Downhole drilling motors or mud motors are frequently used during the oil and gas well construction, especially for construction of directional and horizontal segments. However, low operation life of the down hole drilling motors and high rate of wear in their working elements may constrain their application due to technical and economical disadvantageousness. In this work, a high-torque modula...

In directional drilling, the most important thing that leads to pulling out the drill string is end of mud motor working life. Considering the working conditions of down hole mud motors; increasing the mechanical properties of their stator’s elastomer is crucial. Some attempts were done to increase the motor performance through geometrical changes but lack of material improvement is significant...

Wireless measure while drilling (MWD) transmits data by using mud pulse signal ; the ground decoding system collects the mud pulse signal and then decodes and displays the parameters under the down-hole according to the designed encoding rules and the correct detection and recognition of the ground decoding system towards the received mud pulse signal is one kind of the key technology of MWD. T...

The rheological and filtration properties of drilling mud under down-hole conditions may be very different from those measured at ambient pressures and temperatures at the surface. This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation into the temperature and salinity and pH effects on drilling mud rheological and filtration properties. Results are given from tests on water base mud ...

This paper presents a wellbore-stability study of the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth (SAFOD) research borehole located near Parkfield, California, USA. In the summer of 2005, the SAFOD borehole was drilled successfully through the active trace of the San Andreas Fault (SAF) in an area characterized by fault creep and frequent microearthquakes. In this study, we report how the analysis o...

For complex drilling operations with narrow geo-pressure windows, it is not uncommon to have problems with formation fracturing, due to erroneous mud pump management. To assist the driller in managing the circulation, it is possible to limit both the acceleration of the mud pumps whilst changing the flow-rate as well as the actual flow-rate, to avoid generating downhole pressure above the fract...

We have devised a method, based on a parametric array concept, to create a low-frequency (300-500 kHz) collimated ultrasound beam in fluids highly attenuating to sound. This collimated beam serves as the basis for designing an ultrasound visualization system that can be used in the oil exploration industry for down-hole imaging in drilling fluids. We present the results of two different approac...

• Oil, gas, and geothermal exploration benefit from drill bit monitoring • Bits are expensive and may be damaged by high temperature or pressure • Bit orientation can be monitored to help guide bore hole • State of the art: mud modulation • Mud used to cool and lubricate drill bit • Collar near bit chokes flow to relay signal • Pressure sensor at surface decodes • Effective but slow, unidirecti...