US2007107941A1PendingUtilityA1

Extended reach drilling apparatus & method

23
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Oct 27, 2005Filed: Oct 25, 2006Published: May 17, 2007
Est. expiryOct 27, 2025(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Andrei FillipovFu Hou
E21B 7/208E21B 7/046E21B 4/18E21B 7/20E21B 43/103
23
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

A method for drilling a well in a formation including inserting a thruster, a first conduit, and a drill bit into a wellbore lined with a previous casing and applying a force to the first conduit with the thruster so that the thruster grips onto the previous casing.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method for drilling a well in a formation comprising: 
 inserting a thruster, a first conduit, and a drill bit into a wellbore lined with a previous casing; and    applying a force to the first conduit with the thruster wherein the thruster grips onto the previous casing.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising forming a hole in the formation; 
 wherein the diameter of the hole is larger than the diameter of the first drilling casing.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising: 
 hanging the first conduit against the previous casing;    expanding at least a portion of the first conduit into contact with an interior surface of the previous casing;    securing the first conduit; and    removing the thruster and the drill bit from the wellbore.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising: 
 inserting the thruster, a second conduit, and the drill bit into the wellbore through the first conduit; and    applying a force to the second first conduit with the thruster wherein the thruster grips onto the first conduit.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising forming a hole in the formation; 
 wherein the diameter of the hole is larger than the diameter of the second conduit.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising: 
 hanging the second conduit against the first conduit;    expanding at least a portion of the second conduit into contact with an interior surface of the first conduit;    securing the second conduit; and    removing the thruster and the drill bit from the wellbore.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the expanding is performed by a tool selected from the group consisting of pigs, cones, rotary expansion devices, and cyclic expansion devices.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the securing is performed by cement.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the first conduit is selected from the group consisting of drilling casing, liner, coiled tubing, and coiled tubing inserted in liner.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the inserting and removing are performed by coiled tubing.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the inserting and removing are performed by drill pipe.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the inserting and removing are performed by liner.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus for drilling a well in a formation through a wellbore lined with a previous casing comprising a drilling assembly and a thruster connectable to the drilling assembly; wherein the thruster is capable of gripping onto the previous casing and providing a force to the drilling assembly.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising a conduit connecting the thruster to the drilling assembly.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the drilling assembly comprises: 
 a drill bit,    a mud pump;    a motor;    a steering assembly; and    an expander means.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the conduit is selected from the group consisting of drilling casing, liner, coiled tubing and coiled tubing inserted in liner.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising coiled tubing capable of inserting the drilling assembly and the thruster into the wellbore.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising drill pipe capable of inserting the drilling assembly and the thruster into the wellbore.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising liner capable of inserting the drilling assembly and the thruster into the wellbore.  
   
   
       20 . A method for drilling a well in a formation comprising: 
 providing a wellbore lined with a previous casing;    inserting a first drilling assembly comprising a drill bit at a distal end, a first conduit connectable to the drill bit, and a thruster connectable to first conduit;    gripping the previous casing with the thruster; and    drilling a well.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising: 
 providing a force to the first conduit with the thruster; and    forming a hole with the drill bit.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising: 
 hanging the first conduit against the hole; and    expanding the first conduit.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising: 
 inserting a second drilling assembly comprising the drill bit at a distal end,    a second conduit connectable to the drill bit, and a thruster connectable to second conduit; and    gripping the first conduit with the thruster.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising: 
 providing a force to the second conduit with the thruster; and    forming a second hole with the drill bit.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising: 
 hanging the second conduit against the second hole; and    expanding the second conduit.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the first conduit and the second conduit are expanded to substantially the same diameter.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the second conduit is expanded to a diameter smaller than the diameter of the first conduit.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the second conduit is expanded so that an outer diameter of the second conduit is substantially equal to an inner diameter of the first conduit.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising producing oil with the well.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising producing oil with the well.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising producing oil with the well.

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