Anchoring systems for drilling tools
An anchoring system for a tool in a borehole is provided. The anchoring system comprising a tool body, anchoring members which are operable to extend from the tool body so as to deploy an anchor portion into contact with the borehole wall such that when deployed. The anchoring members act to support the tool body in a central region of the borehole. Moreover, the anchoring members are connected to an operating mechanism which links deployment of the anchoring members so as to distribute the anchoring force and position of the anchoring members in a controlled manner.
1. An anchoring system for a tool in a borehole, comprising:
a tool body;
at least two anchoring members which are operable to extend from the tool body so as to deploy an anchor portion towards a wall defining the borehole and retract towards the tool body and away from the wall, wherein the at least two anchoring members comprise a first anchoring member and a second anchoring member, each anchoring member comprising a piston movable within a hydraulic chamber, wherein the piston separates the hydraulic chamber into a first portion of the chamber and a second portion of the chamber;
a first extension fluid supply connected to a first portion of the chamber of the first anchoring member;
a first retraction fluid supply connected to a second portion of the chamber of the first anchoring member;
a second extension fluid supply connected to a first portion of the chamber of the second anchoring member;
a second retraction fluid supply connected to a second portion of the chamber of the second anchoring member, wherein each of the first extension fluid supply, the first retraction fluid supply, the second extension fluid supply, and the second retraction fluid supply are separately supplied;
an operating mechanism coupled to the at least two anchoring members, wherein the operating mechanism is configured to control the extension of the at least two anchoring members by providing fluid through the extension fluid supply into the first portion of the chamber and control the retraction of the at least two anchoring members by providing fluid through the retraction fluid supply into the second portion of the chamber; and
a position sensor coupled to each piston of each of the at least two anchoring members, wherein the position sensor is configured to measure a position of an associated piston or an associated anchoring member and communicate the position; and
wherein the operating mechanism is configured to separately control the extension fluid supply and retraction fluid supply of each of the at least two anchoring members to position the anchoring members in a fully extended position, a fully retracted position, and a position between the fully extended position and the fully retracted position, based on the position measured by the position sensor, wherein the operating mechanism is configured to separately control the position of the first anchoring member and the position of the second anchoring member.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein separate extension and retraction supplies are provided to each hydraulic chamber of each respective piston of the at least two anchoring members.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein pairs of anchoring members are provided, the anchoring members of each pair being spaced apart in an axial direction of the tool body.
4. The system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein a contact member is provided which bridges the two anchoring members of each pair and engages the borehole when deployed.
5. The system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the contact member is a skid or a resilient bow which is connected to the tool body through the pair of anchoring members.