Boring or penetrating the earth inventions 06/08

20080149389 - Method of using the earth mantle substance for hydrogen production: A method of using the Earth mantle substance for hydrogen production. Area of application is production of cheap and efficient energy resources, in particular, a fuel for internal-combustion engine. The substance of invention is an exploration of continental and oceanic rifting areas, supported by abnormal mantle diapers with the mantle... Agent: Abelman, Frayne & Schwab

20080149390 - Preloaded riser coupling system: An offshore riser system has riser joints, each having a pin and a box. The pin has an external grooved profile that is engaged by a locking element carried by the box of another riser joint. An actuating ring engages with the locking element to move it into the locked... Agent: Patent Department

20080149391 - Linear motor to pre-bias shuttle force: A method of controlling one or more operating pressures within a subterranean borehole that includes a choke assembly comprising a housing having an inlet passage, an axial bore, and a chamber, wherein a portion of the axial bore forms an outlet passage, and a choke member adapted for movement in... Agent: Osha Liang/mi

20080149392 - Damping device for an output shaft in a gearbox: The invention relates to a damping device for an output shaft (26) in a gearbox (14,16), where the gearbox (14,16) is arranged for rotation of a rotational degree of freedom (Z4,Z5) in a rock-drilling rig (2), and thus for positioning of the same, and where the damping device (18) comprises... Agent: Mark P. Stone

20080149393 - Earth boring drill bits with casing component drill out capability and methods of use: A drill bit includes a bit body having a face on which two different types of cutting elements are disposed, the first type being cutting elements suitable for drilling at least one subterranean formation and the second type being cutting elements suitable for drilling through a casing bit disposed at... Agent: Trask Britt

20080149394 - Steering system: A downhole steering system comprises a first full gauge stabiliser 34, a bias unit 28, a universal joint 26, and a second full gauge stabiliser 22, the bias unit 28 and universal joint 26 being located between the first and second full gauge stabilisers 34, 22. Conveniently, the system further... Agent: Schlumberger Oilfield Services

20080149395 - Drilling or service rig: A drilling or service rig (1) for use in operations on- or offshore, the rig (1) being formed by a derrick structure (3) projecting from a foundation (11) and being arranged to receive a carriage (7), movable along the longitudinal axis of the derrick structure, for a drilling or service... Agent: Akerman Senterfitt

20080149396 - Roller reamer: This invention describes a reaming tool (10) for attachment to a drill string having a body (12) that has connection means (14a, 14b) at either end for attachment to a drill string, at least one roller reamer (16) rotatably mounted to the body (12), and at least one channel (18)... Agent: Olson & Cepuritis, Ltd.

20080149397 - System, method and apparatus for hardfacing composition for earth boring bits in highly abrasive wear conditions using metal matrix materials: A highly abrasive wear metal matrix composite hardfacing material for downhole tools is disclosed. The hardfacing material may comprise a matrix of a softer material with high hardness, such as amorphous nanocomposite steel alloys, and one or more hard component materials. The hard component materials may comprise sintered tungsten carbide,... Agent: Bracewell & Giuliani LLP

20080149398 - Novel bits and cutting structures: A cutting element for a downhole cutting tool including a support element, a shearing element disposed on said support, wherein the shearing element is disposed proximal to a leading edge of the downhole cutting tool, and a retaining element overlaying at least a portion of said shearing element is disclosed.... Agent: Osha, Liang LLP / Smith

20080149399 - Rotary percussion drill with a hard material bit: A rotary-percussion drill, includes a hard material bit (2, 2′) having at least one cutting edge (3, 3′), and a shaft having an end (7, 7′) with an axial base surface (6, 6′) provided with a chamfer (8, 8′) at least on its outer radial rim, the bottom surface (4,... Agent: Abelman, Frayne & Schwab

20080142262 - Core drill bit with extended crown height: Core drill bits with long crown heights are described herein. The core drill bits have a series of slots or openings that are not located at the tip of the crown and are therefore enclosed in the body of the crown. The slots may be staggered and/or stepped throughout the... Agent: Kenneth E. Horton Kirton & Mcconkle

20080142263 - Downhole valve mechanism: In one aspect of the invention, a downhole tool string component comprises a fluid passageway formed between a first and second end. A valve mechanism is disposed within the fluid passageway adapted to substantially cyclically build-up and release pressure within the fluid passageway such that a pressure build-up results in... Agent: Tyson J. Wilde Novatek International, Inc.

20080142264 - System for steering a drill string: A downhole tool string component, having a first rotor secured within a bore of the component and connected to a gear assembly, the gear assembly being connected to a second rotor. The gear assembly has a gear ratio adapted to rotate the second rotor faster than the first rotor. The... Agent: Tyson J. Wilde Novatek International, Inc.

20080142265 - Downhole mechanism: In one aspect of the invention, a downhole tool string component comprises a fluid passageway formed between a first and second end. A valve mechanism is disposed within the fluid passageway adapted to substantially cyclically build-up and release pressure within the fluid passageway such that a pressure build-up results in... Agent: Tyson J. Wilde Novatek International, Inc.

20080142267 - Multi-edge working surfaces for polycrystalline diamond cutting elements: A polycrystalline diamond cutting element for earth boring drill bits presents at least three regions of different abrasion resistance to the earthen formation when in operation. The cutting element has an end working surface and the regions, which are substantially free of catalyzing material, form a series of at least... Agent: Jeffrey E. Daly Grant Prideco, L.p.

20080142266 - Tension/collar/reamer assemblies and methods: The present invention provides drilling assembles and methods that are especially useful for a bottom hole drilling assembly for drilling/reaming/or other operations related to drilling a borehole through an earth formation. In one embodiment, the drilling assembly utilizes standard drill collars which are modified to accept force transfer sections. In... Agent: Kenneth L. Nash

20080142268 - Rotary steerable drilling apparatus and method: The present invention relates to drilling apparatus which includes a steerable bottom hole assembly for use in a well bore. The steerable bottom hole assembly includes a bent sub assembly connectable to a distal end of a drill string. It also has a control bias unit connected to the bent... Agent: Schlumberger Oilfield Services

20080142269 - Bi stable actuator and drilling system inlcuding same: A bi-stable actuator comprises a chamber 40 having a fluid inlet 34 and first and second fluid outlets 36, 38, a valve member 42 movable between a first position in which it co-operates with a first seat to close the first outlet 36 and a second position in which it... Agent: Schlumberger Oilfield Services

20080142270 - Housing arrangement: Housing arrangement 8 for a drill rig, especially adapted for damping sound, said drill rig comprising a feed beam holder 3, a feed beam 4 being movably attached to the feed beam holder 3 and having a drill end 41 and a rear end 42, and a drilling machine 5... Agent: Mark P Stone

20080142271 - Methods of designing rotary drill bits including at least one substantially helically extending feature: A method of designing a rotary drill bit includes selecting and positioning a plurality of cutting elements on a rotary drill bit. At least one substantially helically extending feature is selected and positioned to rotationally follow at least one of the plurality of cutting elements, the at least one substantially... Agent: Trask Britt

20080142272 - Wear resistant assembly: In one aspect of the invention, a wear resistant assembly has at least one hard insert disposed within a recess formed within a surface. A hard material substantially surrounds the hard insert and is also disposed within the surface. The hard material is separated from the insert by an intermediate... Agent: Tyson J. Wilde Novatek International, Inc.

20080142273 - Downhole hammer assembly: A drill bit assembly comprises a bit body intermediate a shank and a working face. The shank is adapted for connection to a drill string. The drill string comprising a fluid passage at least partially disposed within the body. A hammer assembly is movably disposed within the fluid passage along... Agent: Tyson J. Wilde Novatek International, Inc.

20080142274 - Downhole hammer assembly: A drill bit assembly comprises a bit body intermediate a shank and a working face. The shank is adapted for connection to a drill string. The drill string comprising a fluid passage at least partially disposed within the body. A hammer assembly is movably disposed within the fluid passage along... Agent: Tyson J. Wilde Novatek International, Inc.

20080142275 - Dual-edge working surfaces for polycrystalline diamond cutting elements: A polycrystalline diamond cutting element for earth boring drill bits presents regions of different abrasion resistance to the earthen formation when in operation. The cutting element has an end working surface and a region which is substantially free of catalyzing material, forming a layer. In operation, this layer wears at... Agent: Jeffrey E. Daly Grant Prideco, L.p.

20080142276 - Thermally stable ultra-hard material compact constructions: Thermally stable ultra-hard compact constructions comprise a polycrystalline diamond body substantially free of a catalyst material, and a substrate that is joined thereto. The substrate can be ceramic, metallic, cermet and combinations thereof, and can be joined to the body by a braze material or other material that forms an... Agent: Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Marmaro, LLP

20080135289 - Method for running casing while drilling system: At least a portion of a subsea well is drilled casing-while-drilling techniques. A landing shoulder is formed within an outer string of a casing. The outer string of casing is secured to an outer wellhead housing above the landing shoulder and lowered into the wellbore. A casing hanger is attached... Agent: Bracewell & Giuliani LLP

20080135290 - Multiple input scaling autodriller: A wellbore drilling system includes a weight on bit controller configured to generate a normalized WOB output, a drilling torque controller configured to generate a normalized TOB output, a differential pressure controller configured to generate a normalized DeltaP output, and a rate of penetration controller configured to multiply a ROP... Agent: Osha Liang L.l.p.

20080135291 - Apparatus for responding to an anomalous change in downhole pressure: A method of responding to an anomalous change in downhole pressure in a bore hole comprises detecting the anomalous change in downhole pressure, sending a signal along the segmented electromagnetic transmission path, receiving the signal, and performing a automated response. The anomalous change in downhole pressure is detected at a... Agent: Jeffrey E. Daly Intelliserv, Inc

20080135292 - Apparatus for eliiminating net drill bit torque and controlling drill bit walk: A drilling apparatus controls or eliminates reaction torque from drill bits thereby preventing loss of penetration due to undesired rotation of the drilling apparatus or controls drilling direction by intentionally manipulating reaction torque thereby inducing desired drill bit walk. The drilling apparatus has a concentrically divided drill bit in which... Agent: Schlumberger-doll Research Attn: Intellectual Property Law Department

20080135293 - Methods and apparatus for navigating a tool downhole: Methods and apparatus for navigating a subterranean tool comprising a body member and a head member steerably associated with the body member. A determining unit is configured to determine a transversal target position of a nose of the head member relative to the body member and a steering unit is... Agent: Schlumberger K.k.

20080135295 - Fluid-actuated hammer bit: In one aspect of the present invention, a drilling assembly has a string of downhole tools connected to a drill bit with a bit body intermediate a shank and a working face. The drill bit is connected to the string of tools at the shank. A continuous fluid passageway is... Agent: Tyson J. Wilde Novatek International, Inc.

20080135294 - Vibrational apparatus: the arrangement being characterised in that there is a drive to rotate the shuttle and there are magnetic interactions between the rotating shuttle and the complementary structures such that interactions with each complementary structure, and the phasing of the complementary structures relative to the shuttle, alternating magnetic results in the... Agent: Jacobson Holman Pllc

20080135296 - Protective coatings for drill pipe and associated methods: A coated drill pipe for use in drilling ground such as in rotary drilling for explorative geophysics and associated methods and systems are disclosed and described. A protective coating can be coated over at least a portion of an exterior or interior surface of the drill pipe. The protective coating... Agent: Thorpe North & Western, LLP.

20080135297 - Rotary drag bits having a pilot cutter configuraton and method to pre-fracture subterranean formations therewith: A rotary drag bit exhibiting enhanced cutting efficiency and extended life is provided. The rotary drag bit comprises a bit body having a face surface, and a plurality of cutters coupled to the face surface of the bit body. The plurality of cutters comprises at least one pilot cutter and... Agent: Trask Britt

20080135298 - Secondary retainer for a downhole hammer bit: A bit retainer system includes a bit having a head and a shank, a driver sub disposed around the shank of the bit and adapted to engage a hammer case, a bit retainer including a segmented retainer ring configured with a circumferential groove on an outside diameter of the segmented... Agent: Osha, Liang LLP / Smith

20080135299 - Apparatus and method for characterizing a reservoir: An apparatus and method for characterizing a subsurface formation is provided. The apparatus includes a tool body, a probe assembly carried by the tool body for sealing off a region of the borehole wall, an actuator for moving the probe assembly between a retracted position for conveyance of the tool... Agent: Schlumberger Oilfield Services

20080135301 - Arrangement for sucking dust: A method for sucking dust in connection with a rock drilling rig, and a rock drilling rig. The rock drilling rig (1) comprises a dust collection system provided with a suction device (11) to produce suction for sucking dust from a drill hole (8) through a first suction channel (12).... Agent: Drinker Biddle & Reath (dc)

20080135300 - Drill cuttings handling apparatus: A drill cuttings handling system apparatus for use on an oil and gas drilling rig located on a drilling platform where the platform has drilling equipment that includes a system for circulating drilling mud through the borehole created by the drilling equipment that includes a drill cuttings shaker for removing... Agent: Durio, Mcgoffin, Stagg & Ackerman

20080135302 - High density brines for use in wellbore fluids: A composition and method for use in drilling or completing a subterranean well comprising a solids free, high-density brine composed of alkali metal polytungstate and blends thereof. These high-density brines are also useful as wellbore fluids and other non-oilfield fluids requiring high density properties.... Agent: Legal Dept., Ip Group M-i L.l.c.

20080135303 - Sensor assembly in a gearbox for positioning: The invention relates to a sensor assembly in a gearbox which is used for positioning, where the sensor assembly comprises a relative to the gearbox housing (18) fixed sensor (20), and where the angle between the gearbox housing (18) and the output shaft (26) of a gearbox (14, 16) is... Agent: Mark P. Stone

20080135304 - Methods of attaching a shank to a body of an earth-boring drilling tool, and tools formed by such methods: Earth-boring rotary drill bits including a bit body attached to a shank. In some embodiments, the bit body and the shank may have abutting surfaces concentric to an interface axis offset relative to a longitudinal axis of the drill bit. In additional embodiments, the bit body and the shank may... Agent: Trask Britt

20080135305 - Displacement members and methods of using such displacement members to form bit bodies of earth-boring rotary drill bits: Displacement members for use in forming a bit body of an earth-boring rotary drill bit include a body having an exterior surface, at least a portion of which is configured to define at least one surface of the bit body as the bit body is formed around the displacement member.... Agent: Trask Britt

20080135306 - Drill bit with a fixed cutting structure: The invention concerns a drill bit (1) with stationary cutting structure, comprising a tool body (2) and several blades (3), which consist of a metal matrix impregnated with abrasive particles, and which are fixed to the tool body while extending forward therefrom, said blades (3) forming jointly a front cutting... Agent: Baker Botts L.l.p. Patent Department

20080135307 - Impregnated bit with changeable hydraulic nozzles: A diamond impregnated bit crown has blades formed thereon. Flow channels are formed between the blades, the flow channels having inner and outer ends and extending outward to a gage surface of the crown. At least some of the flow channels have an enlarged width area that has a greater... Agent: Bracewell & Giuliani LLP

20080135308 - Button bit: A button bit is disclosed of the type that is rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation (R) around a centre axis (C) and includes a number of spaced-apart peripheral buttons, which protrude forward from a front end surface to which an envelope surface connects having a rotationally symmetrical shape,... Agent: Drinker Biddle & Reath (dc)

20080128166 - Method to improve downhole instruments: Measurements are made using a plurality of measure electrodes on a pad of a logging tool. The bias and gain of the measurements prior to A/D conversion are altered using measurements made by an additional electrode that is ahead of the measure electrodes.... Agent: Madan, Mossman & Sriram, P.c.

20080128167 - Device for handling of pipes at a drill floor: A device for handling and storage of drill string sections, and assembly or disassembly of a drill string on an installation especially intended for exploratory and/or production drilling for hydrocarbons, where: at least one set of individual, separate cooperating means of transport is arranged to move a drill string section... Agent: Andrus, Sceales, Starke & Sawall, LLP

20080128168 - Apparatus and method: The present invention provides an apparatus (10) and method for transmitting torque to a downhole device. The apparatus (10) comprises a first part and a second part adapted for connection to the downhole device. The apparatus (10) also comprises an engagement means (100, 120). The first and second parts are... Agent: Drinker Biddle & Reath Attn: Intellectual Property Group

20080128169 - Restriction element trap for use with an actuation element of a downhole apparatus and method of use: A downhole apparatus for engaging a borehole in a subterranean formation includes a tubular body having a longitudinal axis and a first bore, an actuation element having a second bore and is positioned within the first bore of the tubular body a drilling fluid flow path extending through the first... Agent: Trask Britt

20080128170 - Fiber-containing diamond-impregnated cutting tools: Fibers for diamond-impregnated cutting tools and their associated methods for manufacture and use are described. The cutting tools contain a diamond-impregnated cutting portion that contains fibers made from carbon, glass, ceramic, polymer, and the like. The fibers can be in any form, including chopped and milled fibers. The fibers may... Agent: Kenneth E. Horton Kirton & Mcconkle

20080128171 - Closed loop control bore hole drilling system: A steerable bore hole drilling tool and method of drilling bore holes. The steerable bore hole drilling tool comprise means for mechanically decoupling the sensor unit from the tool body. The method comprises a step of mechanically decoupling the sensor unit form the tool body.... Agent: Conley Rose, P.c. David A. Rose

20080128172 - Drill stem connection and method: A drill stem connection system and method is shown that provides a secure hold on drill stem surfaces while unscrewing a threaded connection. Two lever arm components are adjustable to a number of possible orientations to allow for fitting the drill stem wrench in tight spaces. Concentric rotation of lever... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.a.

20080128173 - Drill cuttings transfer system and related methods: A system for handling drill cuttings conveys cuttings into bulk tanks via a conduit. The bulk tanks have a lower portion that converges to an elongated opening. A conveyance member positioned at the elongated opening forces the cuttings out of a discharge port at the bottom of the bulk tank.... Agent: Madan, Mossman & Sriram, P.c.

20080128174 - Expandable reamers for earth-boring applications and methods of using the same: Expandable reamer tools include an outer body, a fluid passageway extending through the outer body, and at least one blade configured to slide relative to the outer body between a retracted position and an expanded position in a direction oriented at an acute angle of less than ninety degrees (90°)... Agent: Trask Britt

20080128175 - Expandable reamers for earth boring applications: An expandable reamer apparatus for drilling a subterranean formation includes a tubular body, one or more blades, each blade positionally coupled to a sloped track of the tubular body, a push sleeve and a drilling fluid flow path extending through an inner bore of the tubular body for conducting drilling... Agent: Trask Britt

20080128176 - Silicon carbide composite materials, earth-boring tools comprising such materials, and methods for forming the same: Earth-boring tools for drilling subterranean formations include a particle-matrix composite material comprising a plurality of silicon carbide particles dispersed throughout a matrix material, such as, for example, an aluminum or aluminum-based alloy. In some embodiments, the silicon carbide particles comprise an ABC—SiC material. Methods of manufacturing such tools include providing... Agent: Trask Britt