Apparatus and method

• Main Authors: Stewart Christie, Jason Duthie, Peter Alan Joiner, Andrew John Elrick, Iain Morrison Macleod, Paul Andrew Church
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 29.05.2024
• Subjects: EARTH DRILLING; EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; MINING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR ASLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

A drilling tool 300 (200, Fig 12) is provided, which is adapted to connect to a downhole hydraulic fluid supply (137, Fig 10). The drilling tool comprises at least one anchoring member 309 (207, Fig 12) having an inner face contactable by hydraulic fluid from the downhole hydraulic fluid supply and being moveable radially between: a retracted position in which the at least one anchoring member is spaced apart from an inner surface of the well; and an extended position in which the anchoring member contacts an inner surface of the well. A drilling member 315 having a longitudinal axis and having an inner face contactable by hydraulic fluid from the downhole hydraulic fluid supply, wherein the drilling member is arranged within the drilling tool such that the longitudinal axis of said drilling member is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drilling tool. The drilling member is also moveable radially by means of pressurised hydraulic fluid acting upon the inner face, between: a retracted position in which the drilling member is spaced apart from an inner surface of the well; and an extended position in which the drilling member contacts an inner surface of the well. The inner face of the anchoring member is in fluid communication via the hydraulic fluid with the inner face of the drilling member such that both respective inner faces experience the same pressure of the said hydraulic fluid acting upon them. A method for drilling through a sidewall in a tubular in a well is also provided.