Extendable and retractable stabilizer
View Patent ↗A method of drilling a wellbore includes running a drilling assembly into the wellbore through a casing string, the drilling assembly having a tubular string, a stabilizer, and a drill bit; applying a force to an arm of the stabilizer, thereby causing the arm to retract; and removing the stabilizer and the drill bit from the wellbore.
1. A stabilizer for use in a wellbore, comprising:
a tubular body;
a mandrel disposed in the tubular body;
an arm rotatably coupled to the mandrel and movable between an extended position and a retracted position; and
a coupling sleeve retaining the arm in the extended position, the coupling sleeve being releasably coupled to the tubular body and axially fixed relative to the mandrel prior to release.
2. The stabilizer of claim 1 , further comprising a shearable member for releasably coupling the coupling sleeve to the tubular body.
3. The stabilizer of claim 2 , further comprising a seal sleeve attached to the body.
4. The stabilizer of claim 3 , wherein the coupling sleeve is disposed between the seal sleeve and the mandrel.
5. The stabilizer of claim 1 , wherein the mandrel is pressure balanced.
6. The stabilizer of claim 1 , wherein the arm is movable to the retracted position when the coupling sleeve is released from the tubular body.
7. The stabilizer of claim 1 , further comprising a fluid port formed in the tubular body.
8. The stabilizer of claim 7 , wherein the coupling sleeve blocks fluid communication through the fluid port when the arm is in the extended position.
9. The stabilizer of claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of seals disposed on the coupling sleeve for blocking fluid communication.
10. The stabilizer of claim 1 , further comprising a piston sleeve disposed between the mandrel and the coupling sleeve.
11. The stabilizer of claim 10 , wherein the piston sleeve is movable relative to the coupling sleeve.
12. The stabilizer of claim 10 , further comprising a first seal disposed on the piston sleeve and a second seal disposed on the piston sleeve, wherein the second seal has a larger outer diameter than the first seal.
13. The stabilizer of claim 12 , further comprising a fluid port formed in the tubular body.
14. The stabilizer of claim 13 , wherein the piston sleeve, the first seal, and the second seal are configured to block fluid communication through the fluid port when the arm is in the extended position.
15. The stabilizer of claim 12 , wherein when the arm is in the extended position, the first seal is sealingly engaged with the tubular body, and wherein when the arm is in the retracted position, the first seal is not sealingly engaged with the tubular body.
16. The stabilizer of claim 10 , wherein the coupling sleeve is releasably coupled to the tubular body via a retainer sleeve.
17. The stabilizer of claim 10 , wherein:
when the coupling sleeve is releasably coupled to the tubular body, the piston sleeve is configured to move the mandrel and the arm to the extended position; and
when the coupling sleeve is released from the tubular body, the piston sleeve is configured to allow the mandrel and the arm to move to the retracted position.
18. The stabilizer of claim 1 , wherein the coupling sleeve is released in response to a force applied to the arm.
19. An assembly for forming a wellbore, comprising:
a tubular string;
a drill bit coupled to the tubular string;
an underreamer coupled to the tubular string; and
a stabilizer coupled to the tubular string, having:
a tubular body;
a mandrel disposed in the tubular body;
an arm rotatably coupled to the mandrel and movable between an extended position and a retracted position; and
a coupling sleeve retaining the arm in the extended position, the coupling sleeve being releasably coupled to the tubular body and axially fixed relative to the mandrel prior to release.
20. The assembly of claim 19 , further comprising a piston sleeve disposed between the mandrel and the coupling sleeve.
21. The assembly of claim 20 , wherein the piston sleeve is movable relative to the coupling sleeve.
22. The assembly of claim 20 , further comprising a first seal disposed on the piston sleeve and a second seal disposed on the piston sleeve, wherein the second seal has a larger outer diameter than the first seal.
23. The assembly of claim 22 , wherein when the arm is in the extended position, the first seal is sealingly engaged with the tubular body, and wherein when the arm is in the retracted position, the first seal is not sealingly engaged with the tubular body.
24. A stabilizer for use in a wellbore, comprising:
a tubular body;
a mandrel disposed in the tubular body;
an arm rotatably coupled to the mandrel and movable between an extended position and a retracted position; and
a coupling sleeve retaining the arm in the extended position, the coupling sleeve being releasably coupled to the tubular body and wherein the mandrel is pressure balanced such that the mandrel is not movable in response to a change in fluid pressure when the arm is in the retracted position.
25. A stabilizer for use in a wellbore, comprising:
a tubular body;
a mandrel disposed in the tubular body;
an arm rotatably coupled to the mandrel and movable between an extended position and a retracted position; and
a coupling sleeve retaining the arm in the extended position, the coupling sleeve being releasably coupled to the tubular body, wherein the coupling sleeve is released in response to a force applied to the arm.
26. The stabilizer of claim 25 , further comprising a shearable member for releasably coupling the coupling sleeve to the tubular body.
27. The stabilizer of claim 26 , further comprising a seal sleeve attached to the body.
28. The stabilizer of claim 25 , further comprising a piston sleeve disposed between the mandrel and the coupling sleeve.
29. The stabilizer of claim 28 , wherein the piston sleeve is movable relative to the coupling sleeve.
30. The stabilizer of claim 28 , wherein:
when the coupling sleeve is releasably coupled to the tubular body, the piston sleeve is configured to move the mandrel and the arm to the extended position; and
when the coupling sleeve is released from the tubular body, the piston sleeve is configured to allow the mandrel and the arm to move to the retracted position.
31. The stabilizer of claim 25 , wherein the coupling sleeve is releasably coupled to the tubular body via a retainer sleeve.