Drilling assembly systems and methods

Abstract

An apparatus can include a drilling tool having a proximate and distal end. The drilling tool can include an internal threaded section proximal the distal end of the drilling tool, a gripper apparatus affixed to an exterior surface of a portion of the drilling tool. The gripper apparatus can be configured to selectively extend and increase an outer diameter of the portion of the drilling tool and to selectively retract and decrease the outer diameter of the portion of the drilling tool. The drilling tool can include a cylindrical sleeve having external threads extending from at least a portion of an outer surface of the cylindrical sleeve, the cylindrical sleeve configured to travel inside the drilling tool and have the external threads engage with the internal threaded section. The drilling tool can include an inner and outer bearing sections. Methods of using the tool for drilling are also disclosed.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a drilling tool having a proximal end and a distal end;   an internal threaded section proximal the distal end of the drilling tool;   a gripper apparatus affixed to an exterior surface of a portion of the drilling tool, the gripper apparatus having a first extended orientation and a second retracted orientation, wherein in the extended orientation an outer diameter of a gripper apparatus comprises an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter of an external wall of the drilling tool and the retracted orientation comprises an outer diameter of the gripper apparatus of less than the outer diameter of the external wall; and   a cylindrical sleeve having external threads extending from at least a portion of an outer surface of the cylindrical sleeve, the cylindrical sleeve having a first orientation, and a second linearly extended orientation wherein the external threads engage with the internal threaded section.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gripper apparatus comprises a plurality of gripper pads configured to engage with an interior surface of a borehole. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of gripper pads comprise a plurality of teeth configured to engage with an interior surface of a borehole. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a drill bit attached to the cylindrical sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gripper apparatus extends outwardly away from a longitudinal axis of the drilling tool from the retracted orientation to the extended orientation when an internal pressure of the gripper apparatus is increased. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gripper apparatus retracts inwardly towards a longitudinal axis of the drilling tool from the extended orientation to the retracted orientation when an internal pressure of the gripper apparatus is decreased. 
     
     
         7 . A method of drilling a wellbore, the method comprising:
 providing a drilling tool located in a wellbore to be drilled, wherein the drilling tool comprises a first section having a gripper apparatus configured to selectively extend outwardly from a longitudinal axis of the drilling tool when a drilling fluid flows through the drilling tool, and wherein the drilling tool further comprises a second section having a sleeve having external threads extending from at least a portion of an outer surface of the sleeve, the sleeve configured to travel along the longitudinal axis of the drilling tool inside the drilling tool and have the external threads engage with an internal threaded section, and wherein a drill bit is coupled to a first end of the drilling tool and a drill string is coupled to a second end of the drilling tool;   obtaining a desired toolface or confirming that a current toolface is within a target range therefor or is within a margin of error therefor;   adjusting toolface if necessary so that the current toolface is within a target range therefor or is within a margin of error therefor;   responsive to a flow of drilling fluid through the drilling tool, extending the gripper apparatus to thereby engage with an interior surface of the wellbore; and   drilling a first portion of the wellbore.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein during drilling of the first portion of the wellbore, the sleeve travels along the longitudinal axis of the drilling tool until stopped by threading of the external threads with the internal threads. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the engagement of the gripper apparatus with the interior surface of the wellbore maintains the toolface within a target range. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the drilling comprises a slide drilling operation and a rotary drilling operation. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the first portion of the wellbore drilled extends towards the surface. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein the drilling comprises one or more slide drilling operations and one or more rotary drilling operations. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the drill string comprises one or more pipes comprising a composite material. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 ceasing flow of the drilling fluid, retracting the grippers;   resetting the sleeve to its initial position before the drilling of the first portion of the wellbore;   flowing drilling fluid and extending the grippers to engage with an interior surface of the wellbore;   drilling a second portion of the wellbore.   
     
     
         15 . A drilling tool, comprising:
 a drilling tool having a proximal end and a distal end;   a gripper section having an external wall, an engagement mechanism having one or more gripper feet, a first extended orientation and a second retracted orientation, wherein in the extended orientation an outer diameter of the gripper section comprises an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter of the external wall of the drilling tool and the retracted orientation comprises an outer diameter of the gripper section of less than the outer diameter of the external wall; and   a sleeve having a complementary engagement track extending from at least a portion of an outer surface of the sleeve, the sleeve having a first orientation, and a second linearly extended orientation wherein the complementary engagement track engages with the engagement mechanism when the gripper is in the first extended orientation.   
     
     
         16 . The drilling tool of  claim 15 , wherein the engagement mechanism comprises one or more ball bearings, and the engagement track comprises one or more ball returns. 
     
     
         17 . The drilling tool of  claim 15 , wherein the engagement mechanism comprises one or more locking pins, and the engagement track comprises one or more recesses. 
     
     
         18 . The drilling tool of  claim 15 , further comprising an inner casing and an outer casing, wherein the gripper section is disposed within the inner casing. 
     
     
         19 . The drilling tool of  claim 18 , further comprising a spring disposed between a proximal end of the outer casing and a proximal end of the inner casing. 
     
     
         20 . The drilling tool of  claim 18 , wherein the inner casing comprises an inner pressure release valve and the outer casing comprises an outer pressure release valve, wherein the inner pressure release valve and the outer pressure release valve are aligned in a fully extended orientation. 
     
     
         21 . The drilling tool of  claim 18 , wherein the outer casing comprises one or more shoulder regions, wherein the one or more gripper feet are seated within the one or more shoulder regions in a retracted orientation. 
     
     
         22 . The drilling tool of  claim 15 , wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a first arm in contact with an engagement section, and a second arm in contact with the one or more gripper feet. 
     
     
         23 . A method of drilling a wellbore, the method comprising:
 disposing a drilling tool in a wellbore to be drilled, the drilling tool comprising a gripper section and a drill bit attached to the gripper section;   increasing pressure in an internal volume of the drilling tool, increasing an outer diameter of the gripper section to thereby engage with an interior surface of the wellbore;   applying a compressive force of greater than or about 1000 pounds to the drill bit; and   drilling a first portion of the wellbore.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the drilling tool is disposed in an uphill portion of the wellbore prior to drilling the first portion. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the uphill portion has a slope of greater than or about 1° relative to a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein
 the gripper section comprises an external wall, an engagement mechanism having one or more gripper feet, a first extended orientation and a second retracted orientation, wherein in the extended orientation an outer diameter of the gripper section comprises an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter of the external wall of the drilling tool and the retracted orientation comprises an outer diameter of the gripper section of less than the outer diameter of the external wall; and   a sleeve having a complementary engagement track extending from at least a portion of an outer surface of the sleeve, the sleeve having a first orientation, and a second linearly extended orientation wherein the complementary engagement track engages with the engagement mechanism when the gripper is in the first extended orientation;   wherein the increase in pressure transitions the gripper section from the retracted orientation to the extended orientation.   
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the engagement mechanism is extended outward from a longitudinal axis of the sleeve when the pressure is increased, increasing the diameter of the gripper section. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , further comprising releasing the pressure after drilling the first portion, reducing the outer diameter of the gripper section. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the engagement mechanism comprises one or more ball bearings, and the engagement track comprises one or more ball returns, wherein the engagement mechanism engages the engagement track, stopping linear movement of the sleeve when the pressure is increased. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29 , further comprising releasing the pressure, disengaging the engagement mechanism from the engagement track. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein
 the gripper section further comprises an inner casing and an outer casing, wherein the gripper section is disposed within the inner casing and a spring is disposed between a proximal end of the outer casing and a proximal end of the inner casing,   a drill pipe in fluid communication with the proximal end of the outer casing,   wherein the spring is compressed as pressure increases in the drill pipe.