Granted Patent B2

US 12,612,835 · App. 19/115,037 · Granted Apr 28, 2026

Inventors: Paul Andrew Church (Danestone, GB); Peter Alan Joiner (Danestone, GB); Andrew John Elrick (Peterhead, GB); Stewart Gordon George Christie (Dyce, GB); Jason Duthie (Aberdeen, GB); Iain Morrison Macleod (Newmachar, GB)

Assignee: KASEUM HOLDING LIMITED

E21B29/005E21B23/04

Abstract

Claims (103)

1 . A Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) for use in a well, the BHA comprising: a motive assembly having a downhole torque generator which comprises a rotatable shaft; the BHA further comprising:

a fixed volume of downhole hydraulic fluid contained therein, defining a downhole hydraulic fluid supply;

a drilling tool coupled to the rotatable shaft, the drilling tool being adapted to connect to said downhole hydraulic fluid supply, the drilling tool having a longitudinal axis; the drilling tool comprising:

at least one anchoring member having an inner face contactable by hydraulic fluid from said downhole hydraulic fluid supply and being moveable radially, by means of pressurised hydraulic fluid from said downhole hydraulic fluid supply acting upon said inner face, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drilling tool, between:—

a retracted position in which the at least one anchoring member is spaced apart from an inner surface of the well; and

an extended position in which the anchoring member contacts an inner surface of the well; and

a drilling member having a longitudinal axis and having an inner face contactable by hydraulic fluid from said downhole hydraulic fluid supply, the drilling member being rotatable in use about said longitudinal axis, wherein the drilling member is arranged within the drilling tool such that the longitudinal axis of said drilling member is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said drilling tool; and

wherein said drilling member is also moveable radially, by means of pressurised downhole hydraulic fluid from said downhole hydraulic fluid supply acting upon said inner face thereof, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drilling tool between:—

a retracted position in which the drilling member is spaced apart from an inner surface of the well; and

an extended position in which the drilling member contacts an inner surface of the well;

wherein the inner face of the anchoring member is in fluid communication via said hydraulic fluid with the inner face of the drilling member such that both respective inner faces experience the same pressure of the said hydraulic fluid acting upon them;

wherein the drilling tool further comprises a movement mechanism for rotating the drilling member about the longitudinal axis of the drilling member;

wherein the drilling tool is further adapted to also connect to the downhole torque generator and wherein at least a portion of the said movement mechanism of the drilling tool is coupled to the rotatable shaft which provides rotational movement;

wherein operation of the motive assembly is configured to rotate the rotatable shaft and rotate at least a portion of the movement mechanism of the drilling tool; and

wherein the operation of the motive assembly is configured to pressurise said fixed volume downhole hydraulic fluid for supply to the drilling tool.

2 . A Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) according to claim 1 , wherein the drilling tool is arranged such that the at least one anchoring member is arranged to move radially outwards before (i.e. prior to) the drilling member being moved radially outwards.

3 . A Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) according to claim 1 , wherein the drilling tool is arranged such that the at least one anchoring member is arranged to move radially inwards after the drilling member has been moved radially inwards.

4 . A Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) according to claim 1 , wherein the drilling tool comprises a biasing arrangement which ensures that the at least one anchoring member is moved radially outwards prior to the drilling member being moved radially outwards, and wherein the biasing arrangement is arranged such that the drilling member is moved radially inwards prior to the at least one anchoring member being moved radially inwards.

5 . A Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) according to claim 4 , wherein the biasing arrangement comprises at least one of:—

i) one or more biasing devices which act to bias at least one of and preferably both of the said at least one anchoring member and the drilling member radially inwards; and

ii) the relative cross sectional area of the respective inner faces of the said at least one anchoring member and the drilling member.

6 . A Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) according to claim 5 , wherein the biasing device of the drilling member comprises springs, and wherein the springs of the drilling member are arranged such that their longitudinal axis is offset from or is not co-axial with the longitudinal axis of the drilling member, such that a plurality of springs can be arranged around the circumference of the drilling member.

7 . A Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) according to claim 4 , wherein the biasing arrangement is arranged such that a greater resultant inwardly directed force acts upon the drilling member compared with the at least one anchoring member.

8 . A Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) according to claim 1 , wherein the cross sectional area of the inner face of the at least one anchoring member is higher than the cross sectional area of the inner face of the drilling member.

9 . A Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) according to claim 1 , wherein the movement mechanism comprises a rotational translation movement mechanism arranged to translate rotational movement of a shaft rotatable in use about a longitudinal axis coincident and/or parallel with said longitudinal axis of the drilling tool into rotational movement of the drilling member about its longitudinal axis.

10 . A Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) according to claim 9 , wherein the rotational translation movement mechanism comprises a geared movement mechanism which translates the direction of rotation substantially through 90 degrees.

11 . A Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) according to claim 1 , wherein the drilling tool is adapted to accommodate at least a portion of the said fixed volume of downhole hydraulic fluid at any given time; and wherein the motive assembly is adapted to accommodate the remaining portion of the said fixed volume of downhole hydraulic fluid at said given time, and vice versa.

12 . A Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) according to claim 11 , wherein operation of the motive assembly rotates the rotatable shaft and which additionally pressurises the hydraulic fluid for supply to the drilling tool and moves more downhole hydraulic fluid from the motive assembly into the drilling tool and thus moves more of the portion of the said fixed volume of downhole hydraulic fluid at that given time from motive assembly to the drilling tool.

13 . A Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) according to claim 1 , wherein the retracted position of the drilling member results in the drilling member being closer to the longitudinal axis of the drilling tool (compared with the extended position), and wherein the extended position of the drilling member results in the drilling member being further away from the longitudinal axis of the drilling tool (compared with the retracted position).

14 . A Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) according to claim 1 , wherein the drilling member is operable to drill a port through a sidewall of a downhole tubular string previously run into the well.

15 . A Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) according to claim 1 , wherein the motive assembly comprises a battery pack and a motor.

16 . A Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) according to claim 15 , wherein the tool further comprises a rotary assembly operatively coupled to the motive assembly, wherein the rotary assembly comprises a piston, and wherein the motor is configured to be selectively operated in reverse rotation which reverses rotation of the rotatable shaft and reduces fluid pressure within the tool due to retraction of the piston.

17 . A Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) according to claim 1 , wherein when the drilling operation is completed and the drilling tool is to be retrieved from the well, firstly the drilling members can be retracted and subsequently thereafter the anchoring members can be retracted.

18 . A Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) according to claim 17 , wherein the motive assembly comprises a battery pack and a motor; and

wherein current being provided to the tool by the battery pack can be monitored during the drilling operation.

19 . A Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) according to claim 1 , wherein the BHA further comprises a rotary assembly, said rotary assembly comprising a linear actuator, and wherein the linear actuator comprises a lead screw and a lead screw nut.

20 . A Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) according to claim 19 , wherein the lead screw nut comprises a throughbore, and wherein the lead screw nut surrounds at least a portion of the lead screw such that at least a portion of the lead screw is located within the throughbore.

21 . A Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) according to claim 19 , wherein the rotary assembly further comprises a piston, wherein the lead screw nut is coupled to the piston, and wherein the lead screw nut and piston are connected together by screws or other fixings.

22 . A Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) according to claim 21 , wherein a piston chamber is located within the rotary assembly between the piston and the drilling tool, and wherein the piston chamber comprises a fluid that is to be compressed by the piston.

23 . A method for drilling through a sidewall in a tubular in a well, the method comprising:

deploying a Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) into the well to the depth at which the sidewall of the tubular is to be drilled, the BHA comprising:

a motive assembly having a downhole torque generator which comprises a rotatable shaft;

the BHA further comprising a fixed volume of downhole hydraulic fluid contained therein, defining a downhole hydraulic fluid supply; and

a drilling tool coupled to the rotatable shaft, the drilling tool being adapted to connect to said downhole hydraulic fluid supply, wherein the drilling tool comprises:

one or more anchoring members having an inner face contactable by hydraulic fluid from said downhole hydraulic fluid supply:

a drilling member having a longitudinal axis and having an inner face contactable by hydraulic fluid from said downhole hydraulic fluid supply, wherein the inner face of the anchoring member is in fluid communication via said hydraulic fluid with the inner face of the drilling member such that both respective inner faces experience the same pressure of the said hydraulic fluid acting upon them; and

a movement mechanism for rotating the drilling member about its longitudinal axis, wherein the drilling tool is further adapted to also connect to the downhole torque generator and wherein at least a portion of the said movement mechanism of the drilling tool is coupled to the rotatable shaft which provides said rotational movement:

the method further comprising:

operating the downhole torque generator of the motive assembly to rotate the rotatable shaft to rotate at least a portion of the movement mechanism of the drilling tool, and thereby rotating the drilling member around an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drilling tool;

operating the downhole torque generator of the motive assembly to additionally pressurise said hydraulic fluid for supply to the drilling tool;

applying fluid pressure from said downhole hydraulic fluid supply to the inner face of the one or more anchoring members to firstly move the one or more anchoring members radially into contact with an inner surface of the well in response to modification of the fluid pressure; and

applying fluid pressure from said downhole hydraulic fluid supply to the inner face of the drilling member to secondly move the drilling member radially in response to modification of the fluid pressure.

24 . A method for drilling through a sidewall in a tubular in a well according to claim 23 , wherein the method further comprises:

reducing fluid pressure to the inner face of the drilling member to firstly move said drilling member into a retracted position in which the drilling member is spaced apart from an inner surface of the well; and

reducing fluid pressure to the inner face of one or more anchoring members to secondly move said one or more anchoring members into a retracted position in which the at least one anchoring member is spaced apart from an inner surface of the well.

25 . A method for drilling through a sidewall in a tubular in a well according to claim 24 , wherein the method further comprises:

reversing the direction of rotation of the rotatable shaft to reduce fluid pressure within the tool to firstly move said drilling member and secondly move said one or more anchoring members into said respective retracted positions.

26 . A method for drilling through a sidewall in a tubular in a well according to claim 23 , wherein the method further comprises:

providing the drilling tool with a battery pack and a motor; and

monitoring the current being provided to the motor by said battery pack during the drilling operation.

27 . A drilling tool for use in a well, the drilling tool being adapted to connect to a downhole hydraulic fluid supply, the drilling tool having a longitudinal axis; the drilling tool comprising:

at least one anchoring member having an inner face contactable by hydraulic fluid from said downhole hydraulic fluid supply and being moveable radially, by means of pressurised hydraulic fluid from said downhole hydraulic fluid supply acting upon said inner face, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drilling tool, between:—

a retracted position in which the at least one anchoring member is spaced apart from an inner surface of the well; and

an extended position in which the anchoring member contacts an inner surface of the well; and

a drilling member having a longitudinal axis and having an inner face contactable by hydraulic fluid from said downhole hydraulic fluid supply, the drilling member being rotatable in use about said longitudinal axis, wherein the drilling member is arranged within the drilling tool such that the longitudinal axis of said drilling member is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said drilling tool; and

wherein said drilling member is also moveable radially, by means of pressurised downhole hydraulic fluid from said downhole hydraulic fluid supply acting upon said inner face thereof, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drilling tool between:—

a retracted position in which the drilling member is spaced apart from an inner surface of the well; and

an extended position in which the drilling member contacts an inner surface of the well;

wherein the inner face of the anchoring member is in fluid communication via said hydraulic fluid with the inner face of the drilling member such that both respective inner faces experience the same pressure of the said hydraulic fluid acting upon them;

wherein the drilling tool further comprises a movement mechanism for rotating the drilling member about its longitudinal axis;

wherein the movement mechanism comprises a rotational translation movement mechanism arranged to translate rotational movement of a shaft rotatable in use about a longitudinal axis coincident and/or parallel with said longitudinal axis of the drilling tool into rotational movement of the drilling member about its longitudinal axis;

wherein the drilling tool is further adapted to also connect to a downhole torque generator which comprises a rotatable shaft and wherein at least a portion of the said movement mechanism of the drilling tool is coupled to the rotatable shaft which provides said rotational movement;

wherein the drilling tool is coupled to a motive assembly having said rotatable shaft, wherein operation of the motive assembly is configured to rotate the rotatable shaft and rotate said at least a portion of the movement mechanism of the drilling tool;

wherein the operation of the motive assembly is configured to rotate the rotatable shaft and pressurise hydraulic fluid for supply to the drilling tool;

wherein the drilling tool and the motive assembly when coupled together form a bottom hole assembly which is adapted to provide a fixed volume for the downhole hydraulic fluid, where:—

the drilling tool is adapted to accommodate at least a portion of the said fixed volume of downhole hydraulic fluid at any given time; and

the motive assembly is adapted to accommodate the remaining portion of the said fixed volume of downhole hydraulic fluid at said given time, and vice versa.

28 . A drilling tool according to claim 27 , wherein operation of the motive assembly rotates the rotatable shaft and which additionally pressurises the hydraulic fluid for supply to the drilling tool and moves more downhole hydraulic fluid from the motive assembly into the drilling tool and thus moves more of the portion of the said fixed volume of downhole hydraulic fluid at that given time from motive assembly to the drilling tool.

29 . A drilling tool for use in a well, the drilling tool being adapted to connect to a downhole hydraulic fluid supply, the drilling tool having a longitudinal axis; the drilling tool comprising:

at least one anchoring member having an inner face contactable by hydraulic fluid from said downhole hydraulic fluid supply and being moveable radially, by means of pressurised hydraulic fluid from said downhole hydraulic fluid supply acting upon said inner face, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drilling tool, between:—

a retracted position in which the at least one anchoring member is spaced apart from an inner surface of the well; and

an extended position in which the anchoring member contacts an inner surface of the well; and

a drilling member having a longitudinal axis and having an inner face contactable by hydraulic fluid from said downhole hydraulic fluid supply, the drilling member being rotatable in use about said longitudinal axis, wherein the drilling member is arranged within the drilling tool such that the longitudinal axis of said drilling member is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said drilling tool; and

wherein said drilling member is also moveable radially, by means of pressurised downhole hydraulic fluid from said downhole hydraulic fluid supply acting upon said inner face thereof, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drilling tool between:—

a retracted position in which the drilling member is spaced apart from an inner surface of the well; and

an extended position in which the drilling member contacts an inner surface of the well;

wherein the inner face of the anchoring member is in fluid communication via said hydraulic fluid with the inner face of the drilling member such that both respective inner faces experience the same pressure of the said hydraulic fluid acting upon them;

wherein the drilling tool further comprises a movement mechanism for rotating the drilling member about its longitudinal axis;

wherein the movement mechanism comprises a rotational translation movement mechanism arranged to translate rotational movement of a shaft rotatable in use about a longitudinal axis coincident and/or parallel with said longitudinal axis of the drilling tool into rotational movement of the drilling member about its longitudinal axis;

wherein the drilling tool is further adapted to also connect to a downhole torque generator which comprises a rotatable shaft and wherein at least a portion of the said movement mechanism of the drilling tool is coupled to the rotatable shaft which provides said rotational movement;

wherein the drilling tool is coupled to a motive assembly having said rotatable shaft, wherein operation of the motive assembly is configured to rotate the rotatable shaft and rotate said at least a portion of the movement mechanism of the drilling tool;

wherein the motive assembly comprises a battery pack and a motor; and

wherein the tool further comprises a rotary assembly operatively coupled to the motive assembly, wherein the rotary assembly comprises a piston, and wherein the motor is capable of being operated in reverse rotation which reverses rotation of the rotatable shaft and reduces fluid pressure within the tool due to retraction of the piston.

30 . A method for drilling through a sidewall in a tubular in a well, the method comprising:

deploying a drilling tool into the well to the depth at which the sidewall of the tubular is to be drilled, wherein the drilling tool comprises:

one or more anchoring members and a drilling member and a drive shaft rotatably connected to the drilling member;

the method further comprising:

rotating the drive shaft and thereby rotating the drilling member around an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the drilling tool; and

applying fluid pressure to an inner face of the one or more anchoring members to firstly move the one or more anchoring members radially into contact with an inner surface of the well in response to modification of the fluid pressure;

applying fluid pressure to an inner face of the drilling member to secondly move the drilling member radially in response to modification of the fluid pressure;

reducing fluid pressure to the inner face of the drilling member to firstly move said drilling member into a retracted position in which the drilling member is spaced apart from an inner surface of the well;

reducing fluid pressure to the inner face of one or more anchoring members to secondly move said one or more anchoring members into a retracted position in which the at least one anchoring member is spaced apart from an inner surface of the well; and

reversing the direction of rotation of the drive shaft to reduce fluid pressure within the tool to firstly move said drilling member and secondly move said one or more anchoring members into said respective retracted positions.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (31)