Pad drilling has become commonplace for North America shale development drilling, which requires tighter well spacing/separation and reduced anti-collision risk. A new digitally-controlled rotary-steerable system (RSS), extensively embedded with electronics, solid-state sensors and electrically controlled mud valve, has been developed specifically for drilling vertical and nudge well profiles from pads in North America. Unique technology includes a slow-rotating steering housing with four mud activated pads to apply side force at the bit. The pad activation is controlled using a novel mud valve driven by a low-power electric motor and gearing system. Activation of the steering pads and control of force to the steering pads is achieved using a small percentage of mud flow and approximately 500 psi pressure drop below the tool. The limited amount of mud flow passing through the mud valve eliminates internal wash issues and reduces repair costs.
The electronics measurement and control system are mounted in the slow-rotating steering housing and includes 3-axis inclinometers, 3-axis magnetometers, 3-axis shock sensors, 3-axis gyros, and temperature sensors. Additionally, compact drilling dynamics sensors are placed at the bit box to gather at-bit data to evaluate bit-rock dynamic interaction.
This paper will describe the unique features that allow the system to be reliable and cost-effective for high-volume land drilling activities. The RSS bottom-hole assemblies (BHAs) have been extensively instrumented with multiple downhole dynamics sensors, which reveal a challenging drilling environment unique to vertical drilling and nudge applications and show the performance of the RSS in this environment.