Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100270080 | Apparatus and Method for Lateral Well Drilling - An apparatus and method for penetrating earth strata surrounding a wellbore including a nozzle assembly, a flexible tubing connected to the nozzle assembly, and a means to position the nozzle assembly downhole in a substantially horizontal direction into earthen strata, such that the nozzle assembly is connected to one end of the flexible tubing. Embodiments can provide horizontal jetting into the earth's strata from both cased and uncased wells utilizing a rotating, swirling, pulsing or cavitating nozzles which can keep a relatively cuttings free downhole environment. | 10-28-2010 |
20100270081 | Apparatus and Method for Lateral Well Drilling Utilizing a Nozzle Assembly with Gauge Ring and/or Centralizer - An apparatus and method for cutting horizontally into an earthen formation including a nozzle assembly having a gauge ring mechanism and/or a centralizer mechanism that allows the nozzle assembly to remain along a consistent axis of travel during cutting. Embodiments can provide horizontal jetting into the earth's strata from both cased and uncased wells utilizing a rotating, swirling, pulsing or cavitating nozzles which can keep a relatively cuttings free downhole environment. | 10-28-2010 |
20120067646 | Apparatus and Method for Lateral Well Drilling - A downhole tool assembly for cutting laterally into an earthen formation from a wellbore. The downhole tool assembly includes a cutting head assembly and a flexible tubular shaft member, wherein the cutting head assembly includes a rotatable nozzle and a cutting head sized and configured to cut laterally into the earthen formation. | 03-22-2012 |
20120067647 | Apparatus and Method for Lateral Well Drilling - A downhole tool assembly for cutting laterally into an earthen formation from a wellbore. The downhole tool assembly includes a cutting head assembly and a flexible tubular member, wherein the cutting head assembly includes a rotatable nozzle and a cutting head sized and configured to cut laterally into the earthen formation. The downhole tool assembly may be guided through a channel defined by a guide assembly and positioned such that the cutting head is proximate the portion of the earthen formation to be laterally cut. A rotational source may be operatively connected and in fluid communication with the conduit and flexible tubular member, whereby torque generated by the rotational source is translated by the flexible tubular member to the cutting head, causing the cutting head to rotate and cut the earthen formation. | 03-22-2012 |
20130056278 | Apparatus and Method for Placement of Downhole Tools Using a Visual Imaging Device - A method of orienting depth and direction (azimuth) of a guide device used to direct tools for the creation of a lateral borehole extending from a wellbore in an earthen formation, utilizing a visual imaging tool. The method including running a tool string into a wellbore, the tool string comprising a guide device and a visual imaging device, visually imaging the wellbore at a range of depths and orientations in the wellbore, and aligning the guide device within the wellbore in preparation of drilling tools to be used for the creation of a lateral borehole in an earthen formation. | 03-07-2013 |
20130062125 | Apparatus and Method for Lateral Well Drilling - A downhole tool assembly for cutting laterally into an earthen formation from a wellbore. The downhole tool assembly includes a flexible tubing circumscribing a series of interconnectable drive segments which can rotate in at least 2 axes on each end, wherein the flexible tubing forms at least one tubular member inner passageway. | 03-14-2013 |
20130068480 | Apparatus and Method for Transitioning a Tool Around the Radius of a Whipstock with Internal Guide Channel - A method for transitioning a rigid or semi-rigid tool around a whipstock having a curved internal guide channel. The apparatus and method entail the tool meeting specific proportion criteria relative to the narrowest part of the curved guide channel through which it must pass and relative to the length and width of the tool. In lateral borehole related applications, if the wider ends portions of the tool are of approximately the same diameter of the borehole, the tool can be stabilized as it travels through the guide channels and creates and transitions a lateral borehole. The disclosure is particularly suited to tools that are rotated through the curved whipstock and in certain applications offers such tools the benefit of a reduced number of segments or links and hence reduced costs and failure points. The method described herein can be used with a variety of tool types and for a variety of purposes and may increase the applicability of tools otherwise only feasible on wellbores of a larger diameter. | 03-21-2013 |
20130213716 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR LATERAL WELL DRILLING - An apparatus and method for penetrating earth strata surrounding a wellbore including a nozzle assembly, a flexible tubing connected to the nozzle assembly, and a means to position the nozzle assembly downhole in a substantially horizontal direction into earthen strata, such that the nozzle assembly is connected to one end of the flexible tubing. Embodiments can provide horizontal jetting into the earth's strata from both cased and uncased wells utilizing a rotating, swirling, pulsing or cavitating nozzles which can keep a relatively cuttings free downhole environment. | 08-22-2013 |