US 12,297,737 B1
Bottom hole assembly having three-point contact for improved steering
Geoffrey Charles Downton, Minchinhampton (GB); Riadh Boualleg, Gloucester (GB); and Edward Richards, Cheltenham (GB)
Assigned to SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, Sugar Land, TX (US)
Filed by Schlumberger Technology Corporation, Sugar Land, TX (US)
Filed on Aug. 7, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/796,416.
Int. Cl. E21B 7/28 (2006.01); E21B 7/06 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 7/28 (2013.01) [E21B 7/064 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
a bottom hole assembly (BHA), comprising:
a drill bit disposed at a first axial position, wherein the drill bit is configured to rotate and drill a pilot hole in a subterranean formation, wherein the drill bit provides a first point of contact between the BHA and the subterranean formation;
a steering pad assembly disposed at a second axial position offset from the first axial position, wherein the steering pad assembly comprises one or more steering pads each configured to move over a path of travel between a retracted position and an extended position to provide a second point of contact between the BHA and the subterranean formation;
a reamer disposed at a third axial position offset from the first and second axial positions, wherein the reamer is configured to expand the pilot hole into a borehole, wherein the reamer provides a third point of contact between the BHA and the subterranean formation; and
an adjustable bend portion between the reamer and the drill bit, wherein a rotary steerable system (RSS) is configured to control the adjustable bend portion alone or in combination with the steering pad assembly; and
a controller of the RSS configured to steer the BHA via the first, second, and third points of contact and adjustments to the second point of contact via control of the steering pad assembly.