GB2549844A

GB2549844A - Anti-rotation blades

Info

Publication number: GB2549844A
Application number: GB1704101.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: A Wheeler Fraser; Andrew Samuel Geoffrey
Original assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Inc
Current assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Inc
Priority date: 2016-04-26
Filing date: 2017-03-15
Publication date: 2017-11-01
Anticipated expiration: 2037-03-15
Also published as: NO20170482A1; GB201704101D0; WO2017188935A1; GB2549844B

Abstract

An anti-rotation system 100 includes a housing 102 defining a longitudinal axis, where a carriage 104 is mounted for radial movement relative to the housing. The carriage includes at least one anti-rotation blade 106 configured to engage a formation and resist rotation of the housing about the longitudinal axis. A retraction mechanism 108 is provided, operatively connected to the carriage so as to pull the carriage from a first position with the at least one anti-rotation blade extended radially outward, to a second position with the at least one anti-rotation blade retracted radially inward relative to the first position. In another embodiment there is provided a method of operating a downhole tool by advancing a steerable, rotational tool downhole. The tool includes a non-rotational housing with retractable anti-rotation blades in a retracted position. Then, the anti-rotation blades are extended from the housing to engage the blades with a formation to prevent rotation of the housing and rotational tool is rotated relative to the housing while steering the rotational tool.

Description

ANTI-ROTATION BLADES

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to anti-rotation mechanisms, and more particularly to antirotation mechanisms such as used in rotary steerable downhole tools. 2. Description of Related Art

In the oil and gas industries, rotary steerable tools for downhole operations can be used to drill into a formation along a desired path that can change in direction as the tool advances into the formation. Such tools can utilize components that brace against the formation to provide a reaction torque to prevent rotation of non-rotating tool portions used as a geostationary reference in steering the rotating portions of the tool.

Such conventional methods and systems have generally been considered satisfactory for their intended purpose. However, there is still a need in the art for improved steerable rotary tools. The present disclosure provides a solution for this need.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF Till DRAWINGS

So that those skilled in the art to which the subject disclosure appertains will readily understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject disclosure without undue experimentation, preferred embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an antirotation system constructed in accordance with the present disclosure, showing the anti-rotation blades in a first, extended position;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the system of Fig. 1, showing the antirotation blades in a second, retracted position;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the system of Fig. 1, showing multiple respective blade carriages each with the blades retracted;

Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of an antirotation system constructed in accordance with the present disclosure, showing the blades actuated in response to weight on bit;

Fig. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the system of Fig. 1, showing a pulley replaced with an actuator directly under the carriage;

Fig. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the system of Fig . 1, showing the pulley replaced with a lever;

Fig. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the system of Fig. 1, showing the pulley replaced with a cam; and

Fig. 8 is a schematic view of a downhole tool incorporating the system of Fig. 1, schematically indicating operation of the downhole tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF Till PREFFRRKD EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject disclosure. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, a partial view of an exemplary embodiment of an anti-rotation system in accordance with the disclosure is shown in Fig. 1 and is designated generally by reference character 100. Other embodiments of anti-rotation systems in accordance with the disclosure, or aspects thereof, are provided in Figs. 2-8, as will be described. The systems and methods described herein can be used to protect anti-rotation blades while tripping in and out with a non-rotational housing used for steering a rotational downhole tool.

As can be seen in Fig. 1, anti-rotation system 100 includes a housing 102 defining a longitudinal axis A. A carriage 104 is mounted for radial movement relative to the housing 102 with respect to the longitudinal axis A. The carriage 104 includes at least one anti-rotation blade 106 configured to engage a formation, e.g., a geological formation as in a well, and thereby resist rotation of the housing 102 about the longitudinal axis A. As shown in Figs. 3, there are four carriages 104 circumferentially spaced evenly 90 degrees apart around housing 102, and each carriage 104 has four corresponding anti-rotation blades 106 (two of the four carriages 104 are visible in Fig. 3). However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that any other suitable number of carriages and anti-rotation blades can be used without departing from the scope of this disclosure. A retraction mechanism 108 is operatively connected to the carriage 104 to actuate, e g., pull, the carriage 104 from a first position with the anti-rotation blades 106 extended radially outward as shown in Fig. 1, to a second position with the anti-rotation blades 106 retracted radially inward relative to the first position as shown in Fig. 2 and indicated by the large arrow. The anti-rotation blades 106 are mounted to carriage 104 to roll along the surface of a formation downhole when the blades 106 are in a first, extended position to resist rotation of the carriage 104 and housing 102 about longitudinal axis A.

For each carriage 104, a respective pad body 110 is mounted to the housing 102, wherein the carriage 104 is engaged with the pad body 110 so that in the first position shown in Fig. 1, the anti-rotation blades 106 extend radially outward beyond the pad body 110, and in a second position shown in Fig. 2, the anti-rotation blades 106 are retracted radially inward from an outer extent of the pad body 110.

The retraction mechanism 108 includes a tether 112 connecting between the carriage 104 and an actuator 114 mounted to the housing 102. The actuator 114 is configured to pull the tether 112 to move the carriage into the second position shown in Fig. 2, and to release the tether 112 to move the carriage 104 into the first position. The actuator 114 can be controlled, for example, by a controller (e.g., MWD/LWD system 28 of Fig. 8) at a remote location connected by wireline 115 or wirelessly. A set of loading springs 116 operatively connects between the housing 102 and the carriage 104 to bias the carriage 104 radially outward to the first position, e.g., opposing the pulling action of the actuator 114 to return carriage 104 to the first, extended position when the actuator releases play on tether 112.

The retraction mechanism 108 includes a pulley 118 mounted to the housing 102 radially inward from the carriage 104. The tether 112 engages at least partially around the pulley 118 to move the carriage 104 radially in response to axial actuation by the actuator 114

The housing 102 includes a tether passage 120 through which the tether 112 extends between the actuator 114 and the carriage 104 by way of pulley 118. A piston 122 is included on the tether 112, e.g., by welding or the like, within the tether passage 120. The piston 122 engages the tether passage 120, sliding along the inner surface of the tether passage 120, to seal the tether passage 120 against fluids passing therethrough, including when tether 112 moves within the tether passage 120. In particular, the piston 122 seals between an oil volume 126 within housing 102 and an exterior of carriage 104 to prevent mud or the like from fouling the carriage 104 and retraction mechanism 108, to keep oil within the oil volume 126, and the like.

In lieu of piston 122, the tether 112 can engage the tether passage 120 directly, i.e., by sizing the tether 112 and tether passage 120 to have a close fit, to seal the tether passage 120 against fluids passing therethrough.

With reference to Fig. 5, it is contemplated that the actuator 114 can be mounted to the housing 102 radially inward from the carriage 102 with respect to longitudinal axis A. The tether 112 can extend in a radial direction, e.g., directly from the carriage 104 to the actuator 114, and the tether 112 can even be replaced with a rigid link connecting the carriage 104 to the actuator 114. It is also contemplated that the tether 112 can connect to the carriage 104 through at least one of a lever 124 as shown in Fig. 6, or a cam 128 as shown in Fig. 7. In Fig. 6, the lever 124 pivots to provide a mechanical advantage for tether 112 which connects to the lever 124 at both ends thereof. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the two portions of tether 112 in Fig. 6 can be replaced with rigid links to form a linkage with lever 124. The cam 128 shown in Fig. 7 also pivots and provides mechanical advantage for tether 112, which wraps partially around cam 128 in turning from the axial to the radial direction relative to longitudinal axis A. The tether 112 can include at least one of a wire, a multi-strand cable, a strap, chain, or any other suitable type of tether.

The actuator 114 can include at least one of an electric motor, a winch, or a linear actuator including at least one of a ball screw, a solenoid, or a hydraulic piston. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that any other suitable type of actuator can be used.

With reference now to Fig. 4, the tether 112 can be routed at least partially along an outer diameter of the housing 102. A shield 130 can be mounted about the tether 112 on the outer diameter of the housing 102 to protect the tether 112 from annulus debris or catching on a formation. The retraction mechanism 108 can include tether 112 operatively connected to the carriage 104 at a first end of the tether 112 with the second end of the tether connected to a portion 132 of the housing 102 that moves axially along longitudinal axis A relative to the carriage 104 in response to weight on bit (WOB). In the first position in the absence of WOB, the main housing flange 134 is abutting or proximate off bottom face 138 pulling the tether 112 so the carriage 104 retracts radially inward, e.g., against the force of load springs 116 shown in Fig. 1. In the second position in the presence of WOB, the main housing flange 134 is abutting or proximate the WOB face 136 so the tether 112 slackens to extend the carriage 104 radially outward, e.g., under the force of load springs 116 shown in Fig. 1. This allows for anti-rotation blades 106 to be retracted any time there is no WOB, such as while tripping in and tripping out, and for anti-rotation blades 106 to be extended outward for anti-rotation any time there is WOB acting on housing 102 such as when drilling, without the need for electronic or human control of an actuator for the retraction and extension of the anti-rotation blades 106.

Referring now to Fig. 8, a method of operating a downhole tool 10 includes advancing a steerable, rotational tool 12 downhole through a borehole 15 in a formation 14. The advancement of tool 12 is in the direction indicated by the double arrows 16, which corresponds in direction to the longitudinal axis A shown in Fig. 1. Tool 10 includes a string 18, e.g., a drillstring, with an anti-rotation system 100 and the steerable rotational tool 12 in line with the string 18. The tool 10 therefore includes the non-rotational housing 102 with retractable antirotation blades 106 in the retracted position while tool 12 is advanced, e g., while tripping in The anti-rotation blades 106 are then extended from the housing 102 to engage the blades 106 with the formation 14 to prevent rotation of the housing 102. The rotational tool 12 can then be rotated relative to the housing 102, e g., as indicated by double arrows 20, while steering the rotational tool 12, as indicated by double arrows 22. Housing 102 can serve as a geostationary reference for steering of rotational tool 12 while tool 12 is rotating relative to housing 102.

Advancing the rotational tool 12 downhole can include rotating the housing 102 with the anti-rotation blades 106 in the retracted position. The retraction and extension of anti-rotation blades 106 is indicated by double arrows 24, and the rotation of housing 102 is indicated by double arrows 26. It may be desirable, for example, to rotate housing 102 during tripping in and/or tripping out to reduce the chance of housing 102 becoming stuck in formation 14. Additionally, if housing 102 does become stuck in formation 14, such as when formation 14 collapses onto housing 102, torqueing housing 102 may allow for rotating the housing 102 free from the formation 14. If these rotations and/or torqueing of housing 102 are completed with anti-rotation blades 106 retracted, anti-rotation blades 106 will be protected from the damage that would otherwise occur with the blades 106 extended during rotation/torqueing of housing 102. The method can include retracting the anti-rotation blades 106 after rotating and steering the rotational tool 12, and withdrawing the rotational tool 12 and housing 102 from downhole, e g. as when tripping out. Withdrawing the rotational tool 12 can include rotating the housing 102 with the anti-rotation blades 106 in the retracted position, e.g., to prevent housing 102 becoming stuck in formation 14 while tripping out, or to rotate housing 102 free from formation 14 if housing 102 becomes stuck while tripping out.

Extending the anti-rotation blades 106 can include slackening a tether, e g., tether 112 shown in Fig. 1, to allow a spring biasing the anti-rotation blades 106 outward, e g., loading spring 116 shown in Fig. 1, to extend the anti-rotation blades 106 from the housing 102. Slackening the tether can include shortening the length of the housing 102 in response to WOB, e.g., as described above with respect to Fig. 4. Anti-rotation blades 106 can be retracted when housing 102 is in a portion of a well or bore that is too wide for the blades 106 to engage the formation 14, in order to prevent unnecessary risk to the blades 106 while they are not functioning for anti-rotation.

Tether 112 is advantageously unlikely to become seized when exposed to mud or the like. Tether 112 also advantageously allows any applicable actuator, e.g., actuator 114, to be remote from carriage 104, which is advantageous due to typical envelope constraints in pad body 110 (shown in Fig. 1).

For example, the string 18 can include any suitable wired drillpipe, coiled tubing (wired and unwired), e.g., accommodating wireline 115 shown in Fig. 1 for control of actuator 114 from the surface during downhole operation. It is also contemplated that systems and methods as described herein can be used in conjunction with a measurement-while-drilling (MWD) apparatus which may be incorporated into the drilling string 18 for insertion in a borehole as part of a MWD system. In a MWD system, sensors associated with the MWD apparatus provide data to the MWD apparatus for communicating up the drilling string to an operator of the drilling system. These sensors typically provide directional information of the drilling string so that the operator can monitor the orientation of the drilling string in response to data received from the MWD apparatus and adjust the orientation of the drilling string in response to such data. An MWD system also typically enables the communication of data from the operator of the system down the borehole to the MWD apparatus. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that systems and methods as disclosed herein can also be used in conjunction with logging-whiledrilling (LWD) systems, which log data from sensors similar to those used in MWD systems as described herein. In Fig. 8, a MWD/LWD system 28 is shown connected to string 18 by wireline 115.

Accordingly, as set forth above, the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented in a number of ways. For example, in general, in one aspect, the disclosed embodiments relate to an anti-rotation system. The system comprises, among other things, a housing defining a longitudinal axis and a carriage mounted for radial movement relative to the housing. The carriage includes at least one anti-rotation blade configured to engage a formation and resist rotation of the housing about the longitudinal axis. The system also comprises a retraction mechanism operatively connected to the carriage to pull the carriage from a first position with the at least one anti-rotation blade extended radially outward to a second position with the at least one anti-rotation blade retracted radially inward relative to the first position.

In general, in another aspect, the disclosed embodiments related to a method of operating a downhole tool. The method comprises, among other things, advancing a steerable, rotational tool downhole, wherein the tool includes a non-rotational housing with retractable anti-rotation blades in a retracted position. The method further comprises extending the anti-rotation blades from the housing to engage the blades with a formation to prevent rotation of the housing, and rotating the rotational tool relative to the housing while steering the rotational tool.

In accordance with any of the foregoing embodiments, a pad body may be mounted to the housing, wherein the carriage is engaged with the pad body and wherein in the first position, the at least one anti-rotation blade extends radially outward beyond the pad body, and in the second position, the at least one anti-rotation blade is retracted radially inward from an outer extent of the pad body.

In accordance with any of the foregoing embodiments, a loading spring may be operatively connecting between the housing and the carriage to bias the carriage radially outward to the first position.

In accordance with any of the foregoing embodiments, the retraction mechanism may include a tether connecting between the carriage and an actuator mounted to the housing, wherein the actuator is configured to pull the tether to move the carriage into the second position, and to release the tether to move the carriage into the first position.

In accordance with any of the foregoing embodiments, the retraction mechanism may include a pulley mounted to the housing radially inward from the carriage, wherein the tether engages at least partially around the pulley to move the carriage radially in response to axial actuation by the actuator.

In accordance with any of the foregoing embodiments, the tether may connect to the carriage through at least one of a cam or a lever.

In accordance with any of the foregoing embodiments, the housing may include a tether passage through which the tether extends between the carriage and the actuator, wherein a piston is included on the tether within the tether passage, and wherein the piston engages the tether passage to seal the tether passage against fluids passing therethrough.

In accordance with any of the foregoing embodiments, the housing may include a tether passage through which the tether extends between the carriage and the actuator, wherein the tether engages the tether passage to seal the tether passage against fluids passing therethrough.

In accordance with any of the foregoing embodiments, the actuator may be mounted to the housing radially inward from the carriage, wherein the tether extends in a radial direction from the carriage to the actuator.

In accordance with any of the foregoing embodiments, the tether may include at least one of a wire, a multi-strand cable, or a strap.

In accordance with any of the foregoing embodiments, the actuator may include at least one of an electric motor, a winch, or a linear actuator including at least one of a ball screw, a solenoid, or a hydraulic piston.

In accordance with any of the foregoing embodiments, the tether may be routed at least partially along an outer diameter of the housing.

In accordance with any of the foregoing embodiments, a shield may be mounted about the tether on the outer diameter of the housing to protect the tether from annulus debris or catching on a formation.

In accordance with any of the foregoing embodiments, the retraction mechanism may include a tether operatively connected to the carriage at a first end of the tether and at a second end of the tether to a portion of the housing that moves axially relative to the carriage in response to weight on bit, wherein in the first position in the absence of weight on bit, the tether pulls to retract the carriage, and in the second position in the presence of weight on bit, the tether slackens to extend the carriage radially outward.

In accordance with any of the foregoing embodiments, advancing the rotational tool downhole may include rotating the housing with the anti-rotation blades in the retracted position.

In accordance with any of the foregoing embodiments, the anti-rotation blades may be retracted after rotating and steering the rotational tool, and the rotational tool and housing may be withdrawn from downhole.

In accordance with any of the foregoing embodiments, withdrawing the rotational tool may include rotating the housing with the anti-rotation blades in the retracted position.

In accordance with any of the foregoing embodiments, extending the anti-rotation blades may include slackening a tether to allow a spring biasing the anti-rotation blades outward to extend the anti-rotation blades from the housing.

In accordance with any of the foregoing embodiments, slackening the tether may include shortening the length of the housing in response to weight on bit.

The methods and systems of the present disclosure, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for downhole tools with superior properties including the ability to retract and extend anti-rotation blades. While the apparatus and methods of the subject disclosure have been shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An anti-rotation system comprising: a housing defining a longitudinal axis; a carriage mounted for radial movement relative to the housing, wherein the carriage includes at least one anti-rotation blade configured to engage a formation and resist rotation of the housing about the longitudinal axis; and a retraction mechanism operatively connected to the carriage to pull the carriage inward from a first position with the at least one anti-rotation blade extended radially outward to a second position with the at least one anti-rotation blade retracted radially inward relative to the first position.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a pad body mounted to the housing, wherein the carriage is engaged with the pad body and wherein in the first position, the at least one anti-rotation blade extends radially outward beyond the pad body, and in the second position, the at least one anti-rotation blade is retracted radially inward from an outer extent of the pad body.

3. A system as recited in any of the preceding claims, further comprising a loading spring operatively connecting between the housing and the carriage to bias the carriage radially outward to the first position.

4. A system as recited in any of the preceding claims, wherein the retraction mechanism includes a tether connecting between the carriage and an actuator mounted to the housing, wherein the actuator is configured to pull the tether to move the carriage into the second position, and to release the tether to move the carriage into the first position.

5. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein the retraction mechanism includes a pulley mounted to the housing radially inward from the carriage, wherein the tether engages at least partially around the pulley to move the carriage radially in response to axial actuation by the actuator.

6. A system as recited in any of claims 4-5, wherein the tether connects to the carriage through at least one of a cam or a lever.

7. A system as recited in any of claims 4-6, wherein the housing includes a tether passage through which the tether extends between the carriage and the actuator, and wherein a piston is included on the tether within the tether passage, wherein the piston engages the tether passage to seal the tether passage against fluids passing therethrough.

8. A system as recited in any of claims 4-6, wherein the housing includes a tether passage through which the tether extends between the carriage and the actuator, and wherein the tether engages the tether passage to seal the tether passage against fluids passing therethrough.

9. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein the actuator is mounted to the housing radially inward from the carriage, and wherein the tether extends in a radial direction from the carriage to the actuator.

10. A system as recited in any of claims 4-9, wherein the tether includes at least one of a wire, a multi-strand cable, or a strap.

11. A system as recited in any of claims 4-10, wherein the actuator includes at least one of an electric motor, a winch, or a linear actuator including at least one of a ball screw, a solenoid, or a hydraulic piston.

12. A system as recited in any of claims 4-11, wherein the tether is routed at least partially along an outer diameter of the housing.

13. A system as recited in claim 12, further comprising a shield mounted about the tether on the outer diameter of the housing to protect the tether from annulus debris or catching on a formation.

14. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the retraction mechanism includes a tether operatively connected to the carriage at a first end of the tether and at a second end of the tether to a portion of the housing that moves axially relative to the carriage in response to weight on bit, wherein in the first position in the absence of weight on bit, the tether pulls to retract the carriage, and in the second position in the presence of weight on bit, the tether slackens to extend the carriage radially outward.

15. A method of operating a downhole tool comprising: advancing a steerable, rotational tool downhole, wherein the tool includes a non-rotational housing with retractable anti-rotation blades in a retracted position; extending the anti-rotation blades from the housing to engage the blades with a formation to prevent rotation of the housing; and rotating the rotational tool relative to the housing while steering the rotational tool.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein advancing the rotational tool downhole includes rotating the housing with the anti-rotation blades in the retracted position.

17. A method as recited in any of claims 15-16, further comprising: retracting the anti-rotation blades after rotating and steering the rotational tool; and withdrawing the rotational tool and housing from downhole.

18. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein withdrawing the rotational tool includes rotating the housing with the anti-rotation blades in the retracted position.

19. A method as recited in any of claims 15-18, wherein extending the anti-rotation blades includes slackening a tether to allow a spring biasing the anti-rotation blades outward to extend the anti-rotation blades from the housing.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein slackening the tether includes shortening the length of the housing in response to weight on bit.