10  

Rotary Steerable Motor System for Deep Gas Drilling--APS Technology, Inc., 800 Corporate Row, Cromwell, CT  06416; 860-613-4450, www.aps-tech.com
Mr. William E. Turner, Principal Investigator, wet@aps-tech.com 
Mr. William E. Turner, Business Official, wet@aps-tech.com 
DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-02ER83368
Amount:  $749,845

Current drilling systems (e.g., steerable systems and rotary steerable tools) have limitations when drilling deep wells, particularly in applying high torque to the drill bit.  Hole tortuosity causes steerable systems to generate a high degree of drag; drag also reduces the drill-bit-torque in rotary steerable tools. Other systems (e.g., percussion) develop high vibrations that can damage the accompanying electronic systems.  This project will develop a rotary steerable motor (RSM) system, by combining rotary drilling with mud motors from steerable systems which will deliver high-drill-bit torque and high-drill-bit power for advanced rates of penetration. The RSM system continuously adjusts position as the drill string is rotated, completely eliminating the old practice of “sliding” in order to position the hole when motor drilling.  In Phase I, several different RSM concepts were evaluated, and one was selected because it pushes the bit in the preferred direction while the drillstring continues to rotate.  The basic operating parameters of the RSM were determined and a plan was developed for designing and testing field prototypes in Phase II.  In Phase II, laboratory prototypes will be built and tested to demonstrate that they will perform as required.  A prototype system will be designed and two will be built for field tests in wells. 

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by awardee:  The technology should have broad applications in the oil and gas well drilling industries.  Out of an estimated 3400 deviated wells drilled in 2001, less than 750 were drilled using rotary steerable tools.  The rotary steerable motor system should be applicable to all deviated wells, particularly those that are deep and highly deviated.