CA2385443A1 - Drill string member with bearings - Google Patents
Drill string member with bearings Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2385443A1 CA2385443A1 CA002385443A CA2385443A CA2385443A1 CA 2385443 A1 CA2385443 A1 CA 2385443A1 CA 002385443 A CA002385443 A CA 002385443A CA 2385443 A CA2385443 A CA 2385443A CA 2385443 A1 CA2385443 A1 CA 2385443A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- drill string
- bearings
- string member
- sleeve
- race
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 abstract description 3
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 abstract description 2
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 abstract description 2
- 241001080526 Vertica Species 0.000 abstract 1
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 3
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005552 hardfacing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 2
- UONOETXJSWQNOL-UHFFFAOYSA-N tungsten carbide Chemical compound [W+]#[C-] UONOETXJSWQNOL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- 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
- E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
- E21B17/10—Wear protectors; Centralising devices, e.g. stabilisers
- E21B17/1057—Centralising devices with rollers or with a relatively rotating sleeve
- E21B17/1064—Pipes or rods with a relatively rotating sleeve
-
- 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
- E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
- E21B17/10—Wear protectors; Centralising devices, e.g. stabilisers
- E21B17/1057—Centralising devices with rollers or with a relatively rotating sleeve
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Harvester Elements (AREA)
- Adornments (AREA)
- Rolling Contact Bearings (AREA)
- Processing Of Stones Or Stones Resemblance Materials (AREA)
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
- Toys (AREA)
- Drilling Tools (AREA)
- Surgical Instruments (AREA)
Abstract
A drill string member comprising a body (1), and bearing races (5) around th e circumference of the member. In certain embodiment, the presence of spherica l bearings (25) on the surface of the member reduces radial torque and vertica l drag to enable easier operation of the drill string. Advantages of one embodiment includes a reduction in the wear or breakages of the components used in drilling.
Description
1 DRIhh STRING MEMBER WITH BEARINGS
3 This invention relates to string member, and 4 particularly one which is adapted to reduce drag and torque on the drill string.
7 In oil and gas well drilling it is generally known to 8 rotate a drill string or a portion thereof in order to 9 impart torque to the drill bit at the end. In addition, the drill bit is generally forced into and 11 out of the bore hole as part of the drilling operation.
12 Very often the frictional forces on the drillstring 13 seize the string in the bore, and many solutions have 14 been proposed to the problem of stuck drill string, as it involves great effort and lost production to remedy 16 this.
18 According to the present invention there is provided a 19 drill string member comprising a body and one or more bearings on the outer surface of the body.
1 The drill string member may be suitable for making up 2 into a rotating or non-rotating drill string, to 3 facilitate rotation in the bore or to facilitate axial 4 displacement of non-rotating strings during their insertion into and withdrawal from the bore.
7 Preferably the body member and bearings may be attached 8 to a stand of drillpipe. In some embodiments the 9 bearing may be incorporated within the outer surface of the drillpipe, which forms the body.
12 In a preferred embodiment the body has a bearing race 13 on its outer surface and one or more bearings which can 14 move in the bearing race. Preferably the bearing race is an annular groove arranged perpendicular to the long 16 axis of the body. Preferably there is more than one 17 race provided and the races are preferably parallel to 18 one another, and perpendicular to the axis of the body.
The races are preferably continuous so that the 21 bearings are free to move through 360° of the race as 22 well as being free to rotate on their axes in the race.
24 The bearings are preferably ball bearings (ie spheres).
In such embodiments vertical drag and radial torque are 26 reduced. Alternatively the bearings may be roller 27 bearings (ie cylinders) or any suitable type of 28 bearing.
The bearings are preferably retained in the race by 31 overcentre side walls so that the bearings are 1 permitted to protrude from the race beyond the outer 2 surface of the body to a small extent in order to bear 3 against the inner surface of a well bore or casing, and 4 are preferably retained in place by a moveable sleeve which abuts the bearings on one side and by a shoulder 6 which abuts the bearings on the other. The sleeve and 7 shoulder preferably provide abutments which extend 8 around the centre of the bearings so as to retain them 9 in the bearing race when the tool is assembled.
Alternatively the bearings may be retained by an first 11 upper and a second lower sleeve.
13 Optionally there can be more than one sleeve. Each 14 sleeve is typically provided with one or more seals such as o-ring seals in order to restrict the ingress 16 of drill cuttings and other debris.
18 The sleeves) are preferably spring-loaded so as to 19 force the bearings into the race and to take up any play therein, and the loading of the spring is 21 preferably adjustable.
23 In a preferred embodiment there are two sleeves or a 24 multiple of two sleeves such as 4 or 6 etc. Most preferably a spring or other resilient buffer is 26 provided between each pair of sleeves. Preferably the 27 spring extends longitudinally or circumferentially 28 between each pair of sleeves. At an opposite edge, 29 each sleeve preferably has a shoulder which abuts the bearings. Preferably the springs) keep the sleeves in 31 contact with the bearings.
1 A snap-on or shrink-on lock ring such as a heat 2 sensitive shrink ring or a screw-on collar or lock ring 3 or a circlip can be used to retain the sleeves, the 4 bearings and optionally the spring forcing the sleeves against the bearings.
7 Preferably all components of the invention comprise 8 steel. Most preferably contact surfaces of the 9 components of the invention are protected with a hard facing material such as tungsten carbide.
12 Certain embodiments of the invention provide the 13 advantage that the bearing races are self-cleaning 14 thereby reducing the level of maintenance to free stuck bearings, and in certain embodiments all bearings can 16 be released for cleaning by manipulation of very few 17 parts of the apparatus.
19 An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the 21 accompanying drawings, in which:-23 Fig 1 shows a side view of one embodiment of the 24 invention;
Fig 2 shows a body of the Fig 1 embodiment;
26 Fig 3 shows an upper sleeve of the Fig 1 27 embodiment;
28 Fig 4 shows a lower sleeve of the Fig 1 29 embodiment;
Fig 5 shows a lock ring of the Fig 1 embodiment;
31 Fig 6 shows a bevel spring of the Fig 1 32 embodiment;
1 Fig 7 shows a bearing of the Fig 1 embodiment; and 2 Fig 8 shows a side view of a screw-on lock ring 3 used with a different embodiment; and, 4 Fig. 9 shows a front view and sectional view of a 5 further embodiment.
7 In oil and gas well drilling it is generally known to 8 rotate a drill string or a portion thereof in order to 9 impart torque to the drill bit at the end. In addition, the drill bit is generally forced into and 11 out of the bore hole as part of the drilling operation.
12 Very often the frictional forces on the drillstring 13 seize the string in the bore, and many solutions have 14 been proposed to the problem of stuck drill string, as it involves great effort and lost production to remedy 16 this.
18 According to the present invention there is provided a 19 drill string member comprising a body and one or more bearings on the outer surface of the body.
1 The drill string member may be suitable for making up 2 into a rotating or non-rotating drill string, to 3 facilitate rotation in the bore or to facilitate axial 4 displacement of non-rotating strings during their insertion into and withdrawal from the bore.
7 Preferably the body member and bearings may be attached 8 to a stand of drillpipe. In some embodiments the 9 bearing may be incorporated within the outer surface of the drillpipe, which forms the body.
12 In a preferred embodiment the body has a bearing race 13 on its outer surface and one or more bearings which can 14 move in the bearing race. Preferably the bearing race is an annular groove arranged perpendicular to the long 16 axis of the body. Preferably there is more than one 17 race provided and the races are preferably parallel to 18 one another, and perpendicular to the axis of the body.
The races are preferably continuous so that the 21 bearings are free to move through 360° of the race as 22 well as being free to rotate on their axes in the race.
24 The bearings are preferably ball bearings (ie spheres).
In such embodiments vertical drag and radial torque are 26 reduced. Alternatively the bearings may be roller 27 bearings (ie cylinders) or any suitable type of 28 bearing.
The bearings are preferably retained in the race by 31 overcentre side walls so that the bearings are 1 permitted to protrude from the race beyond the outer 2 surface of the body to a small extent in order to bear 3 against the inner surface of a well bore or casing, and 4 are preferably retained in place by a moveable sleeve which abuts the bearings on one side and by a shoulder 6 which abuts the bearings on the other. The sleeve and 7 shoulder preferably provide abutments which extend 8 around the centre of the bearings so as to retain them 9 in the bearing race when the tool is assembled.
Alternatively the bearings may be retained by an first 11 upper and a second lower sleeve.
13 Optionally there can be more than one sleeve. Each 14 sleeve is typically provided with one or more seals such as o-ring seals in order to restrict the ingress 16 of drill cuttings and other debris.
18 The sleeves) are preferably spring-loaded so as to 19 force the bearings into the race and to take up any play therein, and the loading of the spring is 21 preferably adjustable.
23 In a preferred embodiment there are two sleeves or a 24 multiple of two sleeves such as 4 or 6 etc. Most preferably a spring or other resilient buffer is 26 provided between each pair of sleeves. Preferably the 27 spring extends longitudinally or circumferentially 28 between each pair of sleeves. At an opposite edge, 29 each sleeve preferably has a shoulder which abuts the bearings. Preferably the springs) keep the sleeves in 31 contact with the bearings.
1 A snap-on or shrink-on lock ring such as a heat 2 sensitive shrink ring or a screw-on collar or lock ring 3 or a circlip can be used to retain the sleeves, the 4 bearings and optionally the spring forcing the sleeves against the bearings.
7 Preferably all components of the invention comprise 8 steel. Most preferably contact surfaces of the 9 components of the invention are protected with a hard facing material such as tungsten carbide.
12 Certain embodiments of the invention provide the 13 advantage that the bearing races are self-cleaning 14 thereby reducing the level of maintenance to free stuck bearings, and in certain embodiments all bearings can 16 be released for cleaning by manipulation of very few 17 parts of the apparatus.
19 An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the 21 accompanying drawings, in which:-23 Fig 1 shows a side view of one embodiment of the 24 invention;
Fig 2 shows a body of the Fig 1 embodiment;
26 Fig 3 shows an upper sleeve of the Fig 1 27 embodiment;
28 Fig 4 shows a lower sleeve of the Fig 1 29 embodiment;
Fig 5 shows a lock ring of the Fig 1 embodiment;
31 Fig 6 shows a bevel spring of the Fig 1 32 embodiment;
1 Fig 7 shows a bearing of the Fig 1 embodiment; and 2 Fig 8 shows a side view of a screw-on lock ring 3 used with a different embodiment; and, 4 Fig. 9 shows a front view and sectional view of a 5 further embodiment.
7 Referring now to the drawings, a drill string member 8 has a tubular body 1 having a box and pin section at 9 respective ends as is common in the art and a through bore 2. The tubular body 1 has an outer surface with a 11 first bearing race 5 cut in an annular ring around the 12 outer surface of body 1 perpendicular to the axis of 13 the through bore 2. The first bearing race 5 is 14 bounded on its upper surface by a shoulder 5s which extends in part downwards towards the lower end of the 16 tool from the upper end of the race 5, the purpose of 17 which will be explained below. A second bearing race 6 18 of similar construction (apart from the upper shoulder 19 5s) is provided lower down the tool body 1, and annular grooves 10 are provided between the bearing races and 21 below the second race 6 for receiving o-rings. A
22 further annular groove 11 is provided below the 23 lowermost o-ring groove for receiving a lock ring.
24 A first annular sleeve 15 comprises an annular band of steel with cupped upper and lower edges 16u, 161. The 26 cupped edges, 16u, 161 each have an outer shoulder 16s 27 which extends upwardly and downwardly respectively of 28 the sleeve 15.
A lower sleeve 20 has an upper cup 21 with a similar 31 upwardly pointing shoulder 21s, and an inner rabbet 23 1 at its lower surface to receive a bevel spring to be 2 described.
4 The bearing races 5 and 6, and the cups 16 and 21 on the sleeve 15 and 20 are faced with tungsten carbide or 6 a similar hard facing material in order to withstand 7 wear on the surfaces of the races and sleeves by the 8 bearings.
The tool is assembled by placing o-rings 12 into 11 annular grooves 10 and threading the upper sleeve 15 12 onto the lower end 11 of the body. The spherical 13 bearings 25 are then inserted into the upper race 5, 14 and are held in place by the overcentre opposing shoulders 5s on the body 1 and similar shoulders 16s on 16 the upper sleeve 15. The upper sleeve 15 is wide 17 enough to hold the bearings 25 in the upper race and 18 provides a second shoulder 16s adjacent to the lower 19 race 6. The lower sleeve 20 is then threaded onto the lower end 11 of the body and the bearings 75 can be 21 inserted into and retained within the lower race 6 22 between the lower shoulder 16s of the first sleeve 15 23 and the upper shoulder 21s of the second sleeve 20 in a 24 similar manner to the first set of bearings 25. The rabbet 23 accommodates an annular bevel spring 27 which 26 is threaded onto the lower end of the body 11 in the 27 same way, and the annular lock ring 30 of expandable 28 metal is heated to expand its diameter, offered up onto 29 the lower end of the body 11 and left to cool in place in the lowermost annular groove 11 until it engages 31 with the groove and maintains the spring 27 in 1 compression between it and the rabbet 23 on the lower 2 sleeve 20.
4 By the upward force exerted on the lower sleeve 20 by the spring 27, the bearings 25 are pressed into the 6 races 5, 6 and play is taken up, but the bearings 25 7 are free to move circumferentially around the annular 8 races 5, 6 without much resistance.
In use, the bearings 25 protrude by around a third of 11 their width from the races 5, 6 and the innermost 12 surface of the well bore or casing etc is therefore 13 contacted by the bearings 25 rather than the outer 14 surface of the tool body 1. The freedom of the bearings 25 to move in the races 5, 6 means that less 16 torque is needed to rotate the string due to the lower 17 friction, and the upward and downward thrust on the 18 string can similarly be enhanced due to the lower 19 friction. Certain embodiments of the invention permit the transfer of more power to the bit from the motor.
22 The o-rings 12 resist the ingress of drill cuttings etc 23 behind the sleeves 15, 20 and the fact that the races 24 5, 6 are annular without impediment to circumferential movement of each ball around the annular ring of each 26 race 5, 6 means that the races 5, 6 are self cleaning 27 in the event that any drill cuttings or any debris 28 enters them.
For maintenance, the ring 30 is heated to expand it and 31 is thereafter removed from the groove 11, and the tool 1 is stripped down in reverse process from its 2 construction as described above.
4 The heat sensitive ring 30 can be replaced by a circlip and need not be completely annular.
7 A screw-on collar 31 with an internal screw thread can 8 be used on a modified body 1a shown in Fig. 8 instead 9 of a circlip or shrink ring 30. The inner threads on the collar 31, mates with co-operating threads on the 11 outer surface of the body la below the lowermost o-ring 12 groove 10, so that the collar 31 can be screwed onto 13 the body la to retain the spring 27 and sleeve 20 in 14 place.
16 Certain embodiments of the invention can provide a 17 significant reduction in rotary torque and tripping 18 drag, and can reduce casing wear. Some embodiments of 19 the invention allow easier steering capability of strings, and need not have any restrictions on their 21 operating temperature.
23 An alternative embodiment is shown in Fig. 9. The 24 sleeves are provided in pairs 115, 120 and 150, 160. A
circumferentially extending annular resilient buffer 26 (not shown) or one or more separate longitudinally 27 extending springs 153 are provided between suitable 28 shoulders 151, 152 on each sleeve 115, 120. The 29 springs 153 abut the shoulders 151, 152 which forces the opposite ends 116u of sleeve 115 and the lower end 31 1161 of sleeve 120 into contact with the bearings 125 32 and 175 respectively. The spring mechanism thus 1 ensures contact between the sleeves 115, 120 and the 2 bearings 125, 175 even as the bearings 125, 175 wear 3 and reduce in size through use. A similar buffer (not 4 shown) or springs 154 are provided between the second pair of sleeves 150, 160 to provide a similar function.
6 Features not described in this embodiment are similar 7 to those as described for previous embodiments.
9 In certain embodiments maintenance of the apparatus may be performed infrequently as the apparatus functions 11 adequately even when the bearings have been worn 12 through use. Consequently, the cost to replace the 13 bearings and on the time spent stripping down the 14 apparatus to replace the bearings may be saved.
16 Modifications and improvements can be incorporated 17 without departing from the scope of the invention.
22 further annular groove 11 is provided below the 23 lowermost o-ring groove for receiving a lock ring.
24 A first annular sleeve 15 comprises an annular band of steel with cupped upper and lower edges 16u, 161. The 26 cupped edges, 16u, 161 each have an outer shoulder 16s 27 which extends upwardly and downwardly respectively of 28 the sleeve 15.
A lower sleeve 20 has an upper cup 21 with a similar 31 upwardly pointing shoulder 21s, and an inner rabbet 23 1 at its lower surface to receive a bevel spring to be 2 described.
4 The bearing races 5 and 6, and the cups 16 and 21 on the sleeve 15 and 20 are faced with tungsten carbide or 6 a similar hard facing material in order to withstand 7 wear on the surfaces of the races and sleeves by the 8 bearings.
The tool is assembled by placing o-rings 12 into 11 annular grooves 10 and threading the upper sleeve 15 12 onto the lower end 11 of the body. The spherical 13 bearings 25 are then inserted into the upper race 5, 14 and are held in place by the overcentre opposing shoulders 5s on the body 1 and similar shoulders 16s on 16 the upper sleeve 15. The upper sleeve 15 is wide 17 enough to hold the bearings 25 in the upper race and 18 provides a second shoulder 16s adjacent to the lower 19 race 6. The lower sleeve 20 is then threaded onto the lower end 11 of the body and the bearings 75 can be 21 inserted into and retained within the lower race 6 22 between the lower shoulder 16s of the first sleeve 15 23 and the upper shoulder 21s of the second sleeve 20 in a 24 similar manner to the first set of bearings 25. The rabbet 23 accommodates an annular bevel spring 27 which 26 is threaded onto the lower end of the body 11 in the 27 same way, and the annular lock ring 30 of expandable 28 metal is heated to expand its diameter, offered up onto 29 the lower end of the body 11 and left to cool in place in the lowermost annular groove 11 until it engages 31 with the groove and maintains the spring 27 in 1 compression between it and the rabbet 23 on the lower 2 sleeve 20.
4 By the upward force exerted on the lower sleeve 20 by the spring 27, the bearings 25 are pressed into the 6 races 5, 6 and play is taken up, but the bearings 25 7 are free to move circumferentially around the annular 8 races 5, 6 without much resistance.
In use, the bearings 25 protrude by around a third of 11 their width from the races 5, 6 and the innermost 12 surface of the well bore or casing etc is therefore 13 contacted by the bearings 25 rather than the outer 14 surface of the tool body 1. The freedom of the bearings 25 to move in the races 5, 6 means that less 16 torque is needed to rotate the string due to the lower 17 friction, and the upward and downward thrust on the 18 string can similarly be enhanced due to the lower 19 friction. Certain embodiments of the invention permit the transfer of more power to the bit from the motor.
22 The o-rings 12 resist the ingress of drill cuttings etc 23 behind the sleeves 15, 20 and the fact that the races 24 5, 6 are annular without impediment to circumferential movement of each ball around the annular ring of each 26 race 5, 6 means that the races 5, 6 are self cleaning 27 in the event that any drill cuttings or any debris 28 enters them.
For maintenance, the ring 30 is heated to expand it and 31 is thereafter removed from the groove 11, and the tool 1 is stripped down in reverse process from its 2 construction as described above.
4 The heat sensitive ring 30 can be replaced by a circlip and need not be completely annular.
7 A screw-on collar 31 with an internal screw thread can 8 be used on a modified body 1a shown in Fig. 8 instead 9 of a circlip or shrink ring 30. The inner threads on the collar 31, mates with co-operating threads on the 11 outer surface of the body la below the lowermost o-ring 12 groove 10, so that the collar 31 can be screwed onto 13 the body la to retain the spring 27 and sleeve 20 in 14 place.
16 Certain embodiments of the invention can provide a 17 significant reduction in rotary torque and tripping 18 drag, and can reduce casing wear. Some embodiments of 19 the invention allow easier steering capability of strings, and need not have any restrictions on their 21 operating temperature.
23 An alternative embodiment is shown in Fig. 9. The 24 sleeves are provided in pairs 115, 120 and 150, 160. A
circumferentially extending annular resilient buffer 26 (not shown) or one or more separate longitudinally 27 extending springs 153 are provided between suitable 28 shoulders 151, 152 on each sleeve 115, 120. The 29 springs 153 abut the shoulders 151, 152 which forces the opposite ends 116u of sleeve 115 and the lower end 31 1161 of sleeve 120 into contact with the bearings 125 32 and 175 respectively. The spring mechanism thus 1 ensures contact between the sleeves 115, 120 and the 2 bearings 125, 175 even as the bearings 125, 175 wear 3 and reduce in size through use. A similar buffer (not 4 shown) or springs 154 are provided between the second pair of sleeves 150, 160 to provide a similar function.
6 Features not described in this embodiment are similar 7 to those as described for previous embodiments.
9 In certain embodiments maintenance of the apparatus may be performed infrequently as the apparatus functions 11 adequately even when the bearings have been worn 12 through use. Consequently, the cost to replace the 13 bearings and on the time spent stripping down the 14 apparatus to replace the bearings may be saved.
16 Modifications and improvements can be incorporated 17 without departing from the scope of the invention.
Claims (21)
1. A drill string member comprising a body and one or more bearings on the outer surface of the body.
2. A drill string member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each bearing is held in a bearing race on the body.
3. A drill string member as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bearing race is an annular groove.
4. A drill string member as claimed in either claim 2 or claim 3, having more than one bearing race.
5. A drill string member as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the race(s) are perpendicular to the axis of the body.
6. A drill string member as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the races are continuous.
7. A drill string member as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the bearings are spheres.
8. A drill string member as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the bearings are cylinders.
9. A drill string member as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the bearings are retained in the or each race by overcentre side walls in the race.
10. A drill string member as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the bearings are retained in place by at least one sleeve which abuts the bearings on at least one side.
11. A drill string member as claimed in claim 10, comprising more than one sleeve.
12. A drill string member as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the or each sleeve is provided with one or more seals.
13. A drill string member as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the or each sleeve is spring-loaded.
14. A drill string member as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one shoulder or the body abuts the bearings on at least one side.
15. A drill string member as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein a retaining member is used to retain the or each sleeve.
16. A drill string member as claimed in claim 15 wherein the retaining member is a snap-on or shrink-on lock ring, a screw-on collar, a lock ring or a circlip.
17. A drill string member as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 16, wherein the bearings and/or the races are lubricated by mud ingress.
18. A drill string member as claimed in any preceding one of claims 2 to 17, wherein the bearing races are self-cleaning.
19. A drill string member as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein bearings can be released for cleaning.
20. A drill string member as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a length of drill pipe.
21. A drill string member as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19, comprising a sub or sleeve attachable to a length of drill pipe.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBGB9924114.3A GB9924114D0 (en) | 1999-10-13 | 1999-10-13 | Drill pipe |
| GB9924114.3 | 1999-10-13 | ||
| PCT/GB2000/003829 WO2001027434A2 (en) | 1999-10-13 | 2000-10-06 | Drill string member with bearings |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2385443A1 true CA2385443A1 (en) | 2001-04-19 |
Family
ID=10862585
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002385443A Abandoned CA2385443A1 (en) | 1999-10-13 | 2000-10-06 | Drill string member with bearings |
Country Status (8)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP1226329B1 (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE256817T1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU7544900A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2385443A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE60007349D1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB9924114D0 (en) |
| NO (1) | NO20021630D0 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2001027434A2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB0118270D0 (en) * | 2001-07-27 | 2001-09-19 | Internat Tubular Services Ltd | "Tool string member with bearings" |
| US9810030B2 (en) | 2013-06-03 | 2017-11-07 | Evolution Engineering Inc. | Mud motor with integrated abrasion-resistant structure |
| CN103710015B (en) * | 2013-12-25 | 2016-08-17 | 四川宝麟新材料科技有限公司 | A kind of oil gas field volume increase emulsion-type drag reducer and preparation method thereof |
| CN110080693B (en) * | 2018-01-25 | 2020-10-09 | 中国石油化工股份有限公司 | Drilling tool centralizer |
| GB201803284D0 (en) * | 2018-02-28 | 2018-04-11 | Kaseum Holdings Ltd | Roller tool |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US1877395A (en) * | 1928-05-14 | 1932-09-13 | Emsco Derrick & Equip Co | Antifriction device for drill pipe |
| GB8914882D0 (en) * | 1989-06-29 | 1989-08-23 | Red Baron Oil Tools Rental | Drill string component |
| US5148876A (en) * | 1991-06-10 | 1992-09-22 | Prideco, Inc. | Lightweight drill pipe |
| US5339910A (en) * | 1993-04-14 | 1994-08-23 | Union Oil Company Of California | Drilling torsional friction reducer |
-
1999
- 1999-10-13 GB GBGB9924114.3A patent/GB9924114D0/en not_active Ceased
-
2000
- 2000-10-06 EP EP00964521A patent/EP1226329B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2000-10-06 DE DE60007349T patent/DE60007349D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2000-10-06 AT AT00964521T patent/ATE256817T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2000-10-06 WO PCT/GB2000/003829 patent/WO2001027434A2/en active IP Right Grant
- 2000-10-06 AU AU75449/00A patent/AU7544900A/en not_active Abandoned
- 2000-10-06 CA CA002385443A patent/CA2385443A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2002
- 2002-04-05 NO NO20021630A patent/NO20021630D0/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO2001027434A2 (en) | 2001-04-19 |
| EP1226329B1 (en) | 2003-12-17 |
| DE60007349D1 (en) | 2004-01-29 |
| EP1226329A2 (en) | 2002-07-31 |
| WO2001027434A3 (en) | 2001-10-11 |
| NO20021630L (en) | 2002-04-05 |
| NO20021630D0 (en) | 2002-04-05 |
| GB9924114D0 (en) | 1999-12-15 |
| AU7544900A (en) | 2001-04-23 |
| ATE256817T1 (en) | 2004-01-15 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |