Downhole tool assemblies with selectively orientable and lockable members

Abstract

Downhole tool assemblies having mule shoe members housed within UBHO sub members being secured by fastening members and methods thereof are disclosed. A lower portion of the mule shoe member has many apertures disposed circumferentially around an external surface that are aligned with openings present in the UBHO sub member to achieve a specified orientation. Fastening members releasably engage and couple the apertures with the openings thereby securely locking the mule shoe member within the UBHO sub member in the specified orientation. Set screws having an elongated dowel member protruding from a centre of a face at a bottom end are disclosed. The dowel member is coaxial with the body of the screw having a lesser width and is configured for being substantially seated within a receiving member for providing a positive lock.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A downhole tool assembly for directional drilling of wells comprising:
 a) an elongated substantially cylindrical hollow mule shoe member, the mule shoe member thereof having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having a plurality of a rib extending longitudinally, the lower portion thereof having a plurality of an aperture and a base, the aperture being disposed circumferentially around an external surface of the lower portion;   b) an elongated substantially cylindrical hollow UBHO sub member having a longitudinal bore, the UBHO sub member thereof housing the mule shoe member within the bore, the UBHO sub member further having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion thereof having a projection on an inner surface, the projection thereof supporting the base, the distal portion thereof further having at least one of an opening extending therethrough perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the UBHO sub member, the opening thereof being aligned with the aperture; and   c) a plurality of a fastening member, the fastening member thereof releasably engaging and coupling the opening with the aperture, the fastening member thereof being configured to securely lock the mule shoe member within the UBHO sub member in a specified orientation, the downhole tool assembly thereof being configured for selective orientation of the mule shoe member to a specified angle and positive locking of the mule shoe member within the UBHO sub member in the desired orientation.   
     
     
         2 . The downhole tool assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the apertures are 36 in number and equally spaced for selectively orienting the mule shoe member to a specified angle with about 10 degree increments. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole tool assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the aperture is a blind hole. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole tool assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the aperture is a longitudinal slot. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole tool assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fastening member is a set screw. 
     
     
         6 . The downhole tool assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the set screw comprises of an elongated substantially cylindrical threaded body, the body thereof comprising a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end thereof having an elongated dowel member protruding from the center of a face, the dowel member thereof being coaxial with the body, the dowel member having a width associated therewith, the width thereof being lesser than a width of the body, the dowel member thereof being configured to be substantially seated within the aperture thereby providing a positive lock. 
     
     
         7 . The downhole tool assembly as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the face being curved inward, the bottom end thereof having a sharp biting feature at an edge, the biting feature thereof being configured to bite into a knurled surface of the lower portion thereby further providing a friction lock. 
     
     
         8 . The downhole tool assembly as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the top end has a head, the head having a width associated therewith, the width thereof being greater than the width of the body, the head being configured to be seated over a corresponding step within the opening. 
     
     
         9 . The downhole tool assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a retaining member, the retaining member thereof being disposed above a top surface of the fastening member and being configured to retain the fastening member in position. 
     
     
         10 . The downhole tool assembly as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the retaining member is a retaining clip and wherein the UBHO sub member has a mating groove within the opening to receive the retaining clip. 
     
     
         11 . A set screw for providing a positive lock comprising an elongated substantially cylindrical threaded body, the body thereof comprising a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end thereof having an elongated dowel member protruding from the center of a face, the dowel member thereof being coaxial with the body, the dowel member having a width associated therewith, the width thereof being lesser than a width of the body, the dowel member thereof being configured to be substantially seated in a suitable receiving member thereby providing a positive lock. 
     
     
         12 . The set screw as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the face being curved inward, the bottom end thereof having a sharp biting feature at an edge, the biting feature thereof configured to bite into a knurled surface thereby further providing a friction lock. 
     
     
         13 . The set screw as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the top end has a head, the head having a width associated therewith, the width thereof being greater than the width of the body, the head being configured to be seated over a corresponding step within a mating member. 
     
     
         14 . A method for selectively orienting and locking a mule shoe member comprising:
 a) Providing an elongated substantially cylindrical hollow mule shoe member, the mule shoe member thereof having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion thereof having a plurality of a rib extending longitudinally, wherein at least one of the rib houses a key slot for receiving a key member, the key member being configured to secure the mule shoe member with an inner assembly, the lower portion thereof having a plurality of an aperture and a base, the aperture being disposed circumferentially around an external surface of the lower portion;   b) Providing an elongated substantially cylindrical hollow UBHO sub member having a longitudinal bore, the UBHO sub member thereof being configured to house the mule shoe member within the bore, the UBHO sub member further having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion thereof having a projection on an inner surface, the projection thereof being configured to support the base, the distal portion thereof further having at least one of an opening extending therethrough perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the UBHO sub member, the opening thereof being configured to be aligned with the aperture;   c) threadably engaging the distal portion to a bottom hole component of a drill string, the UBHO sub member thereof being disposed above a downhole motor;   d) positioning the mule shoe member within the bore, the base thereof being supported by the projection;   e) rotating the mule shoe member within the bore such that the rib is aligned with a high side on the UBHO sub member, the mule shoe member thereof being oriented to a specified angle and the aperture thereof being aligned with the opening;   f) providing a plurality of a fastening member; and   g) securely and positively locking the mule shoe member within the bore in the desired orientation by means of the fastening member, the fastening member thereof releasably engaging and coupling the opening with the aperture.   
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the step of orienting the mule shoe member to a specified angle is carried out with about 10 degree increments. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising providing a retaining member, the retaining member thereof being positioned above a top surface of the fastening member and being configured to retain the fastening member in position. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the retaining member is a retaining clip and wherein the UBHO sub member has a mating groove within the opening to receive the retaining clip. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the apertures are 36 in number and equally spaced for selectively orienting the mule shoe member to a specified angle with about 10 degree increments. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the aperture is a blind hole. 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the aperture is a longitudinal slot. 
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the fastening member is a set screw. 
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the set screw comprises of an elongated substantially cylindrical threaded body, the body thereof comprising a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end thereof having an elongated dowel member protruding from the center of a face, the dowel member thereof being coaxial with the body, the dowel member having a width associated therewith, the width thereof being lesser than a width of the body, the dowel member thereof being configured to be substantially seated within the aperture thereby providing a positive lock. 
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the face being curved inward, the bottom end thereof having a sharp biting feature at an edge, the biting feature thereof being configured to bite into a knurled surface of the lower portion thereby further providing a friction lock. 
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the top end has a head, the head having a width associated therewith, the width thereof being greater than the width of the body, the head being configured to be seated over a corresponding step on a mating member.