Patent ID: 8499857

Claim:
A directional drilling apparatus for mechanical association with a drill string positioned in a wellbore, comprising: a drill bit attachable to the drilling string, the drill bit being rotatable in a first direction of rotation with respect to the wellbore, the drill bit including: a shank having a first end, a second end spaced from the first end, and a shank bore extending from the first end to the second end, and a bit body having a working end and a top end spaced from the working end, the top end being attached to the first end of the shank, the bit body having a working face at the working end, the bit body having at least one cutting element affixed to the working face, the bit body having a bit bore extending from the working end to the top end and located to register with the shank bore, the bit bore having a bit axis; a jack element disposed within the bit bore, the jack element having a working tip substantially protruding from the working face and a back end spaced from the working tip and positioned proximate the shank bore, the jack element being rotatable with respect to the bit body from a first angular position to a second angular position, the jack element being movable along the bit axis with respect to the working face from a first axial position to a second axial position; a rotational position sensor associated with the bit body and adapted to detect an angular position of the jack element with respect to the bit body and to generate and supply angular position signals reflective of the angular position; an axial position sensor associated with said bit body to measure said axial position of said jack element with respect to said working face and to generate and supply and axial position signals reflective of said axial position; a motor mechanically associated with the drill string and connected to the jack element, the motor being operable to rotate the jack element; and a computational device connected to receive and process the angular position signals and to supply control signals to the motor to cause the motor to rotate the jack element from the first angular position toward the second angular position in a second direction of rotation opposite the first direction of rotation.