Hydraulically actuated apparatus for generating pressure pulses in a drilling fluid
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
E21B-021/10
E21B-007/24
E21B-004/10
출원번호
US-0209377
(2016-07-13)
등록번호
US-9932774
(2018-04-03)
발명자
/ 주소
Gillis, Sean
출원인 / 주소
DRILFORMANCE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
대리인 / 주소
Oates, Kirsten M.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
9
초록▼
An apparatus for generating pressure pulses in a drilling fluid flowing through a bore of a downhole tubular. A housing containing a rotor is located in the bore. Drilling fluid flowing through the housing actuates rotation of the rotor relative to the housing, which in turn drives movement of an ac
An apparatus for generating pressure pulses in a drilling fluid flowing through a bore of a downhole tubular. A housing containing a rotor is located in the bore. Drilling fluid flowing through the housing actuates rotation of the rotor relative to the housing, which in turn drives movement of an actuator valve assembly to vary flow of drilling fluid between the bore and an actuator chamber defined by the actuator valve assembly and the housing. The resulting variation in drilling fluid pressure within the actuator chamber actuates a pulse valve assembly to vary flow of drilling fluid through the housing and into the bore. The varying drilling fluid pressure may be used to induce a percussive effect in a drill bit assembly coupled to the downhole tubular.
대표청구항▼
1. An apparatus for use with a downhole tubular defining a bore for conveying a drilling fluid between a proximal end and a distal end of the bore, the apparatus comprising: (a) a housing for location in the bore and internally defining: (i) a power flow path in drilling fluid communication with the
1. An apparatus for use with a downhole tubular defining a bore for conveying a drilling fluid between a proximal end and a distal end of the bore, the apparatus comprising: (a) a housing for location in the bore and internally defining: (i) a power flow path in drilling fluid communication with the bore via a power flow path inlet and a power flow path outlet;(ii) an actuator flow path in drilling fluid communication with the bore via an actuator flow path inlet and an actuator flow path outlet;(iii) a pulse flow path in drilling fluid communication with the bore via a pulse flow path inlet and a pulse flow path outlet;(b) a fluid actuated positive displacement motor comprising a rotor internal to the housing wherein, in use, rotation of the rotor relative to the housing is actuated by the drilling fluid flowing through the power flow path;(c) an actuator valve assembly internal to the housing, wherein the actuator valve assembly and the housing collectively define an actuator chamber internal to the housing and in drilling fluid communication with the bore via the actuator flow path inlet, the actuator valve assembly comprising: (i) an actuator valve stationary member defining an actuator valve passage for drilling fluid communication from the actuator chamber to the bore via the actuator flow path outlet; and(ii) an actuator valve moving member wherein the rotor is in driving engagement with the actuator valve moving member to, in use, drive movement of the actuator valve moving member to vary an open area of the actuator valve passage between a minimum actuator valve open area greater than or equal to nil and a maximum actuator valve open area, and thereby vary drilling fluid pressure in the actuator chamber as drilling fluid flows through the actuator flow path from the actuator flow path inlet to the actuator flow path outlet;(d) a pulse valve assembly comprising: (i) a pulse valve stationary member defining a pulse valve passage for drilling fluid communication from the pulse flow path inlet to the pulse flow path outlet; and(ii) a pulse valve moving member internal to the housing, wherein, in use, the pulse valve moving member moves in response to varying drilling fluid pressure in the actuator chamber to vary an open area of the pulse valve passage between a minimum pulse valve open area greater than or equal to nil and a maximum pulse valve open area, and thereby vary drilling fluid pressure at the pulse flow path outlet. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing defines a housing aperture that defines both the power flow path inlet and the actuator flow path inlet. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing defines a housing aperture that defines both the power flow path outlet and the actuator flow path outlet. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power flow path and the actuator flow path are coextensive with each other. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pulse valve assembly is proximal to the actuator valve assembly. 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing is removably insertable in the bore. 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the motor comprises a stator formed by an internal wall of the housing. 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, in use, the rotor rotates the actuator valve moving member eccentrically relative to the actuator valve passage to vary the open area of the actuator valve passage. 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pulse valve stationary member is integral with the housing. 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pulse valve stationary member defines a pulse valve seat, and wherein the pulse valve moving member varies the open area of the pulse valve passage by moving to alternately engage with and disengage from the valve seat. 11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pulse valve moving member varies the open area of the pulse valve passage by moving to alternately extend into and withdraw from the pulse valve passage. 12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pulse valve moving member defines a pulse valve moving member passage for drilling fluid communication from the actuator chamber to the pulse flow path. 13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pulse valve moving member defines a pulse valve moving member passage for drilling fluid communication from the actuator flow path inlet to the actuator chamber. 14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pulse valve assembly further comprises a spring for biasing the pulse valve moving member towards a position in which the open area of the pulse valve passage is at either the minimum pulse valve open area or the maximum pulse valve open area. 15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pulse valve passage is shaped to, in use, accelerate flow of drilling fluid in the pulse flow path and thereby generate a reduced pressure of drilling fluid to urge the pulse valve moving member towards a position in which the open area of the pulse valve passage is at either the minimum pulse valve open area or the maximum pulse valve open area. 16. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a retainer that engages the downhole tubular and the housing for limiting movement of the housing within the bore, the retainer defining a retainer passage for drilling fluid communication through the bore that bypasses the pulse flow path. 17. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a restrictor disposed in an annular space between the housing and an inner wall of the downhole tubular, wherein the restrictor is positioned to prevent drilling fluid communication via the bore between the pulse flow path inlet and the pulse flow path outlet. 18. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a drill bit assembly comprising: (a) a drill bit body comprising: (i) a first drill bit body portion for coupling to the downhole tubular;(ii) a second drill bit body portion comprising a cutting element for cutting a wellbore, and wherein, in use, the second drill bit body portion moves relative to the second drill bit body portion between a proximal retracted position and a distal extended position, in response to varying fluid pressure at the pulse flow path outlet; and(b) a drill bit spring that biases the second drill bit body portion towards either the proximal retracted position or the distal extended position. 19. A method comprising the steps of: (a) providing an apparatus in a bore of a downhole tubular, wherein the apparatus comprises: (i) a housing that defines at least one flow path for drilling fluid in drilling fluid communication with the bore:(ii) a fluid actuated positive displacement motor comprising a rotor internal to the housing that rotates relative to the housing in response to drilling fluid flowing through the at least one flow path;(iii) an actuator valve assembly internal to the housing, wherein the actuator valve assembly and the housing collectively define an actuator chamber internal to the housing and in drilling fluid communication with the at least one flow path, wherein the actuator valve assembly comprises an actuator valve stationary member defining an actuator valve passage for drilling fluid communication from the actuator chamber to the at least one flow path, and an actuator valve moving member, and(iv) a pulse valve assembly comprising a pulse valve stationary member defining a pulse valve passage for drilling fluid communication from the at least one flow path to the bore, and a pulse valve moving member internal to the housing; and(b) flowing the drilling fluid through the at least one flow path to actuate rotation of the rotor, wherein the rotor is in driving engagement with the actuator valve moving member to drive movement of the actuator valve moving member to vary an open area of the actuator valve passage and thereby vary drilling fluid pressure in the actuator chamber, wherein varying drilling fluid pressure in the actuator chamber actuates the pulse valve moving member to move relative to the pulse valve stationary member, and thereby vary an open area of the pulse valve passage and effect a varying fluid pressure in the at least one flow path and the bore. 20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of providing a drill bit assembly comprising: a first drill bit body portion coupled to the downhole tubular, a second drill bit body portion comprising a cutting element for cutting a wellbore, the second drill bit body portion movable relative to the first drill bit body portion between a proximal retracted position and a distal extended position in response to varying fluid pressure in the at least one flow path; and a drill bit spring that biases the inner drill bit body towards either the proximal retracted position or the distal extended position.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.