Expandable underreamer/stabilizer
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. An expandable downhole tool for use in a drilling assembly positioned within a wellbore, comprising:
- a tubular body including at least one axial recess, a plurality of angled channels formed into a wall of said at least one axial recess, and an axial flowbore extending therethrough; and
at least one moveable arm;
wherein said at least one moveable arm translates along said plurality of angled channels between a collapsed position and an expanded position in response to a differential pressure between said axial flowbore and said wellbore.
1 Assignment
Litigations
2 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A downhole tool that functions as an underreamer, or alternatively, as a stabilizer in an underreamed borehole. The tool includes one or more moveable arms disposed within a body having a flowbore therethrough in fluid communication with the wellbore annulus. The tool alternates between collapsed and expanded positions in response to differential fluid pressure between the flowbore and the wellbore annulus. In one embodiment, the tool moves automatically in response to differential pressure. In a second embodiment, the tool must be selectively actuated before it is moveable. When the tool expands, the arms are preferably translated axially upwardly, while simultaneously being extended radially outwardly from the body. The expanded tool diameter is adjustable at the surface without changing components. The arms may include borehole engaging pads that comprise cutting structures or wear structures or both, depending upon the function of the tool.
371 Citations
73 Claims
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1. An expandable downhole tool for use in a drilling assembly positioned within a wellbore, comprising:
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a tubular body including at least one axial recess, a plurality of angled channels formed into a wall of said at least one axial recess, and an axial flowbore extending therethrough; and
at least one moveable arm;
wherein said at least one moveable arm translates along said plurality of angled channels between a collapsed position and an expanded position in response to a differential pressure between said axial flowbore and said wellbore. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An expandable downhole tool for use in a drilling assembly positioned within a wellbore having an original diameter borehole and an enlarged diameter borehole, comprising:
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a body; and
at least one non-pivotable, moveable arm having at least one borehole engaging pad adapted to accommodate cutting structures or wear structures or a combination thereof;
wherein said at least one arm is moveable between a first position defining a collapsed diameter, and a second position defining an expanded diameter approximately equal to said enlarged diameter borehole. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method of underreaming a wellbore to form an enlarged borehole and controlling the directional tendencies of a drilling assembly within the enlarged borehole, comprising:
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using a drill bit to drill the wellbore;
disposing a first expandable tool having at least one arm configured for underreaming directly above the drill bit;
using the first expandable tool to form the enlarged borehole;
disposing a second expandable tool having at least one arm configured for stabilizing above the first expandable tool; and
using the second expandable tool to control the directional tendencies of the drilling assembly within the enlarged borehole;
wherein both the first expandable tool and the second expandable tool operate between a collapsed position and an expanded position. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. An expandable downhole tool for use in a drilling assembly, comprising:
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a body including a plurality of angled channels;
at least one non-pivotable, moveable arm that translates along said angled channels between a collapsed position and an expanded position; and
at least one moveable nozzle that translates to remain adjacent said at least one moveable arm so as to direct fluid across a borehole-engaging surface of said at least one moveable arm. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54)
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55. A drilling assembly for underreaming a wellbore to form an enlarged borehole, comprising:
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a drill bit to drill the wellbore;
a first expandable tool having at least one moveable arm configured for underreaming, said first expandable tool being positioned directly above the drill bit; and
a second expandable tool having the same design as said first expandable tool, said second expandable tool being positioned above the first expandable tool;
wherein said first expandable tool may be used to form said enlarged borehole or to control the directional tendencies of said drilling assembly. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
a tubular body including a plurality of angled channels and an axial flowbore extending therethrough; and
at least one moveable arm;
wherein said at least one moveable arm translates along said plurality of angled channels between a collapsed position and an expanded position in response to a differential pressure.
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63. The drilling assembly of claim 62 wherein each of said expandable tools further comprises at least one nozzle that translates with said at least one moveable arm to direct fluid across a borehole engaging pad.
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64. The drilling assembly of claim 62 wherein said at least one moveable arm includes a plurality of angled extensions that slideably interfit between said plurality of angled channels.
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65. The drilling assembly of claim 64 wherein plurality of angled extensions extend substantially along the length of said at least one moveable arm.
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66. The drilling assembly of claim 64 wherein said channels and extensions provide support to said at least one moveable arm in said expanded position.
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67. The drilling assembly of claim 62 wherein each of said expandable tools further comprises a chamber in fluid communication with said flowbore.
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68. The drilling assembly of claim 67 wherein each of said expandable tools further comprises an inner member with ports therethrough that enable fluid communication between said chamber and said flowbore.
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69. The drilling assembly of claim 68 wherein each of said expandable tools further comprises means for selectively opening said ports.
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70. The drilling assembly of claim 68 wherein each of said expandable tools further comprises a stinger biased to close said ports, thereby preventing said at least one moveable arm from translating between said collapsed position and said expanded position in response to said differential pressure.
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71. The drilling assembly of claim 70 wherein each of said expandable tools further comprises an actuator for aligning said stinger to open said ports.
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72. The drilling assembly of claim 62 wherein said at least one moveable arm comprises at least one borehole engaging pad adapted to accommodate cutting structures or wear structures or a combination thereof.
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73. The drilling assembly of claim 72 wherein said at least one borehole engaging pad comprises two upper pads, a middle pad, and two lower pads.
Specification