Boring or penetrating the earth inventions 02/08

20080047751 - Downhole tool: A downhole tool, configured to be suspended in a borehole traversing an earth formation, includes a downhole data acquisition system placed in the tool body and electrically connected to an electric power generator at the formation surface. The downhole data acquisition system includes a sensor for detecting local conditions in... Agent: Schlumberger K.k.

20080047752 - Drill pipe racking apparatus: Lower pipe stand racking combs are arranged to fold down from a side of the derrick at selected locations above the rig floor. In each racking comb an array of parallel fingers extend in a spaced array from a pivotable spine. The spine rotates to raise the fingers to a... Agent: John D. Jeter

20080047753 - Downhole electric power generator: A downhole electric power generator is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including an inlet channel formed in a bore of a downhole tool string component for conveying a moving downhole fluid and a turbine coupled to the inlet channel to receive the downhole fluid. The turbine converts... Agent: Tyson J. Wilde Novatek International, Inc.

20080047754 - Passive vertical drilling motor stabilization: A drilling stabilization system includes a power section coupled to an upper end of a transmission housing, a bearing housing coupled to a lower end of the transmission housing, and a drill bit coupled to the bearing housing, wherein the transmission housing includes at least two radially outwardly extending blades... Agent: Osha, Liang LLP / Smith

20080047749 - Methods and apparatus for applying torque and rotation to connections: A method and apparatus for connecting threaded members while ensuring that a proper connection is made. In one embodiment, the applied torque and/or rotation are measured at regular intervals throughout a pipe connection makeup. When a shoulder contact is detected, a predetermined torque value and/or rotation value is added to... Agent: William B. Patterson Moser, Patterson & Sheridan, L.L.P.

20080047750 - Boring tool tracking fundamentally based on drill string length, pitch and roll: A boring tool moves having a pitch orientation, a yaw orientation and a roll orientation and is steerable underground using the roll orientation. A maximum drill string curvature is established for steering. The boring tool is advanced over a path segment. An averaged roll characteristic is determined for movement of... Agent: Pritzkau Patent Group, LLC

20080047755 - Drilling unit: A drilling unit is provided with a top drive which is mobile along a drilling axis in order to move drilling rods, with two telescopic drilling masts which are arranged facing each other, a cable device and a hydraulic device which co-operate with each other to move the top drive... Agent: Merchant & Gould PC

20080047756 - Hydrostatic mechanical seal with local pressurization of seal interface: A hydrostatic mechanical seal assembly includes a locally deployed pump for pressurizing a lubricant fluid between the opposing faces of a mating ring and a sealing ring. In one exemplary embodiment, such pressurization may be achieved via a device that converts the rotational motion of a drive shaft into fluid... Agent: W-h Energy Services, Inc.

20080047757 - Method and device for producing a borehole in the soil: The invention relates to a method for producing a borehole in the soil, in which a drill pipe and a conveyor screw arranged inside the drill pipe are set into rotation and introduced into the soil, and in which outcropping soil material is loosened by means of at least one... Agent: Jacobson Holman PLLC

20080047758 - Device for drilling a bore in the ground: The invention relates to a device for drilling a bore in the ground, comprising a drive system with a connecting rod assembly that extends from the drive system into the ground. The end of said assembly pointing towards the face or base of the bore is connected to a tool... Agent: Friedrich Kueffner

20080047759 - Hard material insert for a drill and a drill with the hard material insert: A hard material insert (1) for a drill (2, 2′) includes an axially central reinforcement (3) provided in the insert, and two diametrically opposite, radial arms (4) each having a cross-section tapering radially outwardly, opposite free side (8) and connection side (7), with the free and connection sides (8, 7)... Agent: Abelman, Frayne & Schwab

20080041626 - Magnetic ranging while drilling parallel wells: Methods are disclosed for drilling a first well and a second well. The method includes measuring direction and inclination for at least one of the bottom hole assemblies (BHAs) in the wells, generating a magnetic field in at least one of the BHAs and measuring the magnetic field at the... Agent: Schlumberger Oilfield Services

20080041627 - Enhanced drill bit lubrication apparatus and method: A lubricating nutating single cone drill bit 10 is disclosed. Bit 10 includes bit shank 12 with an axially skewed journal 18 rotatably retaining cutter body 22. Bearings (26, 28, 30, 32) can enable rotation of the cutter body 22. Lubricant is dispensed to a gap between the axially skewed... Agent: Lundeen & Dickinson, LLP

20080041628 - Enhanced drill bit lubrication apparatus and method: Lubricating nutating single cone drill bit (10, 100) includes bit shank (12, 112) with axially skewed journal (18, 118) rotatably retaining cutter body (22, 122). Bearings (26, 28, 30, 32; 126, 128, 130, 132) can enable rotation of cutter body (22, 122). Lubricant can be dispensed to a gap between... Agent: Lundeen & Dickinson, LLP

20080041629 - Steerable bit system assembly and methods: A drilling system includes a steerable bottomhole assembly (BHA) having a steering unit and a control unit that provide dynamic control of drill bit orientation or tilt. Exemplary steering units can adjust bit orientation at a rate that approaches or exceeds the rotational speed of the drill string or drill... Agent: Madan, Mossman & Sriram, P.C.

20080041630 - Earth bit having a pressure relief valve: An earth bit includes a cutting cone mounted to a lug to form a bearing cavity. A valve is in fluid communication with the bearing cavity and a bit chamber, wherein the valve includes a diaphragm with an aperture. The aperture is repeatably moveable between open and closed conditions in... Agent: Schmeiser Olsen & Watts

20080041631 - Method and apparatus for cementing drill strings in place for one pass drilling and completion of oil and gas wells: The steel drill string attached to a drilling bit during typical rotary drilling operations used to drill oil and gas wells is used for a second purpose as the casing that is cemented in place during typical oil and gas well completions. Methods of operation are described that provide for... Agent: Patterson & Sheridan, L.L.P.

20080041632 - Earth bit having a retaining ring: An earth bit includes an earth bit body which carries a lug. The lug is repeatably attachable to and detachable from the earth bit body. A retaining ring retains the lug to the earth bit body and restricts the movement of the lug in response to a force applied to... Agent: Schmeiser Olsen & Watts

20080041633 - Earth bit having a screen: An earth bit includes an earth bit body having a bore with a bearing passageway in fluid communication therewith. A screen extends through the bore and is repeatably moveable between rolled and unrolled conditions. The screen is in the rolled condition when extending through the bore. The screen screens a... Agent: Schmeiser Olsen & Watts

20080041634 - Earth bit having a wear ring: An earth bit includes a cutting cone rotatably mounted to a lug with a journal. A sealing member is sealingly engaged with the cutting cone and a wear ring carried by the lug. The wear ring is dynamically engaged with the first sealing member and statically engaged with the lug.... Agent: Schmeiser Olsen & Watts

20080041635 - Seal for an earth bit: An earth bit includes a cutting cone rotatably mounted to a lug with a hub unit. A sealing member is positioned to provide a seal between the cutting cone and lug. The sealing member includes an O-ring core enclosed by a sleeve having a seam extending annularly around it. The... Agent: Schmeiser Olsen & Watts

20080035375 - Distributed intelligence for enhanced monitoring and control of oilfield processes: A method for controlling a peripheral drilling operation involves obtaining a first property of a first drilling operation component associated with the peripheral drilling operation, via a wireless network, obtaining a second property of a second drilling operation component associated with the peripheral drilling operation, generating a control signal for... Agent: Osha Liang/mi

20080035376 - Apparatus and methods for estimating loads and movements of members downhole: This disclosure, in one aspect, provides an apparatus for use in a wellbore that includes a member having an encoded magnetic field and a sensor proximate the encoded magnetic field that measures a change in the magnetic field due to a change in the load on the member. In another... Agent: Madan, Mossman & Sriram, P.C.

20080035377 - Milling of cemented tubulars: A method and apparatus for milling an item in a wellbore. The method and apparatus including providing a milling tool having one or more blades which are geometrically configured to resist deflection by distributing cutting forces in multiple directions.... Agent: Patterson & Sheridan, L.L.P.

20080035373 - Perforating gun connector: Controlled Buoyancy Perforating technology for highly deviated and substantially horizontal wellbores may include long perforating guns assembled on a rig floor from a multiplicity of light weight and highly engineered shaped charge carrier joints. Tubular housings for such light weight joints may be fabricated from composite materials having steel transition... Agent: W. Allen Marcontell

20080035374 - Method of drilling a lossy formation: A method of drilling a bore hole in a fractured formation. A drill pipe is deployed into the borehole, whereby an annular space is formed between the drill pipe and the borehole wall. A drilling fluid is pumped, by means of primary pumps, into the borehole via an internal conduit... Agent: Shell Oil Company

20080035378 - Method of drilling a bore hole: A method is disclosed for drilling a borehole through a production zone underlying an overburden of various earth formations. The method includes drilling the borehole through the overburden with at least one drill bit adapted to optimize at least one drilling performance parameter, and then drilling the borehole through at... Agent: Osha, Liang LLP / Smith

20080035379 - Stabilizing system and methods for a drill bit: A drill bit stabilizing system comprising a body member having an axis and at least one recess formed in the body member housing at least one stabilizing member when in a first retracted position. The stabilizing member is positionable along a diagonal angle with the axis to a second extended... Agent: Hahn Loeser & Parks, LLP

20080035380 - Pointed diamond working ends on a shear bit: In one aspect of the present invention, a drill string has a drill bit with a body intermediate a shank and a working face. The working face has a plurality of blades converging at a center of the working surface and diverging towards a gauge of the working face. At... Agent: Tyson J. Wilde Novatek International, Inc.

20080035381 - Lubricating drum: In one aspect of the invention a degradation drum comprises a generally cylindrical body comprising inner and outer diameters. At least one degradation assembly is disposed on the outer diameter and it comprises a holder and a pick shank secured within a bore of the holder. At least one lubricant... Agent: Tyson J. Wilde Novatek International, Inc.

20080035382 - Stabilized seal for rock bits: An earth boring bit has a bit body having a depending bearing pin. A cone has a cavity rotatably mounted on the bearing pin. A seal groove formed in the cavity of the cone. An elastomeric seal ring is located within the groove and forms a seal between a base... Agent: Bracewell & Giuliani LLP

20080035383 - Non-rotating pick with a pressed in carbide segment: In one aspect of the present invention, a high impact resistant tool has a superhard material bonded to a cemented metal carbide substrate at a non-planar interface. The cemented metal carbide substrate is bonded to a front end of a cemented metal carbide segment. A stem formed in the base... Agent: Tyson J. Wilde Novatek International, Inc.

20080035384 - Tin seat for rock drill insert: A rock drilling bit includes at least one button having a button sidewall and button bottom, the button sidewall and the button bottom having a button sidewall geometry and a button bottom geometry, respectively. The rock drilling bit further comprises a bit body having at least one button-receiving hole having... Agent: Wrb-ip LLP

20080035385 - Auger bit: The invention relates to an auger bit for an earth auger, in which at least two curved plates are provided and extend radially outwards from a drilling axis, the axial height decreasing radially outwards.... Agent: Jacobson Holman PLLC

20080035386 - Pick assembly: A high impact resistant pick in a holder having a super hard material bonded to a cemented metal carbide substrate at a non-planar interface. The cemented metal carbide substrate is bonded to a front end of a cemented metal carbide bolster. A bore is formed in a base end of... Agent: Tyson J. Wilde Novatek International, Inc.

20080035387 - Downhole drill bit: In one aspect of the present invention, a drill bit has a body intermediate a shank and a working face. The working face has a plurality of blades converging towards a center of the working face and diverging towards a gauge of the working face. A first blade has at... Agent: Tyson J. Wilde Novatek International, Inc.

20080035388 - Drill bit nozzle: A drill bit comprising a body intermediate a threaded shank and a working face with the working face comprising a plurality of blades converging towards a center of the working face and diverging towards a gauge of the working face. Junk slots comprising a base are formed by the plurality... Agent: Tyson J. Wilde Novatek International, Inc.

20080035389 - Roof mining drill bit: In one aspect of the invention a rotary mine roof drilling apparatus has an arm attached to and intermediate a drill bit and a platform. The apparatus also has a thrusting mechanism adapted to push the drill bit into a mine roof. The drill bit has a bit body intermediate... Agent: Tyson J. Wilde Novatek International, Inc.

20080029304 - Mandrel and bearing assembly for downhole drilling motor: A method of converting from a sealed bearing assembly to a mud lubricated bearing assembly prior to running the bearing assembly into the borehole, includes the steps of removing a seal disposed in the lower portion of the bearing housing proximal to the lower end of the mandrel and removing... Agent: Fish & Richardson P.C.

20080029303 - Technique and apparatus for drilling and completing a well in one half trip: A technique that is usable with a well includes running a motor into the well and actuating the motor to turn a drill bit. The motor is used to pump well fluid from the well.... Agent: Schlumberger Technology Corporation David Cate

20080029302 - Perforating gun connector: Controlled Buoyancy Perforating technology for highly deviated and substantially horizontal wellbores may include long perforating guns assembled on a rig floor from a multiplicity of light weight and highly engineered shaped charge carrier joints. Tubular housings for such light weight joints may be fabricated from composite materials having steel transition... Agent: W. Allen Marcontell

20080029305 - Mechanical parts having increased wear resistance: Borided parts for wear surfaces in equipment for use in earth boring, well completion and fluid extraction are provided.... Agent: Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP

20080029306 - Method for improved well control with a downhole device: A drilling system includes a downhole well control device that can be used to control out-of-norm wellbore conditions. The downhole well control device can control one or more selected fluid parameters. The well control device in cooperation or independent of surface devices exerts control over one or more drilling or... Agent: Madan, Mossman & Sriram, P.C.

20080029307 - Rock drilling equipment: In a reverse circulation down-the-hole hammer assembly a having a axially extending central tube (30) for recovery of drilling debris, the central tube (30) has a downwardly facing abutment (32) and an upwardly facing upper end and is located axially in the hammer assembly by having the part thereof between... Agent: Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott

20080029308 - Roller cone drill bits with optimized cutting zones, load zones, stress zones and wear zones for increased drilling life and methods: Roller cone drill bits may be formed with cutting elements and cutting structures optimized to increase downhole drilling life of an associated drill bit. The cutting zone, load zone and wear zone of each cutting element may be analyzed by finely meshing each cutting element into many small segments. The... Agent: Baker Botts L.L.P. Patent Department

20080029309 - Blade assembly especially for an ice auger or like: A blade assembly including a shank and a bit head. The shank includes elements for mounting the bit head. The bit head includes one or more disk-shaped bit members, which rotate during a drilling/boring operation and which have an outer rim thereof working as an actual cutting face in drilling/boring.... Agent: Venable LLP

20080029310 - Particle-matrix composite drill bits with hardfacing and methods of manufacturing and repairing such drill bits using hardfacing materials: A rotary drill bit includes a bit body substantially formed of a particle-matrix composite material having an exterior surface and an abrasive wear-resistant material disposed on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the bit body. Methods for applying an abrasive wear-resistant material to a surface of a... Agent: Trask Britt

20080029311 - Unibit with replacement blade: A unibit with replacement blade provides economical refreshing of the many cutting facets of a unibit drill bit with a unibit replacement blade that is releasably secured in the unibit body. In one aspect of the invention, a replacement blade with cutting edges on one or both opposite side edges... Agent: Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett LLP

20080029312 - Indenting member for a drill bit: A drill bit has a bit body intermediate a working face and a shank end adapted for connection to a downhole drill string. The working face has at least three fixed blades converging towards a center of the working face and diverging towards a gauge of the bit, at least... Agent: Tyson J. Wilde Novatek International, Inc.