Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for reducing a vibration of a drill string in a borehole. A sensor of the drill string obtains one or more measurements of a parameter of the vibration. A processor determines at least one force for controlling the measured vibration from the measured parameter. At least one actuator applies the determined at least one force against the borehole wall to control the vibration of the drill string.

Abstract: An apparatus to be conveyed into a wellbore. The apparatus includes a housing configured to be conveyed downhole and a drive member located in the housing. The apparatus further includes a drive unit configured to actuate movement of the drive member by selectively coupling to the drive member, wherein the coupling of the device to the drive member is controlled by applying an energy to a selected material in the device.

Abstract: A system for determining the amount of life consumed for a tool includes at least one sensor associated with the tool for generating observation data, a memory in operable communication with the at least one sensor, the memory including a database for storing the observation data generated by the sensor, and a processor in operable communication with the memory. The processor includes a model generator that generates a current model for a current run of the tool. The current model includes parameters of a functional approximation of the observation data. The processor also includes a classifier that classifies the current model and a current run estimator that determine the amount of life consumed based on the classification of the current model and a time of use associated with the current run.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a wellbore is provided, which in one embodiment includes a drilling motor and a steering unit placed about a shaft between a lower section of a stator in the motor and a drill bit. The steering unit includes a substantially non-rotating member and a force application member on the non-rotating member configured to radially extend the force application member from the non-rotating member. In another embodiment, the steering unit may include, rotating member configured to rotate a drill bit, a steering member configured to orient the drill bit along a selected direction, a first steering device configured to orient the steering member in the wellbore, and a second steering device configured to maintain orientation of the steering member when drilling the wellbore.

Abstract: A bottom hole assembly has a drill bit that is driven by a downhole turbine. The turbine speed is reduced by cycloidal gearing that requires no temperature sensitive seals when operating temperatures in some applications exceed 350 degrees F. The output shaft of the cycloidal gear reducer goes through a bearing before connection to the drill bit or associated reamer. The motive fluid can be the drilling mud. The bit can be driven at desired speeds such as 50-300 RPM while the speed reduction ratio can be in the order of 10 to 1 or more. This drive assembly can replace Moineau type downhole motor drivers that have temperature limitations due to use of rubber in the stators.

Abstract: A drilling assembly is disclosed that in one embodiment includes a bi-directional wireless data transfer device between a rotating and a non-rotating member of the drilling assembly. Power may be supplied to the rotating member via any suitable method, including an inductive device and direct electrical connections.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for reducing a vibration of a drill string in a borehole. A sensor of the drill string obtains one or more measurements of a parameter of the vibration. A processor determines at least one force for controlling the measured vibration from the measured parameter. At least one actuator applies the determined at least one force against the borehole wall to control the vibration of the drill string.

Abstract: A bearing for a wellbore tool includes a flow device. The flow device may be a pump such as a positive displacement pump or a hydrodynamic pump. In arrangements, a pump stator connects to a wellbore wall. A pump rotor rotates with a drilling motor, and/or a drill string. Rotation of the pump rotor may generate a pressure differential to displace the fluid. The pump may be configured to flow fluid across a gap between a rotating section and a non-rotating section of the bearing. The fluid may be drawn from a wellbore annulus and also returned into the wellbore annulus. The bearing may support thrust loadings and/or a radial loadings. In embodiments, inserts in the bearing may be used to filter the fluid.

Abstract: A bottom hole assembly has a drill bit that is driven by a downhole turbine. The turbine speed is reduced by cycloidal gearing that requires no temperature sensitive seals when operating temperatures in some applications exceed 350 degrees F. The output shaft of the cycloidal gear reducer goes through a bearing before connection to the drill bit or associated reamer. The motive fluid can be the drilling mud. The bit can be driven at desired speeds such as 50-300 RPM while the speed reduction ratio can be in the order of 10 to 1 or more. This drive assembly can replace Moineau type downhole motor drivers that have temperature limitations due to use of rubber in the stators.

Abstract: A system for determining the amount of life consumed for a tool includes at least one sensor associated with the tool for generating observation data, a memory in operable communication with the at least one sensor, the memory including a database for storing the observation data generated by the sensor, and a processor in operable communication with the memory. The processor includes a model generator that generates a current model for a current run of the tool. The current model includes parameters of a functional approximation of the observation data. The processor also includes a classifier that classifies the current model and a current run estimator that determine the amount of life consumed based on the classification of the current model and a time of use associated with the current run.

Abstract: An apparatus to be conveyed into a wellbore is provided, wherein the apparatus includes a housing configured to be conveyed downhole and a drive member located in the housing. The apparatus further includes a drive unit configured to actuate movement of the drive member by selectively coupling to the drive member, wherein the coupling of the device to the drive member is controlled by applying an energy to a selected material in the device.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a wellbore is provided, which in one embodiment includes a drilling motor and a steering unit placed about a shaft between a lower section of a stator in the motor and a drill bit. The steering unit includes a substantially non-rotating member and a force application member on the non-rotating member configured to radially extend the force application member from the non-rotating member. In another embodiment, the steering unit may include, rotating member configured to rotate a drill bit, a steering member configured to orient the drill bit along a selected direction, a first steering device configured to orient the steering member in the wellbore, and a second steering device configured to maintain orientation of the steering member when drilling the wellbore.

Abstract: A drilling assembly is disclosed that in one embodiment includes a bi-directional wireless data transfer device between a rotating and a non-rotating member of the drilling assembly. Power may be supplied to the rotating member via any suitable method, including an inductive device and direct electrical connections.

Abstract: A method for configuring a bottom hole assembly from a plurality of formation evaluation tools, includes: creating a health history for each tool of the plurality of formation evaluation tools; ranking the resulting plurality of health histories according to health; and selecting at least one tool for the bottom hole assembly according to a ranking for the at least one tool. A system and a computer program product are also provided.

Abstract: A system for evaluation of conditions in a borehole in an earth formation includes: a downhole tool configured to be disposed in the borehole, the downhole tool forming a portion of a drillstring; at least one sensor associated with the downhole tool for recording sound generated in the borehole by the downhole tool and generating data representative of the recorded sound, the recorded sound having a frequency selected from at least one of an audible frequency, a near audible frequency and an ultrasonic frequency; and a processor in operable communication with the at least one sensor, the processor configured to receive the sound data and identify at least one downhole condition selected from at least one of i) a drilling condition, ii) a characteristic of the earth formation and iii) an integrity of the downhole tool, by comparing the recorded sound data to exemplary data patterns.

Abstract: A bearing for a wellbore tool includes a flow device. The flow device may be a pump such as a positive displacement pump or a hydrodynamic pump. In arrangements, a pump stator connects to a wellbore wall. A pump rotor rotates with a drilling motor, and/or a drill string. Rotation of the pump rotor may generate a pressure differential to displace the fluid. The pump may be configured to flow fluid across a gap between a rotating section and a non-rotating section of the bearing. The fluid may be drawn from a wellbore annulus and also returned into the wellbore annulus. The bearing may support thrust loadings and/or a radial loadings. In embodiments, inserts in the bearing may be used to filter the fluid.