Abstract: The present invention recites a method, system and apparatus for steering a drill string, wherein an eccentric steering device is recited. The eccentric steering device may comprise an eccentric sleeve configured for mounting exterior to a portion of the drill string and permitting the drill string to rotate within the eccentric sleeve and a brake positioned to selectively cause rotation of the eccentric sleeve with the drill string. In one embodiment, the eccentric steering device may further comprise one or more bearings positioned between the eccentric sleeve and the drill string.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for steering the direction of a borehole advanced by cutting action of a rotary drill bit by periodically varying action of a drill bit while continuously rotating a drill string to which the drill bit is operationally attached. The steering system can include a bit perturbation device cooperating with a bent housing subsection and operationally connected to the drill string and to the drill bit. Drill bit action can be varied by periodically varying the rotation speed and/or rate of penetration of the drill bit. Periodic drill bit action results in preferential cutting of material from a predetermined arc of the borehole wall which, in turn, results in borehole deviation. Action of the drill bit can be varied independently of the rotation rate of the drill string.

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: The invention relates to a system for the overground operation of underground sewer tools, especially of expander and pulling heads comprising a rod assembly that is rigid when pushed and a supporting device absorbing shear or tractive forces.

Abstract: An electrical generating system is used for a horizontal directional drilling system. The drilling system has a generally horizontal drill stem that rotates. A generator has first and second components. The first component rotates with the drill stem, while the second component is able to rotate with respect to the first component. An eccentric mass is rotatably mounted inside of the drill stem and is coupled to the second component, wherein as the drill stem rotates, relative rotational motion is produced between the first and second components and the generator produces electrical power. The eccentric mass is mounted on two spaced apart mounting points inside of the drill stem. The generator provides power to a sonde. The generator is in a housing which has flow channels that allow drilling fluid to flow through the drill stem.

Abstract: A wellbore servicing apparatus, comprising a first mandrel movable longitudinally along a central axis and rotatable about the central axis, an orienting member configured to selectively interfere with movement of the first mandrel along the central axis, and a second mandrel connected to the first mandrel and configured to rotate about the central axis when the first mandrel rotates about the central axis. A method of orienting a wellbore servicing tool, comprising connecting an orienting tool to the wellbore servicing tool, identifying a predetermined direction, increasing a pressure within the orienting tool, rotating a portion of the orienting tool in response to the increase in pressure within the orienting tool, and rotating the wellbore servicing tool in response to the rotating of the portion of the orienting tool.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a drill string comprises a drill bit with a body intermediate a shank and a working face, and the working face comprises at least one cutting element. A jack assembly is disposed within the drill bit body and comprises a jack element disposed on a distal end of the assembly. The jack element substantially protrudes from the working face and is adapted to move with respect to the bit body. At least one position feedback sensor is disposed proximate the jack assembly and is adapted to detect a position and/or orientation of the jack element.

Abstract: A method of locking tubular components in end to end relation. A first tubular body is provided having a tongue with an outwardly facing groove protruding past one end along an interior surface that has a keyway. A second tubular body is provided having a tongue with an inwardly facing groove protruding past one end along an exterior surface. A split ring is positioned in the grooves to connect the bodies. The split ring has a tapered outer surface to permit removal by an axial force. A tubular insert carries a locking key which engages the axial keyway. When the tubular insert is fully inserted into the first tubular body, the key underlies the split ring and prevents the split ring from having sufficient clearance to be withdrawn.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention a downhole tool string component has a segmented sleeve slideably attached over the exterior of a mandrel which is adapted for connection to an adjacent tool string component. An end of the sleeve is abutted against a shoulder element of the mandrel and an opposite end of the sleeve is axially loaded by a threaded element attached to the mandrel. The sleeve comprises at least one sleeve segment with an engagement end comprising at least one axial anti-rotation assembly adapted to transfer torque to an adjacent sleeve segment, the shoulder element, or the threaded element.

Abstract: A device for drilling controlled directional wells comprises a central hollow element and three hollow tubular elements connected thereto out-of-line with respect to each other. The first hollow tubular element connected by a thread to the spindle and the central hollow element, are each provided with a contact segmental section, thereby forming a pair of contact segmental sections. The sections are disposed on the opposite sides with respect to the meridian plane of the spindle in the bending plane of the drill string and at a distance L between the nearest edges of the contact segmental sections along the central axis of the first element. L?D, where D is the spindle outer diameter. The contact segmental section of the first element is deviated from the meridian plane of the spindle in the bending plane of the drilling string in an opposite direction with respect to the reaction torque of a drilling bit.

Abstract: A housing including longitudinally extending tubular members interconnected to allow controlled relative bending thereof, during a drilling operation, a rotary drive transmitting torsion bar extending generally longitudinally within the housing to controllably bend in response to relative bending of said members, a rotary drill bit operatively connected to said torsion bar to be rotated as the bar rotates, a rotary drive operatively connected to the torsion bar to rotate the bar, means for controlling relative bending of the said members during torsion bar rotation and as a function of such rotation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and avoiding an underground object during a horizontal directional drilling operation. The apparatus comprises a boring tool with a ground penetrating radar detection system. The boring tool is operatively connected to a drill string and advanced through the earth to create a borehole. The radar detection system includes at least one transmitter, at least one detector, and a processor. The transmitter is located on a surface of the boring tool and is adapted to transmit electromagnetic waves. At least one detector is located on the surface of the boring tool, and detects the electromagnetic waves reflected by underground objects. The processor determines the location of the underground object from characteristics of the reflected waves. Using this information, the drill string may be pulled back up the borehole or redirected to avoid the object. The boring tool may be caused to breakout of the existing borehole using a pivoting boring tool.

Abstract: A drilling system including a drill head configured to couple to a drill string. The drill head including an offset adapter, a one-way clutch, and a drill bit. The drill head being configured to provide straight drilling along a first axis, and deviated drilling along a second axis. The drilling system further including a gearbox configured to provide selective rotational operation corresponding to the straight drilling and the deviated drilling. The drilling system also including control systems to control the selected rotational operation of the gearbox.

Abstract: This invention relates to a steering component, to a steering assembly, and to a method of steering a drill bit in a borehole. The steering component is adapted for connection to a drill string, the drill string carrying a drill bit and a motor for rotating the drill bit. The steering component comprises: a rotatable driveshaft adapted for connection between the drill bit and the motor; a drive mechanism; and an offsetting component; the drive mechanism providing a rotatable connection between the drill string and the offsetting component whereby the drill string can rotate relative to the offsetting component. The drive mechanism is adapted to drive the offsetting component to rotate in an opposed direction to the driveshaft, so as to counter the rotation of the offsetting component which is induced by friction within the componentry as the driveshaft rotates. The steering component and method are likely to have their greatest utility in steering a drill bit during drilling for oil and gas.

Abstract: An earth boring device for forming horizontally extending bore holes beneath the surface of the earth and installing a conduit therein without substantially disturbing the surface of the earth is disclosed. The earth boring device is a generally elongate member having a cutting tool disposed at a leading end, and means to attach a conduit to be disposed in the bore hole at a trailing end. A pair of spaced apart drive augers is disposed between the leading end and the trailing end to propel the earth boring device through the earth. The earth boring device can include at least one flexible section to enable a bending of the earth boring device for boring a curved bore hole.

Abstract: A drive connection for a downhole drilling motor includes a tubular outer housing with an inner mandrel. The outer housing has a motor end, a bit end and defines an interior bore. An angular offset is provided toward the bit end of the outer housing. The inner mandrel, positioned within the interior bore of the outer housing, includes a motor end section, a bit end section and an intermediate section connecting the motor end section and the bit end section. The intermediate section has an upper articulating engagement that is coupled to rotate with the motor end section and a lower articulating engagement that is coupled to rotate with the bit end section. The motor end section, intermediate section and bit end section rotate together, with the upper articulating engagement and the lower articulating engagement accommodating rotation that is offset due to the angular offset.

Abstract: An apparatus for drilling a wellbore may include a first section, a second section, and a third section, all of which are rotatably interconnected with pivot bearings and positioned along a drill string. The second section and the third section may be configured to form a controllable bend angle in the drill string. The first section, the second section, and the third section may be configured as sleeves that surround a portion of the drill string. One or more sections may include locking pads that selectively engage a wall of the wellbore. A hydraulic locking device for controlling a direction of rotation of the second section may include one or more brake elements and a reverse spinning sleeve. A first brake element may be used engage the reverse spinning sleeve and a second brake element may be used to engage a drive shaft.

Abstract: Apparatus and methodology is provided for directional drilling which avoid the effects of static friction between the drill string and the borehole. The drill string is rotated continuously in one direction during rotating drilling and during steering. During steering, the rotary speed of the drill string is varied within a revolution and substantially similarly for each of a plurality of subsequent revolutions. The drill string is rotated very slowly when oriented at or near the desired orientation to achieve the desired change in direction and then rotated much faster during the balance of each revolution. This angular velocity profile results in drilling at or near a desired orientation for a high percentage of the time it takes for each revolution. Changes in an effective tool-face orientation can be effected by shifting the phase of the velocity profile.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and avoiding an underground object during a horizontal directional drilling operation. The apparatus comprises a boring tool with a ground penetrating radar detection system. The boring tool is operatively connected to a drill string and advanced through the earth to create a borehole. The radar detection system includes at least one transmitter, at least one detector, and a processor. The transmitter is located on a surface of the boring tool and is adapted to transmit electromagnetic waves. At least one detector is located on the surface of the boring tool, and detects the electromagnetic waves reflected by underground objects. The processor determines the location of the underground object from characteristics of the reflected waves. Using this information, the drill string may be pulled back up the borehole or redirected to avoid the object. The boring tool may be caused to breakout of the existing borehole using a pivoting boring tool.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a flow operated orienter. In one embodiment, a bottom hole assembly (BHA) for use in drilling a wellbore includes: a first mud motor having a stator and a rotor; a second mud motor having stator and a rotor; a drill bit rotationally coupled to the second rotor and having a tool face and a longitudinal axis inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the first mud motor; and a clutch. The clutch is operable to: rotationally couple the second stator to the first stator in a first mode at a first orientation of the tool face, rotationally couple the first rotor to the second stator in a second mode, change the first orientation to a second orientation by a predetermined increment, orient the tool face at the second orientation in an orienting mode, and shift among the modes in response a change in flow rate of a fluid injected through the orienter and/or a change in weight exerted on the drill bit.

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: Drilling means for directional drilling in a bore hole comprising a drill pipe and a drilling head, including a slippable clutch device linking the drill pipe and said drilling head such that torque due to rotation of said drill pipe can be controllably applied to said drilling head through at least partial engagement of said clutch, and control means operable to sense an actual orientation angle of said drilling head and compare said actual orientation angle with a required orientation angle adjustably set in said control means and to control said slippable clutch such that when the actual orientation angle and the required orientation angle are the same, the slip torque of the slipping clutch equals the motor reaction torque, so maintaining the orientation angle of the drilling tool at said required orientation angle.

Abstract: An exemplary device carried on a rotating drill string includes an actuator that moves force application members and an associated controller. The force application members are actuated by an eccentricity between a force application members housing and the actuator. The controller synchronizes the extension of the force application members with the rotation of the drill string such that a steering force applied by the force application members is applied in the same azimuthal direction. The controller may also control magnitude of the steering force by adjusting the eccentricity. Another exemplary device maintains a wellbore device, such as a sensor, in a substantially non-rotating condition relative to a reference frame. The device includes a sensor conveyed by a rotating wellbore tubular, a drive configured to rotate the sensor; and a processor that controls the drive to maintain the sensor in a substantially non-rotating condition relative to the reference frame.

Abstract: This invention relates to a steerable drill bit arrangement, in particular for the use in drilling boreholes for oil and gas extraction. There is provided a steerable drill bit arrangement in which the drill bit is connected to a drill string including a steering component and a stabiliser, the stabiliser being located between the steering component and the drill bit, the steering component being adapted to move the drill string transversely relative to a borehole in which it is located, the stabiliser having an inner part adapted to rotate with the drill string and an outer part adapted to engage the borehole wall, the outer part being rotatable relative to the inner part so that the outer part can remain substantially stationary as the remainder of the stabiliser rotates with the drill string.

Abstract: A directional drilling apparatus for mounting a drill bit on a rotatable drill support comprises a member for transmitting rotation from the drill support to a drill bit, and a body mounted to the member. The body is configurable to offset a portion of the member relative to an axis of the body such that directional drilling may be achieved.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention generally provide an apparatus that may be used in a coiled tubing drillstring and that can switch between effectively straight drilling and curved drilling without halting drilling. Methods for steering a coiled tubing drillstring are also provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for use in drilling a wellbore is provided. The apparatus includes a mud motor; a housing; an output shaft; and a clutch actuatable between two positions. The clutch is configured to rotationally couple the mud motor to the output shaft when the clutch is in a first position as a result of fluid being injected through the clutch at a first flow rate, and rotationally couple the output shaft to the housing when the clutch is in a second position as a result of fluid being injected through the clutch at a second flow rate.

Abstract: A wear resistant casing connection including a wear resistant portion on its exterior surface is taught. A casing connection having a controlled bend angle is also taught.

Abstract: The invention relates to a field of extracting petroleum, particularly to tools and technology of radical and level drilling/well completion under ultra-short radius. The tools of the invention are involved with a deflecting drill tool and level drill tool. The deflecting drill tool consists of a deflecting rotary assembly, flexible drill pipe, directional follow-up tube, tail tube for deflecting drill tool, and drill pipe nipple joints; The level tool consists of a level rotary assembly, the flexible drill pipe, quick couplings, the directional follow-up tube, a tail tube for level drill tool, the drill pipe nipple joint, an adjusting nipple joint, a recessed left hand thread bushing, and convex left hand thread coupling and characterized in that: a triangle backing block is installed on outside of a casing of the deflecting rotary assembly. Rear end of the deflecting rotary assembly is connected with the flexible drill pipe by means of nuts.

Abstract: Manipulation of the rate of drilling fluid flow down a drill string containing the apparatus causes a drilling fluid powered linear motor, preferably a piston, to move an output shaft, hingedly attached to the general body to laterally, and selectively, deflect the longitudinal axis of the apparatus with the effect of bending an associated drill string assembly just above the drill head.

Abstract: A flexible drill shaft for drilling lateral boreholes comprising: a helical outer wire coil spring; and at least one inner helical wire coil spring residing concentrically within the outer coil spring, with the coils of adjacent springs having an opposite pitch; wherein the wire forming each helical spring has a cross section such that when the drill shaft is in a straight alignment there is planar contact between adjacent coils of the spring.

Abstract: The invention relates to devices for drilling controlled directional wells. The inventive control device consists of a central hollow element and three hollow out-of-line with respect to each other tubular elements connected thereto. Said central element and the first element on the side of the connection thereof to a spindel are provided for each with its own contact segmental section, thereby forming a pair of contact segmental sections arranged therebetween. Said sections are disposed on the opposite sides with respect to the meridian plane of the spindle in the bending plane of the drill string and at a distance L between the nearest edges of the contact segmental sections along the central axis of the first element at L?D. The contact segmental section of the first element is deviated from the meridian plane of the spindel in the bending plane of the drilling string in an opposite direction with respect to the reaction torque of a drilling bit.

Abstract: A general housing encloses a drilling motor that can be disabled to permit optimum rotary drilling practice. A mode selector responds to manipulation of the drilling fluid flow rate and permits activation of the drilling motor to drive a drill bit. The general housing is a two part arrangement that is connected by a deflection arrangement that is activated by start-up of the motor. A one-way clutch allows the lower housing to drive the drill bit when the motor is disabled and the clutch, with drill bit rotation resistance, changes the deflection arrangement for straight rotary drilling when the drill string is rotated.

Abstract: An actuator to direct a downhole drilling tool includes a stator and an armature configured to be electromagnetically displaced into one of three stable positions. A cavity within the stator is in communication with a high-pressure fluid and hydraulic ports in the stator allow the high-pressure fluid to communicate with low-pressure regions. Plungers on the armature selectively block either or none of the hydraulic ports, allowing for three control options from the actuator to the downhole drilling tool.

Abstract: A tool for controlling rotation of a bottom hole assembly with respect to a drillstring has a mandrell with a longitudinal groove and a circumferential groove extending therearound and in communication with the longitudinal groove, a locking element extending around and over at least a portion of the grooves, and an actuator cooperative with the locking element for selectively moving the locking element such that locking member extending from the locking element engages either the longitudinal groove ro the circumferential groove relative to a fluid pressure in the drillstring.

Abstract: A drilling motor is housed in the upper portion of a housing, with a drive shaft extending through a lower portion of the housing. The two portions are coupled by bearing that has an axis of rotation that is tilted a small amount relative to the axes of both portions. The lower portion is rotationally coupled to the lower housing until a small amount of drilling fluid flow, or a preselected amount of motor torque, forces a clutch to disengage the motor, rotationally, from the lower housing. The lower portion is allowed limited rotation relative to the upper portion. At one rotational limit, the housing is in the straight configuration. At the other limit, the housing is in the deflected configuration. Conversion to the straight configuration is achieved, while drilling fluid flows, when the drill string is rotated, by formation drag, which rotates the lower portion to the straight configuration.

Abstract: Drilling means for directional drilling in a bore hole comprising a drill pipe and a drilling head, including a slippable clutch device linking the drill pipe and said drilling head such that torque due to rotation of said drill pipe can be controllably applied to said drilling head through at least partial engagement of said clutch, and control means operable to sense an actual orientation angle of said drilling head and compare said actual orientation angle with a required orientation angle adjustably set in said control means and to control said slippable clutch such that when the actual orientation angle and the required orientation angle are the same, the slip torque of the slipping clutch equals the motor reaction torque, so maintaining the orientation angle of the drilling tool at said required orientation angle.

Abstract: An assembly is configured for sensing its roll orientation, referenced to a roll indexing orientation that is defined by the assembly, so as to produce a roll output signal and for transmitting the roll output signal in a predetermined way. A housing is configured to support the assembly for fixedly co-rotating the assembly with the leading arrangement such that the roll indexing orientation is in a fixed angular offset with respect to any given roll position of the leading arrangement, which fixed angular offset is arbitrarily established between the housing and the leading arrangement. A roll compensation value is established that is a constant in view of the fixed angular offset. In one feature, the roll output signal is received with the steering configuration of the leading arrangement oriented in a particular way, for identifying a corresponding value of the fixed angular offset.

Abstract: In a tool having an inner member supported within an outer member, wherein the tool defines a longitudinal axis, a device is provided for preventing relative rotation of the inner member and the outer member. The device is comprised of a locking mechanism and a locking actuator. The locking mechanism is positioned between the inner member and the outer member, wherein the locking mechanism is movable longitudinally between a first locking mechanism position in which the inner member and the outer member are disengaged and capable of relative rotation and a second locking mechanism position in which the inner member and the outer member are engaged and not capable of relative rotation. The locking actuator causes the locking mechanism to move longitudinally.

Abstract: A wear resistant casing connection including a wear resistant portion on its exterior surface is taught. A casing connection having a controlled bend angle is also taught.

Abstract: A downhole tool comprises a joint, and a resilient member 65 which extends through the joint and provides a restoring force which tends to strengthen the joint. The joint may comprise a flex coupling 61 which allows limited articulation of the joint. First and second drill string sections 63, 64 may be interconnected by the joint, the resilient member 65 being fixed to interior surfaces of the first and second drill string sections 63, 64. A downhole tool may also comprise primary and secondary sleeves 46 that are supported relative to the mandrel 10 of the drill string. Rotational drive may be transferred from one of the sleeves to the other.

Abstract: A steering assembly includes upper and lower tubular housings connected by a universal joint. An angle cam is disposed on the end of the lower housing and projects into the upper housing. A plurality of wedge members extend axially from the upper housing and into engagement with the angle cam. Drive trains are connected to the wedge members to move the wedge members toward and away from the angle cam so as to pivot the lower housing at the universal joint and change the angle and azimuth of the lower housing with respect to the upper housing. The lower housing is connected to a bearing pack supporting a drill bit such that upon changing the angle and azimuth of the lower housing, the direction of the drilling of the drill bit is also changed. The steering assembly being connected to composite tubing having conductors in the wall thereof for conducting data and commands between the steering assembly and a processor at the surface and for providing power to the steering assembly.

Abstract: A connector assembly for connecting with a rotatable shaft is provided. The connector assembly includes a mating sleeve threadably coupleable about the shaft and a center sleeve sized and shaped for deployment between the shaft and the mating sleeve. The center sleeve includes pluralities of splines formed on inner and outer surfaces thereof. The splines on the inner surface of the center sleeve are engageable with splines on the outer surface of the shaft and the splines on the outer surface of the center sleeve are engageable with splines on the inner surface of the mating sleeve. Exemplary embodiments of this invention are useful in downhole tools to reduce make-up torque requirements of the mating sleeve, and therefore may advantageously increase the cyclic torsional and/or bending load capacity of the shaft, while also increasing the total torsional load capacity of the connection.

Abstract: A rotary valve assembly for a rotary steerable tool is disclosed for directing flow of an abrasive laden drilling fluid; the valve assembly has a first sealing surface rotatably engaging a second sealing surface. At least one of the surfaces has at least about 5% of its area comprising interconnecting voids to an average depth of at least 0.02 mm. The interconnected voids allow fluid pressure to equalize between the sealing faces by flowing through the interconnecting voids to the sealing surfaces. Because the fit of the sealing surfaces of the valve is less than perfect, and because the voids on mating surfaces do not necessarily overlap, the 5% of the surface area comprising interconnected voids can easily translate to a 10% or more reduction in sealed area when both sealing surfaces have the interconnecting voids. The additional reduction in surface area subjected to differential pressure has substantially eliminated the hydraulic lock problem previously encountered upon startup.

Abstract: A steering tool for extended-reach directional drilling in three dimensions comprises a mud pulse telemetry section, a rotary section, and a flex section assembled as an integrated system in series along the length of the tool. The flex section comprises a flexible drive shaft and a deflection actuator for applying hydraulic pressure along the length of the shaft for bending the shaft when making inclination angle adjustments during steering. The rotary section comprises a rotator housing coupled to the deflection housing for rotating the deflection housing for making azimuth angle adjustments during steering. The onboard mud pulse telemetry section receives inclination and azimuth angle steering commands together with actual inclination and azimuth angle feedback signals during steering for use in controlling operation of the flex section and rotary section for steering the tool along a desired course.

Abstract: A steerable bottom hole assembly may be used for drilling both a curved section and straight section of the borehole, with the bottom hole assembly including a reamer beneath the downhole motor 12. The bottom hole assembly includes a bit 30 having a bit face defining a bit diameter, and a gauge section 32 having a substantially uniform diameter cylindrical surface approximating the bit diameter and having an axially length of at least 75% of the bit diameter. The motor is preferably run slick without stabilizers for engaging the wall of the borehole.

Abstract: A steering assembly includes upper and lower tubular housings connected by a universal joint. An angle cam is disposed on the end of the lower housing and projects into the upper housing. A plurality of wedge members extend axially from the upper housing and into engagement with the angle cam. Drive trains are connected to the wedge members to move the wedge members toward and away from the angle cam so as to pivot the lower housing at the universal joint and change the angle and azimuth of the lower housing with respect to the upper housing. The lower housing is connected to a bearing pack supporting a drill bit such that upon changing the angle and azimuth of the lower housing, the direction of the drilling of the drill bit is also changed. The steering assembly being connected to composite tubing having conductors in the wall thereof for conducting data and commands between the steering assembly and a processor at the surface and for providing power to the steering assembly.

Abstract: The invention refers to a rotary steerable drilling tool having a tool collar and a bit shaft. The bit shaft is supported within the tool collar for pivotal movement about a fixed position along the bit shaft. Moreover, the rotary steerable drilling tool includes a variable bit shaft angulating mechanism, located within the interior of the tool collar. The variable bit shaft angulating mechanism includes a motor, an offset mandrel, and a variable offset coupling. The motor is attached to the upper end of the offset mandrel and adapted to rotate the offset mandrel. The upper end of the variable offset coupling is uncoupleably attached to an offset location of the lower end of the offset mandrel, and the upper end of the bit shaft is rotatably coupled to the variable offset coupling. The rotary steerable drilling tool also includes a torque transmitting coupling adapted to transmit torque from the tool collar to the bit shaft at the fixed position along the bit shaft.

Abstract: Various steerable horizontal subterranean drill bit apparatuses, which may have a drill bit, a housing and a one-bolt attachment system, or other features.

Abstract: In a tool having an inner member supported within an outer member, wherein the tool defines a longitudinal axis, a device is provided for preventing relative rotation of the inner member and the outer member. The device is comprised of a locking mechanism and a locking actuator. The locking mechanism is positioned between the inner member and the outer member, wherein the locking mechanism is movable longitudinally between a first locking mechanism position in which the inner member and the outer member are disengaged and capable of relative rotation and a second locking mechanism position in which the inner member and the outer member are engaged and not capable of relative rotation. The locking actuator causes the locking mechanism to move longitudinally.

Abstract: A lockable swivel (4) for use in drilling applications which allows the operator to selectively engage and disengage the swivel (4). The lockable swivel (4) is comprised of a locking mandrel (7) carried in a body (3) which engages, upon actuation, splined surfaces (20, 21) within the swivel mandrel (5) thereby locking the two together. Various methods for the use of the lockable swivel (4) in wireline and other drilling operations are demonstrated.