Abstract

An attachment and fastener system rigidly secures a rotatable drill pipe protector (RDPP) to a drill pipe. The RDPP comprises a sleeve which is split axially along at least one side. Parallel hinge bars are contained in first (22) and second (26) hinge sections which wrap around the hinge bars along opposite sides of the opening in the RDPP. One hinge bar (38) is rotatable in the first hinge section. A series of axially spaced apart bolts (32) are held in corresponding threaded openings in the rotatable hinge bar which rotates about its axis to swing the bolts in unison between open and closed positions. The other hinge bar (40) has a series of threaded receptor openings facing outwardly from slotted openings in the second hinge section and aligned with the bolts on the other hinge bar. The rotating hinge bar swings the bolts into alignment with the slotted openings in the other hinge, after which the bolts are tightened in the threaded receptor openings for applying a holding force around the drill pipe.

IPC Classes  ?

• E21B 17/10 - Wear protectorsCentralising devices

Abstract

An anti-stall tool in an oil well drilling assembly that controls reciprocation of the drill bit by a controller that alters weight-on-bit (WOB) depending upon measured downhole pressure or torque at the downhole motor. The controller receives preset high and low working pressure limits for the downhole motor and keeps the drill bit rotating by maintaining WOB during normal drilling operations, increasing WOB if sensed working pressure indicates that drill bit loading or torque is undesirably low, and reversing WOB by retracting the drill bit if excessive working pressure or torque is sensed.

IPC Classes  ?

• E21B 44/00 - Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a drilling operation without intervention of a human operator, e.g. computer-controlled drilling systemsSystems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions
• E21B 44/06 - Automatic control of the tool feed in response to the flow or pressure of the motive fluid of the drive

Abstract

An anti-stall tool in an oil well drilling assembly that controls reciprocation of the drill bit by controller that alters weight-on-bit (WOB) depending upon measured downhole pressure or torque. The downhole controller keeps the drill bit rotating by maintaining WOB during normal drilling operations, increasing WOB if sensed working pressure indicates that drill bit loading or torque is undesirably low, and reversing WOB by applying a spring force for retracting the drill bit if excessive working pressure or torque is sensed.

IPC Classes  ?

• E21B 44/00 - Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a drilling operation without intervention of a human operator, e.g. computer-controlled drilling systemsSystems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions

Abstract

An electrically powered and controlled tractor system includes one or more electric gripper assemblies (20) and one or more electric power train assemblies (30). Power and control signals for the gripper assemblies (20) and power train assemblies (30) can be delivered from a ground surface via a wireline (40). The gripper assembly (20) employs a motor-activated lead screw (216) and nut (214) combination to expand passage-gripping elements (206), preferably by pushing the gripping elements (206) radially outward from locations between opposing ends (207) of the gripping elements (206). A failsafe mechanism can retract the gripping elements (206) during a power interruption. The power train assembly (30) employs a motor-activated lead screw (312) and nut (314) combination to expand and contract two ore more telescoping members (302, 304, 306). The tractor system can include multiple tractor units (10) that each includes one gripper assembly (20) and one power train assembly (30). A tractor (700) can include one power train assembly (720) and two gripper assemblies (730).

IPC Classes  ?

• E21B 4/18 - Anchoring or feeding in the borehole
• E21B 4/04 - Electric drives

Abstract

A non-rotating drill pipe protector sleeve (14) is molded in situ around a drill pipe tubing (16). The inner surface of the molded protector sleeve can be shaped to form a fluid bearing during use. Fixed stop collars (12) may be molded in situ in the same mold and bonded to the tubing at opposing ends of the molded sleeve. Alternatively, a flexible sleeve liner (36) made from a material having a hardness less than that of the sleeve's molding material can be used as a mold insert around the tubing. The liner can be bonded to the molded sleeve material when the sleeve is molded around the liner. The interior surface of the liner can be shaped to form a fluid bearing for the inside surface of the molded sleeve. Reinforcing inserts and wear pads (18,20,21) can be placed in the mold region of the sleeve. Chemical and/or mechanical bonding is provided between the liner reinforcement and the material, from which the sleeve is molded. Reinforcing inserts and wear pads also can be placed in the mold regions for the stop collars.

IPC Classes  ?

• E21B 17/12 - Devices for placing or drawing out wear protectors

Abstract

A wellbore tractor comprises an elongated body having an internal fluid chamber, at least one gripper assembly, a drilling mud driven turbine (150), and a power transmission assembly. The output shaft of the turbine is connected to a generator (152) which drives an electric motor (154) which in turn drives a hydraulic pump (156). The pump operates the closed loop hydraulic system for actuating the gripper assembly and the tractor drive.

IPC Classes  ?

• E21B 23/04 - Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells operated by fluid means, e.g. actuated by explosion

Abstract

A fluid conduit sheath (18) for a wellbore tractor (10) can provide transportation of a working fluid external to a wellbore tractor in a downhole environment. The fluid conduit sheath can further provide cooling to electrical devices in the wellbore tractor. The fluid conduit sheath can be configured to be disposed around the body (12) of the wellbore tractor, defining a fluid conduit (22) between the sheath and the wellbore tractor. Spacers (36) can be used to maintain the position of the sheath relative to the tractor and also to couple the tractor to the sheath. The fluid conduit sheath can be advantageous in tractors whose internal components substantially preclude the use of an internal fluid conduit, such as tractors with electrically-actuated grippers.

IPC Classes  ?

• E21B 4/18 - Anchoring or feeding in the borehole

Abstract

A tool (112) for moving within a passage (132) comprises an elongated body (207), at least one gripper assembly (180, 182) engaged with the body (207), a turbine (150), and a power transmission assembly. The elongated body (207) has an internal fluid chamber (224) and is configured to be secured to a fluid conduit (114), the gripper assembly (180, 182) has an actuated position in which the gripper assembly (180, 182) grips onto an inner surface of the passage (132) and also has a retracted position in which the gripper assembly (180, 182) permits substantially free relative movement between the gripper assembly (180, 182) and the inner surface of the passage (132), the turbine (150) is configured to receive the first fluid flow through the internal fluid chamber (224), the turbine (150) having an output shaft, and the power transmission assembly is configured to convert rotation of the output shaft into power.

IPC Classes  ?

• E21B 4/18 - Anchoring or feeding in the borehole

Abstract

A tool (112) for moving within a passage (132) comprises an elongated body (207); a closed system (155) for converting a circulating flow of a fluid into movement of the tool (112) within the passage (132), and a pump-powering assembly. The closed system (155) comprises a gripper assembly (180, 182) on the body (207), a barrel surrounding and engaged with the body (207), a piston (218, 220) longitudinally fixed with respect to the body (207), a valve assembly (214), and a pump (156) configured to circulate the fluid through the closed system (155). The gripper assembly (180, 182) is configured to utilize fluid pressure to grip onto an inner surface of the passage (132). The barrel is longitudinally movable with respect to the body (207), and the gripper assembly (180, 182) is longitudinally fixed with respect to the barrel. The barrel and the body (207) define an annular space therebetween, wherein one or more interfaces between the barrel and the body (207) are sealed to substantially prevent escape of fluid from the annular space to an exterior of the barrel. The piston (218, 220) is positioned within the barrel and fluidly separates the annular space into aft and forward chambers of the barrel, wherein sizes of the aft and forward chambers of the barrel vary as the piston (218, 220) moves longitudinally within the barrel. The valve assembly (214) is configured to direct fluid to and from the gripper assembly (180, 182) and the aft and forward chambers of the barrel to produce movement of the body (207) within the passage (132). The pump-powering assembly is configured to power the pump (156) and comprises a turbine (150).

IPC Classes  ?

• E21B 4/18 - Anchoring or feeding in the borehole
• E21B 41/00 - Equipment or details not covered by groups

Abstract

An anti-stall tool in an oil well drilling assembly that controls
reciprocation of the drill bit by a controller that alters
weight-on-bit (WOB) depending upon measured downhole pressure or torque at the
downhole motor. The controller receives preset
high and low working pressure limits for the downhole motor and keeps the
drill bit rotating by maintaining WOB during normal
drilling operations, increasing WOB if sensed working pressure indicates that
drill bit loading or torque is undesirably low, and
reversing WOB by retracting the drill bit if excessive working pressure or
torque is sensed.

IPC Classes  ?

• E21B 44/00 - Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a drilling operation without intervention of a human operator, e.g. computer-controlled drilling systemsSystems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions