Mittel zur hohen Seite des Bohrlochs.
15. Verfahren nach Anspruch 14, bei dem die norma-
15 lerweise eingefahrenen Mittel einen radial bewegli-
chen Kolben (131) umfassen und der Preßschritt
das Beaufschlagen des radial beweglichen Kolbens
mit dem Druck des Bohrfluids umfaßt, um den Kol-
ben in Eingriff mit der hohen Seite des Bohrlochs
20 zu schieben, um Gegenkräfte zu erzeugen, die die
nach außen abstehenden Mittel gegen die tiefe Sei-
te des Bohrlochs pressen.
16. Verfahren nach den Ansprüchen 14 oder 15, bei
25 dem die nach außen abstehenden Mittel Wandein-
griffmittel (138) umfassen, die so beschaffen sind,
daß sie mit der tiefen Seite des Bohrlochs in Eingriff
gelangen, und äußere Flächen mit einer radialen
Abmessung, die kleiner als der Radius des Bohr-
30 lochs ist, besitzen.
17. Verfahren nach Anspruch 16, bei dem die Bohrkro-
ne durch den Krafterzeugungsabschnitt (21) eines
Schlammotors angetrieben wird, wobei der
35 Schlammotor mit dem oberen Gehäuseabschnitt
über eine Gelenkverbindung (35) verbunden ist, die
eine Winketverlagerung zuläßt und dabei eine rela-
tive Drehung verhindert, wobei am unteren Ab-
schnitt der Baueinheit vollmaßige Stabilisierungs-
40 mittel vorgesehen sind.
18. Verfahren nach Anspruch 17, das die weiteren
Schritte des Vorsehens von Mitteln (32), die die ro-
tatorische Orientierung der Baueinheit im Bohrloch
45 in bezug auf eine Referenz messen und eine Fern-
übertragung zur Oberfläche bewirken, und des Ver-
bindens der Meß- und Fernübertragungsmittel, so
daß sie mit dem Krafterzeugungsabschnitt über ei-
ne Gelenkverbindung (33), die eine WinkelVerlage-
50 rung zuläßt, drehfest verbunden sind.
19. Verfahren nach Anspruch 16, bei dem die Wandein-
griffmittel und der Kolben symmetrisch in bezug auf
eine Ebene durch die Mittellinie des oberen Gehäu-
55 seabschnitts angeordnet sind.
9
 17 EP 0 710 764 B1
Revendications
1. Assemblage de forage dirigé (15) afin que le trépan
de forage (20) fore un puits de forage courbé (14)
présentant un rayon de courbure relativement
court, ledit puits de forage courbé présentant un cô-
té supérieur et un côté inférieur, comprenant un
moyen moteur de boue (21) pour mettre en rotation
un arbre d'actionnement (73) qui est couplé audit
trépan de forage, ledit moyen moteur de boue pré-
sentant un boîtier supérieur (65) et un boîtier infé-
rieur (36), ledit boîtier inférieur contenant des
moyens de support (28) pour supporter une partie
dudit arbre d'actionnement ; ledit boîtier inférieur in-
cluant des sections supérieures et inférieures con-
nectées ensembles pour former un angle de cour-
bure (B) ; le moyen inférieur de stabilisation (40)
étant sur ladite section inférieure dudit boîtier
inférieur ; ledit assemblage étant caractérisé en ce
que les moyens supérieurs de stabilisation (130,
38) sur ladite section supérieure dudit boîtier infé-
rieur, lesdits moyens supérieurs de stabilisation
n'occupant pas tout le diamètre du puits de forage
(« undergage ») et en ce que des moyens articulés
de jonction (35) connectant ledit boîtier inférieur
audit boîtier supérieur afin de permettre un mouve-
ment relatif pivotant entre eux puisque ledit puits de
forage est courbé.
2. Assemblage selon la revendication 1 dans lequel
ledit moyen de stabilisation supérieur inclut un
moyen s'étendant vers l'extérieur (130) adapté pour
engager le côté inférieur du puits de forage et un
moyen normal de réfraction (38) adapté pour
s'étendre dans l'engagement avec le côté supérieur
du puits de forage lors d'un forage pour forcer ledit
moyen s'étendant vers l'extérieur contre le côté in-
férieur, et dans lequel ledit moyen de stabilisation
inférieur occupe tout le diamètre du puits de forage
(« full gage »).
3. Assemblage selon la revendication 2 dans lequel le
moyen normal de rétraction inclut un moyen de type
piston (131) monté pour un mouvement orientable
(« radial movement ») sur ladite section supérieure
de ladite section du boîtier inférieure, ledit moyen
de type piston présentant une face arrière soumise
à la pression des fluides utilisés pour actionner ledit
moyen moteur.
4. Assemblage selon la revendication 2 dans lequel
ledit moyen de stabilisation inférieur inclut plusieurs
nervures (41) angulaires longitudinales de distribu-
tion, adaptées pour engager les parois du puits de
forage avoisinant ledit trépan de forage.
5. Assemblage selon la revendication 1 dans lequel
ledit moyen d'articulation de jonction inclut des
18
moyens de type billes (85) sur run desdits boîtiers
engagés dans un moyen de type manchon (84) sur
ledit autre boîtier ; un moyen (93-96) pour protéger
de manière co-rotative ladite bille et ledit moyen de
5 type manchon, et un moyen (91) pour limiter le mou-
vement de pivotement.
6. Assemblage selon la revendication 1 incluant en
outre un moyen (32) couplé à l'extrémité supérieure
10 dudit boîtier supérieur pour commander l'orienta-
tion de rotation dudit assemblage dans le puits de
forage pour mesurer et pour transmettre par télé-
métrie à la surface.
15 7. Assemblage selon la revendication 6 incluant en
outre un second moyen d'articulation de jonction
(33) entre ledit boîtier supérieur et ledit moyen de
commande pour permettre un mouvement relatif
pivotant ; et un second moyen (60-63) pour coupler
20 de manière co-rotative ledit boîtier supérieur et ledit
moyen de commande.
8. Assemblage articulé de forage dirigé (15) pour une
utilisation dans le forage d'un puits de forage courbé
25 (14) présentant un côté supérieur et un côté infé-
rieur et un rayon de courbure relativement court,
comprenant un moyen moteur de déplacement po-
sitif (21) sensible à l'écoulement des fluides de fo-
rage afin de produire une puissance de rotation, le-
30 dit moyen moteur incluant des boîtiers supérieur et
inférieur (65, 36), ledit boîtier inférieur (36) présen-
tant des sections supérieure et inférieure connec-
tées ensemble pour définir un angle de courbure
(B) entre les axes longitudinaux respectifs de ceux-
35 ci ; un moyen d'actionnement (24, 73, 25, 27, 30)
pour coupler ladite puissance de rotation au trépan
de forage (20) sur ladite section de boîtier
inférieure ; ledit assemblage de forage étant carac-
térisé en ce que le moyen de stabilisation supé-
40 rieur (130, 38) sur la section supérieure dudit boîtier
inférieur incluant un premier moyen d'engagement
de paroi (130) adapté pour engager ledit côté infé-
rieur dudit puits de forage, ledit moyen d'engage-
ment de paroi présentant un rayon inférieur au
45 rayon dudit puits de forage ; et un moyen de cou-
plage d'articulation (35) pour connecter lesdits boî-
tiers supérieur et inférieur l'un à l'autre de manière
à permettre un mouvement de pivotement limité.
50 9. Assemblage selon la revendication 8 dans lequel
ledit moyen de stabilisation supérieur inclut en outre
un moyen de type piston (131) rétractable norma-
lement, s'étendant radialement, ledit moyen de type
piston étant disposé, lorsqu'il est étendu, pour en-
55 gager ledit côté supérieur dudit puits de forage et
pour forcer ladite section de boîtier supérieure et
lesdits premier et second moyens d'engagement de
paroi vers ledit côté inférieur dudit puits de forage.
10
 19 EP 0 710 764 B1
10. Assemblage selon la revendication 9 incluant en
outre un moyen soumettant ledit moyen de type pis-
ton à la pression des fluides de forage s'écoulant à
travers ledit moyen moteur.
11. Assemblage selon la revendication 9 incluant en
outre un moyen (93-96) dans ledit moyen de cou-
plage articulé pour protéger de manière co-rotative
lesdits membres de boîtiers supérieur et inférieur.
12. Assemblage selon la revendication 11 incluant en
outre un moyen (32) connecté audit boîtier supé-
rieur pour mesurer et transmettre par télémétrie à
la surface l'orientation de rotation dudit assemblage
dans ledit puits de forage en respect d'une référen-
ce.
13. Assemblage selon la revendication 12 incluant en
outre un autre moyen de couplage articulé (33) pour
connecter lesdits moyens de mesure et de trans-
mission par télémétrie audit boîtier supérieur, ledit
autre moyen de couplage articulé incluant un
moyen (60-63) pour coupler de manière co-rotative
lesdits moyens de mesure et de transmission par
télémétrie et le boîtier supérieur.
14. Procédé de forage d'un puits de forage courbé (14)
présentant un rayon de courbure relativement
court, ledit puits de forage présentant un côté infé-
rieur et un côté supérieur, comprenant les étapes
d'apport d'un assemblage tubulaire de type boîtier
(15) présentant une section supérieure et une sec-
tion inférieure qui sont connectées ensemble de tel-
le manière que leurs lignes médianes longitudina-
les se croisent pour former un angle de courbure
(B) ; de montage d'un trépan de forage (20) sur la-
dite section inférieure de type boîtier et de rotation
dudit trépan de forage en réponse à l'écoulement
des fluides de forage à travers ledit assemblage de
type boîtier; ledit procédé étant caractérisé par
l'utilisation d'un moyen de stabilisation sur ladite
section supérieure incluant un moyen s'étendant
vers l'extérieur (130) adapté pour engager le côté
inférieur du puits de forage, et un moyen normal de
rétraction (38) adapté pour s'étendre à l'intérieur de
l'engagement avec le côté supérieur du puits de fo-
rage et force ledit moyen s'étendant vers l'extérieur
contre ledit côté inférieur; et par le maintien dudit
moyen s'étendant vers l'extérieur contre ledit côté
inférieur dudit puits de forage en étendant ledit
moyen normalement rétracté contre le côté supé-
rieur du puits de forage.
15. Procédé selon la revendication 14 dans lequel le
moyen de rétraction normal comprend un piston
mobile radialement (131) et l'étape de force com-
prend l'application de la pression du fluide de forage
sur le piston mobile radialement pour déplacer ledit
20
piston à l'intérieur de l'engagement avec le côté su-
périeur dudit puits de forage afin de produire des
forces réactives qui forcent ledit moyen s'étendant
vers l'extérieur contre le côté inférieur du puits de
5 forage.
16. Procédé selon les revendications 14 ou 15 dans le-
quel le moyen s'étendant vers l'extérieur comprend
un moyen d'engagement de paroi (138) adapté
10 pour engager ledit côté inférieur dudit puits de fora-
ge, ledit moyen d'engagement de paroi présentant
des faces externes sur un rayon plus petit que le
rayon dudit puits de forage.
15 17. Procédé selon la revendication 16 dans lequel le
trépan de forage est actionné avec la section de
puissance (21) d'un moteur de boue, le moteur de
boue étant connecté à ladite section de boîtier su-
périeure avec un système articulé (35) qui permet
20 un déplacement angulaire alors empêchant une re-
lative rotation et dans lequel les moyens de stabili-
sation qui occupent tout le diamètre du fond de puits
sont prévus sur la section inférieure de l'assembla-
ge.
25
18. Procédé selon la revendication 17 incluant en outre
les étapes d'apport d'un moyen (32) pour mesurer
et transmettre par télémétrie à la surface l'orienta-
tion de rotation dudit assemblage dans le puits de
30 forage en respect à une référence, et pour connec-
ter lesdits moyens de mesure et de télémétrie étant
couplés de manière co-rotative à ladite section de
puissance avec un système articulé (33) qui permet
un déplacement angulaire.
35
19. Procédé selon la revendication 16 dans lequel ledit
moyen d'engagement de paroi et ledit piston sont
disposés de manière symétrique par rapport à un
plan longitudinal à travers la ligne médiane de ladite
40 section de boîtier supérieure.
45
50
55
11
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12
EP 0 710 764 B1

13
EP 0 710 764 B1

14
EP 0 710 764 B1

15
EP 0 710 764 B1

16