Patent Application
20140144651
This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 to European Patent Application No. 12194531.5 entitled “Electrical Tripping Sub for Wired Drill Pipes” filed on Nov. 28, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The disclosed technology relates generally to wired drill pipes. More specifically, the disclosure is directed to systems, methods, and devices for connecting at least one electrical data and/or supply line to electrical sockets of a wired drill pipe when the drill pipe is not in an active drilling operation.
Currently, simple steel pipes are screwed together in many drilling facilities. In this manner, a drill string is formed to be several kilometres long and a drill bit is attached at an end of the drill string. In an interior of the pipes, there is a rinsing fluid (e.g., mud) for fulfilling a variety of functions during a drilling process. One of those functions may be an transmission of data via pressure pulses. However, since this data transmission is slow (e.g., a typical transmission rate is around 10 Baud), increasing efforts have been undertaken in drilling industries for obtaining bore information during a drilling operation at higher data transmission rates. For example, a downhole data transmission system of U.S. Pat. No. 6,670,880 is shown to transmit data through a plurality of drilling components of a drill string. Each of the drilling components is connected at its two ends to ends of subsequent drilling components. A coaxial cable within each drilling component extends from one end to the other end of the drilling component and is connected to the coaxial cables of adjacent drilling components. During a drilling operation, a swivel enables communications between the downhole data transmission system and instruments positioned at surface. Other transmission mechanisms are also used. For example, sonar or electric currents across the soil, etc. However, solutions based on a wiring of the drill string (e.g., electrical cables or light guides) have turned out to be most efficient.
Logging of data from the bore during a drilling process has become an essential element in modern crude oil, natural gas or geothermal drillings. This type of data acquisition is also referred to as Measurement While Drilling (MWD) or Logging While Drilling (LWD). Data acquisition is also important for a construction of the bore and a subsequent production of crude oil, gas and/or warm water. A drilling can be operated safely, efficiently and economically only by accurately determining respective relevant measurements. More data from below ground are available, more efficiently and safely can a drilling operation be organized. Therefore, the drilling industry increasingly demands a transmission of data at high data rates (e.g., 200 kBaud) from a depth of several kilometres. This request results in increasing demands on the power of underground measuring units and therefore, an increase in the electric power consumption of the underground measuring units. In order to account for this increasing electric power consumption, the underground measuring units should be supplied with electric energy (e.g., with 200 W) also from the surface.
In PCT Publication No. WO 2010/141969 A2, a device for connecting electrical cables on essential tubular connection elements, which can be screwed to each other, is disclosed, in which a first electrical contact element is firmly arranged on a first connection element and a second electrical contact element is arranged on a second connection element so as to be displaceable in the direction of rotation of the connection element. By means of this device, a problem of the electrical connection between the pipes of the drill string may be solved. The electrical connection has turned out to be reliable, simple and robust for the mechanical connection of pipes (e.g., a rotary movement) and enables a transmission of electric power and/or data under the severe conditions prevailing in the bore, such as a high pollution, the presence of all kinds of liquids, high temperatures and mechanical shocks. Using a drill string constructed in this manner, it is possible to feed electric power into underground measuring units during a drilling process, for example, with the aid of slip ring assemblies arranged at the top-drive and acting as swivels and to read out and evaluate data generated by those underground measuring units.
However, in particular for increasing the safety of the bore, it is also necessary to provide energy supply for underground measuring units and to read out data when no drilling operation is performed and the drill string is dismantled (trip-out) or installed by pipes being assembled (trip-in). In addition, it is of utmost importance to know whether changes relevant to safety occur in the bore, such as, e.g., pressure changes, friction, formation of gas bubbles etc.
In European Patent No. EP 2,273,058 A2, instruments for providing communications with a wired drill pipe during a tripping operation are disclosed. The instruments can be connected to the drill string and comprise so-called sub-coupler heads. A first type of sub-coupler head has a threadless surface which, during the installation in a wired drill pipe, exerts a retaining force against a thread section of the drill pipe via a friction or press fit. The friction or press fit is achieved by spreading the sub-coupler head. A communication element is embedded in the sub-coupler head to couple communicatively to a pipe communication element, if the sub-coupler head is positioned within the receiver end of the wired drill pipe. Inductive couplers and direct connection couplers, among other things, are mentioned as communication elements. A wiring connection, mud-pulse telemetry, electronic telemetry and/or acoustic telemetry are cited as examples of communicative coupling. The material of the sub-coupler head is elastic or deformable, respectively, and soft with regard to the material of the drill pipe so that the thread of the drill pipe is not damaged. In an alternative exemplary embodiment of the sub-coupler head, its surface exhibits a partial thread. The communication device serves only for the transmission of signals, but not for supplying underground measuring units with electric energy.
In U.S. Pat. No. 7,198,118, a communication adapter for a detachable connection to a drilling component outside of the active drilling operation is disclosed. The communication adapter comprises a data transmission coupler for data communication with a transmission system integrated in the drilling component, a mechanical coupler for removably attaching the adapter to the drilling component and an integral data interface comprising a screen, a gauge, a loudspeaker or a light. The mechanical coupler comprises a thread or solenoids or locking mechanisms such as, e.g., elastic clips or clamps. In one exemplary embodiment, the mechanical coupler comprises cams which can be swiveled about a swivel axis into an engagement with an internal thread of the drilling component. The communication adapter serves only for the transmission of signals, but not for supplying underground measuring units with electric energy.
The intention of feeding energy, data and/or control signals into and, respectively, out of the drill string during the trip-in and, respectively, trip-out operation of the bore encounters primarily the following difficulties:
The disclosed technology is based on the object of providing a solution to the above-discussed problems associated with feeding electric energy, data and/or control signals into and, respectively, out of the drill string during the trip-in and, respectively, trip-out operation of the bore.
Various implementations of systems, methods and devices within the scope of the appended claims each have several aspects, no single one of which is solely responsible for the desirable attributes described herein. Without limiting the scope of the appended claims, some prominent features are described herein.
The disclosed technology provides a device for connecting at least one electrical data and/or supply line to drill pipe electrical sockets of a wired drill pipe, when the wired drill pipe is not in an active drilling operation.
The disclosed technology also provides a method of connecting at least one electrical data and/or supply line to drill pipe electrical sockets of a wired drill pipe, when the wired drill pipe is not in an active drilling operation.
These and other objects of the disclosed technology will be described in or be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments.
According to an aspect of the disclosed technology, there is provided a device comprising electrical sockets galvanically connecting to the at least one electrical data and/or supply line and contacting with the drill pipe electrical sockets. The device further comprises a collet blocking plug configured to be axially insertable into and removable from a receiver end of the drill pipe and at least one collet configured to be axially displaceable from the collet blocking plug between a locking position and a release position. The collet is configured to be interlocked with the drill pipe in the locking position. The collet is released from the drill pipe in the release position.
According to an aspect of the disclosed technology, there is provided a method comprising connecting electrical sockets galvanically to the at least one electrical data and/or supply line and contacting with the drill pipe electrical sockets. The method further comprises interlocking at least one collet with the drill pipe in a locking position and releasing the collect from the drill pipe in a release position. The collet is configured to be axially displaceable from a collet blocking plug between the locking position and the release position. The collet blocking plug is configured to be axially insertable into and removable from a receiver end of the drill pipe.
Said object is achieved by a device for connecting at least one electrical data and/or supply line to electrical sockets of a wired drill pipe having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are set forth in the subclaims, in the specification and in the drawings.
By means of the tripping sub, according to an embodiment, at least one electrical data and/or supply line can be connected to electrical sockets of a wired drill pipe, if the drill pipe is not in the active drilling operation. The tripping sub according to an embodiment comprises: electrical sockets which are galvanically connected to the at least one electrical data and/or supply line and can be brought into contact with the electrical sockets of the drill pipe; a collet blocking plug axially insertable into and removable from a receiver end of the drill pipe; and at least one collet. The collet blocking plug and the collet are axially displaceable relatively to each other between a collet position and a release position, wherein, in the collet position, the collet is configured to interlock with the drill pipe and wherein, in the release position, the engagement of the collet with the drill pipe is undone.
The tripping sub according to an embodiment is particularly suitable for being connected to the connection elements of wired drill pipes as described in the above mentioned patent application WO 2010/141969 A2, whereas an adjustment to standard threads of standard drill pipes is not an object of the embodiments.
A locking between the tripping sub according to an embodiment and the drill pipe which is fabricable quickly and safely can be achieved if the collet is radially movable, preferably radially movable in an elastic way.
If, in the tripping sub according to an embodiment, the collet is radially retractable in the release position, the tripping sub can be guided out of the drill pipe with particular ease. In a preferred construction of an embodiment, the collet blocking plug has at least one indentation, preferably at least one peripheral groove, into which the collet is radially retractable in the release position. Particularly safe handling of the tripping sub according to an embodiment can be achieved if the collet blocking plug has two indentations, preferably peripheral grooves, which are axially offset and define two different release positions. A first release position is thereby taken by a relative axial displacement of the collet blocking plug toward the collet in a first direction, and a second release position is taken by a relative axial displacement of the collet blocking plug toward the collet in the opposite direction. A high mechanical stability of the connection between the tripping sub and the wired drill pipe and protection against loosening of the connection in the occurrence of tensile forces is achieved if, in the collet position, a section of the collet blocking plug forms an abutment against radial retraction of the collet.
Good manageability of the tripping sub according to an embodiment is achieved if the collet has projections which are configured to join in indentations of the drill pipe in the collet position or if the collet has indentations which are configured to join in projections of the drill pipe in the collet position.
In a space-saving and mechanically highly reliable embodiment of the tripping sub according to an embodiment, the collet is designed as a clamping sleeve surrounding the collet blocking plug.
In order to prevent an unintended loosening of the connection to the drill pipe, the tripping sub can be prestressed into the collet position, preferably by means of centering springs.
For a particularly high reliability and a fast establishing of the electrical connection, in a preferred embodiment of the tripping sub according to an embodiment, a rotary external body is provided in which the electrical sockets are configured such that they can be brought into contact with the electrical sockets of the drill pipe by a rotary movement of the external body. Providing rotation handles facilitates the turning of the tripping sub for the operating staff. Providing axial running handles generally simplifies the manual guidance of the tripping sub. In a preferred embodiment, the external body and the collet are axially connected with regard to each other in an essentially rigid, but rotatable way. The connection can thereby be implemented by means of a rotation blocking plug which is axially connected to the collet in a rigid way and, on its outer surface, has an external thread onto which an internal thread of the external body is screwed in a rotatable way. The collet and/or the rotation blocking plug can be locked against twisting with regard to the collet blocking plug by a rotation blocking element. Alternatively, the rotation blocking plug can comprise rotation blocking elements for join in the drill pipe.
For an automatic or at least semiautomatic connection of the tripping sub to a drill pipe, it is envisaged that the external body is rotatable by means of a motor and optionally a gear, wherein the tripping sub preferably being equipped with actuators for an automatic supply to and take away from the drill pipe.
Furthermore, for safety reasons, an electrical detection switch is recommended which detects whether the electrical sockets of the tripping sub are in contact with the electrical sockets of the drill pipe.
In order to avoid that the electrical cables twist too much and, as a result, break or their insulation is damaged, it is also envisaged in an embodiment that at least one electrical cable is guided out of the tripping sub in a loom of cables by means of a rotation compensator device.
For conducting measurements, for example, on stored drill pipes, it is purposeful to design the tripping sub according to an embodiment as a handheld device, wherein at least one device for feeding and discharging data, status and/or test signals and for evaluating discharged signals is connected to the at least one electrical data and/or supply line, the device preferably having a user interface.
The various features illustrated in the drawings may not be drawn to scale. Accordingly, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. In addition, some of the drawings may not depict all of the components of a given system, method or device. Finally, like reference numerals may be used to denote like features throughout the specification and figures.
Advantages and features of the disclosed technology and methods of accomplishing the same may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings. The disclosed technology may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are disclosed so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art, and the disclosed technology will only be defined by the appended claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.
The drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.
Further, since sizes and thicknesses of constituent members shown in the accompanying drawings are arbitrarily given for better understanding and ease of description, the disclosed technology is not limited to the illustrated sizes and thicknesses.
The collet 33 serves for fixating the tripping sub 2 in the drill pipe in an axial direction. For this purpose, the collet blocking plug 32 and the collet 33 are axially displaceable relative to each other between a locking position and a release position, with the collet 33 being divided in its front region into a plurality of tongues 33b. The tongues 33b are radially movable in an elastic way and, at their free ends, exhibit projections 33a for interlocking with the drill pipe. In a collet position, the tongues 33b are extended radially. In a release position, they are retracted radially, as it is explained below in further detail. The collet blocking plug 32 has two indentations in the form of peripheral grooves 32a and 32c, which are separated from each other by a web-shaped section 32b and receive the projections 33a of the collet 33 in two different release positions.
The collet 33 is axially mounted in a rigid way with regard to the rotation blocking plug 34 so that axial movements of the collet 33 and axial movements of the rotation blocking plug 34 take place jointly, whereby the rotation blocking plug 34 is unable to obstruct the radial movement of the tongues 33b. A buttress thread 37 comprises an external thread 34c on the peripheral surface of the rotation blocking plug 34 and an internal thread 31 a on the interior surface of the external body 31. With the buttress thread 37, the rotation blocking plug 34 and the external body 31 are interconnected in such a way that the rotation blocking plug 34, the collet 33 and the external body 31 are axially moved jointly in relation to the collect blocking plug 32 if the external body 31 is moved axially. However, in a rotary movement of the external body 31 in relation to the collet 33, the external body 31 is movable axially in relation to the collet 33. With two central springs 36, the rotation blocking plug 34, the collet 33 and the external body 31 are prestressed into such an axial position relative to the collet blocking plug 32 that the tripping sub 2 is located in the locking position in which the projections 33a of the collet 33 rest on the web section 32b of the collet blocking plug 32. The two central springs 36 exert equal spring forces from opposite directions, whereby an equilibrium of forces is produced and results in the relative axial position.
The rotation blocking plug 34 serves for radially fixating the tripping sub 2 in the drill pipe. For this purpose, the rotation blocking plug 34 exhibits, at its front face, a sequence of projections 34a and indentations 34b which interlock with indentations and projections of a protective sleeve in the drill pipe, which are formed in a mirror-inverted fashion. In order to prevent that the collet 33 and the rotation blocking plug 34 twist with regard to the collet blocking plug 32, a rotation blocking pin 43 is provided. As a result of this construction, the collet 33 and the rotation blocking plug 34 are secured radially and axially in relation to the drill pipe in the state of connection between the tripping sub 2 and the drill pipe.
In the following, a process of connecting the tripping sub 2 to the drill pipe 6 is explained on the basis of
As shown in
In order to loosen a connection between the drill pipe 6 and the tripping sub 2, the above described operations are conducted in the reverse order. That means that at first, by rotating the external body 31 in the opposite direction, the axial fixation thereof has to be loosened. An interruption of the galvanic contact of the electrical sockets 35 and 73 occurs by loosening the axial fixation of the external body. By pulling the axial running handle 39, the collet blocking plug 32 axially moves outwards in relation to the collet 33, since the collet 33 is prevented from an axial movement because its projections 33a abut against the lug 72a of the connection element 72 of the drill pipe. As shown in
The exemplary embodiment of the tripping sub 2 according to an embodiment, as it has been described so far, is provided for the manual operation of the drilling facility by the operating staff However, it is also possible to furnish the tripping sub 2 for a semiautomatic or fully automatic operation.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12194531.5 | Nov 2012 | EP | regional |
