Abstract: A rotary steerable drilling assembly includes a driveshaft rotatably disposed in a driveshaft housing, a bend adjustment assembly coupled to the driveshaft housing, a bearing mandrel coupled to the bend adjustment assembly, and a torque control assembly including a rotor configured to couple with a drill string; a stator assembly coupled to a downhole motor; and a torque control actuator assembly configured to control the amount of torque transmitted between the rotor and the stator assembly, wherein the torque control actuator assembly includes a spool valve including a cylinder including a port and a hydraulically actuatable piston slidably disposed in the cylinder.

Abstract: A rotary steerable drilling assembly for directional drilling includes a driveshaft rotatably disposed in a driveshaft housing, a bend adjustment assembly coupled to the driveshaft housing, a bearing mandrel coupled to the bend adjustment assembly, and a torque control assembly including a rotor configured to couple with a drill string, a stator assembly coupled to the downhole motor, and a torque control actuator assembly configured to control the amount of torque transmitted between the rotor and the stator assembly, wherein the bend adjustment assembly includes a first position providing a first deflection angle between a longitudinal axis of the driveshaft housing and a longitudinal axis of the bearing mandrel, wherein the bend adjustment assembly includes a second position providing a second deflection angle between the longitudinal axis of the driveshaft housing and the longitudinal axis of the bearing mandrel, the second deflection angle being different from the first deflection angle.

Abstract: An electronics module or “puck” is positioned in a recess formed in the outer surface of a downhole tool. The puck body includes a flange segment having a first outer diameter, and an adjacent seal-engaging segment having an outer diameter that is less than the outer diameter of the flange segment. An annular seal is disposed about the seal-engaging segment and seals between the puck and the perimeter wall of the recess. A cover ring is disposed over an intermediate segment of the puck body, capturing the seal between the cover and the flange segment. A retainer ring is employed to selectively engage and disengage the perimeter wall of the recess, retaining the puck, seal and covering ring in the recess. A method for installation and removal of the puck is disclosed.

Abstract: An electronics module or “puck” is positioned in a recess formed in the outer surface of a downhole tool. The puck body includes a flange segment having a first outer diameter, and an adjacent seal-engaging segment having an outer diameter that is less than the outer diameter of the flange segment. An annular seal is disposed about the seal-engaging segment and seals between the puck and the perimeter wall of the recess. A cover ring is disposed over an intermediate segment of the puck body, capturing the seal between the cover and the flange segment. A retainer ring is employed to selectively engage and disengage the perimeter wall of the recess, retaining the puck, seal and covering ring in the recess. A method for installation and removal of the puck is disclosed.

Abstract: A rotary steerable drilling assembly for directional drilling includes a driveshaft rotatably disposed in a driveshaft housing, a bend adjustment assembly coupled to the driveshaft housing, a bearing mandrel coupled to the bend adjustment assembly, and a torque control assembly including a rotor configured to couple with a drill string, a stator assembly coupled to the downhole motor, and a torque control actuator assembly configured to control the amount of torque transmitted between the rotor and the stator assembly, wherein the bend adjustment assembly includes a first position providing a first deflection angle between a longitudinal axis of the driveshaft housing and a longitudinal axis of the bearing mandrel, wherein the bend adjustment assembly includes a second position providing a second deflection angle between the longitudinal axis of the driveshaft housing and the longitudinal axis of the bearing mandrel, the second deflection angle being different from the first deflection angle.

Abstract: A valve (11) for controlling the flow of a drilling fluid through a down-hole tool (10) positionable in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation. The down-hole tool has a housing with a drilling motor therein and a drill bit (1) at an end thereof. The drilling motor (9) has a housing with a rotor (206) rotationally movable in a rotor channel (204) as the drilling fluid passes through a rotor channel between the housing and the rotor. The rotor has a bypass channel therethrough for bypassing a portion of the drilling fluid therethrough. The valve includes a valve plate positionable upstream of the motor. The valve plate (200) has at least one flow passage (226) and at least one bypass passage (220) therethrough. The flow passage is in fluid communication with the rotor channel for passing the drilling fluid therethrough.

Abstract: A downhole sensing assembly for sensing motor parameters of a downhole motor positionable in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation is provided. The downhole motor has a stator and a rotor rotatable within the stator. The sensing assembly includes at least one rotor extension operatively connectable to the rotor and movable therewith, at least one marker positionable about the rotor extension, and at least one motor sensor positionable about a downhole tool and operatively coupled to the marker to detect movement of the marker whereby motor parameters, such as rotational speed of the motor, are detectable.

Abstract: A valve (11) for controlling the flow of a drilling fluid through a down-hole tool (10) positionable in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation. The down-hole tool has a housing with a drilling motor therein and a drill bit (1) at an end thereof. The drilling motor (9) has a housing with a rotor (206) rotationally movable in a rotor channel (204) as the drilling fluid passes through a rotor channel between the housing and the rotor. The rotor has a bypass channel therethrough for bypassing a portion of the drilling fluid therethrough. The valve includes a valve plate positionable upstream of the motor. The valve plate (200) has at least one flow passage (226) and at least one bypass passage (220) therethrough. The flow passage is in fluid communication with the rotor channel for passing the drilling fluid therethrough.

Abstract: The present invention relates to drill bits and methods of making drill bits. In one embodiment, a drill bit includes a bit body having at least one independent blade, in which the blade is attached to the bit body by way of a piece that is attached to a force absorbing material. In another embodiment, a drill bit includes an integrated blade, in which the blade is cut into segments allowing the segments of the blade to independently flex.

Abstract: The invention includes, in its various aspects and embodiments, a method and apparatus for multiplexing data on-bit in a drilling operation. The apparatus comprises a bit; a plurality of transducers situated on the bit; and an analog multiplexer situated on the on the bit and capable of receiving the output of the transducers, multiplexing the received outputs, and transmitting the multiplexed outputs. The method comprises taking a plurality of measurements of at least one down-hole drilling condition at a bit of a drill string; generating a plurality of analog signals representative of the measurements; and multiplexing the analog signals at the bit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of measuring stick slip in an earth drilling system, and a system for performing same. The method includes positioning an accelerometer in a downhole component of a drill string, the accelerometer being radially offset from a centerline of the downhole component, obtaining acceleration data for the drill string during drilling operations using the accelerometer and determining if the drill string has experienced stick slip based upon mean acceleration values obtained by analyzing the acceleration data obtained using the accelerometer.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a tool for obtaining downhole measurements and methods of using such a tool. In one illustrative embodiment the tool comprises a body, at least one strain gauge cavity in the body, the strain gauge cavity having a strain gauge mounting surface that is located at a position such that a region of approximately zero strain due to at least one downhole operating condition exists on the mounting surface when the tool is subjected to downhole operating conditions, and a strain gauge operatively coupled to the mounting face above the region of approximately zero strain.

Abstract: The invention includes, in its various aspects and embodiments, a method and apparatus for multiplexing data on-bit in a drilling operation. The apparatus comprises a bit; a plurality of transducers situated on the bit; and an analog multiplexer situated on the on the bit and capable of receiving the output of the transducers, multiplexing the received outputs, and transmitting the multiplexed outputs. The method comprises taking a plurality of measurements of at least one down-hole drilling condition at a bit of a drill string; generating a plurality of analog signals representative of the measurements; and multiplexing the analog signals at the bit.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a tool for obtaining downhole measurements and methods of using such a tool. In one illustrative embodiment the tool comprises a body, at least one strain gauge cavity in the body, the strain gauge cavity having a strain gauge mounting surface that is located at a position such that a region of approximately zero strain due to at least one downhole operating condition exists on the mounting surface when the tool is subjected to downhole operating conditions, and a strain gauge operatively coupled to the mounting face above the region of approximately zero strain.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a tool for obtaining weight-on-bit (WOB) measurements and methods of using such a tool. In one illustrative embodiment the tool comprises a body, at least one strain gauge cavity in the body, the strain gauge cavity having a strain gauge mounting surface that is located at a position such that a region of approximately zero axial strain due to downhole pressures during drilling operations exists on the mounting surface when the tool is subjected to downhole pressures during drilling operations, and a weight-on-bit strain gauge operatively coupled to the mounting face above the region of approximately zero axial strain.