Stabilizer including modified helical wellbore stabilizing elements

Abstract

Provided is a stabilizer for use in a wellbore. The stabilizer, in one example, includes a downhole tubular coupleable to a downhole conveyance in a wellbore. In accordance with this example, the stabilizer additionally includes two or more helical wellbore stabilizing elements extending radially outward from the downhole component, the two or more helical wellbore stabilizing elements shaped such that an annular flow area between leading edges of adjacent helical wellbore stabilizing elements and between trailing edges of adjacent helical wellbore stabilizing elements is variable along at least a portion of a length (L) of the two or more helical wellbore stabilizing elements, and such that an unobstructed axial flow path exists between the adjacent helical wellbore stabilizing elements along the length (L).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A stabilizer for use in a wellbore, comprising:
 a downhole component coupleable to a downhole conveyance in a wellbore; and   two or more helical wellbore stabilizing elements extending radially outward from the downhole component, the two or more helical wellbore stabilizing elements shaped such that an annular flow area between leading edges of adjacent helical wellbore stabilizing elements and between trailing edges of adjacent helical wellbore stabilizing elements is variable along at least a portion of a length (L) of the two or more helical wellbore stabilizing elements, and such that a downhole longitudinal load line having a width (W D1 ) greater than 1 mm is located at a downhole leading edge of one of the two or more helical wellbore stabilizers, and an uphole longitudinal load line having a width (W U1 ) greater than 1 mm is located at an uphole trailing edge of another of the two or more helical wellbore stabilizers.   
     
     
         2 . The stabilizer as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the downhole component is a downhole tubular. 
     
     
         3 . The stabilizer as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the downhole longitudinal load line has a width (W D1 ) greater than 2 mm and the uphole longitudinal load line has a width (W U1 ) greater than 2 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The stabilizer as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the downhole longitudinal load line has a width (W D1 ) greater than 5 mm and the uphole longitudinal load line has a width (W U1 ) greater than 5 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The stabilizer as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the downhole longitudinal load line and the uphole longitudinal load line have different widths. 
     
     
         6 . The stabilizer as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the downhole longitudinal load line and the uphole longitudinal load line are a straight downhole longitudinal load line and a straight uphole longitudinal load line. 
     
     
         7 . The stabilizer as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the downhole longitudinal load line and the uphole longitudinal load line are a curved downhole longitudinal load line and a curved uphole longitudinal load line. 
     
     
         8 . The stabilizer as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the two or more helical wellbore stabilizing elements are shaped such that an unobstructed axial flow path exists between the adjacent helical wellbore stabilizing elements along the length (L). 
     
     
         9 . The stabilizer as recited in  claim 8 , wherein adjacent helical wellbore stabilizing elements define a flow path centerline, and furthermore wherein the flow path centerline is non-linear. 
     
     
         10 . The stabilizer as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the flow path centerline is a modified z-shape or modified s-shape. 
     
     
         11 . A well system, comprising:
 a wellbore;   a downhole conveyance located within the wellbore; and   a stabilizer coupled to the downhole conveyance, the stabilizer including:
 a downhole component coupled to the downhole conveyance in a wellbore; and 
 two or more helical wellbore stabilizing elements extending radially outward from the downhole component, the two or more helical wellbore stabilizing elements shaped such that an annular flow area between leading edges of adjacent helical wellbore stabilizing elements and between trailing edges of adjacent helical wellbore stabilizing elements is variable along at least a portion of a length (L) of the two or more helical wellbore stabilizing elements, and such that a downhole longitudinal load line having a width (W D1 ) greater than 1 mm is located at a downhole leading edge of one of the two or more helical wellbore stabilizers, and an uphole longitudinal load line having a width (W U1 ) greater than 1 mm is located at an uphole trailing edge of another of the two or more helical wellbore stabilizers. 
   
     
     
         12 . The well system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the downhole component is a downhole tubular. 
     
     
         13 . The well system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the downhole longitudinal load line has a width (W D1 ) greater than 2 mm and the uphole longitudinal load line has a width (W U1 ) greater than 2 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The well system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the downhole longitudinal load line has a width (W D1 ) greater than 5 mm and the uphole longitudinal load line has a width (W U1 ) greater than 5 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The well system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the downhole longitudinal load line and the uphole longitudinal load line have different widths. 
     
     
         16 . The well system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the downhole longitudinal load line and the uphole longitudinal load line are a straight downhole longitudinal load line and a straight uphole longitudinal load line. 
     
     
         17 . The well system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the downhole longitudinal load line and the uphole longitudinal load line are a curved downhole longitudinal load line and a curved uphole longitudinal load line. 
     
     
         18 . The well system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the two or more helical wellbore stabilizing elements are shaped such that an unobstructed axial flow path exists between the adjacent helical wellbore stabilizing elements along the length (L). 
     
     
         19 . The well system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein adjacent helical wellbore stabilizing elements define a flow path centerline, and furthermore wherein the flow path centerline is non-linear. 
     
     
         20 . The well system as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the flow path centerline is a modified z-shape or modified s-shape.