Patent ID: 8720604

Claim:
A method for controlling a directional drilling system, the directional drilling system comprising a bottomhole assembly including a drill bit for drilling a borehole, to directionally drill the borehole through an earth formation, comprising: rotating the drill bit in the borehole; applying a side force to the drill bit; steering the directional drilling system, wherein the step of steering the directional drilling system comprises using a geostationary, non-concentrically coupled gauge pad assembly to control stochastic motion of the bottomhole assembly and-bias the side force being applied to the drill bit, wherein the gauge pad system is held geostationary and does not rotate with the drill bit; determining a direction of drilling of the borehole by the steered directional drilling system; processing directional drilling data, wherein the directional drilling data comprises the determined direction, properties of the side force being applied to the bottomhole assembly and a desired endpoint for the borehole; and adjusting the steering of the directional drilling system in response to the processed directional drilling data, wherein adjusting of the steering of the directional drilling system comprises using an actuator to adjust the gauge pad assembly and change a direction of the bias of the side force.