Patent attributes
A drill string suitable for use in directional drilling of a borehole, comprising a rotatable shaft at the leading end of which is a drill bit, and wherein the shaft comprises a variable friction inducing member, which provides rotational friction by physical contact with an inside face of the borehole, the friction inducing member being arranged to exert a first rotational frictional force when the shaft in the vicinity of the member is substantially rotating and a second rotational frictional force when the shaft in the vicinity of the member is substantially not rotating, wherein the first rotational frictional force is less than the second rotational frictional force.