Abstract: An oscillation reduction tool configured to prevent or reduce high frequency torsional oscillation by torsionally decoupling a rotary steerable system from a bottom hole assembly, which includes a drilling motor. The tool may convert high frequency torsional oscillation into an internal axial movement without axial displacement of the tool's outer housing. The oscillation reduction tool may flatten an amplitude of high frequency torsional oscillation spikes throughout a spring arrangement. The mechanical energy associated with the internal axial movement is reduced through an internal shock absorbing mechanism, such as fluid movement through a nozzle or annular space. The oscillation reduction tool functions to reduce high frequency torsional oscillation independent of the weight on the bit of the drill string.

Abstract: A drilling assembly includes a power section with a housing that rotates in a first direction at a drill string rotation rate. An output rotates a drill bit through a transmission shaft in the first direction at a rotor rotation rate relative to the housing. A bent housing between the power section and the drill bit rotates in a second direction at a variable rotation rate relative to the power housing. The transmission shaft extends through the bent housing. A mechanical brake system adjusts the bent housing's variable rotation rate. The bent housing rotates relative to the wellbore in a rotary mode, but not in a sliding mode. The sliding mode maintains the drill bit's direction and inclination while the drill string rotates. In all modes, the drill bit's rotation rate is the sum of the drill string rate and the rotor rate relative to the power housing.

Abstract: An integrated bearing section includes a mandrel partially disposed within a housing. The bearing section includes spherical members disposed between the mandrel's outer surface and the housing's inner surface. A radial bearing portion is formed by spherical members disposed partially within grooves and engaging a flat profile opposing surface. The grooves may be in the mandrel's outer surface, an outer surface of a mandrel sleeve, the housing's inner surface, or an outer radial bearing's inner surface. The flat profile opposing surface may be on an outer radial bearing's inner surface, the housing's inner surface, the mandrel's outer surface, or a mandrel sleeve's outer surface. A thrust bearing portion is formed by spherical members disposed partially within grooves in two opposing surfaces, such as the mandrel's outer surface or a mandrel sleeve's outer surface, and the housing's inner surface or an outer thrust bearing's inner surface.

Abstract: A mud-lubricated bearing section including a seal assembly for directing a fluid flowing through a mud-lubricated bearing into a central bore of a mandrel. At least one mud-lubricated bearing is positioned in an annular space between the mandrel and a housing. The seal assembly directs the fluid from the annular space through a mandrel fluid port into the mandrel central bore. The seal assembly seals the annular space, and includes a piston, a plug, and a chamber between the piston and the plug. The piston is configured for axial movement relative to the mandrel and the housing, while the plug is axially fixed relative to the mandrel and/or the housing. The chamber is configured to contain a lubricating fluid. The piston includes inner and outer seals. The plug includes a lower seal and a passage allowing the fluid from the chamber to reach the lower seal for lubrication.

Abstract: A vibration assembly includes a valve above a rotor and stator. The rotor rotates within the stator as fluid flows therethrough. The valve includes a rotating valve segment, which rotates with the rotor, and a non-rotating valve segment each including at least one fluid passage. In an open position, the fluid passages of the valve segments are aligned and a fluid flows through the valve. In a restricted position, the fluid passages of the valve segments are partially or completely unaligned, thereby creating a pressure pulse that is transmitted through the drill string or coiled tubing above the valve. The valve may further include an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve surrounding the non-rotating valve segment. The inner and outer sleeves allow axial sliding but prevent rotation of the non-rotating valve segment. The assembly may further include a lower thrust bearing at a lower end of the rotor.

Abstract: A vibration assembly includes a valve above a rotor and stator. The rotor rotates within the stator as fluid flows therethrough. The valve includes a rotating valve segment, which rotates with the rotor, and a non-rotating valve segment each including at least one fluid passage. In an open position, the fluid passages of the valve segments are aligned and a fluid flows through the valve. In a restricted position, the fluid passages of the valve segments are partially or completely unaligned, thereby creating a pressure pulse that is transmitted through the drill string or coiled tubing above the valve. The valve may further include an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve surrounding the non-rotating valve segment. The inner and outer sleeves allow axial sliding but prevent rotation of the non-rotating valve segment. The assembly may further include a lower thrust bearing at a lower end of the rotor.

Abstract: A drilling assembly includes a power section with a housing that rotates in a first direction at a drill string rotation rate. An output rotates a drill bit through a transmission shaft in the first direction at a rotor rotation rate relative to the housing. A bent housing between the power section and the drill bit rotates in a second direction at a variable rotation rate relative to the power housing. The transmission shaft extends through the bent housing. A mechanical brake system adjusts the bent housing's variable rotation rate. The bent housing rotates relative to the wellbore in a rotary mode, but not in a sliding mode. The sliding mode maintains the drill bit's direction and inclination while the drill string rotates. In all modes, the drill bit's rotation rate is the sum of the drill string rate and the rotor rate relative to the power housing.

Abstract: A downhole vibration assembly includes a valve positioned above a rotor that is disposed at least partially within a stator. The rotor is operatively suspended within an inner bore of a housing and configured to rotate within the stator as a fluid flows through the vibration assembly. The valve includes a rotating valve segment and a stationary valve segment each including at least one fluid passage. The rotating valve segment rotates with a rotation of the rotor. In an open position, the fluid passages of the valve segments are aligned and a fluid flows through the valve. In a restricted position, the fluid passages of the valve segments are partially or completely unaligned, thereby temporarily restricting the fluid flow through the valve to create a pressure pulse. The unobstructed pressure pulse is transmitted through the drill string or coiled tubing above the valve.

Abstract: A mud-lubricated bearing section including a seal assembly for directing a fluid flowing through a mud-lubricated bearing into a central bore of a mandrel. At least one mud-lubricated bearing is positioned in an annular space between the mandrel and a housing. The seal assembly directs the fluid from the annular space through a mandrel fluid port into the mandrel central bore. The seal assembly seals the annular space, and includes a piston, a plug, and a chamber between the piston and the plug. The piston is configured for axial movement relative to the mandrel and the housing, while the plug is axially fixed relative to the mandrel and/or the housing. The chamber is configured to contain a lubricating fluid. The piston includes inner and outer seals. The plug includes a lower seal and a passage allowing the fluid from the chamber to reach the lower seal for lubrication.

Abstract: An integrated bearing section includes a mandrel partially disposed within a housing. The bearing section includes spherical members disposed between the mandrel's outer surface and the housing's inner surface. A radial bearing portion is formed by spherical members disposed partially within grooves and engaging a flat profile opposing surface. The grooves may be in the mandrel's outer surface, an outer surface of a mandrel sleeve, the housing's inner surface, or an outer radial bearing's inner surface. The flat profile opposing surface may be on an outer radial bearing's inner surface, the housing's inner surface, the mandrel's outer surface, or a mandrel sleeve's outer surface. A thrust bearing portion is formed by spherical members disposed partially within grooves in two opposing surfaces, such as the mandrel's outer surface or a mandrel sleeve's outer surface, and the housing's inner surface or an outer thrust bearing's inner surface.

Abstract: A downhole vibration assembly includes a valve positioned above a rotor that is disposed at least partially within a stator. The rotor is operatively suspended within an inner bore of a housing and configured to rotate within the stator as a fluid flows through the vibration assembly. The valve includes a rotating valve segment and a stationary valve segment each including at least one fluid passage. The rotating valve segment rotates with a rotation of the rotor. In an open position, the fluid passages of the valve segments are aligned and a fluid flows through the valve. In a restricted position, the fluid passages of the valve segments are partially or completely unaligned, thereby temporarily restricting the fluid flow through the valve to create a pressure pulse. The unobstructed pressure pulse is transmitted through the drill string or coiled tubing above the valve.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the direction of drill bit within a wellbore. The apparatus comprises a first housing with a first housing axis therein, and wherein the first housing has a first threaded opening having a first threaded opening axis. The first housing has a helical end. A second housing is included, and the second housing contains a second housing axis, and a second threaded opening having a second threaded opening axis configured to engage with the first threaded opening. A collar is included that has a helical collar end that engages the helical collar end and wherein the helical collar end is configured reciprocal to the helical end, and rotational displacement of the first housing relative to the collar will angularly displace the drill bit axis. The apparatus may further include spline members for locking the collar in place relative to the first and second housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the direction of drill bit within a wellbore. The apparatus comprises a first housing with a first housing axis therein, and wherein the first housing has a first threaded opening having a first threaded opening axis. The first housing has a helical end. A second housing is included, and the second housing contains a second housing axis, and a second threaded opening having a second threaded opening axis configured to engage with the first threaded opening. A collar is included that has a helical collar end that engages the helical collar end and wherein the helical collar end is configured reciprocal to the helical end, and rotational displacement of the first housing relative to the collar will angularly displace the drill bit axis. The apparatus may further include spline members for locking the collar in place relative to the first and second housing.

Abstract: Vessels for selectively holding drilling cuttings material and methods employing such vessels; the vessels, in at least certain aspects, having a body with a hollow container with an interior space for receiving drilling cuttings material and from which the material may exit from the body; a first opening through which the material enters into the container; a second opening through which the material passes out from the container; and movement apparatus with a movement member within the container movable adjacent the second opening to facilitate passage of the material into the second opening; and in certain aspects, the vessels having moisture-content sensor apparatus on the body for sensing moisture content of material within a vessel; conduit apparatus for conducting drilling cuttings from the exit opening; valve apparatus for selectively controlling flow of material in the conduit apparatus; and a controller in communication with the moisture-content sensor apparatus and the valve apparatus for selective

Abstract: Methods for moving drilled cuttings, the methods, in certain aspects, using a cuttings processor with a rotating annular screen to separate fluid from drilled cuttings and/or such methods including conveying with air under positive pressure, drilled cuttings to flow conduit apparatus; applying air under positive pressure to the flow conduit apparatus to continuously move the drilled cuttings material therethrough; continuously moving the drilled cuttings material with the air under pressure to separation apparatus; with the separation apparatus continuously separating drilled cuttings from air; wherein, in certain aspects, the drilled cuttings are included in a low density slurry with drilling fluid, drilling mud, and/or oil and wherein, in certain aspects, the separation apparatus is a cyclone separator and the drilled cuttings moved into the cyclone separator are wet; and systems for effecting such methods.

Abstract: Methods for moving drilled cuttings, the methods, in certain aspects, including conveying with air under positive pressure, drilled cuttings to flow conduit apparatus; applying air under positive pressure to the flow conduit apparatus to continuously move the drilled cuttings material therethrough; continuously moving the drilled cuttings material with the air under pressure to separation apparatus; with the separation apparatus continuously separating drilled cuttings from air; wherein, in certain aspects, the drilled cuttings are included in a low density slurry with drilling fluid, drilling mud, and/or oil and wherein, in certain aspects, the separation apparatus is a cyclone separator and the drilled cuttings moved into the cyclone separator are wet; and systems for effecting such methods.

Abstract: Methods for moving drilled cuttings, the methods, in certain aspects, including conveying with air under positive pressure, drilled cuttings to flow conduit apparatus; applying air under positive pressure to the flow conduit apparatus to continuously move the drilled cuttings material therethrough; continuously moving the drilled cuttings material with the air under pressure to separation apparatus; with the separation apparatus continuously separating drilled cuttings from air; wherein, in certain aspects, the drilled cuttings are included in a low density slurry with drilling fluid, drilling mud, and/or oil and wherein, in certain aspects, the separation apparatus is a cyclone separator and the drilled cuttings moved into the cyclone separator are wet; and systems for effecting such methods.