Boring or penetrating the earth inventions 05/08

20080121429 - Subsea drilling: A method and apparatus for drilling subsea wells is provided. A subsea shut off device including ball gripping mechanisms is latched to a template at surface. Drilled in casing can be suspended from the device at any position using the gripping mechanism so that the device is run to the... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20080121430 - Configurable beacon and method: A monitoring system is used to monitor the location and orientation of a downhole tool assembly by detecting an output signal. The downhole tool assembly has a beacon assembly with one or more configurable operation parameters. A transmitting assembly transmits a modulated instruction signal to the beacon assembly to configure... Agent: Tomlinson & O'connell, P.C.

20080121431 - Establishing positions of locating field detectors and path mapping in underground boring tool applications: Specific apparatus and associated methods are described for use in establishing the positions of locating field detectors and for path mapping within a region for the purpose of tracking and/or guiding the movement of an underground boring tool. In one aspect, an improvement is provided forming part of an arrangement... Agent: Pritzkau Patent Group, LLC

20080121432 - Directional drilling control: A down-hole drilling assembly (12,16) and control system (120) therefor, for directional drilling including a bent housing of a bottom hole assembly (18), utilising a gearbox (102) to derive a higher speed (about 600 r.p.m.) rotational drive (104) from the drill string (10) to drive a drilling bit (20) via... Agent: Fleit Kain Gibbons Gutman Bongini & Bianco

20080121433 - Detritus flow management features for drag bit cutters and bits so equipped: Rock detritus created by a drag bit cutter shearing subterranean formation material may flow under the cutter and attach itself to the side surface of the cutter barrel by differential pressure-induced sticking, and dilate. This attached material, confined by hydrostatic pressure, can create and strengthen a barrier between the cutter... Agent: Trask Britt

20080121434 - Converging diverging nozzle for earth-boring drill bits, method of substantially bifurcating a drilling fluid flowing therethrough, and drill bits so equipped: A nozzle for use on a rotary drill bit for forming a subterranean borehole includes a body and at least one passageway extending through the body from an inlet to an exit aperture. The passageway has a converging region and a diverging region. At least a portion of the diverging... Agent: Trask Britt

20080121435 - Single cone rock bit having inserts adapted to maintain hole gage during drilling: A roller cone drill bit is disclosed which includes a bit body adapted to be coupled to a drill string. A bearing journal depends from the bit body. A single roller cone is rotatably attached to the bearing journal. The roller cone has a plurality of inserts disposed at selected... Agent: Osha, Liang LLP / Smith

20080121436 - Downhole seal element formed from a nanocomposite material: A seal element (70) for providing a static or dynamic seal between two components (74, 78) in a downhole tool includes a polymer host material (212) and a plurality of nanostructures (220) forming a nanocomposite material (210). The polymer host material (212) has a plurality of regions of free volume... Agent: Lawrence R. Youst

20080121437 - Hard material drilling head: A solid hard material head for a percussion drilling tool rotatable about a rotational axis (A) in a rotational direction (ω), includes at least one main bit and at least one auxiliary bit (5), circumferentially offset relative to the at least one main bit (3) and having an auxiliary cutting... Agent: Abelman, Frayne & Schwab

20080115971 - Remote gas monitoring apparatus for sealed drilling: Gas monitoring apparatus associated with a remotely operated seabed system, the apparatus including a detector which is adapted so as to enable detection and/or measurement in real time the interception of shallow gas in a bore hole. In one form the gas monitoring apparatus is suitable for use with a... Agent: King & Schickli, Pllc

20080115972 - Method and apparatus for centralizing through tubing milling assemblies: A through tubing centralizer is delivered below the tubing and expanded against a surrounding tubular for fixation. In a window milling through tubing application, a whipstock is delivered through tubing and anchored. One or more centralizers are then delivered through tubing and expanded so that their inside diameter when set... Agent: Duane Morris LLP

20080115973 - Underreamer and method of use: The present invention discloses a collapsible drilling assembly having field-replaceable cutter or stabilizer blades (214) and method of using and installing new stabilizer blades while at a job location. The drilling assembly is deployed upon a distal end of a drillstring, expanded to a gauge size, and used as an... Agent: Lundeen & Dickinson, LLP

20080115974 - Steerable drilling system: A steerable drilling system comprises a rotary drill bit 14 secured to a housing 16, a secondary rotary drill component 22 carried by the housing and rotatable therewith, the second rotary drill component 22 having a gauge dimension greater than that of the rotary drill bit 14, and a drive... Agent: Schlumberger Oilfield Services

20080115975 - Systems and methods employing a variable angle guide for a drill: Disclosed are systems and methods for drilling in an environment having a fluid and a bed. The method includes positioning a platform such that the fluid is between the platform and the bed; and assembling a guide, the assembled guide being straight. The method subsequently acts to place the guide... Agent: Jerome D. Jackson (jackson Patent Law Office)

20080115976 - Thrust bearing assembly: A thrust bearing assembly comprising a rotating bearing runner and a stationary bearing carrier, the carrier defining a plurality of thrust pad sites annularly around the carrier, with a thrust pad disposed at a site and with the carrier constraining movement of the thrust pad in a direction generally radial... Agent: Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP

20080115977 - Impact tool: A tool comprising a super hard material is bonded to a cemented metal carbide substrate at a non-planar interface. A cemented metal carbide substrate is bonded to a front end of a cemented metal carbide bolster. The carbide bolster is secured against an outer surface of a drum through a... Agent: Tyson J. Wilde Novatek International, Inc.

20080115978 - Shank assembly with a tensioned element: In one aspect of the invention, a tool comprises a head and a shank assembly. The shank assembly has a tensioned element axially disposed within a bore of a structural element and a distal end of the tensioned element is secured within or below the bore. The head has a... Agent: Tyson J. Wilde Novatek International, Inc.

20080110673 - Apparatus and methods for drilling a wellbore using casing: Apparatus and methods for drilling with casing. In an embodiment, methods and apparatus for deflecting casing using a diverter apparatus are disclosed. In another embodiment, the apparatus comprises a motor operating system disposed in a motor system housing, a shaft operatively connected to the motor operating system, the shaft having... Agent: Patterson & Sheridan, L.l.p.

20080110674 - Closed-loop control of hydraulic pressure in a downhole steering tool: Aspects of this invention include a steering tool having a controller configured to provide closed-loop control of hydraulic fluid pressure. In one exemplary embodiment, closed-loop control of a system (reservoir) pressure may be provided. In another embodiment, closed-loop control of a blade pressure may be provided while the blade remains... Agent: W-h Energy Services, Inc.

20080110675 - Rock drilling device and rock drilling rig incorporating a pressure cylinder for feeding the drilling machine: The present invention relates to a rock drilling device comprising a feed beam (4), which has a drill end (41) from which the drill point protrudes at drilling and a rear end (42) opposite said drill end. A rock drilling machine (5) is movable along the feed beam (4) and... Agent: Mark P. Stone

20080110676 - Rock drilling device and drill rig incorporating a device for measuring the location of the drilling machine: This invention relates to a rock drilling device comprising a feed beam (4), which has a drill end (41) from which the drill point protrudes at drilling and a rear end (42) opposite said drill end; a rock drilling machine (5) movable along the feed beam (4); a pressure cylinder... Agent: Mark P. Stone

20080110677 - Conveyor tube for use in installing or replacing a well tool in a producing well and procedures for use of the same: This invention describes a conveyor tube for use in installing or replacing a well tool in a producing well, wherein the well tool is fed into the conveyor tube which at least runs between a valve tree and at least one receiving unit in the well, and wherein the conveyor... Agent: Burns & Levinson LLP

20080110678 - Expandable reamer apparatus for enlarging boreholes while drilling: An expandable reamer apparatus and methods for reaming a borehole, wherein a laterally movable blade carried by a tubular body may be selectively positioned at an inward position and an expanded position. The laterally movable blade, held inwardly by blade-biasing elements, may be forced outwardly by drilling fluid selectively allowed... Agent: Trask Britt

20080110679 - Drill with a hard material drilling head: A one-piece drilling head (4) which is to be secured, in a material-locking manner, at an end of a helical shaft of a drill, is formed of hard material and includes four radially extending, in a cross-shaped manner, legs (5) forming, respectively, two diametrically opposite main cutting edges (6) and... Agent: Abelman, Frayne & Schwab

20080110680 - Drill bit nozzle assembly, insert assembly including same and method of manufacturing or retrofitting a steel body bit for use with the insert assembly: A steel body bit nozzle assembly comprising a bit body having a port therein with a sleeve disposed adjacent a nozzle in the port and an annular seal disposed between an outer wall each of the sleeve and the nozzle and a wall of the port, each seal being received... Agent: Trask Britt

20080105462 - Rotating control device apparatus and method: A riser assembly includes a rotating control housing connected between an upper portion and a lower portion of a riser assembly, and a packing element rotatable with respect to the rotating control housing, wherein the packing element is configured to isolate an annulus of the lower portion from the upper... Agent: Osha, Liang LLP / Smith

20080105463 - Apparatus for, and method of, landing items at a well location: An apparatus for, and method of, lowering items from a drilling rig to a well located below it through the use of a landing string comprised of drill pipe having an enlarged diameter section with a shoulder, in combination with upper and lower holders having wedge members with shoulders that... Agent: Garvey Smith Nehrbass & North, LLC

20080105465 - Expandable reamer for subterranean boreholes and methods of use: An expandable reamer apparatus and methods for reaming a borehole are disclosed, including at least one laterally movable blade carried by a tubular body selectively positioned at an inward position and an expanded position. The at least one movable blade, held inwardly by at least one blade-biasing element, may be... Agent: Trask Britt

20080105464 - Moveable blades and bearing pads: An expandable reamer apparatus and methods for reaming a borehole, wherein a laterally movable blade carried by a tubular body may be selectively positioned at an inward position and an expanded position. The laterally movable blade, held inwardly by blade-biasing elements, may be forced outwardly by drilling fluid selectively allowed... Agent: Trask Britt

20080105466 - Drag bits with dropping tendencies and methods for making the same: A bit having improved dropping tendencies includes a first plurality of cutters in an active region and a second plurality of cutters in a passive region. The second plurality of cutters has unique radial positions with respect to the first plurality of cutters. The first and the second pluralities of... Agent: Smith International Inc.

20080105467 - Drill bit reservior with controllable relief pressure: A rotary rock bit includes a lubricant reservoir with a pressure compensation assembly disposed therein. The pressure compensation assembly is adapted to permit selective adjustment of the relief pressure set by the assembly through the selective adjustment of one member in the assembly with respect to another member in the... Agent: Smith International Inc.

20080099242 - Drill stem coupling and method for a directional drill: A drill stem connection assembly includes a first drill stem section and a second drill stem section. At least one engaging feature is located at an end of the first drill stem section. At least one mating feature accepts the at least one engaging feature. The at least one mating... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20080099245 - Cam assembly in a downhole component: In one aspect of the invention, a downhole drill string component has a shaft being axially fixed at a first location to an inner surface of an opening in a tubular body. A mechanism is axially fixed to the inner surface of the opening at a second location and is... Agent: Tyson J. Wilde Novatek International, Inc.

20080099243 - Method of assembling a drill bit with a jack element: A method of assembling a drill bit with a bit body intermediate a shank and a working face with a plurality of blades comprised of at least one cutting element. The working face also comprising a jack element disposed within a pocket that may be substantially coaxial with the axis... Agent: Tyson J. Wilde Novatek International, Inc.

20080099244 - Seal with dynamic sealing surface at the outside diameter: A seal assembly for sealing between a journal shaft and a rotating cone cutter of a drill bit. In an embodiment, the seal assembly comprises a seal gland positioned between the journal shaft and the cone cutter. In addition, the seal assembly comprises an annular seal body disposed about the... Agent: Conley Rose, P.C. David A. Rose

20080099246 - Using hydrostatic bearings for downhole applications: Hydrostatic bearings are used for drill string stabilization and bottom hole assembly steering. The hydrostatic bearings utilize an existing mud flow as the bearing fluid. For steering, the bearings may be used between movable kick pads and the formation to reduce friction. Alternatively, differential hydrostatic bearing pressure may be utilized... Agent: Schlumberger-doll Research Attn: Intellectual Property Law Department

20080099247 - Regulator of angle and reactive moment of a gerotor type motor having a spindle and drilling bit in a bent drilling string: The invention relates to devices for drilling controlled directional wells. The inventive control device consists of a central hollow element and three hollow out-of-line with respect to each other tubular elements connected thereto. Said central element and the first element on the side of the connection thereof to a spindel... Agent: Fitch Even Tabin And Flannery

20080099241 - Characterizing a reservoir in connection with drilling operations: A system for analyzing reservoir fluids in connection with a drilling operation includes an injection system for providing geochemical analysis of injected drilling fluids; a production system for providing geochemical analysis of produced drilling fluids; a cuttings system for providing geochemical analysis fluid recovered from reservoir cuttings; and a fluid... Agent: Fish & Richardson P.C.

20080099248 - Bore head for microbore operation: Boring apparatus for drilling laser guided microbore tunnels uses a liquid stream to remove soil as slurry and an airstream to conduct the slurry away from the bore head. The cylindrical head houses a drill shaft steered by a pair of remotely controlled rams according to the position of a... Agent: Smith-hill And Bedell, P.C.

20080099249 - Tool with a large volume of a superhard material: In one aspect of the invention, a tool has a wear-resistant base suitable for attachment to a driving mechanism and also a hard tip attached to an interfacial surface of the base. The tip has a first cemented metal carbide segment bonded to a superhard material at a non-planar interface.... Agent: Tyson J. Wilde Novatek International, Inc.

20080099250 - Superhard insert with an interface: In one aspect of the invention, a superhard insert has a carbide substrate bonded to ceramic layer at an interface. The substrate has a generally frusto-conical end at the interface with a tapered portion leading to a flat portion. The central section of the ceramic layer may have a first... Agent: Tyson J. Wilde Novatek International, Inc.

20080099251 - High impact resistant tool: A tool has a sintered body of diamond or diamond-like particles in a metal matrix bonded to a cemented metal carbide substrate at a non-planar interface. A working surface has at least one region fir enough away from the non-planar interface that during high pressure, high temperature processing a restricted... Agent: Tyson J. Wilde Novatek International, Inc.

20080099252 - Two-cone drill bit with enhanced stability: A two-cone drill bit that exhibits improved stability. In one embodiment, the two-cone drill bit has a first and a second roller cone arranged to have a cone separation angle between about 145 degrees and about 166 degrees. In some embodiments, the two-cone drill bit has a plurality of cutting... Agent: Osha, Liang LLP / Smith