HOLE ENLARGEMENT DRILLING DEVICE AND METHODS FOR USING SAME

摘要

A bottomhole assembly (BHA) coupled to a drill string includes one or more controllers, and a hole enlargement device that selectively enlarges the diameter of the wellbore formed by the drill bit. The hole enlargement device includes an actuation unit that may move extendable cutting elements of the hole enlargement device between a radially extended position and a radially retracted position. The actuation unit may be responsive to a signal that is transmitted from a downhole and/or a surface location. The hole enlargement device may also include one or more position sensors that transmit a position signal indicative of a radial position of the cutting elements. In an illustrative operating mode, one or more operating parameters of the hole enlargement device may be adjusted based on one or more measured parameters. This adjustment may be done in a closed-loop or automated fashion and/or by human personnel.

主权项

1. An apparatus for forming a wellbore in an earthen formation, comprising:
a drill string having a drill bit; a hole-enlargement device positioned along the drill string, the hole-enlargement device having at least one selectively extendable cutting element configured to form a substantially circular wellbore having a diameter larger than the wellbore formed by the drill bit; a controller programmed to activate the hole-enlargement device upon receiving a first signal and deactivate the hole-enlargement device upon receiving a second signal; a first sensor positioned on the hole-enlargement device uphole from the at least one selectively extendable cutting element and configured to measure a first parameter, wherein the first parameter is at least one of weight on the hole-enlargement device and torque on the hole-enlargement device; and a second sensor proximate the drill bit configured to measure a second parameter, wherein the second parameter relates to at least one of weight at the drill bit and torque at the drill bit, and wherein at least one of the first signal and the second signal are generated at least partially in response to a difference between the first parameter and the second parameter.