A cam system for use with a rotary steerable system, the cam system includes a housing, a cam positioned at least partially within the housing, and a solid cam shaft engaged with the cam and positioned at least partially within the housing, wherein the cam is operable to adjust an azimuthal orientation of the solid cam shaft.

The present disclosure describes various embodiments, as well as features and aspects thereof, of an improved drill bit assembly for a percussion boring system. More specifically, one non-limiting embodiment of an improved drill bit assembly for a percussion boring system comprises a bit and a product engagement member. The bit comprises a slant faced head and at least one exhaust port. The product engagement member comprises a product coupling portion and at least one fluid restriction portion. This improved drill bit assembly is such that, when the product engagement member is detachably engaged with the slant faced head of the bit, a first portion of the fluid stream expelled from the bit is directed substantially forward of the slant faced head and a second portion of the fluid stream is directed substantially rearward from the slant faced head.

A wellbore assembly is provided that can include a first motor housing assembly member and a second motor housing assembly member that can bend relative to the first motor housing assembly at a bend location. The assembly can also include a strain gauge positioned on a first side of the bend location to determine an amount of bend of the second motor housing assembly member relative to the first motor housing assembly member by determining a strain. Based on the strain, the amount of bend or bend direction of the second motor housing assembly member relative to the first motor housing assembly member can be determined.

A drilling motor provides rotational force within a wellbore and includes a power section within the interior of a housing, a rotor positioned within the power section, and a passage within the rotor. The passage is configured to bypass a portion of the drilling mud from above the power section within the interior of the housing to below the power section within the interior of the housing, and an interior valve at a downstream end of the passage, wherein the valve includes a rupture disc configured to close the passage when the pressure from the drilling mud is less than a threshold pressure, and to rupture to open the passage and pass the drilling mud through the valve when the pressure from the drilling mud is greater than the threshold pressure.

A wireless data communication system within a tunneling tool used to form subterranean tunnels. The wireless data communication system is useful to provide real time data relating to tunneling and for controlling or adjusting the tunneling process.

A drilling assembly and method of drilling a wellbore is disclosed. The drilling assembly includes a steering device having a tilt device and an actuation device. A first section and a second section of the drilling assembly are coupled through the tilt device, wherein the first section is attached to a drill bit. The actuation device includes an electromechanical actuator and causes a tilt of the tilt device to cause the first section attached to the drill bit and the drill bit to tilt relative to the second section. The wellbore is drilled using the drill bit. The electromechanical actuator is actuated to tilt the tilt device to cause the first section attached to the drill bit and the drill bit to tilt relative to the second section and to maintain the tilt geostationary while the drilling assembly is rotating to form a deviated section of the wellbore.

A universal joint (U-joint) assembly transmits torque from a drive component to a driven component across an articulating joint. The U-joint assembly includes male and female U-joint members, a central ball joint, and a retaining device configured to secure the assembly in an assembled configuration. The female U-joint member includes a cavity extending into a receptacle end thereof. The cavity terminates in a circular receptacle and includes a plurality of rectangular channels extending radially outward from the cavity at equal intervals, each channel defined by three planar drive surfaces. The male U-joint member has a drive end with a plurality of corresponding rectangular extensions protruding from an outer periphery of the drive end, each extension including a plurality of axial angular surfaces. When assembled, each of the angular surfaces of the drive end opposes a corresponding one of the drive surfaces of the cavity. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

An apparatus for use in a wellbore includes a non-rotating section disposed along the drill string. The non-rotating section has a bore and at least one biasing member engaging an adjacent wall. A rotating section is disposed in the bore of the non-rotating section and a bearing is positioned between the rotating section and the non-rotating section. The apparatus also includes a relative rotation sensor that generates signals representative of a rotation of the rotating section relative to the non-rotating section, an orientation sensor that generates signals representative of an orientation of the non-rotating section relative to a selected frame of reference, and a controller in signal communication with the at least one relative rotation sensor and the at least one orientation sensor. The controller adjusts a force applied by the at least one biasing element, and/or a position of the at least one biasing element in response to the generated signals from the at least one relative rotation sensor and the generated signals from the at least one orientation sensor.

A drilling machine for a wellbore is provided. The drilling machine may include a dynamic lateral pad that is movable between an extended and retracted position. In the extended position, the pad moves the drill bit in a direction for drilling. The drilling machine may include a dynamic lateral cutter that is movable between an extended and retracted position. In at least the extended position, the cutter engages the wellbore and removes formation. The drilling machine may include a monolithic or integral drill bit/drive shaft to reduce the distance between a positive displacement motor and a distal end of the monolithic or integral drill bit/drive shaft. The drilling machine may include separate cutting structures that have different rotational speeds and can further utilize the integral drill bit/drift shaft and/or a bent housing that generates an off-axis rotation which helps optimize the formation removal in the center area of the wellbore.

A drilling system and method of drilling a wellbore. The drilling system includes a tubing, an orientation device affixed to the tubing, a drilling sub having a housing having a first section and a second section, wherein the first section is coupled to a movable element of the orientation device, a shaft disposed in the housing, the shaft coupled to the drive and to the drill bit, and a pivot member coupled to the first section and second section of the housing. The second section of the housing tilts relative to the first section of the housing about the pivot member when the orientation device is rotationally stationary to allow drilling of a curved section of the wellbore. Rotation of the housing via the orientation device reduces the tilt between the first section and the second section to allow for drilling of a straight section of the wellbore.