Abstract: A sidetracking tool includes a setting tool having an expandable anchor, a whipstock connected to an upper end of the setting tool, the whipstock having a ramp face along an axial length thereof, and a drilling assembly including a drill bit disposed on an end thereof, wherein the drill bit is configured to interface with the ramp face of the whipstock.

Abstract: A bottom hole assembly to directionally drill a subterranean formation includes a drill bit, a stabilizer assembly located proximate to and behind the drill bit, a drilling assembly comprising a drive mechanism and a directional mechanism, and a flex housing integral with the drilling assembly.

Abstract: A bottom hole assembly to directionally drill a subterranean formation includes a drill bit, a stabilizer assembly located proximate to and behind the drill bit, a drilling assembly comprising a drive mechanism and a directional mechanism, and a flex member. Optionally, the flex member may be located between the drilling assembly and the stabilizer assembly or an integral to a housing of the drilling assembly. A method to drill a formation includes positioning a stabilizer assembly behind a drill bit and positioning a flex member between an output shaft of a drilling assembly and the stabilizer assembly. The method preferably includes rotating the drill bit, stabilizer assembly, and flex member with a drilling assembly and directing the trajectory of the drill bit and stabilizer assembly with a directional mechanism of the drilling assembly.

Abstract: A mill for milling a window through metal casing in a well bore that includes a body having a plurality of blades; a plurality of cylindrically bodied cutting elements on said blades; and a plurality of diamond enhanced elements having a non-planar diamond working surface on said blades; wherein said cutting elements initiate cutting into said casing and mill said window into said well bore.

Abstract: A cutting device for downhole operations includes a first cutting structure, and a second cutting structure, wherein at least the second cutting structure is selectively presentable for operation. A method of performing a downhole cutting operation comprises running into a well bore a cutting device including a plurality of cutting structures, performing a first cutting operation with a first cutting structure of the cutting device, moving the first cutting structure to selectively present a second cutting structure of the cutting device, and performing a second cutting operation with at least the second cutting structure. The method may further include aligning movable cutting structures of the cutting device to allow the second cutting structure to be selectively presented.

Abstract: An expandable drilling apparatus includes a main body comprising a central bore and at least one axial recess configured to receive an arm assembly operable between a retracted position and an extended position, a biasing member to urge the arm assembly into the retracted position, a drive position configured to thrust the arm assembly into the extended position when in communication with drilling fluids in the central bore, a selector piston translatable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the selector piston is thrust into the open position when a pressure of the drilling fluids exceeds an activation value, wherein the drilling fluids are in communication with the drive piston when the selector piston is in the open position, and a selector spring configured to thrust the selector piston into the closed position when the pressure of the drilling fluids falls below a reset value.

Abstract: A cutting device for downhole operations comprises a first cutting structure, and a second cutting structure, wherein at least the second cutting structure is selectively presentable for operation. A method of performing a downhole cutting operation comprises running into a well bore a cutting device comprising a plurality of cutting structures, performing a first cutting operation with a first cutting structure of the cutting device, selectively presenting a second cutting structure of the cutting device, and performing a second cutting operation with at least the second cutting structure. The method may further comprise aligning the cutting device to allow the second cutting structure to be selectively presented.

Abstract: An expandable drilling apparatus is deployed upon a distal end of a drillstring and includes a cutting head and a substantially tubular main body adjacent the cutting head providing a plurality of axial recesses configured to receive arm assemblies configured to translate between a retracted and an extended position. A flow switch actuates the arm assemblies when a drilling fluid pressure exceeds an activation value and the drilling apparatus includes a biasing member to reset the arm assemblies when the drilling fluid pressure falls below a reset value.

Abstract: A bottom hole assembly includes a drill bit, a stabilized underreamer assembly located behind the drill bit, and a drilling assembly. A method to drill a formation includes positioning a stabilized underreamer assembly behind a drill bit, positioning a drilling assembly behind the stabilized underreamer assembly, and rotating the drill bit and stabilized underreamer assembly with the drilling assembly. A stabilized underreamer located between a directional drilling assembly and a drill bit includes at least one arm assembly extending from the stabilized underreamer assembly, wherein the arm assembly includes a stabilizer portion and an underreamer cutting structure.

Abstract: An expandable drilling apparatus is deployed upon a distal end of a drillstring and includes a cutting head and a substantially tubular main body adjacent the cutting head providing a plurality of axial recesses configured to receive arm assemblies configured to translate between a retracted and an extended position. A flow switch actuates the arm assemblies when a drilling fluid pressure exceeds an activation value and the drilling apparatus includes a biasing member to reset the arm assemblies when the drilling fluid pressure falls below a reset value.

Abstract: A downhole assembly comprises a whipstock and an expandable anchoring tool connected to the whipstock, wherein the tool comprises a body including a plurality of angled channels formed into a wall thereof and a plurality of moveable slips, wherein the slips translate along the angled channels between a collapsed position and an expanded position. A method for performing a thru tubing operation in a well bore comprises running a downhole assembly comprising a whipstock and an expandable anchoring tool in a collapsed position through a first diameter section of the well bore, orienting the whipstock, and translating a plurality of pairs of slips of the expandable anchoring tool to an expanded position into gripping engagement with a casing lining a second diameter section of the well bore that is larger than the first diameter section, wherein the pairs of slips are axially spaced apart along the expandable anchoring tool.

Abstract: An expandable drilling apparatus is deployed upon a distal end of a drillstring and includes a cutting head and a substantially tubular main body adjacent the cutting head providing a plurality of axial recesses configured to receive arm assemblies configured to translate between a retracted and an extended position. A flow switch actuates the arm assemblies when a drilling fluid pressure exceeds an activation value and the drilling apparatus includes a biasing member to reset the arm assemblies when the drilling fluid pressure falls below a reset value.

Abstract: An expandable downhole anchoring tool positionable within a wellbore for use in cooperation with drilling equipment comprises a body including a plurality of angled channels formed into a wall thereof, and a plurality of moveable slips disposed in the same radial plane around the body, wherein the plurality of moveable slips are hydraulically translatable along the plurality of angled channels between a collapsed position and an expanded position. A method of setting an expandable anchor within a wellbore comprises running the anchor into the wellbore in a collapsed position, and expanding the anchor into gripping engagement with the wellbore, wherein the anchor is adapted to expand up to at least 1.5 times a collapsed diameter of the anchor.

Abstract: A liner running system for placing a liner in a well bore comprises a latch sleeve connected to the liner and a running tool releasably attached to the latch sleeve. The latch sleeve has a wall thickness substantially the same as the wall thickness of the liner, and the running tool has an outer diameter less than or equal to the inner diameter of the liner. The latch sleeve may be connected into the liner at any location along its length. The running tool is releasable from the latch sleeve via hydraulic actuation or mechanical actuation. Optionally, a swivel may be connected to the liner. The swivel has a wall thickness substantially the same as the wall thickness of the liner. The method for lowering the liner into the well bore via the liner running system comprises rotating the liner, pushing the liner, pulling the liner, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An expandable downhole tool comprises a tubular body having an axial flowbore extending therethrough, at least one moveable arm, and a selectively actuatable sleeve that prevents or allows the at least one moveable arm to translate between a collapsed position and an expanded position. A method of expanding the downhole tool comprises disposing the downhole tool within the wellbore, biasing the at least one moveable arm to a collapsed position corresponding to an initial diameter of the downhole tool, flowing a fluid through an axial flowbore extending through the downhole tool while preventing the fluid from communicating with a different flowpath of the downhole tool, allowing the fluid to communicate with the different flowpath by introducing an actuator into the wellbore, and causing the at least one moveable arm to translate to an expanded position corresponding to an expanded diameter of the downhole tool.

Abstract: A lockable motor assembly for use in a well bore comprises a stator, a rotor rotatably mounted within the stator, and a selectively removable flow restriction means. The lockable motor assembly may further, comprise holding means for rotationally fixing the rotor to the stator. The flow restriction means limits the flow rate of fluid downstream of the rotor, thereby substantially balancing hydraulic pressure above and below the stator.

Abstract: The side tracking system includes a window mill having a full diameter cutting surface and a reduced diameter tapered cutting surface and a whipstock having a ramp engaging the reduced diameter cutting surface. The materials of the whipstock have a first cutablity and the materials of the casing have a second cutability. The reduced diameter cutting surface contacts the whipstock ramp at a first contact area and the full diameter cutting surface contacts the wall of the casing at a second contact area. As weight is applied to the mill, there is a first contact stress at the first contact area and a second contact stress at the second contact area. A cutability ratio is the first cutability divided by the second cutability and a contact stress ratio is the first contact stress divided by the second contact stress. The mill cuts the casing rather than the whipstock by maintaining the product of the cutability ratio and the contact stress ratio less than one.

Abstract: A downhole tool is disclosed that functions as an expandable anchoring tool, capable of passing through a restricted wellbore diameter while in a collapsed position and thereafter translating to an expanded position for grippingly engaging a larger wellbore diameter. An embodiment of the tool includes a body including a plurality of angled channels formed into a wall of the body and a plurality of moveable slips. The plurality of moveable slips translates along the plurality of angled channels between a collapsed position and an expanded position. The slips may include a plurality of extensions corresponding to and engaging the plurality of channels.

Abstract: A lockable motor assembly for use in a well bore comprises a stator, a rotor rotatably mounted within the stator, and a selectively removable flow restriction means. The lockable motor assembly may further comprise holding means for rotationally fixing the rotor to the stator. The flow restriction means limits the flow rate of fluid downstream of the rotor, thereby substantially balancing hydraulic pressure above and below the stator.

Abstract: A downhole tool that functions as an underreamer or as a stabilizer in an underreamed borehole. The tool includes one or more moveable arms disposed within a body having a flowbore therethrough in fluid communication with the wellbore annulus. The tool alternates between collapsed and expanded positions in response to differential fluid pressure between the flowbore and the wellbore annulus. In one embodiment, the tool moves automatically in response to differential pressure. In a second embodiment, the tool must be selectively actuated before it is moveable. The tool may include borehole engaging pads that comprise cutting structures or wear structures or both, depending upon the function of the tool.