IP Library Granted Patent US 11,136,828
Granted Patent B2
US 11,136,828 · App. 16/842,545 · Granted Oct 5, 2021

Boring apparatus and method

Inventors: Gunther H H von Gynz-Rekowski (Montgomery, TX); Michael V. Williams (Montgomery, TX)
Assignee: Ashmin Holding LLC
E21B6/02E21B4/10E21B10/14E21B10/26E21B10/40E21B10/46E21B17/07F16H25/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,136,828
App. No.
16/842,545
Granted
Oct 5, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus for boring a wellbore, including a bit body having a first end, an inner cavity, and a second end. The first end is connected to a workstring that is configured to deliver a rotational force to the bit body. The inner cavity contains a profile having a first radial cam surface. The second end includes a working face containing a cutting member. The apparatus also includes a pilot bit rotatively connected within the inner cavity. A second radial cam surface is contained on a first end of the pilot bit. The first and second radial cam surfaces are operatively configured to deliver a hammering force. A second end of the pilot bit may include an engaging surface configured to engage a formation surrounding the wellbore. The bit body rotates relative to the pilot bit.

Claims (30)

1. An apparatus for boring a well, with the apparatus connected to a workstring, the apparatus comprising:

a bit having a first end, an inner cavity, and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to the workstring, said workstring configured to deliver a rotational force to said bit, wherein the inner cavity contains a profile having a first radial cam surface, and wherein the second end includes a working face containing a plurality of cutting members;

a pilot bit rotatively connected within the inner cavity and extending from the working face, said pilot bit having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end contains a profile having a second radial cam surface and wherein the second end contains an engaging surface configured to engage a formation surrounding the wellbore;

at least two spherical members disposed between and in contact with the first radial cam surface and the second radial cam surface; wherein the at least two spherical members are configured to be in direct contact with one another, and wherein a diameter of each of said at least two spherical members is approximately equal to one-half of an inner diameter of the inner cavity;

wherein the first radial cam surface comprises an undulating waveform profile and the second radial cam surface comprises either and undulating waveform profile or a radial flat surface or wherein the second radial cam surface comprises an undulating waveform profile and the first radial cam surface comprises either an undulating waveform profile or a radial flat surface; and

wherein the bit rotates relative to the pilot bit thereby causing the at least two spherical members to move over the first and second radial cam surfaces resulting in axial movement of the pilot bit relative to the bit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said workstring contains a mud motor for delivering rotational force.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a retainer operatively associated with said pilot bit for retaining said pilot bit within the inner cavity.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said engaging surface comprises an eccentric conical surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said engaging surface comprises a chiseled surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the workstring is a tubular drill string.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the workstring is a coiled tubing string.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pilot bit rotates at a different rotational rate than the bit body.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least two spherical members comprises three or more spherical members, wherein each of the three or more spherical members is in direct contact with two adjacent spherical members.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a guide member, the guide member disposed between the first and second radial cam surfaces for retaining the at least two spherical members in a fixed position relative to one another.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least two spherical elements comprises a stainless steel or ceramic bearing ball.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the undulating waveform profile of the first radial cam surface includes a plurality of high points and wherein the number of at least two spherical members is equal to the plurality of high points.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the undulating waveform profile of the second radial cam surface includes a plurality of high points and wherein the number at least two spherical members is equal to the plurality of high points.

14. A method of boring a wellbore comprising the steps of:

a) providing a bit apparatus within the wellbore, the bit apparatus comprising: a bit having a first end, an inner cavity, and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to the workstring, the workstring configured to deliver a rotational force to the bit, wherein the inner cavity contains a profile having a first radial cam surface, and wherein the second end includes a working face containing a plurality of cutting members; a pilot bit rotatively connected within the inner cavity and extending from the working face, the pilot bit having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end contains a profile having a second radial cam surface and wherein the second end contains an engaging surface configured to engage a formation surrounding the wellbore; at least two spherical members disposed between and in contact with the first radial cam surface and the second radial cam surface; wherein the at least two spherical members are configured to be in direct contact with one another, and wherein a diameter of each of said at least two spherical members is approximately equal to one-half of an inner diameter of the inner cavity; wherein the first radial cam surface comprises an undulating waveform profile and the second radial cam surface comprises either an undulating waveform profile or a radial flat surface or wherein the second radial cam surface comprises an undulating waveform profile and the first radial surface comprises either an undulating waveform profile or a radial flat surface; and wherein the bit rotates relative to the pilot bit thereby causing the at least two spherical members to move over the first and second radial cam surfaces resulting in axial movement of the pilot bit relative to the bit;

b) lowering the bit apparatus into the wellbore;

c) contacting the cutting member of the working face with a reservoir interface;

d) rotating the bit relative to the pilot bit′

e) causing the at least two spherical members to move over the first and second radial cam surfaces resulting in axial movement of the pilot bit relative to the bit to make contact with the reservoir interface while boring the wellbore with the bit apparatus.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the workstring contains a mud motor for delivering rotational force.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the workstring is a tubular drill string.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the workstring is a coiled tubing string.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the engaging surface is an eccentric conical surface.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the engaging surface is a chiseled surface.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein in step (d), the pilot bit is rotated due to frictional forces associated with rotation of the bit, wherein a rotation rate of the pilot bit is different than a rotation rate of the bit.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2025
From: ASHMIN HOLDINGS LLC
To: STABIL DRILL TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 070621/0218 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2021
From: VON GYNZ-REKOWSKI, GUNTHER HH; WILLIAMS, MICHAEL V.
To: ASHMIN HOLDING LLC
Reel/Frame 057351/0841 →
Continuity (4)
Division 16004893 · Jun 11, 2018
Continuation 14864016 · Sep 24, 2015
Provisional Application 62065372 · Oct 17, 2014
Related Publication 20200232282A1 · Jul 23, 2020