Abstract: The device contemplated provides a method for positioning the drill bit in a drilling operation to achieve small changes in hole angle or azimuth as drilling proceeds. Two different positions are available to the operator. The first is a straight ahead position where the tool essentially becomes a packed hole stabilizer assembly. The second position tilts the bit across a rotating fulcrum to give a calculated offset at the bit-formation interface. The direction that the bit offset is applied in relation to current hole direction is controlled by positioning the orienting pistons prior to each drilling cycle, through the use of current measurement-while-drilling (MWD) technology. Components of the tool comprise a MWD housing, upper steering and drive mandrel, non-rotating position housing, lower drive mandrel splined with the upper mandrel, rotating fulcrum stabilizer and drill bit.

Abstract: A locking swivel device is provided for connection with a proximal end of a drill string and for conducting a drilling fluid to the drill string. The device is comprised of a housing and a mandrel rotatably supported within the housing such that an annular space is defined between the housing and the mandrel, wherein one of the housing and the mandrel is connectable with the drill string such that the drill string rotates therewith. A clutch assembly is positioned within the annular space which is actuatable between an engaged condition in which the clutch assembly engages the housing and the mandrel in order to inhibit the rotation of the mandrel relative to the housing and a disengaged condition in which the clutch assembly disengages the housing and the mandrel in order to permit the rotation of the mandrel relative to the housing. The clutch assembly is actuated to the engaged condition by a pressure exerted by the drilling fluid.

Abstract: A hydraulic drilling jar for use in association with downhole drilling and adaptable for connection between components of a drill string or the like. The hydraulic drilling jar generally comprises an outer generally hollow hydraulic housing, an inner mandrel assembly, an anvil portion, a hammer portion, and a hydraulic valve. The hydraulic housing has an enclosed first end and an open second end with the first end releasably securable to a first component of the drill string. The mandrel has a first end releasably securable to a second component of the drill string and a second end slidably receivable within the open second end of the hydraulic housing to forming an internal fluid chamber between the mandrel and the housing. The mandrel is also slidable within the outer housing from a contracted position to an extended position. The hydraulic housing and the mandrel operatively connect the first and second components of the drill string.

Abstract: A downhole tool catcher which includes a bottom hole assembly formed of an inner tubular in an outer tubular, an external housing connected to the outer tubular, and a washpipe extending from the inner tubular into the external housing, the washpipe having an external shoulder located uphole of an internal shoulder on the external housing, the external shoulder and internal shoulder being configured to engage each other upon movement of the external housing in an uphole direction in relation to the washpipe. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bottom hole assembly includes a mud motor.

Abstract: A downhole drill system comprising a drill string, a drill bit terminating the drill string, a bent sub in the drill string above the drill bit, a motor housing in the drill string above the drill bit and a downhole sub connected within the drill string to the motor housing. The downhole sub comprises an adaptor housing in the drill string above the motor housing, a mandrel connected to the adaptor housing, the mandrel having a shoulder facing the adaptor housing, the mandrel shoulder and the adaptor housing together forming an annular recess, a kick pad mounted for rotation in the annular recess and movable around the annular recess when the mandrel is disengaged from the adaptor housing and a lock mechanism for locking the kick pad in a fixed position relative to the adaptor housing when the mandrel is engaged with the adaptor housing.

Abstract: A downhole retrieving tool, in which a tubular member has a tubing string connector end and a conical retrieving dish on the tubular member spaced from and opening towards the tubing string connector end. Stabilizers are spaced around the tubular member at the tubing string connector end. A retrievable whipstock comprises a concave, with a recess formed in the concave between upper and lower conical walls. The upper side wall intersects the face of the concave to form an anchor point. A method for retrieving a downhole tool, such as a whipstock, in a well, in which a retrieving tool having a retrieving dish is lowered into a well, inserted into the recess to engage an anchor point, and removed from the well. Fluid may be injected through circumferentially spaced fluid passageways communicating with the bore of the tubular member to remove unwanted material from the recess.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for bearing tensile and compressive axial loads. In preferred embodiments, the invention is a bearing assembly for use downhole, including a first member and a second member with coinciding central longitudinal axes, and a thrust bearing subassembly in a chamber between the first and second members defined by two shoulders of the first member and two shoulders of the second member. The second member is free to rotate, and has at least limited freedom to translate axially, relative to the first member. The thrust bearing subassembly's overall axial length is such that the first member can translate axially relative to the second member between a first configuration in which the thrust bearing subassembly bears a tensile axial load and a second configuration in which it bears a compressive axial load.

Abstract: A downhole sub for use in directional drilling with a bent sub attached to a drill bit. The drill bit is operated by a downhole motor. The downhole sub includes upper and lower tubular sections whose centers are offset from one another in the bend direction of the bent sub. The downhole sub includes an intermediate tubular section disposed between the upper and lower tubular sections, with the bore of the intermediate section included within overlap between extensions of each of the bores of the upper and lower tubular sections. The axes of the upper and lower tubular section are parallel and offset between about 1/4 inch and 2 inches. The intermediate section grades gradually into the upper and lower tubular sections. The downhole sub is used by incorporation into a drill string above the bent sub and spaced from the bend sufficiently to allow the drill string to use the downhole sub as a lever to force the drill bit into the wall of the borehole.

Abstract: An adjustable bent housing for use in downhole drilling which includes a housing, mandrel, ring and locking mechanism. The housing has a housing central axis, a downward facing end face defining a plane whose normal is offset from the housing central axis, and an inner shoulder parallel to the downward facing end face. The mandrel has a mandrel central axis, a first end dimensioned to fit inside the housing and having a downward facing outer shoulder defining a plane whose normal is offset from the mandrel central axis. The ring is axially slidable on the mandrel, with a ring central axis and an upward facing end face defining a plane whose normal is offset from the ring central axis. A locking mechanism, a mandrel head threaded onto the mandrel, engages and disengages the upward facing end face of the ring with the downward facing end face of the housing and simultaneously engages and disengages the inner shoulder of the housing with the outer shoulder of the mandrel.

Abstract: A mud motor bearing assembly is disclosed for an oil-lubricated downhole drill mud motor. A number of parallel sets of angular contact ball bearings are located between the mandrel and the bearing housing in a sealed, oil-filled chamber to provide all compressive thrust load bearing, extension thrust load bearing and radial load bearing capacity. Oil filled pistons at each end retard the progress of mud contamination into the inside of the chamber containing the ball bearings.

Abstract: A rotor adapter for connection between a drive shaft having eccentric motion and a driven shaft having circular motion within a downhole mud motor. The rotor adapter has two symmetrical ends on either end of a rotor adapter shaft. Each end includes a coupler defining a socket for receiving one end of the rotor adapter shaft. A thrust ball is located between the rotor adapter shaft and the coupler and seated in pockets that have radii larger than the thrust ball and depths shallower than the radius of the thrust ball. Circumferentially spaced pockets around the rotor adapter shaft near the end of the shaft fit steel balls which protrude into complementary pockets on the coupler. The coupler pockets are cylindrical and plugged from the outside with plugs. The plugs are secured in place with the steel balls in the complementary pockets. The pockets on the rotor adapter shaft are elongated in the axial direction of the rotor adapter shaft to allow tilting of the rotor adapter shaft.