Abstract: There is disclosed herein drilling apparatus, in particular for use in the field of oil prospecting, comprising: a first tubular member (1, 2, 3); a second tubular member (6, 7, 8, 9) mounted at least partly within the first tubular member so as to be reciprocally free in rotation with respect to the first tubular member about an axis (5); and a drill bit (4) operatively connected to one of the first or second tubular members so as to be rotated in response to the one tubular member being turned in order to effect drilling, characterised in that: the drilling apparatus further comprises a restoring member (18, 36) for applying a forces between the first tubular member and the second tubular member at least in respective first axial directions in response to relative displacement of the first tubular member and the second tubular member in the respective opposite axial directions. Also provided are a tubular assembly and a method of assembling tubular members.

Abstract: A method of hydraulically activating a mechanically operated wellbore tool in a bottom hole assembly includes: holding moveable elements of the wellbore tool in an unactivated position using a shear pin; inserting one or more drop balls into a drilling fluid; and flowing the drilling fluid with the drop balls to a flow orifice located in or below the wellbore tool. The flow orifice is at least partially plugged with the drop balls to restrict fluid flow and correspondingly increases the hydraulic pressure of the drilling fluid. The hydraulic pressure is increased to a point beyond the rating of the shear pin, thereby causing the shear pin to shear and allowing the moveable elements of the tool to move to an activated position.

Abstract: Described herein is an inner tube for a core barrel which has a structure adapted to retain lubricant for lubricating a sampled core. In one embodiment, the internal surface of the inner tube includes a plurality of alveoli in which lubricant is retained.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein drilling apparatus, in particular for use in the field of oil prospecting, comprising: a first tubular member (1, 2, 3); a second tubular member (6, 7, 8, 9) mounted at least partly within the first tubular member so as to be reciprocally free in rotation with respect to the first tubular member about an axis (5); and a drill bit (4) operatively connected to one of the first or second tubular members so as to be rotated in response to the one tubular member being turned in order to effect drilling, characterised in that: the drilling apparatus further comprises a restoring member (18, 36) for applying a forces between the first tubular member and the second tubular member at least in respective first axial directions in response to relative displacement of the first tubular member and the second tubular member in the respective opposite axial directions. Also provided are a tubular assembly and a method of assembling tubular members.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a drilling tool includes a tubular body defining a longitudinal axial cavity extending therethrough and defining at least one cutter element recess. The drilling tool also includes a cutter element at least partially disposed within the at least one cutter element recess and includes at least first and second cutting arms at least substantially disposed within the cutter element recess in a retracted position. The first and second cutting arms are operable to move from the retracted position to an extended position in which the first and second cutting arms extend at least partially beyond a periphery of the tubular body. The first and second cutting arms and the tubular body enclose a space when the first and second cutting arms are in the extended position.

Abstract: An underreaming tool may include a tubular body, a drive tube, at least one blade element (“the blade element”), at least one wedge element (“the wedge element”), and a stop mechanism. The drive tube may include at least one longitudinal groove (“the longitudinal groove”) axially disposed along a length of the drive tube. The wedge element may include a first side having at least one lateral projection (“the lateral projection”) configured to axially slide into the longitudinal groove to couple the wedge element to the drive tube. The stop mechanism comprises a threaded sleeve configured to screw onto the drive tube to lock the wedge element in the longitudinal groove once the lateral projection is slid into the longitudinal groove.

Abstract: An underreaming tool may include may include a tubular body, a drive tube, at least one blade element (“the blade element”), at least one wedge element (“the wedge element”), and a stop mechanism. The drive tube may include at least one longitudinal groove (“the longitudinal groove”) axially disposed along a length of the drive tube. The wedge element may include a first side having at least one lateral projection (“the lateral projection”) configured to axially slide into the longitudinal groove to couple the wedge element to the drive tube. The stop mechanism comprises a threaded sleeve configured to screw onto the drive tube to lock the wedge element in the longitudinal groove once the lateral projection is slid into the longitudinal groove.

Abstract: An underreaming tool may include a tubular body, a drive tube, at least one blade element (“the blade element”), at least one wedge element (“the wedge element”), and a stop mechanism. The drive tube may include at least one longitudinal groove (“the longitudinal groove”) axially disposed along a length of the drive tube. The wedge element may include a first side having at least one lateral projection (“the lateral projection”) configured to axially slide into the longitudinal groove to couple the wedge element to the drive tube. The stop mechanism comprises a threaded sleeve configured to screw onto the drive tube to lock the wedge element in the longitudinal groove once the lateral projection is slid into the longitudinal groove.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a drilling tool includes a tubular body defining a longitudinal axial cavity extending therethrough and defining at least one cutter element recess. The drilling tool also includes a cutter element at least partially disposed within the at least one cutter element recess and includes at least first and second cutting arms at least substantially disposed within the cutter element recess in a retracted position. The first and second cutting arms are operable to move from the retracted position to an extended position in which the first and second cutting arms extend at least partially beyond a periphery of the tubular body. The first and second cutting arms and the tubular body enclose a space when the first and second cutting arms are in the extended position.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a drilling tool includes a tubular body defining a longitudinal axial cavity extending therethrough and defining at least one cutter element recess. The drilling tool also includes a cutter element at least partially disposed within the at least one cutter element recess and includes at least first and second cutting arms at least substantially disposed within the cutter element recess in a retracted position. The first and second cutting arms are operable to move from the retracted position to an extended position in which the first and second cutting arms extend at least partially beyond a periphery of the tubular body. The first and second cutting arms and the tubular body enclose a space when the first and second cutting arms are in the extended position.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a drilling tool includes a tubular body defining a longitudinal axial cavity extending therethrough and defining at least one cutter element recess. The drilling tool also includes a cutter element at least partially disposed within the at least one cutter element recess and includes at least first and second cutting arms at least substantially disposed within the cutter element recess in a retracted position. The first and second cutting arms are operable to move from the retracted position to an extended position in which the first and second cutting arms extend at least partially beyond a periphery of the tubular body. The first and second cutting arms and the tubular body enclose a space when the first and second cutting arms are in the extended position.

Abstract: An underreaming tool may include may include a tubular body, a drive tube, at least one blade element (“the blade element”), at least one wedge element (“the wedge element”), and a stop mechanism. The drive tube may include at least one longitudinal groove (“the longitudinal groove”) axially disposed along a length of the drive tube. The wedge element may include a first side having at least one lateral projection (“the lateral projection”) configured to axially slide into the longitudinal groove to couple the wedge element to the drive tube. The stop mechanism comprises a threaded sleeve configured to screw onto the drive tube to lock the wedge element in the longitudinal groove once the lateral projection is slid into the longitudinal groove.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a drilling tool includes a tubular body defining a longitudinal axial cavity extending therethrough and defining at least one cutter element recess. The drilling tool also includes a cutter element at least partially disposed within the at least one cutter element recess and includes at least first and second cutting arms at least substantially disposed within the cutter element recess in a retracted position. The first and second cutting arms are operable to move from the retracted position to an extended position in which the first and second cutting arms extend at least partially beyond a periphery of the tubular body. The first and second cutting arms and the tubular body enclose a space when the first and second cutting arms are in the extended position.

Abstract: An assembly for sidetracked drilling in a wall of a borehole previously drilled or cored in a formation includes a guide element and an expansible device fixed to the front end of the guide element operable to be selectively expanded by an actuation means. A sidetracking channel is formed in the guide element in alignment with an internal space, upstream of the expansible device in the direction of advance. A longitudinal cavity is formed in the guide element parallel to the longitudinal axis and arranged to allow passage from the internal space to the actuation means of the expansible device. Within the internal space of the guide element, an external tube of the core barrel includes a core bit fixed to the front end of the external tube and arranged to slide, after having been released, in the internal space and in the sidetracking channel and then progress to the formation.

Abstract: An assembly for sidetracked drilling in a wall of a borehole previously drilled or cored in a formation includes a guide element and an expansible device fixed to the front end of the guide element operable to be selectively expanded by an actuation means. A sidetracking channel is formed in the guide element in alignment with an internal space, upstream of the expansible device in the direction of advance. A longitudinal cavity is formed in the guide element parallel to the longitudinal axis and arranged to allow passage from the internal space to the actuation means of the expansible device. Within the internal space of the guide element, an external tube of the core barrel includes a core bit fixed to the front end of the external tube and arranged to slide, after having been released, in the internal space and in the sidetracking channel and then progress to the formation.

Abstract: An assembly for sidetracked drilling in a wall of a borehole previously drilled or cored in a formation includes a guide element and an expansible device fixed to the front end of the guide element operable to be selectively expanded by an actuation means. A sidetracking channel is formed in the guide element in alignment with an internal space, upstream of the expansible device in the direction of advance. A longitudinal cavity is formed in the guide element parallel to the longitudinal axis and arranged to allow passage from the internal space to the actuation means of the expansible device. Within the internal space of the guide element, an external tube of the core barrel includes a core bit fixed to the front end of the external tube and arranged to slide, after having been released, in the internal space and in the sidetracking channel and then progress to the formation.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a drilling tool includes a tubular body defining a longitudinal axial cavity extending therethrough and defining at least one cutter element recess. The drilling tool also includes a cutter element at least partially disposed within the at least one cutter element recess and includes at least first and second cutting arms at least substantially disposed within the cutter element recess in a retracted position. The first and second cutting arms are operable to move from the retracted position to an extended position in which the first and second cutting arms extend at least partially beyond a periphery of the tubular body. The first and second cutting arms and the tubular body enclose a space when the first and second cutting arms are in the extended position.

Abstract: An assembly for sidetracked drilling in a wall of a borehole previously drilled or cored in a formation includes a guide element and an expansible device fixed to the front end of the guide element operable to be selectively expanded by an actuation means. A sidetracking channel is formed in the guide element in alignment with an internal space, upstream of the expansible device in the direction of advance. A longitudinal cavity is formed in the guide element parallel to the longitudinal axis and arranged to allow passage from the internal space to the actuation means of the expansible device. Within the internal space of the guide element, an external tube of the core barrel includes a core bit fixed to the front end of the external tube and arranged to slide, after having been released, in the internal space and in the sidetracking channel and then progress to the formation.