US2327506A

US2327506A - Footage indicator for drilling

Info

Publication number: US2327506A
Application number: US418354A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joshua C Conrad; Harold L Conrad
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1941-11-08
Filing date: 1941-11-08
Publication date: 1943-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 1960-08-24

Description

Aug. 24, 1943.

J. C. CONRAD ET AL FOOTAGE INDICATOR FOR DRILLING Filed Nov. 1941 Josh a4 C, COD/PH?) VENTORS Q I Patented Aug. 24, 1943 FOOTAGE INDICATOR FOR DRILLING Joshua C. Conrad and Harold L. Conrad,

Oklahoma City, Okla.

Application November .8, 1941, Serial No. 418,554

6 Claims.

This invention relates to well drilling equiplogging the footage of wells during drilling.

The principal object of the invention is to provide, in combination with an electrically operated counter, means responsive to movements of the bit in the well for actuating said counter, but with provisions for rendering the said means inoperative during periods when the bit is elevated from the point of operations, in order to insure accuracy in indicating the depth penetrated by the bit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a footage logging apparatus whose calculations are electrically accomplished by translating mechanical movements into electrical impulses; that is to say, by causing a magnetic counter to operate at intervals determined by the movement of a line whose movement is in direct ratio to the movement of the bit in the well but, in the present case, is restricted to the downward movement of the bit through provisions for breaking the electrical circuit to the magnet during upward movements of the bit.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has particular reference to certain features of accomplishment to become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the acompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial view of a rotary well drilling rig with the invention installed thereon.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the invention with parts broken away andparts in section.

Figure 3 is a view on line 33 on Figure 2.

Figure, 4 is a plan view in transverse section, taken on line 4-4 on Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a detail elevational view of the circuit making and breaking disc.

In Figure 1 is shown the derrick 46, rotary table 41, kelly 48, swivel l9, drilling line 50, traveling block 5| and crown block 52. A line 53 is connected at d to the swivel or kelly and extends over a sheave in the crown block and is threaded through a sheave 54 which is a part of the traveling block 55 and is passed upward and anchored at e to the crown block 52. y

In the present case a sheave 54 determines the intervals between the electrical impulses which actuate the counter 56, the said sheave having a circumference whose measurement is predetermined to represent, for example, one foot of hole drilled. In other words, upon each complete revolution of the sheave 54, a circuit is completed to the magnetic counter 56 to actuate the same to indicate a depth of one foot penetrated by the drill bit. This is accomplished in the manner to become apparent presently,

A housing 51 is mounted on the block and may contain a quantity of oil. One end of the stub shaft 58, on which the sheave 54 is mounted, extends into the housing 51 and carries thereon a disc 59. This disc is made of non-ferrous material, such as fiber and has an electrode extending outwardly from its periphery, Attached to the inner face of the disc is a ferrous plate 5 I, having an integral segment 62 extending outwardly therei'rom and overlying the periphery of the disc be adjacent to the electrode 60.

Connected to and insulated from the wall of the block 55 is a spring contact 53 which extends into the circular path of the electrode and engages the same at each revolution of the disc 59. A companion spring contact 64 is mounted on but insulated from the block 55 and frictionally bears against the surface of the ferrous plate 6| of the disc and has the function of a brush contact. 7

Referring to Figure 2, it will be observed that a wire is connected to the contact 63 and extends to one post of the battery 66, (Fig. 1) the latter being connected to the magnetic counter 56 by a wire Bl. Another wire 68 connects the counter with the contact 54 in the housing5'l.

In operation; as the bit drills into the formation, the kelly is lowered, gradually lowering the line 53 which causes the block 55 to travel upward at half the ratio of the downward travel of the kelly. A weight 65, constrained to rectilinear travel by a guide rail 'lu prevents undue swinging motion of the block 55.

As the sheave 54 of the block 55 rotates, the disc 59 is rotated, bringing the electrode 60 into engagement with the spring contact 63. As the disc continues to rotate, the electrode advances and the contact 63, due to its inherent resiliency, snaps ofi the electrode, striking the segment 62 of the ferrous plate 6|. The plate is momentarily charged and the current from the battery 66, through contact 64 and wire 58.

to the magnetic counter 56 and back to the battery through wire 61 or ground.

Thus, it will beseen that each time the bit penetrates to a depth of a foot, the sheave 54 will have made one complete revolution and the disc 59. being amxed to the axis of the sheave, has also made one complete revolution, closing the circuit and thereby actuating the magnetic counter, by which is determined the depth of the hole.

It will be understood that more than one electrode, such as 60, may be employed and other factors changed in keeping with such alteration without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for indicating the depth penetrated by a drill bit in drilling wells, a line normally under tension, one end of whichis constrained to move in direct relation to the downward movement of said drill bit, and having its opposite end anchored against movement, a sheave block containing a sheave carried upon and actuated by said line and whose displacement is equal to one-half the travel of said drill bit, a magnetic counter, a source of electrical current, an electric circuit connecting said source and counter, a housing mounted on one side of said sheave block, a disc mounted in the shaft of said sheave and operating in said housing, an electrode extending from the periphery of said disc, a ferrous plate on the face of said disc, a sliding contact in continuous engagement with said plate, a resilient contact intermittently engaged by said electrode to open and close said circuit whereby to progressively operate said magnetic counter, a weight suspended from said sheave block and means for guiding said weight to cause said sheave block to travel in a substantially vertical plane.

2. Apparatus for indicating the footage made by a drill bit during drilling, a line having one end anchored and its opposite end connected to the drill pipe carrying said bit to move therewith, a sheave and sheave block supported by said line intermediate its ends whereby its displacement will be equal to one-half the displacement of said drill hit, an electrical circuit, a magnetic counter in said circuit, a source of electrical current, a disc carried by the axle of said sheave and actuated by movements of said sheave block, a ferrous plate mounted on the face of said disc, a resilient contact in continuous engagement therewith, an electrode extending from the periphery of said disc, a second contact engaged by said electrode-at each revolution of said disc to open and close said circuit at predetermined intervals to operate said counter, and weight means to constrain said sheave block against other than vertical displacement.

3. An apparatus of the character described, in combination with the drill bit and string of drill pipe in a well, a line connected at one end to said drill pipe and having its opposite end anchored against movement, a sheave and sheave block carried by said line whose vertical displacement is half that of said drill bit, an electrical circuit, means for energizing said circuit, a magnetic counter in said circuit, means mounted upon and rotated by the axle of said sheave carrying a ferrous plate, a contact in continuous engagement with said plate, an electrode at one point on the periphery of said rotated means, a second contact engageable at each revolution of said rotated means to make and break said circuit-whereby to produce impulses for actuating said counter, a weight suspended from said sheave block and guide means for said weight to hold said sheave against other than vertical displacement.

4. Apparatus for indicating the footage made by a drill bit during the drilling of a well, a line having one end connected to the string of drill pipe carrying said bit and having its opposite end anchored against movement, a sheave block mounted on said line intermediate its ends and movable thereby, an electrical circuit, means energizing said circuit, means arranged in said circuit and operated by impulses produced in said circuit to indicate depth in feet penetrated by said drill bit, a disc carried by the shaft of the sheave of said block and rotatable therewith, an electrode carried by the periphery of said disc, a ferrous plate carried by said disc having a peripheral extension overlying the periphery of said disc, a sliding contact in continuous engagement with said plate and a companion contact arranged for successive engagement with said electrode and the extension of said plate to momentarily charge said plate to make and break said circuit therethrough, whereby to operate said indicating means.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which the circuit is provided with means to open the same during periods when the drill bit is being elevated.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which the sheave block is held against other than vertical displacement by a weight suspended therefrom and means to constrain said weight to travel rectilinearly.

JOSHUA C. CONRAD. HAROLD L. CONRAD.