Abstract: A disclosed vibration monitoring method includes: processing sensor information downhole to detect one or more vibration modes; responsively updating a vibration mode state machine; communicating a current machine state to an uphole module; deriving from said current machine state at least a primary vibration mode and associated severity; and modifying at least one drilling parameter if the severity exceeds a threshold. A disclosed drilling system implementation includes: a drill string; a rig or other deployment device that conveys the drill string into a borehole using at least one controllable drilling parameter; one or more downhole sensors providing vibration-related signals; a downhole processor that operates on the vibration-related signals to detect one or more vibration modes and responsively updates a vibration mode state machine; and an uphole module that receives the current state from the downhole processor and derives from the current state at least a primary vibration mode and severity.

Abstract: A directional drilling system includes a housing and a motor positioned within the housing and operably coupled to a drill bit to rotate the drill bit. The system further includes a primary pad assembly comprising a primary pad and a primary actuator coupled to the primary pad to selectively extend from an exterior of the housing, and a backup pad assembly to back up the primary pad assembly, the backup pad assembly comprising a backup pad and a backup actuator coupled to the backup pad to selectively extend from the exterior of the housing.

Abstract: System and method for analyzing and evaluating the performance of a directional driller (“DD”) include acquiring and analyzing drilling data in real time, identifying activities and decisions that are the responsibility of the directional driller, and confirming whether or not the directional driller's decisions were appropriate or not and in what timeframe. The system and method may provide output information for evaluation purposes, for example, in the form of a directional drilling quality report. The directional drilling quality report may allow evaluation of an individual directional driller and also comparison of directional drillers relative to each other. The use of real-time drilling data allows the report to be modified to reflect actual drilling conditions and objectives as needed.

Abstract: A directional drilling system includes a housing and a motor positioned within the housing and operably coupled to a drill bit to rotate the drill bit. The system further includes a primary pad assembly comprising a primary pad and a primary actuator coupled to the primary pad to selectively extend from an exterior of the housing, and a backup pad assembly to back up the primary pad assembly, the backup pad assembly comprising a backup pad and a backup actuator coupled to the backup pad to selectively extend from the exterior of the housing.

Abstract: A directional drilling system includes a housing and a motor positioned within the housing and operably coupled to a drill bit to rotate the drill bit. The system further includes a primary pad assembly comprising a primary pad and a primary actuator coupled to the primary pad to selectively extend from an exterior of the housing, and a backup pad assembly to back up the primary pad assembly, the backup pad assembly comprising a backup pad and a backup actuator coupled to the backup pad to selectively extend from the exterior of the housing.

Abstract: A rotary steerable tool for directional drilling includes a tool body with a flowbore, a plurality of extendable members, each independently movable between an extended position and a retracted position, and a plurality of actuation devices, each being independently operable to control a respective one of the extendable members.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for real-time analysis of wellsite inventory activity is described. The method includes logging receipt of inventory items at a wellsite and tracking their use. In certain embodiments, the inventory may be chemical sacks mixed into drilling fluids, and their use may be tracked with an RFID scanner near the threshold of a mixing hopper. The tracking information may be used to update an inventory management database. When an item is used, real-time wellsite data may be analyzed to determine its impact on drilling performance. The efficacy of the item may thereby be determined and stored in a predictive model database. In making future wellsite drilling decisions, the predictive model database may be used to select cost-efficient performance improvement solutions. Additionally, performance information may be used to correct real-time data measured during future uses of the inventory item.

Abstract: A directional drilling system includes a housing and a motor positioned within the housing and operably coupled to a drill bit to rotate the drill bit. The system further includes a primary pad assembly comprising a primary pad and a primary actuator coupled to the primary pad to selectively extend from an exterior of the housing, and a backup pad assembly to back up the primary pad assembly, the backup pad assembly comprising a backup pad and a backup actuator coupled to the backup pad to selectively extend from the exterior of the housing.

Abstract: A disclosed vibration monitoring method includes: processing sensor information downhole to detect one or more vibration modes; responsively updating a vibration mode state machine; communicating a current machine state to an uphole module; deriving from said current machine state at least a primary vibration mode and associated severity; and modifying at least one drilling parameter if the severity exceeds a threshold. A disclosed drilling system implementation includes: a drill string; a rig or other deployment device that conveys the drill string into a borehole using at least one controllable drilling parameter; one or more downhole sensors providing vibration-related signals; a downhole processor that operates on the vibration-related signals to detect one or more vibration modes and responsively updates a vibration mode state machine; and an uphole module that receives the current state from the downhole processor and derives from the current state at least a primary vibration mode and severity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for real-time analysis of wellsite inventory activity is described. The method includes logging receipt of inventory items at a wellsite and tracking their use. In certain embodiments, the inventory may be chemical sacks mixed into drilling fluids, and their use may be tracked with an RFID scanner near the threshold of a mixing hopper. The tracking information may be used to update an inventory management database. When an item is used, real-time wellsite data may be analyzed to determine its impact on drilling performance. The efficacy of the item may thereby be determined and stored in a predictive model database. In making future wellsite drilling decisions, the predictive model database may be used to select cost-efficient performance improvement solutions. Additionally, performance information may be used to correct real-time data measured during future uses of the inventory item.

Abstract: System and method for analyzing and evaluating the performance of a directional driller (“DD”) include acquiring and analyzing drilling data in real time, identifying activities and decisions that are the responsibility of the directional driller, and confirming whether or not the directional driller's decisions were appropriate or not and in what timeframe. The system and method may provide output information for evaluation purposes, for example, in the form of a directional drilling quality report. The directional drilling quality report may allow evaluation of an individual directional driller and also comparison of directional drillers relative to each other. The use of real-time drilling data allows the report to be modified to reflect actual drilling conditions and objectives as needed.