US 12,435,572 B2
Downhole component having a variable bending stiffness
Andreas Peter, Celle (DE); Volker Peters, Celle (DE); Christian Fulda, Sehnde (DE); Sven Krueger, Winsen (DE); and Paul Madero, Cypress, TX (US)
Assigned to BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Apr. 19, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/640,950.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/461,081, filed on Apr. 21, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0352799 A1, Oct. 24, 2024
Int. Cl. E21B 7/06 (2006.01); E21B 44/02 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 7/06 (2013.01) [E21B 44/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
11. A method comprising:
deploying a borehole string in a borehole in a subterranean region, the borehole string including a bending stiffness control system, the bending stiffness control system including a body having a longitudinal axis, the bending stiffness control system including a cavity disposed within the body and extending along the longitudinal axis, and a moveable element assembly including one or more moveable elements that are configured to move along the longitudinal axis, wherein the one or more moveable elements are freely movable when the inclination of the body is higher than a threshold inclination;
controlling an inclination of the body; and
controlling a bending stiffness of the body by the moveable element assembly by reacting to a change in the inclination.