US 11,788,359 B2
Downhole steering system and methods
Jonathan D. Marshall, Springville, UT (US); Edward George Parkin, Whitminster (GB); Geoffrey Charles Downton, Minchinhampton (GB); David C. Hoyle, Salt Lake City, UT (US); Nalin Weerasinghe, Sugar Land, TX (US); and Dennis Patrick Chesnutt, Cypress, TX (US)
Assigned to SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, Sugar Land, TX (US)
Filed by Schlumberger Technology Corporation, Sugar Land, TX (US)
Filed on Sep. 13, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/473,340.
Application 17/473,340 is a continuation of application No. 16/621,765, granted, now 11,118,408, previously published as PCT/US2018/039376, filed on Jun. 26, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/525,148, filed on Jun. 26, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/525,140, filed on Jun. 26, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/525,143, filed on Jun. 26, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/525,121, filed on Jun. 26, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0404260 A1, Dec. 30, 2021
Int. Cl. E21B 7/06 (2006.01); E21B 23/00 (2006.01); E21B 34/16 (2006.01); E21B 47/024 (2006.01); E21B 4/00 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 7/062 (2013.01) [E21B 23/006 (2013.01); E21B 34/16 (2013.01); E21B 47/024 (2013.01); E21B 4/003 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
10. A method for steering a drill bit, comprising:
flowing a drilling fluid between a housing and a shaft, such that the shaft is caused to rotate relative to the housing, wherein rotating the shaft causes the drill bit to rotate;
holding the housing rotationally stationary with respect to a rock formation;
while holding the housing rotationally stationary, communicating drilling fluid pressure to at least one extendable structure coupled to the housing without a valve of the housing, wherein communicating drilling fluid pressure to the at least one extendable structure causes the at least one extendable structure to extend outwards and engage the rock formation, thereby altering a trajectory of the drill bit;
rotating the housing and the shaft with respect to the rock formation; and
while rotating the housing and the shaft, communicating drilling fluid pressure to the at least one extendable structure coupled to the housing to cause the at least one extendable structure to extend outwards and engage the rock formation, thereby straightening the trajectory of the drill bit.