CA2237513C - Method and apparatus for creating positive pressure in a speed reduction tool used with a drilling turbine - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for creating positive pressure in a speed reduction tool used with a drilling turbine Download PDFInfo
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- CA2237513C CA2237513C CA 2237513 CA2237513A CA2237513C CA 2237513 C CA2237513 C CA 2237513C CA 2237513 CA2237513 CA 2237513 CA 2237513 A CA2237513 A CA 2237513A CA 2237513 C CA2237513 C CA 2237513C
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- face
- floating piston
- drilling
- speed reduction
- drilling fluid
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- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 102
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 12
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 63
- 238000007667 floating Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 52
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 239000000314 lubricant Substances 0.000 claims description 14
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000003292 diminished effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000153 supplemental effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 208000035126 Facies Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000003466 anti-cipated effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002035 prolonged effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000002020 sage Nutrition 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
- F03B13/00—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates
- F03B13/02—Adaptations for drilling wells
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B4/00—Drives for drilling, used in the borehole
- E21B4/02—Fluid rotary type drives
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Retarders (AREA)
- Drilling And Boring (AREA)
Abstract
A method and apparatus for creating positive pressure in a speed reduction tool of a drilling turbine. A first step involves providing a speed reduction tool with a floating piston having a first face in communication with a sealed planetary gear assembly and a second face. A second step involves providing means for diverting a primary flow of drilling fluids around the second face of the floating piston, thereby isolating the second face of the floating piston from the primary flow of drilling fluid. A third step involves providing a secondary drilling fluid diversion passage that extends from a selected one of a plurality of stages of a drilling turbine to the second face of the floating piston. The second face of the floating piston is exposed only to drilling fluid from the secondary drilling fluid diversion passage. A
desired pressure is selected by a positioning of the secondary drilling fluid diversion passage relative to the plurality of stages.
desired pressure is selected by a positioning of the secondary drilling fluid diversion passage relative to the plurality of stages.
Description
TITLE Of' THE INVENTION:
method and apparatu~~ for creating positive pressure in a speed reduction tool used with a drilling turbine NAMES) OF INVENTOR(S):
Kenneth Hugo Wenzel FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for creating positive pressure in a speed reduction tool used with a drilling turbine.
BACKGROITND OF THE INVENTION
Drilling turbines are used for earth drilling in oil, gas and high. temperature thermal wells. Speed reduction tools used to reduce the speed of rotation of a drill bit driven by a drilling turbine, greatly enhance performance of the turbine.
Mechanical seals are used in critical sealing applications of the speed reduction tools involving rotational components of the drilling turbines . In order to function properly mechanical seals must be kept lubricated. The speed reduction tool is configured so that lubricant is placed under a slight positive pressure, which ensures that the mechanical seal always has lubricant between its contact faces. A lubricant reservoir is usually provided so any leakage of lubricant will not, over prolonged usage, exhaust available lubricant. Care must be taken to control the positive pressure. Too great of a positive pressure requires a more complex mechanical sealing configuration and can cause excessive leakage that will prematuz~ely exhaust available lubricant.
In sealing applications that are intended to be pressure balanced, a floating piston is used to put fluid in a sealed chamber under pressure that is equal to either that internal of the drill string or external of the drill string. In mechanical sealing applications, involving drilling turbines with sealed gear reduction assemblies, a variety of means have been used to place the mechanical seals under positive pressurE~. A first known means of creating positive pressure involves the use of a floating step piston. There is a difference in area between a first face and a second face of the step piston. The second face has a diminished surface area. 7.'his results in a first fluid pressure exerted by the first face being converted to a second fluid pressure that is higher that the first fluid pressure by the second face with diminished surface area acting upon hydraulic fluid. A second known means of creating positive pressure involves the use of a biasing spring. The biasing spring acts upon the floating piston creating a supplemental pressure so that the pressure exerted by the floating piston always exceeds the pressure of drilling fluids being pumped from surface. A third known means of creating positive pressure involves the use of a pump. The pump pumps lubricant from the lubricant reservoir and discharc;es the lubricant into the sealed speed reduction tool, thereby increasing the pressure.
2D The three known means of creating supplemental pressure in a sealed speed reduction tool, as described above, all have a common drawback. The step piston, biasing spring and pump all increase the length, and consequently the cost, of the speed reduction tool used with the drilling turbine. With directional drilling the length of the motor assembly in which the drilling turbine is positioned has a direct effect on the turning radius required to deviate the borehole from substantially vertical to substantially horizontal. It is, therefore, desirable to have a turbine that is as short as possible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
What is required is a simple and more compact method of creating positive pressure in a speed reduction tool of a drilling turbine.
method and apparatu~~ for creating positive pressure in a speed reduction tool used with a drilling turbine NAMES) OF INVENTOR(S):
Kenneth Hugo Wenzel FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for creating positive pressure in a speed reduction tool used with a drilling turbine.
BACKGROITND OF THE INVENTION
Drilling turbines are used for earth drilling in oil, gas and high. temperature thermal wells. Speed reduction tools used to reduce the speed of rotation of a drill bit driven by a drilling turbine, greatly enhance performance of the turbine.
Mechanical seals are used in critical sealing applications of the speed reduction tools involving rotational components of the drilling turbines . In order to function properly mechanical seals must be kept lubricated. The speed reduction tool is configured so that lubricant is placed under a slight positive pressure, which ensures that the mechanical seal always has lubricant between its contact faces. A lubricant reservoir is usually provided so any leakage of lubricant will not, over prolonged usage, exhaust available lubricant. Care must be taken to control the positive pressure. Too great of a positive pressure requires a more complex mechanical sealing configuration and can cause excessive leakage that will prematuz~ely exhaust available lubricant.
In sealing applications that are intended to be pressure balanced, a floating piston is used to put fluid in a sealed chamber under pressure that is equal to either that internal of the drill string or external of the drill string. In mechanical sealing applications, involving drilling turbines with sealed gear reduction assemblies, a variety of means have been used to place the mechanical seals under positive pressurE~. A first known means of creating positive pressure involves the use of a floating step piston. There is a difference in area between a first face and a second face of the step piston. The second face has a diminished surface area. 7.'his results in a first fluid pressure exerted by the first face being converted to a second fluid pressure that is higher that the first fluid pressure by the second face with diminished surface area acting upon hydraulic fluid. A second known means of creating positive pressure involves the use of a biasing spring. The biasing spring acts upon the floating piston creating a supplemental pressure so that the pressure exerted by the floating piston always exceeds the pressure of drilling fluids being pumped from surface. A third known means of creating positive pressure involves the use of a pump. The pump pumps lubricant from the lubricant reservoir and discharc;es the lubricant into the sealed speed reduction tool, thereby increasing the pressure.
2D The three known means of creating supplemental pressure in a sealed speed reduction tool, as described above, all have a common drawback. The step piston, biasing spring and pump all increase the length, and consequently the cost, of the speed reduction tool used with the drilling turbine. With directional drilling the length of the motor assembly in which the drilling turbine is positioned has a direct effect on the turning radius required to deviate the borehole from substantially vertical to substantially horizontal. It is, therefore, desirable to have a turbine that is as short as possible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
What is required is a simple and more compact method of creating positive pressure in a speed reduction tool of a drilling turbine.
According to one aspect of the present: invention there is provided a method of creating positive pressure in a speed reduction tool of a drilling turbine. A first step involves providing a speed reduction tool with a floating piston having a first face in communication with a lubricant filled sealed planetary gear assembly and a second face. A second step involve: providing means for diverting a primary flow of drilling fluids around the second face of the floating piston, thereby isolating the second face of the floating piston from the primary flow of drilling fluid. A third step involves providing a secondary drilling fluid diversion passage that extends from a selected one of a plurality of stages of a drilling turbine to the second face of the floating piston. The second f=ace of the floating piston is exposed only to drilling fluid from the secondary drilling fluid diversion passage which is at a pressure predetermined by a positioning of the secondary drilling fluid diversion passage relative to the pluralit=y of stages .
Th_Ls method of creating positive pressure is based upon the facie that pressure decreases progressively from stage to stage through a drilling turbine. Once one skilled in the art is aware of the input pressure of the primary flow of drilling fluids and the amount of pressure decrease from stage to stage, a stage can be selected at which the pressure is at workable levels. A secondary diversion passage can be built into the drilling turbine running to the second face of the floating piston t=hat will maintain a desired pressure on the floating piston at anticipated input pressures.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a speed reduction tool/drilling turbine combination. The speed reduction tool has a tubular housing with an interior surface defining an interior bore. A sealed planetary gear assembly is disposed within the interior bore of the housing. The planetary gear assembly has an input mandrel extending from a first end and an output mandrel extending from a second end. Each of the mandrels has an exterior surface. A floating piston seals the first end of the sealed planetary gear assembly. The floating piston has a first face in communication with the sealed planetary gear assembly and a second face. Mechanical seals serve to seal the second end of the sealed planetary gear assembly. The drilling turbine is coupled with the speed reduction tool. The drilling turbine has a common tubular housing and a common mandrel with the speed reduction tool. The drilling turbine has a p7_urality of stators mounted on the interior surface of the tubular housing. A plurality of rotors are mounted on the exterior surface of the mandrel. The rotors and the stators are arranged in cooperatively acting pairings thereby creating a plurality of stages. Means is provided for diverting a primary flow drilling fluids through the interior bore of the tubular housing thereby bypassing the second face of the floating piston of the planetary gear assembly. This isolates the second face of the floating piston from the primary flow of drilling fluid. A secondary drilling fluid diversion passage extends from a selected one of the plurality of stages of the drilling turbine to the second face of the floating piston. The second face of the floating piston is exposed only to drilling fluid from the secondary drilling fluid diversion passage which is at a pressure predetermined by a positioning of the ~~econdary drilling fluid diversion passage relative to the plurality of stages.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will become more apparent, from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, wherein:
FICnURE lA through 1D is a side elevation view, in section, of a drilling turbine constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
FIGURE 2 is a detailed side elevation view, in section, of a portion of the drilling turbine illustrated in FIGURE 1C.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred method of creating positive pressure in a speed reduction tool of a drilling turbine will now be 5 described with reference to FIGURES lA through 2.
Referring to FIGURES lA through 1D, the teachings of the method involve the following steps. A first step involves providing a speed reduction tool, generally indicated by reference numeral 12, with a floating piston 14 having a first face 16 in communication with a sealed planetary gear assembly 18 and a second face 20. A second step involves diverting a primary flow of drilling fluids around second face 20 of floating piston 14. In the illustrated embodiment this is accompl_Lshed by positioning floating piston 14 within a tubular mandrel 22 and having the primary flow of drilling fluids directed around sealed planetary gear assembly 18 via primary flow pa:~sage 24. In this manner second face 20 of floating piston 7.4 is isolated from the primary flow of drilling fluid.
Referring to FIGURE 2, a third step involves providing a secondary drilling fluid diversion passage 26 to supply drilling fluids to second face 20 of floating piston 14.
Secondary drilling fluid diversion passage 26 has a branch conduit 28 that extends from a selected one of a plurality of stages 3.0 of a drilling turbine 32. Second face 20 of floating piston 14 is exposed only to drilling fluid from secondary drilling fluid diversion passage 26. This fluid is at a pressure predetermined by a positioning of branch conduit 28 relative to plurality of stages 30. Pressure decreases progres~~ively from stage to stage 30 through drilling turbine 32. Once one skilled in the art is aware of the input pressure of the primary flow of drilling fluids and the amount of pressure decrease from stage to stage 30, a branch conduit can be selected to one of plurality of stages 30 at which the pressure is at workable levels. In the illustrated embodiment, three branch conduits 28, 34 and 36 are provided, all of which connect various stages 30 to secondary fluid diversion passage 26. Branch conduit 28 is the one that h<~s been selected in this application. In field use, branch conduits 34 and 36 provide selection alternatives. Once branch conduit 28 has been selected as providing drilling fluids from an appropriate one of plurality of stages 30, branch conduit 34 and 36 would normall~r blocked by plugs 38.
Referring to FIGURES lA through 1D, there is illustrated a speed reduction tool/drilling turbine combination, generally identif_Led by reference numeral 40 that has been constructed in accordance with the teachings of the above described method.
Combination 40 has a speed reduction tool portion 12 primarily illustrated in FIGURES lA and 1B and a drilling turbine portion 32 primarily illustrated in FIGURES 1C and 1D. Speed reduction tool portion 12 and drilling turbine portian 32 share a common tubular housing 42. Housing 42 has an interior surface 44 which serves to define an interior bore 46. Referring to FIGURE 7.B, a sealed planetary gear assembly 18 disposed within interior- bore 46 of housing 42. Planetary gear assembly 18 has a tubular input mandrel 22 extending from a first end 50 and an output mandrel 23 extending from a second end 52. Tubular input mandrel 22 has an interior bore 54. Both input mandrel 22 and output mandrel 23 have an exterior surface 56. Interior bore 54 of tubular input mandrel 22 is in fluid communication with a first end 50 of sealed planetary gear assembly 18. A
floating piston 14 is positioned in interior bore 54 of tubular input mandrel 22 and serves to seal first end 50 of sealed planetary gear assembly 18. Floating piston 14 has a circumferential O ring seal 60. Floating piston 14 has a first face 16 in communication with lubricant within sealed planetary gear assembly 18 and a second face 20. Mechanical seals 62 are used to seal both first end 50 and second end 52 of sealed planetary gear assembly 18. Drilling turbine portion 32 is coupled with speed reduction tool 12. Drilling turbine 32 shares a common tubular housing 42 with speed reduction tool 12 and a common mandrel with speed reduction tool, that being input mandrel 22. A plurality of stators 66 are mounted on interior. surface 44 of tubular housing 42 of drilling turbine portion 32. A plurality of rotors 68 are mounted on exterior surface 56 of input mandrel 22. Rotors 68 and stators 66 are arranged in cooperatively acting pairings thereby creating a plurality of stages 30. A primary flow of drilling fluids is diverted through interior bore 46 of tubular housing 42 thereby bypassing second face 20 of floating piston 14 of planetary gear as~~embly 18 via primary flow passage 24. Second face 20 of floating piston 14 is, therefore, isolated from the primary flow of drilling fluid. Referring to FIGURE 2, secondary drilling fluid diversion passage 26 diverts drilling fluids from one of branch conduits 28, 34 or 36 from a selected one of plurality of stages 30 of drilling turbine 32 to second face of floating piston 14. In the illustrated embodiment, 15 branch conduits 34 and 36 are blocked by plugs 38. Second face 20 of floating piston 14 is exposed only to drilling fluid from secondary drilling fluid diversion passage 26 which is at a pressure predetermined by a positioning of branch conduit 28 of secondary drilling fluid diversion passage 26 relative to 20 plurality of stages 30.
In order to facilitate the rotation of input mandrel 22 and output mandrel 23 within housing 42, a plurality of bearings. 70 and bushings 72 are positioned between interior 2S surface 44 of housing 42 and exterior surface 56 of mandrels 22 and 23. To facilitate assembly, housing 42 has a plurality of threaded connections 74 and mandrels 22 and 23 have a plurality of threaded connections 76. At each threaded connection 74 or 76, O ring seals 78 are used to seal the connection. Sealed planetary gear assembly 18 includes central sun gears 80, gear cages 82, and planetary gears 84 that orbit sun gears 80 and a gear housing 86. Bearings 88 are positioned within ~~ealed planetary gear assembly 18 to withstand axial loading.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit <~nd scope of the invention as hereinafter defined in the Claims.
Th_Ls method of creating positive pressure is based upon the facie that pressure decreases progressively from stage to stage through a drilling turbine. Once one skilled in the art is aware of the input pressure of the primary flow of drilling fluids and the amount of pressure decrease from stage to stage, a stage can be selected at which the pressure is at workable levels. A secondary diversion passage can be built into the drilling turbine running to the second face of the floating piston t=hat will maintain a desired pressure on the floating piston at anticipated input pressures.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a speed reduction tool/drilling turbine combination. The speed reduction tool has a tubular housing with an interior surface defining an interior bore. A sealed planetary gear assembly is disposed within the interior bore of the housing. The planetary gear assembly has an input mandrel extending from a first end and an output mandrel extending from a second end. Each of the mandrels has an exterior surface. A floating piston seals the first end of the sealed planetary gear assembly. The floating piston has a first face in communication with the sealed planetary gear assembly and a second face. Mechanical seals serve to seal the second end of the sealed planetary gear assembly. The drilling turbine is coupled with the speed reduction tool. The drilling turbine has a common tubular housing and a common mandrel with the speed reduction tool. The drilling turbine has a p7_urality of stators mounted on the interior surface of the tubular housing. A plurality of rotors are mounted on the exterior surface of the mandrel. The rotors and the stators are arranged in cooperatively acting pairings thereby creating a plurality of stages. Means is provided for diverting a primary flow drilling fluids through the interior bore of the tubular housing thereby bypassing the second face of the floating piston of the planetary gear assembly. This isolates the second face of the floating piston from the primary flow of drilling fluid. A secondary drilling fluid diversion passage extends from a selected one of the plurality of stages of the drilling turbine to the second face of the floating piston. The second face of the floating piston is exposed only to drilling fluid from the secondary drilling fluid diversion passage which is at a pressure predetermined by a positioning of the ~~econdary drilling fluid diversion passage relative to the plurality of stages.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will become more apparent, from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, wherein:
FICnURE lA through 1D is a side elevation view, in section, of a drilling turbine constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
FIGURE 2 is a detailed side elevation view, in section, of a portion of the drilling turbine illustrated in FIGURE 1C.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred method of creating positive pressure in a speed reduction tool of a drilling turbine will now be 5 described with reference to FIGURES lA through 2.
Referring to FIGURES lA through 1D, the teachings of the method involve the following steps. A first step involves providing a speed reduction tool, generally indicated by reference numeral 12, with a floating piston 14 having a first face 16 in communication with a sealed planetary gear assembly 18 and a second face 20. A second step involves diverting a primary flow of drilling fluids around second face 20 of floating piston 14. In the illustrated embodiment this is accompl_Lshed by positioning floating piston 14 within a tubular mandrel 22 and having the primary flow of drilling fluids directed around sealed planetary gear assembly 18 via primary flow pa:~sage 24. In this manner second face 20 of floating piston 7.4 is isolated from the primary flow of drilling fluid.
Referring to FIGURE 2, a third step involves providing a secondary drilling fluid diversion passage 26 to supply drilling fluids to second face 20 of floating piston 14.
Secondary drilling fluid diversion passage 26 has a branch conduit 28 that extends from a selected one of a plurality of stages 3.0 of a drilling turbine 32. Second face 20 of floating piston 14 is exposed only to drilling fluid from secondary drilling fluid diversion passage 26. This fluid is at a pressure predetermined by a positioning of branch conduit 28 relative to plurality of stages 30. Pressure decreases progres~~ively from stage to stage 30 through drilling turbine 32. Once one skilled in the art is aware of the input pressure of the primary flow of drilling fluids and the amount of pressure decrease from stage to stage 30, a branch conduit can be selected to one of plurality of stages 30 at which the pressure is at workable levels. In the illustrated embodiment, three branch conduits 28, 34 and 36 are provided, all of which connect various stages 30 to secondary fluid diversion passage 26. Branch conduit 28 is the one that h<~s been selected in this application. In field use, branch conduits 34 and 36 provide selection alternatives. Once branch conduit 28 has been selected as providing drilling fluids from an appropriate one of plurality of stages 30, branch conduit 34 and 36 would normall~r blocked by plugs 38.
Referring to FIGURES lA through 1D, there is illustrated a speed reduction tool/drilling turbine combination, generally identif_Led by reference numeral 40 that has been constructed in accordance with the teachings of the above described method.
Combination 40 has a speed reduction tool portion 12 primarily illustrated in FIGURES lA and 1B and a drilling turbine portion 32 primarily illustrated in FIGURES 1C and 1D. Speed reduction tool portion 12 and drilling turbine portian 32 share a common tubular housing 42. Housing 42 has an interior surface 44 which serves to define an interior bore 46. Referring to FIGURE 7.B, a sealed planetary gear assembly 18 disposed within interior- bore 46 of housing 42. Planetary gear assembly 18 has a tubular input mandrel 22 extending from a first end 50 and an output mandrel 23 extending from a second end 52. Tubular input mandrel 22 has an interior bore 54. Both input mandrel 22 and output mandrel 23 have an exterior surface 56. Interior bore 54 of tubular input mandrel 22 is in fluid communication with a first end 50 of sealed planetary gear assembly 18. A
floating piston 14 is positioned in interior bore 54 of tubular input mandrel 22 and serves to seal first end 50 of sealed planetary gear assembly 18. Floating piston 14 has a circumferential O ring seal 60. Floating piston 14 has a first face 16 in communication with lubricant within sealed planetary gear assembly 18 and a second face 20. Mechanical seals 62 are used to seal both first end 50 and second end 52 of sealed planetary gear assembly 18. Drilling turbine portion 32 is coupled with speed reduction tool 12. Drilling turbine 32 shares a common tubular housing 42 with speed reduction tool 12 and a common mandrel with speed reduction tool, that being input mandrel 22. A plurality of stators 66 are mounted on interior. surface 44 of tubular housing 42 of drilling turbine portion 32. A plurality of rotors 68 are mounted on exterior surface 56 of input mandrel 22. Rotors 68 and stators 66 are arranged in cooperatively acting pairings thereby creating a plurality of stages 30. A primary flow of drilling fluids is diverted through interior bore 46 of tubular housing 42 thereby bypassing second face 20 of floating piston 14 of planetary gear as~~embly 18 via primary flow passage 24. Second face 20 of floating piston 14 is, therefore, isolated from the primary flow of drilling fluid. Referring to FIGURE 2, secondary drilling fluid diversion passage 26 diverts drilling fluids from one of branch conduits 28, 34 or 36 from a selected one of plurality of stages 30 of drilling turbine 32 to second face of floating piston 14. In the illustrated embodiment, 15 branch conduits 34 and 36 are blocked by plugs 38. Second face 20 of floating piston 14 is exposed only to drilling fluid from secondary drilling fluid diversion passage 26 which is at a pressure predetermined by a positioning of branch conduit 28 of secondary drilling fluid diversion passage 26 relative to 20 plurality of stages 30.
In order to facilitate the rotation of input mandrel 22 and output mandrel 23 within housing 42, a plurality of bearings. 70 and bushings 72 are positioned between interior 2S surface 44 of housing 42 and exterior surface 56 of mandrels 22 and 23. To facilitate assembly, housing 42 has a plurality of threaded connections 74 and mandrels 22 and 23 have a plurality of threaded connections 76. At each threaded connection 74 or 76, O ring seals 78 are used to seal the connection. Sealed planetary gear assembly 18 includes central sun gears 80, gear cages 82, and planetary gears 84 that orbit sun gears 80 and a gear housing 86. Bearings 88 are positioned within ~~ealed planetary gear assembly 18 to withstand axial loading.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit <~nd scope of the invention as hereinafter defined in the Claims.
Claims (3)
1. A method of creating positive pressure in a speed reduction tool of a drilling turbine, comprising the steps of:
firstly, providing a speed reduction tool with a floating piston having a first face in communication with a lubricant filled :pealed planetary gear assembly and a second face;
secondly, providing means for diverting a primary flow of drilling fluids around the second face of the floating piston;
thereby isolating the second face of the floating piston from the primary flow of drilling fluid; and thirdly, providing a secondary drilling fluid diversion passage that extends from a selected one of a plurality of stages of a drilling turbine to the second face of the floating piston, such that the second face of the floating piston is exposed only to drilling fluid from the secondary drilling fluid diversion passage which is at a pressure predetermined by a positioning of the secondary drilling fluid diversion passage relative to the plurality of stages.
firstly, providing a speed reduction tool with a floating piston having a first face in communication with a lubricant filled :pealed planetary gear assembly and a second face;
secondly, providing means for diverting a primary flow of drilling fluids around the second face of the floating piston;
thereby isolating the second face of the floating piston from the primary flow of drilling fluid; and thirdly, providing a secondary drilling fluid diversion passage that extends from a selected one of a plurality of stages of a drilling turbine to the second face of the floating piston, such that the second face of the floating piston is exposed only to drilling fluid from the secondary drilling fluid diversion passage which is at a pressure predetermined by a positioning of the secondary drilling fluid diversion passage relative to the plurality of stages.
2. A method of creating positive pressure in a speed reduction tool of a drilling turbine, comprising the steps of:
firstly, providing a speed reduction tool having:
a tubular housing with an interior surface defining an interior bore;
a lubricant filled sealed planetary gear assembly disposed within the interior bore of the housing, the planetary gear assembly having mandrels extending from each of a first end and a second end, the mandrels having an exterior surface;
a floating piston sealing the first end of the sealed planetary gear assembly, the floating piston having a first face in communication with the sealed planetary gear assembly and a second face;
mechanical seals sealing the second end of the sealed planetary gear assembly;
secondly, coupling the speed reduction tool with a drilling turbine so the drilling turbine has a common tubular housing with the speed reduction tool and a common mandrel with the speed reduction tool, the drilling turbine having:
a plurality of stators mounted on the interior surface of the tubular housing;
a plurality of rotors mounted on the exterior surface of the mandrel, the rotors and the stators being arranged in cooperatively acting pairings thereby creating a plurality of stages;
thirdly, providing means for diverting a primary flow of drilling fluids through the interior bore of the tubular housing around the second face of the floating piston of the planetary gear assembly, thereby isolating the second face of the floating piston from the primary flow of drilling fluid;
and fourthly, providing a secondary drilling fluid diversion passage that extends from a selected one of the plurality of stages of the drilling turbine to the second face of the floating piston, such that the second face of the floating piston is exposed only to drilling fluid from the secondary drilling fluid diversion passage which is at a pressure predetermined by a positioning of the secondary drilling fluid diversion passage relative to the plurality of stages.
firstly, providing a speed reduction tool having:
a tubular housing with an interior surface defining an interior bore;
a lubricant filled sealed planetary gear assembly disposed within the interior bore of the housing, the planetary gear assembly having mandrels extending from each of a first end and a second end, the mandrels having an exterior surface;
a floating piston sealing the first end of the sealed planetary gear assembly, the floating piston having a first face in communication with the sealed planetary gear assembly and a second face;
mechanical seals sealing the second end of the sealed planetary gear assembly;
secondly, coupling the speed reduction tool with a drilling turbine so the drilling turbine has a common tubular housing with the speed reduction tool and a common mandrel with the speed reduction tool, the drilling turbine having:
a plurality of stators mounted on the interior surface of the tubular housing;
a plurality of rotors mounted on the exterior surface of the mandrel, the rotors and the stators being arranged in cooperatively acting pairings thereby creating a plurality of stages;
thirdly, providing means for diverting a primary flow of drilling fluids through the interior bore of the tubular housing around the second face of the floating piston of the planetary gear assembly, thereby isolating the second face of the floating piston from the primary flow of drilling fluid;
and fourthly, providing a secondary drilling fluid diversion passage that extends from a selected one of the plurality of stages of the drilling turbine to the second face of the floating piston, such that the second face of the floating piston is exposed only to drilling fluid from the secondary drilling fluid diversion passage which is at a pressure predetermined by a positioning of the secondary drilling fluid diversion passage relative to the plurality of stages.
3. A speed reduction tool/drilling turbine combination:
a speed reduction tool having:
a tubular housing with an interior surface defining an interior bore;
a lubricant filled sealed planetary gear assembly disposed within the interior bore of the housing, the planetary gear assembly having mandrels extending from each of a first end and a second end, the mandrels having an exterior surface;
a floating piston sealing the first end of the sealed planetary gear assembly, the floating piston having a first face in communication with the sealed planetary gear assembly and a second face;
mechanical seals sealing the second end of the sealed planetary gear assembly;
a drilling turbine coupled with the speed reduction tool with the drilling turbine having a common tubular housing with the speed reduction tool and a common mandrel with the speed reduction tool, the drilling turbine having:
a plurality of stators mounted on the interior surface of the tubular housing;
a plurality of rotors mounted on the exterior surface of the mandrel, the rotors and the stators being arranged in cooperatively acting pairings thereby creating a plurality of stages;
means for diverting a primary flow drilling fluids through the interior bore of the tubular housing around the second face of the floating piston of the planetary gear assembly, thereby isolating the second face of the floating piston from the primary flow of drilling fluid; and a secondary drilling fluid diversion passage extending from a selected one of the plurality of stages of the drilling turbine to the second face of the floating piston, the second face of the floating piston being exposed only to drilling fluid from the secondary drilling fluid diversion passage which is at a pressure predetermined by a positioning of the secondary drilling fluid diversion passage relative to the plurality of stages.
a speed reduction tool having:
a tubular housing with an interior surface defining an interior bore;
a lubricant filled sealed planetary gear assembly disposed within the interior bore of the housing, the planetary gear assembly having mandrels extending from each of a first end and a second end, the mandrels having an exterior surface;
a floating piston sealing the first end of the sealed planetary gear assembly, the floating piston having a first face in communication with the sealed planetary gear assembly and a second face;
mechanical seals sealing the second end of the sealed planetary gear assembly;
a drilling turbine coupled with the speed reduction tool with the drilling turbine having a common tubular housing with the speed reduction tool and a common mandrel with the speed reduction tool, the drilling turbine having:
a plurality of stators mounted on the interior surface of the tubular housing;
a plurality of rotors mounted on the exterior surface of the mandrel, the rotors and the stators being arranged in cooperatively acting pairings thereby creating a plurality of stages;
means for diverting a primary flow drilling fluids through the interior bore of the tubular housing around the second face of the floating piston of the planetary gear assembly, thereby isolating the second face of the floating piston from the primary flow of drilling fluid; and a secondary drilling fluid diversion passage extending from a selected one of the plurality of stages of the drilling turbine to the second face of the floating piston, the second face of the floating piston being exposed only to drilling fluid from the secondary drilling fluid diversion passage which is at a pressure predetermined by a positioning of the secondary drilling fluid diversion passage relative to the plurality of stages.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2237513 CA2237513C (en) | 1998-05-12 | 1998-05-12 | Method and apparatus for creating positive pressure in a speed reduction tool used with a drilling turbine |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2237513 CA2237513C (en) | 1998-05-12 | 1998-05-12 | Method and apparatus for creating positive pressure in a speed reduction tool used with a drilling turbine |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2237513A1 CA2237513A1 (en) | 1999-11-12 |
| CA2237513C true CA2237513C (en) | 2005-08-02 |
Family
ID=29275715
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2237513 Expired - Fee Related CA2237513C (en) | 1998-05-12 | 1998-05-12 | Method and apparatus for creating positive pressure in a speed reduction tool used with a drilling turbine |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2237513C (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US10844662B2 (en) * | 2018-11-07 | 2020-11-24 | Rival Downhole Tools Lc | Mud-lubricated bearing assembly with lower seal |
-
1998
- 1998-05-12 CA CA 2237513 patent/CA2237513C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2237513A1 (en) | 1999-11-12 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |