Casing Shoe Reamer and Method

Abstract

A casing shoe reamer for bypassing an obstruction in a hole or well drilled in the ground is provided. The casing shoe reamer includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and an interior volume. The upper portion can be removably secured to a casing float collar. The casing shoe reamer further includes bearings disposed therein, which enable the lower portion to rotate relative to the upper portion about its longitudinal axis. The lower portion includes at least three fins extending therefrom, each fin having an aperture disposed on a first side thereof, wherein the aperture is in fluid communication with the interior volume. An impeller is fixed within the interior volume. As a fluid is pumped into the interior volume, the fluid applies a force on the impeller and is expelled through the apertures, which cause the lower portion to rotate in a direction opposite the exiting fluid. The exited fluid and the rotational force of the lower portion enables passage of the casing shoe reamer beyond the obstruction.

I claim: 
     
         1 ) A casing shoe reamer, comprising:
 an upper portion and a lower portion rotatably connected to the upper portion;   wherein an upper end of the upper portion is configured to be removably secured to a casing float collar;   wherein the lower portion comprises a head comprising a plurality of fins extending outward from the head;   wherein at least one of the plurality of fins comprises at least one aperture on a first surface of the at least one fin, wherein the aperture is fluidly connected to an interior volume of the casing shoe reamer;   wherein the interior volume comprises an impeller affixed therein;   wherein the impeller comprises a plurality of tapered edges configured to channel a fluid from the interior volume to the at least one aperture;   whereupon delivery of a fluid from the casing float collar to the interior volume of the casing shoe reamer, the fluid applies a force on the impeller, the fluid is expelled through the at least one aperture, and the lower portion rotates relative to the upper portion about a longitudinal axis thereof.   
     
     
         2 ) The casing shoe reamer of  claim 1 , wherein an interface between the upper portion and the lower portion comprises at least one bearing race comprising at least one bearing therein. 
     
     
         3 ) The casing shoe reamer of  claim 1 , wherein the casing shoe reamer comprises an outer section constructed of a hard material and an inner section constructed of a drillable material. 
     
     
         4 ) The casing shoe reamer of  claim 3 , wherein the hard material comprises a metal. 
     
     
         5 ) The casing shoe reamer of  claim 3 , wherein the drillable material comprises a cement. 
     
     
         6 ) The casing shoe reamer of  claim 1 , wherein the head comprises between three and six fins. 
     
     
         7 ) The casing shoe reamer of  claim 6 , wherein the head comprises three fins. 
     
     
         8 ) The casing shoe reamer of  claim 1 , wherein the upper end comprises a plurality of threads configured to engage a set of complementary threads disposed on the casing float collar. 
     
     
         9 ) A method of bypassing at least one obstruction in a hole, comprising:
 inserting a casing shoe reamer into the hole;   delivering a fluid to an interior volume of the casing shoe reamer;   wherein the casing shoe reamer comprises an upper portion and a lower portion rotatably connected to the upper portion,   wherein an upper end of the upper portion is removably secured to a casing float collar,   wherein the lower portion comprises a head comprising a plurality of fins extending outward from the head,   wherein at least one of the plurality of fins comprises at least one aperture on a first surface of the at least one fin, wherein the aperture is fluidly connected to an interior volume of the casing shoe reamer;   wherein the interior volume comprises an impeller affixed therein;   wherein the impeller comprises a plurality of tapered edges configured to channel a fluid from the interior volume to the at least one aperture,   whereupon delivering the fluid from the casing float collar to the interior volume of the casing shoe reamer, the fluid applies a force on the impeller, the fluid is expelled through the at least one aperture, and the lower portion rotates relative to the upper portion about a longitudinal axis thereof.   
     
     
         10 ) The method of  claim 9 , wherein an interface between the upper portion and the lower portion comprises at least one bearing race comprising at least one bearing therein. 
     
     
         11 ) The method of  claim 9 , wherein the casing shoe reamer comprises an outer section constructed of a hard material and an inner section constructed of a drillable material. 
     
     
         12 ) The method of  claim 11 , wherein the hard material comprises a metal. 
     
     
         13 ) The method of  claim 11 , wherein the drillable material comprises a cement. 
     
     
         14 ) The method of  claim 9 , wherein the head comprises between three and six fins. 
     
     
         15 ) The method of  claim 14 , wherein the head comprises three fins. 
     
     
         16 ) The method of  claim 9 , wherein the upper end comprises a plurality of threads configured to engage a set of complementary threads disposed on the casing float collar.