Stabilizer Assembly

Abstract

In one aspect of the present invention, a stabilizer assembly on a downhole tool string component, comprising a sleeve slideably attached to a mandrel of the tool string component. At least one stabilizer blade is formed in the sleeve and generally follows the length of the sleeve. A gap is formed in the at least one blade separating a first and second portion of the blade.

1 . A stabilizer assembly on a downhole tool string component, comprising:
 a sleeve slideably attached to a mandrel of the tool string component;   at least one stabilizer blade is formed in the sleeve and generally follows the length of the sleeve; and   a gap formed in the at least one blade and separating a first and second portion of the blade.   
     
     
         2 . The stabilizer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one instrumentation device is disposed in the at least one blade to gather subterranean data. 
     
     
         3 . The stabilizer assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one instrumentation device comprises at least one signal source. 
     
     
         4 . The stabilizer assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the signal source is a seismic source, a sonic source, an explosive, a compressed air gun, a vibrator, a sparker, an electromagnetic device, a density source, a pulse neutron generator or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The stabilizer assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one instrumentation device comprises at least one sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The stabilizer assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of accelerometers, inclinometers, pressure transducers, magnetometers, gyroscopes, temperature sensors, gamma ray sensors, neutron sensors, seismic sensors, sonic sensors, mud logging devices, resistivity sensors, induction sensors, nuclear sensors, imaging devices, GPS devices, Hall-effect sensors, permeability sensors, porosity sensors, vibration sensors, electrical potential sensors, geophone s or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The stabilizer assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one instrumentation device is in communication with a downhole telemetry system. 
     
     
         8 . The stabilizer assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one instrumentation device is passively decoupled from the stabilizer assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The stabilizer assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one instrumentation device is actively decoupled from the stabilizer assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The stabilizer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one pocket is formed on an inner diameter of the sleeve. 
     
     
         11 . The stabilizer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a contour of the blade at an end of the blade has a biased curvature to accommodate mud flow. 
     
     
         12 . The stabilizer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of gaps are formed in the at least one blade. 
     
     
         13 . The stabilizer assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of gaps are offset one from another. 
     
     
         14 . The stabilizer assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of gaps is force balanced with respect to the rotation of the downhole tool string. 
     
     
         15 . The stabilizer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is segmented. 
     
     
         16 . The stabilizer assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the segmented sleeve is joined through a castle connection. 
     
     
         17 . The stabilizer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the gap is at least one foot long. 
     
     
         18 . The stabilizer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the gap is at least twice the width of the blade. 
     
     
         19 . The stabilizer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions are offset. 
     
     
         20 . The stabilizer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first or second portion is less than 5 feet long.