CA1327789C - Drilling system - Google Patents
Drilling systemInfo
- Publication number
- CA1327789C CA1327789C CA000541052A CA541052A CA1327789C CA 1327789 C CA1327789 C CA 1327789C CA 000541052 A CA000541052 A CA 000541052A CA 541052 A CA541052 A CA 541052A CA 1327789 C CA1327789 C CA 1327789C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- drill
- pipe
- drilling
- unit
- mud
- 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.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 127
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 104
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 63
- 125000006850 spacer group Chemical group 0.000 claims description 19
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 14
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000011810 insulating material Substances 0.000 claims 2
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 7
- 230000036961 partial effect Effects 0.000 description 5
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 3
- 235000002020 sage Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 3
- SUBDBMMJDZJVOS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 5-methoxy-2-{[(4-methoxy-3,5-dimethylpyridin-2-yl)methyl]sulfinyl}-1H-benzimidazole Chemical compound N=1C2=CC(OC)=CC=C2NC=1S(=O)CC1=NC=C(C)C(OC)=C1C SUBDBMMJDZJVOS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 2
- ZPEZUAAEBBHXBT-WCCKRBBISA-N (2s)-2-amino-3-methylbutanoic acid;2-amino-3-methylbutanoic acid Chemical compound CC(C)C(N)C(O)=O.CC(C)[C@H](N)C(O)=O ZPEZUAAEBBHXBT-WCCKRBBISA-N 0.000 description 1
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 241000243251 Hydra Species 0.000 description 1
- 241001024099 Olla Species 0.000 description 1
- 101150057388 Reln gene Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 235000017276 Salvia Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 241001072909 Salvia Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000002411 adverse Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003638 chemical reducing agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007667 floating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012774 insulation material Substances 0.000 description 1
- QRXWMOHMRWLFEY-UHFFFAOYSA-N isoniazide Chemical compound NNC(=O)C1=CC=NC=C1 QRXWMOHMRWLFEY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002674 ointment Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000819 phase cycle Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920000136 polysorbate Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002829 reductive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B7/00—Special methods or apparatus for drilling
- E21B7/04—Directional drilling
- E21B7/06—Deflecting the direction of boreholes
- E21B7/068—Deflecting the direction of boreholes drilled by a down-hole drilling motor
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP 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
- E21B17/003—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings with electrically conducting or insulating means
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP 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
- E21B17/18—Pipes provided with plural fluid passages
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP 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
- E21B4/006—Mechanical motion converting means, e.g. reduction gearings
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP 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
- E21B4/04—Electric drives
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP 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
- E21B4/18—Anchoring or feeding in the borehole
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B47/00—Survey of boreholes or wells
- E21B47/12—Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A drilling system comprises a drill string (1) incorporating inbuilt tubular conductors (25), a mud supply passage, and passages for protective or other fluids. The drill string can be advanced by selectively actuable pistons (51,60) exposed to drilling mud flow, by electrically driven traction units (71,74) engaging the drill hole wall or by a linear electric motor element (82) co-operating with a drill hole casing (24), which can be moved thereby relative to the drill string. The drill bit (106) of the drill unit is driven rotatably by an electric motor (111,112) or reciprocably by a linear electric motor (125). The drill unit can be of two relatively slidable parts, with fluid pressure, which may be generated within the unit (189) axially loading the drill bit. Drilling forms can be resisted by clamps (129) clamping the unit and/or the drill string to the drill hole wall. The drilling direction can be adjusted by means of these clamps.
A drilling system comprises a drill string (1) incorporating inbuilt tubular conductors (25), a mud supply passage, and passages for protective or other fluids. The drill string can be advanced by selectively actuable pistons (51,60) exposed to drilling mud flow, by electrically driven traction units (71,74) engaging the drill hole wall or by a linear electric motor element (82) co-operating with a drill hole casing (24), which can be moved thereby relative to the drill string. The drill bit (106) of the drill unit is driven rotatably by an electric motor (111,112) or reciprocably by a linear electric motor (125). The drill unit can be of two relatively slidable parts, with fluid pressure, which may be generated within the unit (189) axially loading the drill bit. Drilling forms can be resisted by clamps (129) clamping the unit and/or the drill string to the drill hole wall. The drilling direction can be adjusted by means of these clamps.
Description
13277~
DRILLING SYSTEM
DESCRIPTION
The inventio~ relates to a drilling system, more specifically to a drilling system of the kind in which a drill string extends from topside or stationary equipment to a drill bit for performing a drilling operation.
In known systems of this kind, the drill bit may be driven by a motor receiving power by way of the drilling mud supplied to the drilling site, or by an electric motor. Difficulties are encountered with electric motor drive arrangements because of the length of the necessary cable connection, and the adverse environment in which the electric motor has to operate.
Further problems arise in connection with directional or horizontal drilling, because information relating to performance of the drill bit and to its position has to be conveyed along the drill string more or less continuously. Mud pulsing can be employed in the mud drilling systems but the speed of data transmission is low, as is the volume of data that can be transmitted.
The present invention is concerned accordingly with the provision of an improved drilling system of the kind described, and of improved components for use ~5 in such a drilling system, with particular but not exclusive reference to directional or horizontal drilling operations.
The invention accordingly provides a drilling system of the kind described including a drill string incorporating as an integral part thereof electric conductor means capable of power and/or communication 13277~9 tran~misslon~ The aonductor m~an3 ~an comprls~ rlgld condu~tor~ in ~ixed ~lation to ~ drlll plpe, the conductors being oonveni~ntly of ~onoentrlc tub~lar ~onfiguratlon ~nd mount~d wlthln t~e drlll pipe, with clearan~e, and protecti~e inner or ou~er tub~ng to provlde at lo~t one pa~age ~or fluid a~ well as ~or movem~nt of drilllng mu~ along the drlll ~trlng.
The drill string ~an b~ made up of relat~vely ohort ~ectlons, ~he oonductor mean~ and any protectlve tublng with~n each seotlon being then ar~an~ed for ready coupling wlth ad~acent ~ection~, with contlnulty of the electria conduotor paths and fluie chan~el~
along th~ drlll ~trlng.
Th~ electric ~onduator ar~angements for a drill lS ~trlng ln aoco~d~nc~ with the lnventlon can provide mechanical proteation ~or the conduetor~ dn~ aan employ ~lmple connectlow mean~, for ~xample, ~crew-threadod or ~llp-on coup~lngq. Th~ arrangements faollit~t~ the ~se o~ an eleat~ic motor, whloh ~an ~e either rotary o~
lin~ar, to drive the d~ill bit ~nd they moseov~r ~rovide ~o~ p~ompt t~n~mls~lon of a la~ge volume o~
d~t~ ~etwoon the ~ixea or top~l~e aontrol ~qulpment, from whlch the drlll 8trlng extend~ an~ ~en~lng an~/or oont~ol e~ulpment ~oclat~ wlth the d~lll unit. ~he 25 oonaltlon~ unde~ whlch the drlll blt l~a op~r~tlng, ~nt the di~atlon ln whioh trilllng 18 belng carrled out, ar~ co~ ue~tly ea~lly monlto~ed and a~proprlato control ~lynals r~adlly supplled to the drill unit.
31r-ational a~nt~ol of the a~ unlt a~ring horizontal or dlroctlonal drillln~ 18 fa~illtated.
Th~ aonduato~ means al~o facllltate th~ p~ovislon o~ electr~cally powered and/or oontrollea ~xil$ary oqulpment at ono o~ more posltion~ along the drlll trln~ and al~o the u~e of ~n~o~ o~ surement 3S dovlaQ~ at such posl~ion~, a~ ~ell as the 10~at10n On the drlll str~ng of one or more lo~al pow~r ~ource~ or generators, and power and dAta and oontrol communlcatlon bet~een ~uch s~urce~ and b~t~een ~hem and the to~lde e~ipment.
The fluld passage or pa~sage~ pro~lded ~an be employ~d ~cr cl~cu~ation of oil or other proto~tlve fluid for one or ~ore of ~uch purpoees as ooollng, lubrio~tion, in~ulation, ~peratlon of anclllary equipment, ~nd supply of oll o~ ~hemical~ requlred for drilllng or for conneoted operatlon6. The 1uld can h~
~eld ~tatlo unde~ p~es~ure or can b~ ¢irculated at a ~elected p~e9sure either wlth a special ret~rn path o~
it can be returncd mixed wlth the ~eturnln~ drllling mud, ~8 when the f luid ie leak~d th~ough la~yrlnth ~eals ompl~yed ~or sealing movlng parts of the ~yste~.
Although the drlll Btrlng i5 p~lmarlly lntended for sy~tem~ in whlch the drill ~tring is not required to rotat~ it~ u~e in ~ystem~ in whiah rotation is ~ lr-d is not preoluded. Th~ drill ~tring can mor~over be u~ed ~s ~ standard d~ill 6trlng for parts oi~ the drlllln~ p~oaec9~ and c~n then be equipp~d wlth a ~t~ndard drlll blt, the conductor m~an~ ~elng used for ~lgnalllng, for ~x~mple to cont~ol egulpment from ~en~or~ at the drlll unit ~onitoring the drllllng pr~oo~s.
Th~ inv-ntlon al~o p~ovl~e~ a drlllln~ RyRtem o~
the kind d~orlb~d with mean~ ~or ~-lectl~o movoment of the drlll ~tr~ng and/or production plping and/o~ drlll hole c~sin~s ~long the drlll hole. ~uch m~an~ ar~ of ~ partlaular ~ niflcance ln th~ caJe o~ d~vl~ted~ that 1~, non-v~rtlcal, drlllin~ where placement of productlon tubln~ o~ drlll hole linlng~ under gravlty o~nn~e b- r-~lod upon.
~he d~ill otring can ~hu~ be provLded with one or 3S more ext~rnAl pl~ton ~lem~nt~ to ~e aoted upon by A
$10w o~ drilling mud in the required dlrectlon ~lonq the ~pace b~tween the drlll st~ing ~nd the drlll hole wall. The pist~n elements can be selectlvely inflatable, a~ by nle~ns of ~luid oonveyed along the drill utrlng whe~e tbis ha~ a ~tructure as descrlbed above lnoludlng one or more fluld pa~age~ besldes the pas~age ~or ~rlllin~ mud. Alternatlvelyr the pl4~0n element c~n 4~ ~ ~ixed conf lguratlon, wit~ one or more pas~ages con~alnlng check v~lves or selectlvely operable ~alve~ fo~ permitting ~low of th~ drllllng mud during no~mal operatlon, the v~lves ¢lo~ing to render the plston elem~nt ~$feotlve wh~n th~ mud flow dlroct~ orl i~ rever~ed ln ord~ to advance t~le dxlll ~tr~ng, Where produc~Lon tubing o~ a ca~lng for llnlng ~he drlll ~ole wall i~ ~o be b~ought into po~itlon, the drlll ~trlng aan he clAmped at it~ lower end to the dri~l hole wall, as ~y clamplng mean~ descrlbed below wlth p61rtiCUlAr` refor~3nae to a~ t~in drlll unlt~
embodylng the lnvention, and the p~oduction tublng o~
the llk~ can be mov~d by tho actlon ~f drllling mud on one or mo~e pl~ton~ extending inwa~dly ~om the tublny and ~ ing on th~ drlll ~trin~, which ~an serv~ as a ~eturn path for th~ mud. A~ter tho placement ~peration 25 ha~ boon oompleted, the d~ t~lny 18 unelamped and wlthdra~n, ~ h~ lnv~ntlon al~o provid-~ a drllllng ~y~t~m o~
tho Xin~ d~ori~od having one or moro electrlcally pow~red d~iv~ me~n~ ~o~ e~Cting movement of th~ ~rlll ~trlng andlor produotlon piping and/or drill hole ca~lng ~long th~ ~rlll hol~. Such driv~ mean~ c~n comprl~- a frA~o ~ured externally of the drill ~tring ana ~arrylng electrlcally pow~red traatlon ele~ont~
~or oxampl-, wheol~, ~oller or drl~ belt8, engageable w~th the drlll hole wall. The drl~e means aan ln~tead ~ . .....
13277~9 co~pri~e on~ or more elect~cal wlndings ~ecured to ~he drill Jt~ng 90 a9 to extend around 1~ and to functlon wh~n ene~glzed as an element of ~ llnear electrl~
motor, the other element o~ whlch is ~on~tltuted by a drill hole ca~iny. 3~ sultable onerglzation o~ the motor wln~lng~ the ~rill st~lng ca~ing and the drill ~t~ing can ~e relatively moved ln ~lther dlrec~lon or rotationAlly ~
?hls form of drive me~ns in partlcular ean be uged al~o to as~ist or ef~ect instellatlon of the drlll hole ca~lng and/or o~ production piping a$ter the drllllng has ~een completed, wlth tho leading end of the drlll ~trlng clamped a~ d~cribed aboVe ln conn~ctlon wlth the u~ of drllling mud to ef~ect ~uch placem~nt. ~oth t~c~nlqu~ ~an o~ cour~e be uQed for movement relatlve t~ the drlll ~trlng or other seleatl~ely clampa~lo core or guide member ln eith~r dlrectlon. Power can b~
s~pplled to the~e drive mean~ ~y way of the con~uctor~
extendlng along a d~ trln~ ln aocordance with the lnvontlon a9 describe~ above.
~h- lnvention al~o provide~ a trlll unit for u~
; ln a drlll~ng ~y~tem o~ the klnd d~oribed, the drlll unlt inoludln~ A rotation~l or linear ele~trlc motor ~or applying ~ rotational and/or reciprocal d~ive to the ~rlll ~lt direatly or ~hrough a m~ohanlaal or hydr~ullc ~echanl~ dri~n by the motor.
~ n ~ ~lmple ~rrangem-nt, th~ drill unit Or tho ln~ontlcn comprl~o~ a drill bit carrled by a drlll 8haft rotatably driven by an electrla moto~ whlch may b- a~naentrlcally ~rr~nged ar~und tho dslll ~ha~t. Tho motor m~y be arrang-d to rotate the drlll ~it at a p~edote~mlned ~poed or ~ho ~peed mny b~ ad~usted b~ a ~requ-noy control devlce. Th~ motor ~an ln~tead b~
aouplod to tho ~rlll ~h~t no~ dlreatlY but ~y ~eans of a ~p--d/~orque converter ~n the ~orm of a gearbox, 13277~9 hydra~llc eouplln~ or hyd~tatic tran~misslon d~vlae or a combination o~ theae, `
, 13277~9 The invention also provides a drill unit for use in a drilling system of the kind described, the unit having a percusive drill bit reciprocating by a linear electric motor. The linear electric motor can be arranged to drive the drill bit positively in both directions, but alternatively the motor can be arranged to effect movement in one direction only, movement in the other direction being effected by release of a spring which has been stressed during the electrically powered stroke.
The invention also provides a drill unit for use in a drilling system of the kind described in which a linear electric motor advances a plunger in an hydraulic system, the drill bit being reciprocated by the consequential movement of a piston within a hydraulic cylinder of the system. Again, both the operative and return stroke of the drill bit can be positively powered, or a spring loading means ~an be provided to power one of the strokes, as with the arrangement described above.
When the drill string extends generally vertically, its weight applies adequate axial loading to the drill bit, but the drill string cannot be used alone and with sufficient accuracy to apply such loading during horiæontal drilling.
The invention accordingly provides a drill unit for use in a drilling system of the kind described which comprises a first portion carrying the drill bit, a second portion for connection to the drill string, and means for selectively advancing the first portion relatlve to the second portion.
The second portion can be provided with clamping means whereby it can be selectively clamped to the formation being drilled, that is, to the drill hole wall. The two drill unit portions are preferably 13277~9 telescopically related and are arranged to be relatively moved hydraulically. The drill string can be in accordance with the invention as described above and the fluid pressure can be applied by way of a fluid passage with which the drill string is provided, or can be generated locally, within the drill unit, as with fluid pressure used for operating the drill bit.
It is frequently of importance that the direction of drilling be controlled and the invention accordingly provides a drilling unit for use in a drilling system of the kind described having means for orientating the axis of the drill bit at a predetermined angle to the drill hole axis. The drill bit axis can be selectively adjustable relative to the drill unit axis or the drill unit itself can be adjustable relative to the drill hole or its casing, as by clamping means of the kind described above provided with selectively adjustable spacing `,etween the drill unit and the drill hole and casing.
The invention also provides a drilling system of the kind described comprising means for clamping the drill string to the drill hole wall or to the drill hole casing at one or more appropriate positions, for example adjacent to the drill unit, so as to transfer the reaction force of the drilling from the drill string.
The invention is further described below, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 i8 a schematic general view of an entire drilling system embodying the invention;
Figure 2 is a partial sectional side view of a drlll string which can be incorporated in the system of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a : , . . ~ . ---` 13277~9 first modified form of the drill string of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a partial sectional side view of a second modified form of the drill string of Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a conductor assembly for a third modified form of the drill string of Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a schematic side view of a connector plug for the conductor assembly of Figure 5;
Figure 7 schematically illustrates a first traction unit for moving a drill string along a drill hole in accordance with the invention;
Figure 8, 9 and 10 schematically show respectively a second, third, and a fourth means in accordance with the invention for moving a drill string along a drill 1S hole;
Figure 11 is a partial sectional side view of a first drill unit which can be incorporated in the system of Figure 1; and Figures 12-15 are like views of second, third, fourth and fifth alternative drill units for use in the system of Figure 1 respectively.
The drilling system schematically shown in Figure 1 comprises a drill string 1 extending from topside control and supply equipment located on a platform 2 of a drilling frame or structure 4 resting on the seabed.
The drill string 1 extends generally vertically downwardly from the platform 2 within tubing 6 into a drill hole 7 which curves from an upper vertical portion communicating with the tubing to a generally horizontal end portion in which a drill unit 10 at the end of the drill string is operating.
The drill string 1 incorporates electric conductors whlch can perform various functions. They can thus supply power to an electric motor in the drill unit 10 from a power supply unit 12 on the platform 2, 13277~
the electric motor driving and/or advancing the drill bit either directly or by way of a hydraulic mechanism.
Additionally, the conductors can be employed for communication between a system control unit 14 on the platform 2 and condition-sensing equipment and/or a local control unit for the drill unit 10. Multiplexing techniques can be employed to provide a plurality of communication channels on a single conductor, which can additionally supply power along the drill string 1.
Drilling mud is circulated between a mud unit 15 on the platform 2 and the drill unit 10 by way of the drill string 1 and the generally annular passage between the drill string and the drill hole wall and pumping units 16 spaced along the drill string within the passage are powered by means of the conductors. Traction units 17 for advancing the drill string 1 along the drill hole are similarly powered and controlled.
The drill string 1 can also provide a fluid supply passage or fluid supply and return passages, for fluid communication between equipment 18 on the platform 2 and the drill unit 10 and/or other elements of the system. The fluid can perform a variety of functions, some in place of certain functions of the electrical - arrangements described above. The drill string 1 is handled by pipe handling equipment 19 on the platform 2, and the drill string structure can be such that the equipment 19 is conventional.
The drill string 1 is suspended from the platform 2 by means of an adapter 20 for effecting the necessary 1 30 connections between the equipment on the platform 2 and the various supply and communication channels of the drill string 1~
In the following more detailed description of various possible forms of certain elements of the system, parts which serve equivalent functions are . .
' "` 13277~9 given the same reference numerals throughout. It will be understood that certain features to be described can be combined in different ways, that is, certain features, for example of one of the drill units can be employed in one or more of the other drill units illustrated.
Turning now to the structure of the drill string 1, this is composed of sections of suitable length coupled together. Each section includes rigid electrical conductor means structurally integrated into the drill string section of which various forms are shown in Figures 2-6.
As shown in Figure 2, the drill string 1 comprises a drill pipe 21 containing concentrically within it an 1~ inner pipe or mud liner 22, the interior of which guides the drilling mud to the drill unit, and conductor tubing 25 received between the mud liner and the drill pipe. The conductor tubing 25 comprises a plurality of concentric metal tubes, for example three such tubes for a 3-phase power supply, with sleeves of solid insulation material between them. A concentric tubular conductor assembly of this kind is described in EP-A-0 063 444, published October 27, 1982. The conductor tubing 25 is spaced from both the drill pipe 21 and the mud liner 22 to define inner and outer annular passages 26,27 which can be employed as s~pply and return paths for fluid. The fluid has insulating properties where the conductor tube assembly is internally and externally free of insulation.
Sultable spacing means are provided to maintain the concentric relationship of the mud liner 22 the conductor assembly 25 and the drill pipe 2. For example, as shown in the lower part of Figure 2, the conductor assembly 25 can be provided with externally projecting hangers 29 arranged to rest with suitable C
13277~
insulation, on an internal shoulder of the drill pipe.
Connection is made between the ends of adjacent sections of the drill pipe 21 in any suitable way, the lower end of the upper section being shown as provided with a downwardly and inwardly tapered end portion enqageable with a mating tapered portion at the upper end of the lower section. The ends of the tubular conductors of the upper conductor tubing 25 are /
e~
13277~9 stepped back one from the other, and the conductors of the tubing in the lower section are stepped back in the contrary manner to provide for continuity of electrical connection and insulation between the two sections, in a way described in more detail in EP-A-0 063 444. The upper end of the mud liner 22 in the lower section has a stepped end portion for reception in the lower end of the liner of the upper se_tion, with sealing rings operative between the two mud liner sections.
In the modified drilistring structure of Figure 3, the conductor tubing is constituted as an assembly OI
separate arcuate portions or segments 30 of a tube, with insulation between them. The conductor segments 30 are held in position by an inner pipe 31 spaced outwardly of the mud liner 22 and provided with radially outwardly extending spacers 32 which engage the drill pipe 21. Insulation 34 is provided between each segment 30 and the inner pipe 31, and the insulation may extend also to the outer surface of the segment.
Each segment 30 is spaced from the drill pipe to pro~?ide one of the supply and return passages 26,27 for a protective fluid, of which the other is formed between the inner pipe and the mud liner.
In the alternative conductor tubing arrangement shown in Figure 4, the mud supply is by way of an annular passage between tse drill pipe 21 and a protective pipe or mud liner 22 concentrically recei~ed therein and surrounding a tubular conductor 25 which corresponds generally to the tubular structure assembly 3~ of Figure 2, but is of course of smaller diameter.
The supply and return passages 26,27 for the protective fluid are in this arrangement within the conductor tubing 25 and between it and the mud liner 22 ~5 .
~,~
.
respectively. As shown, connection arrangements at the ends of adjacent drill pipe sections are similar to those provided for in the arrangement of Figure 2.
Sultable spacers 40 and hangers 41 extend between the mud liner 22 and the drill pipe 21 to maintain the mud liner 22 and the drlll pipe 21 to maintain the mud liner and conductor tu~ing in correct concentric relationship within the drill pipe.
In accordance Wit}l Figure 5, the conductor tubing arrangement of Figure 4 can be modified to include segmental conductors 30 similar to those of Figure 3.
Thus for example three segmental conductors 30, with insulation 34, surround an inner pipe 31 from which radial spacers 32 extend to the mud liner 2~. The conductor segments 30 are spaced from the mud liner to define the outer passage 27 for protective fluid, and the interior of the inner pipe defines the inner such passag~ 26.
Where segmental conductors are employed, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, and the drillstring sections are connected together by screw-threaded connections at their ends, so that the relative angular location is not predetermined, electrical continuity between respective segments 30 can be achieved by the coupling arrangement shown in Figure 6. Here, each of the conductor segments at the end of a drillstring section is in electrical connection with a respective end contact ring 42. The end rings 42 are of s,uccessively largerdiameter contact downwardly from the free end of the section to form a male coupling assembly. the co-operating female assembly (not shown) is formed as a socket with internal steps matching in diameter and axial spacinq the external steps of the male assembly illustrated. At these steps, respective conductor seqment ends are exposed, so that they can enqaqe the 13277~
~15-contact rings of the male coupling assembly.
In any of the arrangements of Figures 2-6, one of the protective fluid passages can be omitted where the fluid is to be leaked into the drilling mud at the drill unit so that no return path is required. For example, as shown on the lefthand side of Figure 3, the mud liner 22 can simply be omitted, so that its function is performed by the inner pipe 31.
The drill string 1 needs to be advanced along the drill hole 7 as drilling progr~sses and Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 show different forms of drive means for achieving this advance, or for withdrawal of the drill string if required.
As appears from Figure 7, the drill string 1 includes a section 50 of which the interior can correspond to any one of the drill string sections described in connection with Figures 2-6 but which carries externally an annulus 51 which can be selectively inflatable, as by admission to its interior of the protective fluid conveyed along the drill string 1 by way of an electrically controlled valve 52. When inflated, the annulus 51 functions as a piston whereby the drill string 1 is moved along the drill hole by the pressure of drilling mud between the drill string and the wall of the drill hole 7 which acts as an hydraulic fluid Drilling mud is normally circulated to the drilling unit 10 in~ide the drill string and returned between it and the drill hole wall, as indicated by the arrow 55, BO that the annulus would thus be urged to retract the drill string rather than advance it. To obtain the desired drill string advance, the direction of the mud flow is reversed to that indicated by the arrow 56.
The pressure on the near side of the inflated annulus 51 must of course exceed that on the far side ~327789 -~6-and an elect~ically cont~olla~le mud dump valvc S7 can ~e provlied ln the wall of the drlll strlng down~t~esm of the annulus, ~o that drilllng mud pre ~re on the ~ar slde ~f the annulu~ $~ reduced by pa~sage of mud on that ~id~ ~o the mud ~lowing within the drlll ~t~lng.
Whon the annulus 51 1~ d~lated mud clrculation ~n the usual di~e¢t~on can C~t~nue unobstructod.
The traotion unlt ~hown in Figure~ ~ also employs tn~ drilling mud as a hydraullc fluld, but lneteaa o~
an in~latable annulu~, the mud engages a pi~ton e~ement 60 of fixe~ form 6ecured exter~ally around a seation of the drill st~lng 1, ~he plut~n element 60 1B ~eal~d to the wall of the d~i~l hole by annular flexlble seallng members ~1 whlch extend rearwardly to the wall ~o that th~ presoure of ~rllllng ~ud ~urlng t~actlon enhances the 6eal. A plurality of pa~sages 62 extend through the pi~on ~loment 60 and each lnoludes a non-ret~rn valve 64 which permlt3 mud flow through the assoclated pa~sage ln the dlrection o~ the arro~ 55 durln~
~o drlllin~. ~hen tho drlll s~rln~ to ~e advano~d, the dirwtlon o~ mud ~ow 10 r~v~r~ed, ~ that the mud flows ln the annular ~pac~ be~ween the arlll strlng and the ~rl~l h~le wAll ln thH dl~ectlon ~ndlcated ~y the a~ow 56. The non-r~turn valvR~ 64 olo~e the ~a~sag~s 62 th~oug~ he pl~ton elem~n~ r~nderl~ thl~ e~eot~ve to ac~lev- the de8ired drlll ~trlng mo~ement.
Tho non-r~t~rn valve 64 aan l~t~aa bo a Bol~tlvoly ope~a~le valve controlled dlre~tly, by ele~t~c~l mean~, or indtrectly~ a~ by electro-~y~raullc means, ~o that i~ can functlon as a deop setblow out pre~enter valv~, when it i~ de~ired to cl~se ofi' th~ drlll hole othor than by tho use o~ an X-ma~
tree val~lng srrange~ont.
Th~ tractlon unlt ~ho~n in Flgu~e 9 co~prlses frame 70 pcrmanent~y ~ red to the ext~rior of a drlll ~rame 70 per~anently ~o~ured to ~he exter~or of a drlll ~trlng ~eotlon, the f~ame b~ing ~uc~ ae not to un~ly obstruct tho ~low of mud betw~en the drill string and the q~lll hol~ w~ll. The fra~ 70 rotatably mounts S tractlon el~ments ln the form of wheel~ qr roller~ 71 which may be ~p~ing urg~d to engage the wall, and are electrlcally drlven ~o a~ to advance the drlll strlng 1 as and w~en required. In an alternatlve ar~angement~
ghown at ~he lower part of Figure 9, the ~ame 70 mount~ r~lle~ 72 a~ound whlch iB entr~lned a traot~on .
13277~9 belt 74 ~ngsgea~le wlt~ t~e drlll hole wall~ the rollero ~g~in being ~ele~tlv~ly d~lven by ~n electrlc m~to~ t~klny . lt~ powor from ~he con~uator~ ~lthin the drill strlng~
The tractlon unlt lllu~trat~d in Flgure 10 18 also el~atr~oally ~iven and oomprl~e~ an ~nnular aa~lng ~1, which cont~lns an eleat~lcal winding 82 and whlch 19 flxed to ~nd ~urrounds the ~ t~ing 1, o~ i~
lncorporated in the drill 3~rlng aB a 8eparate drill 1~ ~trlng ~eotlon~ ~he windlng 82 c~n ~ ~eleatlvely energi~ed by way o~ the con~uetor~ within the drlll strin~ ~o a~ to ~unction ao a component or "stator" of a llnear eleotrla motor, the other eomponent or "rotor"
bel~g represe~ted by a ~teel aa~ing 84 l~ning the drlll holo. By suitable control o~ the energi2ati~n o~ the wlndl~g B2 tho drlll ~trlng 1 can be moved along the a~lng 8~ ln either dlroctlon~ ~ a~slred.
It will bo evident that the varlous me~n~
de~crib~d above ~or a~vanclng or withdra~ing the d~lll ~o strlng 1 can be employed ~or moving the caslng 84, or othex external piplng, ~o~ example, product~on tubln~
~l~ng ~h~ drlll hole ln eith~r dlrectlo~. 5uch movement can be ~ffe~ted relative ~o ~ ~ore or guiae msmbe~ ln pl~ce of the drlll ~trin~. The momber or drill ~trlng ~quir~- to bo held ~tatlon~ry, ~nd it~
a~ln~ ~nd may b~ ~el2ctlvely alam~ed to ~h~ drlll hol~ wall by olamplng m~an~ as do~arib~d b~low.
,~ Tha drill unlt 100 o~ ~lgur~ 11 Gompr~ a cyllnd~lcal houslng 101 havlng a ~ot~tablo drlll shaft ~o~med o~ allgnod ~rwa~d and rear portion~ 104,105 concentricslly re~ ed ~h~reln. ~h- drill shait i~
hollow to pro~de ~ pa~say~ ~o~ th- ~pply ~ drllllng F mud t~ ~ drlll bl~ 106 c~rrl~d by the sha~t portlon 10~, wh~ch l~ ~ournall~d ln bearlng~ 10. The r~ar ha~t port~on 105 le ~ou~nalled ln b~arlng~ 109 ana 1J
~' t ~. .
~ 3~7789 conneated to th~ ~orward ~ortlon by way o~ a Belecti~e~y ad~ust~ble speed/tor~u~ convert~r 110.
3etween the bearlng~ 1~9, the rear shaft portlon 10S carrie~ an annula~ rotor p~r~ion 111 of an electrlc motor whlch 1~ concen~rlcally surro~nded by sn annular , , 13277~9 stator portion 112 secured to the housing 101. The housing 101 is connected at its rear end to a drill string which has one of the forms shown in Figures 2-6, with conductor tubing extending to a connector box 114 connected to a distributor unit 115. The conductor tubing of the drill string 1 provides not only power for the electric motor 111,112 but also data communication between the control equipment 14 located on the platform 2 and a local control unit 117, for control of the electric motor, and also between the control equipment and sensor means 116 for monitoring motor operation and progress of the drilling.
The speed/torque converter 110 may be omitted where direct drive of the drill bit 106 by the electric motor 111,11 is satisfactory.
Instead of a rotary drill bit, the drill unit of the invention can mount a reciprocable drill bit which operates percusively. In the drill unit 120 of Figure 12, the housing 121 has a hollow drill shaft 122 ao concentrically guided therein for reciprocating movement by slide bearings 124. At its forward end, the housing 121 includes the stator 125 of a linear electric motor, of which the drill shaft 122 functions as the "rotor". The housing 121 connects at its rearward end to a drill strlng 1 which can again be one of the kinds described with reference to Figures 2-6.
The linear electric motor constituted by the stator 125 and the drill shaft 122, can be operated so as to power both the forward and return strokes of the drill blt 106 by appropriate change of the phase sequence of the electrical supply, or alternatively, the motor could operate to effect only one of the strokes, for example the return stroke, the other stroke being then effected by release of energy stored during the powered stroke. The unit 120 can thus . , ) - - -~3277~9 incorporate a plurality of compression springs 126 extending into respective bores opening from the rear end of the drill shaft 122, the outer ends of the springs being held by retaining members 127 secured to the housing 121, which contains also a local control system 116.
To better support the unit 120 against the cutting stroke of the drill bit, the housing 121 can be provided with clamping devices 129 engageable with the drill hole wall, whereby the housing is concentrically clamped within the drill hole. Such clamping devices can be provided additionally or instead on the drill string 1 at suitable positions, to transfer the drilling reaction forces experienced by the drill string, so as to resist any tendency for the drill string to buckle. The clamping devices 129 can be of the kind described below with reference to Figure 1s.
In a ~.odification of the drill unit 120, schematically shown at the lower part of Figure 12, the linear motor stator 135 operates a plunger 136 of a hydraulic system 137 to move a piston within a hydraulic cylinder of which the piston rod 139 carries the drill bit 106.
In the drill unit 140 of Figure 13, the drill bit 106 and the motor for driv~ng it are arranged for axial movement relative to a "stationary" portion of the unit connected to the drill string or constituted by .... _ . ~
~
., ,,--. .
13277~9 the end thereof.
As shown, the drill bit 106 extends forwardly from a casing 141 containing a motor by which the drill bit is driven. Concentric inner and outer sleeves 142,144 extending rearwardly from the casing 141. The inner sleeve 142 serves for the conveyance of drilliny mud to the drill bit and is sealed to an inner sleeve 14S of the stationary portion of the unit within which it slides. The stationary portion of the unit also has an outer sleeve 147 slidably received within the sleeve 144 and seale~ thereto. A pin 149 on the sleeve 144 slides in a longitudinal slot of the sleeve 14 to prevent relative rotation of the two portions of the unit.
Between the two sets of inner and outer sleeves, sliding electric contacts or other means, for example flexible cables, are provi~ed for transmission of electr c power and/or communication signals. The stationary portion of the unit is thus provided with tubing 150 supporting a plurality of segmental conductors, suitably of the kind described in connection with Figures 3 and 5, which are in sliding contact relationship with correspcnding conductor tubing 151 extending rearwardly from the casing 141.
Fluid pressure conveyed along the drillstring 1 to the space 152 between the outer sleeve 144 and the conductor tubing 151 acts on the casing 141 to apply axial loading to the drill bit. The annular space 154 within the conductor tubing provides a low pressure 3U fluid return path, and the high pressure and low pressure fluid spaces are connected together through a pressure control valve 155 within the casing 141, the valve being adjustable so that the loading of the drill bit is in accordance with requirements.
The relatively sliding surfaces of the stationary and movable portions of the drill unit 140 are provided with stops which limit the relative movement corresponding to a certain advance of the drill bit.
At this point, the drillstring 1 is advanced in the drill hole, as by the means described with reference to Figures7-lO, relative to the new stationary drill bit 106 and casing 141. Thereafter, drilling is recommenced under the axial drill bit loading applied by the fluid pressure.
The drill unit 160 shown in Figure 14 is also telescopically constructed, so that the drill bit can be axially loaded under hydraulic pressure. The drill bit 106 is carried by a movable portion of the unit comprising a drill bit support 160 with rearwardly extending inner and outer concentric sleeves 162,164, Of which the inner sleeve 162 serves to guide drilling mud to the drill bit. The "stationary" drilling unit portion is received between these two sleeves.
The inrer sleeve 162 adjacent the support 161 is surrounded by a hollow drive shaft 165, which is splined to the inner sleeve so as to rotate therewith.
Rearwardly from the shaft 165, a hollow motor shaft 166 also surrounds and is sealed to the inner sleeve 162 but is capable of rotation with respect to it. The motor shaft 166 is driven by an electric motor of the same form as the mGtor employed in the drilling unit lO0 and drives the drive shaft 164 by means of a torque converter or speed reducer llO of the kind employed in the drilling unit 100.
The inner surface of the drill bit support 160 and adjacent surfaces of the inner and outer sleeves 162,164 provides a pre~sure chamber, sealed from the motor by sealing means 16~, for fluià pressure conveyed along the drillstring 1, whereby the drill bit is subjected to axial loading adjustable by control means 35 155 as with the unit 140 of Figure 13. The use and operation of the drilling unit 160 will be understood to be generally similar to that of the unit 140.
The fluid pressure axially loading the drill bit in the drill units of Figures 13 and 14 reacts against the stationary portions of the units and thus against the drill string to which they are attached. The stationary portions can however be clamped to the formation, by means of selectively actuable clamping devices 129 similar to those provided for the drilling unit 120.
A drilling unit 180 shown in Figure 15 thus comprises a stationary portion 181 provided with clamping devices comprising pads 182 pivotably carried at the outer ends of levers 184 pivoted to the outer wall of the stationary portion so as to extend outwardly and rearwardly of the drilling direction.
Selectively operable actuator devices 185, for example hydraulic cylinders, act between the outer ends of the levers 184 and the stationary portion wall to urge the pads 182 against the drill hole wall or to withdraw them inwardly.
An axial loading portion 186 of the drilling unit extends forwardly in the drilling direction from the portion 181 and a motor unit 187 having the drill bit 106 at its forward end can be advanced in the drilling direction under hydraulic pressure developed in the loading portion.
The clamplng devices 181,182 are preferably lndependently controllable, so that the drlll bit axis can be orlentated at a deslred angle to the drill hole axis withln an angular range, as indicated by the clrcle 188. Thus, in operation of the drill unit 180, the clamping devices 129 are released at the conclusion of a drllllng stage to effect wlthdrawal of the pads 182 from the drill hole wall, and the drill string and 1327~89 stationary drilling unit portions are then advanced relative to the drill bit and motor unit 187, so that the drilling unit takes up a contracted condition. In accordance with command signals designating a desired drilling direction, or a direction indicated by information obtained by appropriate sensors associated with the drilling unit, the clamping devices 129 are actuated to apply a directional inf luence to the unit whereby a new drilling direction is determined.
Drilling is then recommenced, wi~h axial loading applied to the drill bit 106 so that this and the motor unit 187 advance relative to the stationary portion 181.
In the drill unit 180, and in the other drill units in which pressure f luid is used to load the drill bit, the fluid pressure can be generated within the unit, as by a motor driven pump unit 189. The pressure fluid from this source can be applied also to operation of the actuators 184. A power distributor or a power generator such as the unit 189 can be located at any appropriate position or positions along the drill string 1, and in the drill unit, wherever power is reguired for a specific operation, for example to activate local control mechanisms or sensing or measuring equipment. Such local power generators can be controlled remotely as by electrical control signals from the control equipment 14 and can themselves be powered electrically or from pressure fluid or the flow of drilling mud.
Although the functions of the various drill units described with references to Flgures 11-15 can be controlled from the platform 2, provision can be made for a degree of local control at the drilling unit itself in response to locally sensed conditions. Also, if the hydraulic pressure required for axial drill bit ... .
.
loading and/or for clamp operation is generated locally, within the drill unit, the pressure fluid source can be controlled from the equipment on the platform 2 or in response to locally sensed conditions.
Although the invention has been described with reference to fixed offshore platform it will be evident that it can be employed also with floating drilling rigs or vessels and onshore drilling installations.
It will be evident that the drilling system and the various components thereof specifically shown and described can be modified substantially within the proper scope of the invention.
DRILLING SYSTEM
DESCRIPTION
The inventio~ relates to a drilling system, more specifically to a drilling system of the kind in which a drill string extends from topside or stationary equipment to a drill bit for performing a drilling operation.
In known systems of this kind, the drill bit may be driven by a motor receiving power by way of the drilling mud supplied to the drilling site, or by an electric motor. Difficulties are encountered with electric motor drive arrangements because of the length of the necessary cable connection, and the adverse environment in which the electric motor has to operate.
Further problems arise in connection with directional or horizontal drilling, because information relating to performance of the drill bit and to its position has to be conveyed along the drill string more or less continuously. Mud pulsing can be employed in the mud drilling systems but the speed of data transmission is low, as is the volume of data that can be transmitted.
The present invention is concerned accordingly with the provision of an improved drilling system of the kind described, and of improved components for use ~5 in such a drilling system, with particular but not exclusive reference to directional or horizontal drilling operations.
The invention accordingly provides a drilling system of the kind described including a drill string incorporating as an integral part thereof electric conductor means capable of power and/or communication 13277~9 tran~misslon~ The aonductor m~an3 ~an comprls~ rlgld condu~tor~ in ~ixed ~lation to ~ drlll plpe, the conductors being oonveni~ntly of ~onoentrlc tub~lar ~onfiguratlon ~nd mount~d wlthln t~e drlll pipe, with clearan~e, and protecti~e inner or ou~er tub~ng to provlde at lo~t one pa~age ~or fluid a~ well as ~or movem~nt of drilllng mu~ along the drlll ~trlng.
The drill string ~an b~ made up of relat~vely ohort ~ectlons, ~he oonductor mean~ and any protectlve tublng with~n each seotlon being then ar~an~ed for ready coupling wlth ad~acent ~ection~, with contlnulty of the electria conduotor paths and fluie chan~el~
along th~ drlll ~trlng.
Th~ electric ~onduator ar~angements for a drill lS ~trlng ln aoco~d~nc~ with the lnventlon can provide mechanical proteation ~or the conduetor~ dn~ aan employ ~lmple connectlow mean~, for ~xample, ~crew-threadod or ~llp-on coup~lngq. Th~ arrangements faollit~t~ the ~se o~ an eleat~ic motor, whloh ~an ~e either rotary o~
lin~ar, to drive the d~ill bit ~nd they moseov~r ~rovide ~o~ p~ompt t~n~mls~lon of a la~ge volume o~
d~t~ ~etwoon the ~ixea or top~l~e aontrol ~qulpment, from whlch the drlll 8trlng extend~ an~ ~en~lng an~/or oont~ol e~ulpment ~oclat~ wlth the d~lll unit. ~he 25 oonaltlon~ unde~ whlch the drlll blt l~a op~r~tlng, ~nt the di~atlon ln whioh trilllng 18 belng carrled out, ar~ co~ ue~tly ea~lly monlto~ed and a~proprlato control ~lynals r~adlly supplled to the drill unit.
31r-ational a~nt~ol of the a~ unlt a~ring horizontal or dlroctlonal drillln~ 18 fa~illtated.
Th~ aonduato~ means al~o facllltate th~ p~ovislon o~ electr~cally powered and/or oontrollea ~xil$ary oqulpment at ono o~ more posltion~ along the drlll trln~ and al~o the u~e of ~n~o~ o~ surement 3S dovlaQ~ at such posl~ion~, a~ ~ell as the 10~at10n On the drlll str~ng of one or more lo~al pow~r ~ource~ or generators, and power and dAta and oontrol communlcatlon bet~een ~uch s~urce~ and b~t~een ~hem and the to~lde e~ipment.
The fluld passage or pa~sage~ pro~lded ~an be employ~d ~cr cl~cu~ation of oil or other proto~tlve fluid for one or ~ore of ~uch purpoees as ooollng, lubrio~tion, in~ulation, ~peratlon of anclllary equipment, ~nd supply of oll o~ ~hemical~ requlred for drilllng or for conneoted operatlon6. The 1uld can h~
~eld ~tatlo unde~ p~es~ure or can b~ ¢irculated at a ~elected p~e9sure either wlth a special ret~rn path o~
it can be returncd mixed wlth the ~eturnln~ drllling mud, ~8 when the f luid ie leak~d th~ough la~yrlnth ~eals ompl~yed ~or sealing movlng parts of the ~yste~.
Although the drlll Btrlng i5 p~lmarlly lntended for sy~tem~ in whlch the drill ~tring is not required to rotat~ it~ u~e in ~ystem~ in whiah rotation is ~ lr-d is not preoluded. Th~ drill ~tring can mor~over be u~ed ~s ~ standard d~ill 6trlng for parts oi~ the drlllln~ p~oaec9~ and c~n then be equipp~d wlth a ~t~ndard drlll blt, the conductor m~an~ ~elng used for ~lgnalllng, for ~x~mple to cont~ol egulpment from ~en~or~ at the drlll unit ~onitoring the drllllng pr~oo~s.
Th~ inv-ntlon al~o p~ovl~e~ a drlllln~ RyRtem o~
the kind d~orlb~d with mean~ ~or ~-lectl~o movoment of the drlll ~tr~ng and/or production plping and/o~ drlll hole c~sin~s ~long the drlll hole. ~uch m~an~ ar~ of ~ partlaular ~ niflcance ln th~ caJe o~ d~vl~ted~ that 1~, non-v~rtlcal, drlllin~ where placement of productlon tubln~ o~ drlll hole linlng~ under gravlty o~nn~e b- r-~lod upon.
~he d~ill otring can ~hu~ be provLded with one or 3S more ext~rnAl pl~ton ~lem~nt~ to ~e aoted upon by A
$10w o~ drilling mud in the required dlrectlon ~lonq the ~pace b~tween the drlll st~ing ~nd the drlll hole wall. The pist~n elements can be selectlvely inflatable, a~ by nle~ns of ~luid oonveyed along the drill utrlng whe~e tbis ha~ a ~tructure as descrlbed above lnoludlng one or more fluld pa~age~ besldes the pas~age ~or ~rlllin~ mud. Alternatlvelyr the pl4~0n element c~n 4~ ~ ~ixed conf lguratlon, wit~ one or more pas~ages con~alnlng check v~lves or selectlvely operable ~alve~ fo~ permitting ~low of th~ drllllng mud during no~mal operatlon, the v~lves ¢lo~ing to render the plston elem~nt ~$feotlve wh~n th~ mud flow dlroct~ orl i~ rever~ed ln ord~ to advance t~le dxlll ~tr~ng, Where produc~Lon tubing o~ a ca~lng for llnlng ~he drlll ~ole wall i~ ~o be b~ought into po~itlon, the drlll ~trlng aan he clAmped at it~ lower end to the dri~l hole wall, as ~y clamplng mean~ descrlbed below wlth p61rtiCUlAr` refor~3nae to a~ t~in drlll unlt~
embodylng the lnvention, and the p~oduction tublng o~
the llk~ can be mov~d by tho actlon ~f drllling mud on one or mo~e pl~ton~ extending inwa~dly ~om the tublny and ~ ing on th~ drlll ~trin~, which ~an serv~ as a ~eturn path for th~ mud. A~ter tho placement ~peration 25 ha~ boon oompleted, the d~ t~lny 18 unelamped and wlthdra~n, ~ h~ lnv~ntlon al~o provid-~ a drllllng ~y~t~m o~
tho Xin~ d~ori~od having one or moro electrlcally pow~red d~iv~ me~n~ ~o~ e~Cting movement of th~ ~rlll ~trlng andlor produotlon piping and/or drill hole ca~lng ~long th~ ~rlll hol~. Such driv~ mean~ c~n comprl~- a frA~o ~ured externally of the drill ~tring ana ~arrylng electrlcally pow~red traatlon ele~ont~
~or oxampl-, wheol~, ~oller or drl~ belt8, engageable w~th the drlll hole wall. The drl~e means aan ln~tead ~ . .....
13277~9 co~pri~e on~ or more elect~cal wlndings ~ecured to ~he drill Jt~ng 90 a9 to extend around 1~ and to functlon wh~n ene~glzed as an element of ~ llnear electrl~
motor, the other element o~ whlch is ~on~tltuted by a drill hole ca~iny. 3~ sultable onerglzation o~ the motor wln~lng~ the ~rill st~lng ca~ing and the drill ~t~ing can ~e relatively moved ln ~lther dlrec~lon or rotationAlly ~
?hls form of drive me~ns in partlcular ean be uged al~o to as~ist or ef~ect instellatlon of the drlll hole ca~lng and/or o~ production piping a$ter the drllllng has ~een completed, wlth tho leading end of the drlll ~trlng clamped a~ d~cribed aboVe ln conn~ctlon wlth the u~ of drllling mud to ef~ect ~uch placem~nt. ~oth t~c~nlqu~ ~an o~ cour~e be uQed for movement relatlve t~ the drlll ~trlng or other seleatl~ely clampa~lo core or guide member ln eith~r dlrectlon. Power can b~
s~pplled to the~e drive mean~ ~y way of the con~uctor~
extendlng along a d~ trln~ ln aocordance with the lnvontlon a9 describe~ above.
~h- lnvention al~o provide~ a trlll unit for u~
; ln a drlll~ng ~y~tem o~ the klnd d~oribed, the drlll unlt inoludln~ A rotation~l or linear ele~trlc motor ~or applying ~ rotational and/or reciprocal d~ive to the ~rlll ~lt direatly or ~hrough a m~ohanlaal or hydr~ullc ~echanl~ dri~n by the motor.
~ n ~ ~lmple ~rrangem-nt, th~ drill unit Or tho ln~ontlcn comprl~o~ a drill bit carrled by a drlll 8haft rotatably driven by an electrla moto~ whlch may b- a~naentrlcally ~rr~nged ar~und tho dslll ~ha~t. Tho motor m~y be arrang-d to rotate the drlll ~it at a p~edote~mlned ~poed or ~ho ~peed mny b~ ad~usted b~ a ~requ-noy control devlce. Th~ motor ~an ln~tead b~
aouplod to tho ~rlll ~h~t no~ dlreatlY but ~y ~eans of a ~p--d/~orque converter ~n the ~orm of a gearbox, 13277~9 hydra~llc eouplln~ or hyd~tatic tran~misslon d~vlae or a combination o~ theae, `
, 13277~9 The invention also provides a drill unit for use in a drilling system of the kind described, the unit having a percusive drill bit reciprocating by a linear electric motor. The linear electric motor can be arranged to drive the drill bit positively in both directions, but alternatively the motor can be arranged to effect movement in one direction only, movement in the other direction being effected by release of a spring which has been stressed during the electrically powered stroke.
The invention also provides a drill unit for use in a drilling system of the kind described in which a linear electric motor advances a plunger in an hydraulic system, the drill bit being reciprocated by the consequential movement of a piston within a hydraulic cylinder of the system. Again, both the operative and return stroke of the drill bit can be positively powered, or a spring loading means ~an be provided to power one of the strokes, as with the arrangement described above.
When the drill string extends generally vertically, its weight applies adequate axial loading to the drill bit, but the drill string cannot be used alone and with sufficient accuracy to apply such loading during horiæontal drilling.
The invention accordingly provides a drill unit for use in a drilling system of the kind described which comprises a first portion carrying the drill bit, a second portion for connection to the drill string, and means for selectively advancing the first portion relatlve to the second portion.
The second portion can be provided with clamping means whereby it can be selectively clamped to the formation being drilled, that is, to the drill hole wall. The two drill unit portions are preferably 13277~9 telescopically related and are arranged to be relatively moved hydraulically. The drill string can be in accordance with the invention as described above and the fluid pressure can be applied by way of a fluid passage with which the drill string is provided, or can be generated locally, within the drill unit, as with fluid pressure used for operating the drill bit.
It is frequently of importance that the direction of drilling be controlled and the invention accordingly provides a drilling unit for use in a drilling system of the kind described having means for orientating the axis of the drill bit at a predetermined angle to the drill hole axis. The drill bit axis can be selectively adjustable relative to the drill unit axis or the drill unit itself can be adjustable relative to the drill hole or its casing, as by clamping means of the kind described above provided with selectively adjustable spacing `,etween the drill unit and the drill hole and casing.
The invention also provides a drilling system of the kind described comprising means for clamping the drill string to the drill hole wall or to the drill hole casing at one or more appropriate positions, for example adjacent to the drill unit, so as to transfer the reaction force of the drilling from the drill string.
The invention is further described below, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 i8 a schematic general view of an entire drilling system embodying the invention;
Figure 2 is a partial sectional side view of a drlll string which can be incorporated in the system of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a : , . . ~ . ---` 13277~9 first modified form of the drill string of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a partial sectional side view of a second modified form of the drill string of Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a conductor assembly for a third modified form of the drill string of Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a schematic side view of a connector plug for the conductor assembly of Figure 5;
Figure 7 schematically illustrates a first traction unit for moving a drill string along a drill hole in accordance with the invention;
Figure 8, 9 and 10 schematically show respectively a second, third, and a fourth means in accordance with the invention for moving a drill string along a drill 1S hole;
Figure 11 is a partial sectional side view of a first drill unit which can be incorporated in the system of Figure 1; and Figures 12-15 are like views of second, third, fourth and fifth alternative drill units for use in the system of Figure 1 respectively.
The drilling system schematically shown in Figure 1 comprises a drill string 1 extending from topside control and supply equipment located on a platform 2 of a drilling frame or structure 4 resting on the seabed.
The drill string 1 extends generally vertically downwardly from the platform 2 within tubing 6 into a drill hole 7 which curves from an upper vertical portion communicating with the tubing to a generally horizontal end portion in which a drill unit 10 at the end of the drill string is operating.
The drill string 1 incorporates electric conductors whlch can perform various functions. They can thus supply power to an electric motor in the drill unit 10 from a power supply unit 12 on the platform 2, 13277~
the electric motor driving and/or advancing the drill bit either directly or by way of a hydraulic mechanism.
Additionally, the conductors can be employed for communication between a system control unit 14 on the platform 2 and condition-sensing equipment and/or a local control unit for the drill unit 10. Multiplexing techniques can be employed to provide a plurality of communication channels on a single conductor, which can additionally supply power along the drill string 1.
Drilling mud is circulated between a mud unit 15 on the platform 2 and the drill unit 10 by way of the drill string 1 and the generally annular passage between the drill string and the drill hole wall and pumping units 16 spaced along the drill string within the passage are powered by means of the conductors. Traction units 17 for advancing the drill string 1 along the drill hole are similarly powered and controlled.
The drill string 1 can also provide a fluid supply passage or fluid supply and return passages, for fluid communication between equipment 18 on the platform 2 and the drill unit 10 and/or other elements of the system. The fluid can perform a variety of functions, some in place of certain functions of the electrical - arrangements described above. The drill string 1 is handled by pipe handling equipment 19 on the platform 2, and the drill string structure can be such that the equipment 19 is conventional.
The drill string 1 is suspended from the platform 2 by means of an adapter 20 for effecting the necessary 1 30 connections between the equipment on the platform 2 and the various supply and communication channels of the drill string 1~
In the following more detailed description of various possible forms of certain elements of the system, parts which serve equivalent functions are . .
' "` 13277~9 given the same reference numerals throughout. It will be understood that certain features to be described can be combined in different ways, that is, certain features, for example of one of the drill units can be employed in one or more of the other drill units illustrated.
Turning now to the structure of the drill string 1, this is composed of sections of suitable length coupled together. Each section includes rigid electrical conductor means structurally integrated into the drill string section of which various forms are shown in Figures 2-6.
As shown in Figure 2, the drill string 1 comprises a drill pipe 21 containing concentrically within it an 1~ inner pipe or mud liner 22, the interior of which guides the drilling mud to the drill unit, and conductor tubing 25 received between the mud liner and the drill pipe. The conductor tubing 25 comprises a plurality of concentric metal tubes, for example three such tubes for a 3-phase power supply, with sleeves of solid insulation material between them. A concentric tubular conductor assembly of this kind is described in EP-A-0 063 444, published October 27, 1982. The conductor tubing 25 is spaced from both the drill pipe 21 and the mud liner 22 to define inner and outer annular passages 26,27 which can be employed as s~pply and return paths for fluid. The fluid has insulating properties where the conductor tube assembly is internally and externally free of insulation.
Sultable spacing means are provided to maintain the concentric relationship of the mud liner 22 the conductor assembly 25 and the drill pipe 2. For example, as shown in the lower part of Figure 2, the conductor assembly 25 can be provided with externally projecting hangers 29 arranged to rest with suitable C
13277~
insulation, on an internal shoulder of the drill pipe.
Connection is made between the ends of adjacent sections of the drill pipe 21 in any suitable way, the lower end of the upper section being shown as provided with a downwardly and inwardly tapered end portion enqageable with a mating tapered portion at the upper end of the lower section. The ends of the tubular conductors of the upper conductor tubing 25 are /
e~
13277~9 stepped back one from the other, and the conductors of the tubing in the lower section are stepped back in the contrary manner to provide for continuity of electrical connection and insulation between the two sections, in a way described in more detail in EP-A-0 063 444. The upper end of the mud liner 22 in the lower section has a stepped end portion for reception in the lower end of the liner of the upper se_tion, with sealing rings operative between the two mud liner sections.
In the modified drilistring structure of Figure 3, the conductor tubing is constituted as an assembly OI
separate arcuate portions or segments 30 of a tube, with insulation between them. The conductor segments 30 are held in position by an inner pipe 31 spaced outwardly of the mud liner 22 and provided with radially outwardly extending spacers 32 which engage the drill pipe 21. Insulation 34 is provided between each segment 30 and the inner pipe 31, and the insulation may extend also to the outer surface of the segment.
Each segment 30 is spaced from the drill pipe to pro~?ide one of the supply and return passages 26,27 for a protective fluid, of which the other is formed between the inner pipe and the mud liner.
In the alternative conductor tubing arrangement shown in Figure 4, the mud supply is by way of an annular passage between tse drill pipe 21 and a protective pipe or mud liner 22 concentrically recei~ed therein and surrounding a tubular conductor 25 which corresponds generally to the tubular structure assembly 3~ of Figure 2, but is of course of smaller diameter.
The supply and return passages 26,27 for the protective fluid are in this arrangement within the conductor tubing 25 and between it and the mud liner 22 ~5 .
~,~
.
respectively. As shown, connection arrangements at the ends of adjacent drill pipe sections are similar to those provided for in the arrangement of Figure 2.
Sultable spacers 40 and hangers 41 extend between the mud liner 22 and the drill pipe 21 to maintain the mud liner 22 and the drlll pipe 21 to maintain the mud liner and conductor tu~ing in correct concentric relationship within the drill pipe.
In accordance Wit}l Figure 5, the conductor tubing arrangement of Figure 4 can be modified to include segmental conductors 30 similar to those of Figure 3.
Thus for example three segmental conductors 30, with insulation 34, surround an inner pipe 31 from which radial spacers 32 extend to the mud liner 2~. The conductor segments 30 are spaced from the mud liner to define the outer passage 27 for protective fluid, and the interior of the inner pipe defines the inner such passag~ 26.
Where segmental conductors are employed, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, and the drillstring sections are connected together by screw-threaded connections at their ends, so that the relative angular location is not predetermined, electrical continuity between respective segments 30 can be achieved by the coupling arrangement shown in Figure 6. Here, each of the conductor segments at the end of a drillstring section is in electrical connection with a respective end contact ring 42. The end rings 42 are of s,uccessively largerdiameter contact downwardly from the free end of the section to form a male coupling assembly. the co-operating female assembly (not shown) is formed as a socket with internal steps matching in diameter and axial spacinq the external steps of the male assembly illustrated. At these steps, respective conductor seqment ends are exposed, so that they can enqaqe the 13277~
~15-contact rings of the male coupling assembly.
In any of the arrangements of Figures 2-6, one of the protective fluid passages can be omitted where the fluid is to be leaked into the drilling mud at the drill unit so that no return path is required. For example, as shown on the lefthand side of Figure 3, the mud liner 22 can simply be omitted, so that its function is performed by the inner pipe 31.
The drill string 1 needs to be advanced along the drill hole 7 as drilling progr~sses and Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 show different forms of drive means for achieving this advance, or for withdrawal of the drill string if required.
As appears from Figure 7, the drill string 1 includes a section 50 of which the interior can correspond to any one of the drill string sections described in connection with Figures 2-6 but which carries externally an annulus 51 which can be selectively inflatable, as by admission to its interior of the protective fluid conveyed along the drill string 1 by way of an electrically controlled valve 52. When inflated, the annulus 51 functions as a piston whereby the drill string 1 is moved along the drill hole by the pressure of drilling mud between the drill string and the wall of the drill hole 7 which acts as an hydraulic fluid Drilling mud is normally circulated to the drilling unit 10 in~ide the drill string and returned between it and the drill hole wall, as indicated by the arrow 55, BO that the annulus would thus be urged to retract the drill string rather than advance it. To obtain the desired drill string advance, the direction of the mud flow is reversed to that indicated by the arrow 56.
The pressure on the near side of the inflated annulus 51 must of course exceed that on the far side ~327789 -~6-and an elect~ically cont~olla~le mud dump valvc S7 can ~e provlied ln the wall of the drlll strlng down~t~esm of the annulus, ~o that drilllng mud pre ~re on the ~ar slde ~f the annulu~ $~ reduced by pa~sage of mud on that ~id~ ~o the mud ~lowing within the drlll ~t~lng.
Whon the annulus 51 1~ d~lated mud clrculation ~n the usual di~e¢t~on can C~t~nue unobstructod.
The traotion unlt ~hown in Figure~ ~ also employs tn~ drilling mud as a hydraullc fluld, but lneteaa o~
an in~latable annulu~, the mud engages a pi~ton e~ement 60 of fixe~ form 6ecured exter~ally around a seation of the drill st~lng 1, ~he plut~n element 60 1B ~eal~d to the wall of the d~i~l hole by annular flexlble seallng members ~1 whlch extend rearwardly to the wall ~o that th~ presoure of ~rllllng ~ud ~urlng t~actlon enhances the 6eal. A plurality of pa~sages 62 extend through the pi~on ~loment 60 and each lnoludes a non-ret~rn valve 64 which permlt3 mud flow through the assoclated pa~sage ln the dlrection o~ the arro~ 55 durln~
~o drlllin~. ~hen tho drlll s~rln~ to ~e advano~d, the dirwtlon o~ mud ~ow 10 r~v~r~ed, ~ that the mud flows ln the annular ~pac~ be~ween the arlll strlng and the ~rl~l h~le wAll ln thH dl~ectlon ~ndlcated ~y the a~ow 56. The non-r~turn valvR~ 64 olo~e the ~a~sag~s 62 th~oug~ he pl~ton elem~n~ r~nderl~ thl~ e~eot~ve to ac~lev- the de8ired drlll ~trlng mo~ement.
Tho non-r~t~rn valve 64 aan l~t~aa bo a Bol~tlvoly ope~a~le valve controlled dlre~tly, by ele~t~c~l mean~, or indtrectly~ a~ by electro-~y~raullc means, ~o that i~ can functlon as a deop setblow out pre~enter valv~, when it i~ de~ired to cl~se ofi' th~ drlll hole othor than by tho use o~ an X-ma~
tree val~lng srrange~ont.
Th~ tractlon unlt ~ho~n in Flgu~e 9 co~prlses frame 70 pcrmanent~y ~ red to the ext~rior of a drlll ~rame 70 per~anently ~o~ured to ~he exter~or of a drlll ~trlng ~eotlon, the f~ame b~ing ~uc~ ae not to un~ly obstruct tho ~low of mud betw~en the drill string and the q~lll hol~ w~ll. The fra~ 70 rotatably mounts S tractlon el~ments ln the form of wheel~ qr roller~ 71 which may be ~p~ing urg~d to engage the wall, and are electrlcally drlven ~o a~ to advance the drlll strlng 1 as and w~en required. In an alternatlve ar~angement~
ghown at ~he lower part of Figure 9, the ~ame 70 mount~ r~lle~ 72 a~ound whlch iB entr~lned a traot~on .
13277~9 belt 74 ~ngsgea~le wlt~ t~e drlll hole wall~ the rollero ~g~in being ~ele~tlv~ly d~lven by ~n electrlc m~to~ t~klny . lt~ powor from ~he con~uator~ ~lthin the drill strlng~
The tractlon unlt lllu~trat~d in Flgure 10 18 also el~atr~oally ~iven and oomprl~e~ an ~nnular aa~lng ~1, which cont~lns an eleat~lcal winding 82 and whlch 19 flxed to ~nd ~urrounds the ~ t~ing 1, o~ i~
lncorporated in the drill 3~rlng aB a 8eparate drill 1~ ~trlng ~eotlon~ ~he windlng 82 c~n ~ ~eleatlvely energi~ed by way o~ the con~uetor~ within the drlll strin~ ~o a~ to ~unction ao a component or "stator" of a llnear eleotrla motor, the other eomponent or "rotor"
bel~g represe~ted by a ~teel aa~ing 84 l~ning the drlll holo. By suitable control o~ the energi2ati~n o~ the wlndl~g B2 tho drlll ~trlng 1 can be moved along the a~lng 8~ ln either dlroctlon~ ~ a~slred.
It will bo evident that the varlous me~n~
de~crib~d above ~or a~vanclng or withdra~ing the d~lll ~o strlng 1 can be employed ~or moving the caslng 84, or othex external piplng, ~o~ example, product~on tubln~
~l~ng ~h~ drlll hole ln eith~r dlrectlo~. 5uch movement can be ~ffe~ted relative ~o ~ ~ore or guiae msmbe~ ln pl~ce of the drlll ~trin~. The momber or drill ~trlng ~quir~- to bo held ~tatlon~ry, ~nd it~
a~ln~ ~nd may b~ ~el2ctlvely alam~ed to ~h~ drlll hol~ wall by olamplng m~an~ as do~arib~d b~low.
,~ Tha drill unlt 100 o~ ~lgur~ 11 Gompr~ a cyllnd~lcal houslng 101 havlng a ~ot~tablo drlll shaft ~o~med o~ allgnod ~rwa~d and rear portion~ 104,105 concentricslly re~ ed ~h~reln. ~h- drill shait i~
hollow to pro~de ~ pa~say~ ~o~ th- ~pply ~ drllllng F mud t~ ~ drlll bl~ 106 c~rrl~d by the sha~t portlon 10~, wh~ch l~ ~ournall~d ln bearlng~ 10. The r~ar ha~t port~on 105 le ~ou~nalled ln b~arlng~ 109 ana 1J
~' t ~. .
~ 3~7789 conneated to th~ ~orward ~ortlon by way o~ a Belecti~e~y ad~ust~ble speed/tor~u~ convert~r 110.
3etween the bearlng~ 1~9, the rear shaft portlon 10S carrie~ an annula~ rotor p~r~ion 111 of an electrlc motor whlch 1~ concen~rlcally surro~nded by sn annular , , 13277~9 stator portion 112 secured to the housing 101. The housing 101 is connected at its rear end to a drill string which has one of the forms shown in Figures 2-6, with conductor tubing extending to a connector box 114 connected to a distributor unit 115. The conductor tubing of the drill string 1 provides not only power for the electric motor 111,112 but also data communication between the control equipment 14 located on the platform 2 and a local control unit 117, for control of the electric motor, and also between the control equipment and sensor means 116 for monitoring motor operation and progress of the drilling.
The speed/torque converter 110 may be omitted where direct drive of the drill bit 106 by the electric motor 111,11 is satisfactory.
Instead of a rotary drill bit, the drill unit of the invention can mount a reciprocable drill bit which operates percusively. In the drill unit 120 of Figure 12, the housing 121 has a hollow drill shaft 122 ao concentrically guided therein for reciprocating movement by slide bearings 124. At its forward end, the housing 121 includes the stator 125 of a linear electric motor, of which the drill shaft 122 functions as the "rotor". The housing 121 connects at its rearward end to a drill strlng 1 which can again be one of the kinds described with reference to Figures 2-6.
The linear electric motor constituted by the stator 125 and the drill shaft 122, can be operated so as to power both the forward and return strokes of the drill blt 106 by appropriate change of the phase sequence of the electrical supply, or alternatively, the motor could operate to effect only one of the strokes, for example the return stroke, the other stroke being then effected by release of energy stored during the powered stroke. The unit 120 can thus . , ) - - -~3277~9 incorporate a plurality of compression springs 126 extending into respective bores opening from the rear end of the drill shaft 122, the outer ends of the springs being held by retaining members 127 secured to the housing 121, which contains also a local control system 116.
To better support the unit 120 against the cutting stroke of the drill bit, the housing 121 can be provided with clamping devices 129 engageable with the drill hole wall, whereby the housing is concentrically clamped within the drill hole. Such clamping devices can be provided additionally or instead on the drill string 1 at suitable positions, to transfer the drilling reaction forces experienced by the drill string, so as to resist any tendency for the drill string to buckle. The clamping devices 129 can be of the kind described below with reference to Figure 1s.
In a ~.odification of the drill unit 120, schematically shown at the lower part of Figure 12, the linear motor stator 135 operates a plunger 136 of a hydraulic system 137 to move a piston within a hydraulic cylinder of which the piston rod 139 carries the drill bit 106.
In the drill unit 140 of Figure 13, the drill bit 106 and the motor for driv~ng it are arranged for axial movement relative to a "stationary" portion of the unit connected to the drill string or constituted by .... _ . ~
~
., ,,--. .
13277~9 the end thereof.
As shown, the drill bit 106 extends forwardly from a casing 141 containing a motor by which the drill bit is driven. Concentric inner and outer sleeves 142,144 extending rearwardly from the casing 141. The inner sleeve 142 serves for the conveyance of drilliny mud to the drill bit and is sealed to an inner sleeve 14S of the stationary portion of the unit within which it slides. The stationary portion of the unit also has an outer sleeve 147 slidably received within the sleeve 144 and seale~ thereto. A pin 149 on the sleeve 144 slides in a longitudinal slot of the sleeve 14 to prevent relative rotation of the two portions of the unit.
Between the two sets of inner and outer sleeves, sliding electric contacts or other means, for example flexible cables, are provi~ed for transmission of electr c power and/or communication signals. The stationary portion of the unit is thus provided with tubing 150 supporting a plurality of segmental conductors, suitably of the kind described in connection with Figures 3 and 5, which are in sliding contact relationship with correspcnding conductor tubing 151 extending rearwardly from the casing 141.
Fluid pressure conveyed along the drillstring 1 to the space 152 between the outer sleeve 144 and the conductor tubing 151 acts on the casing 141 to apply axial loading to the drill bit. The annular space 154 within the conductor tubing provides a low pressure 3U fluid return path, and the high pressure and low pressure fluid spaces are connected together through a pressure control valve 155 within the casing 141, the valve being adjustable so that the loading of the drill bit is in accordance with requirements.
The relatively sliding surfaces of the stationary and movable portions of the drill unit 140 are provided with stops which limit the relative movement corresponding to a certain advance of the drill bit.
At this point, the drillstring 1 is advanced in the drill hole, as by the means described with reference to Figures7-lO, relative to the new stationary drill bit 106 and casing 141. Thereafter, drilling is recommenced under the axial drill bit loading applied by the fluid pressure.
The drill unit 160 shown in Figure 14 is also telescopically constructed, so that the drill bit can be axially loaded under hydraulic pressure. The drill bit 106 is carried by a movable portion of the unit comprising a drill bit support 160 with rearwardly extending inner and outer concentric sleeves 162,164, Of which the inner sleeve 162 serves to guide drilling mud to the drill bit. The "stationary" drilling unit portion is received between these two sleeves.
The inrer sleeve 162 adjacent the support 161 is surrounded by a hollow drive shaft 165, which is splined to the inner sleeve so as to rotate therewith.
Rearwardly from the shaft 165, a hollow motor shaft 166 also surrounds and is sealed to the inner sleeve 162 but is capable of rotation with respect to it. The motor shaft 166 is driven by an electric motor of the same form as the mGtor employed in the drilling unit lO0 and drives the drive shaft 164 by means of a torque converter or speed reducer llO of the kind employed in the drilling unit 100.
The inner surface of the drill bit support 160 and adjacent surfaces of the inner and outer sleeves 162,164 provides a pre~sure chamber, sealed from the motor by sealing means 16~, for fluià pressure conveyed along the drillstring 1, whereby the drill bit is subjected to axial loading adjustable by control means 35 155 as with the unit 140 of Figure 13. The use and operation of the drilling unit 160 will be understood to be generally similar to that of the unit 140.
The fluid pressure axially loading the drill bit in the drill units of Figures 13 and 14 reacts against the stationary portions of the units and thus against the drill string to which they are attached. The stationary portions can however be clamped to the formation, by means of selectively actuable clamping devices 129 similar to those provided for the drilling unit 120.
A drilling unit 180 shown in Figure 15 thus comprises a stationary portion 181 provided with clamping devices comprising pads 182 pivotably carried at the outer ends of levers 184 pivoted to the outer wall of the stationary portion so as to extend outwardly and rearwardly of the drilling direction.
Selectively operable actuator devices 185, for example hydraulic cylinders, act between the outer ends of the levers 184 and the stationary portion wall to urge the pads 182 against the drill hole wall or to withdraw them inwardly.
An axial loading portion 186 of the drilling unit extends forwardly in the drilling direction from the portion 181 and a motor unit 187 having the drill bit 106 at its forward end can be advanced in the drilling direction under hydraulic pressure developed in the loading portion.
The clamplng devices 181,182 are preferably lndependently controllable, so that the drlll bit axis can be orlentated at a deslred angle to the drill hole axis withln an angular range, as indicated by the clrcle 188. Thus, in operation of the drill unit 180, the clamping devices 129 are released at the conclusion of a drllllng stage to effect wlthdrawal of the pads 182 from the drill hole wall, and the drill string and 1327~89 stationary drilling unit portions are then advanced relative to the drill bit and motor unit 187, so that the drilling unit takes up a contracted condition. In accordance with command signals designating a desired drilling direction, or a direction indicated by information obtained by appropriate sensors associated with the drilling unit, the clamping devices 129 are actuated to apply a directional inf luence to the unit whereby a new drilling direction is determined.
Drilling is then recommenced, wi~h axial loading applied to the drill bit 106 so that this and the motor unit 187 advance relative to the stationary portion 181.
In the drill unit 180, and in the other drill units in which pressure f luid is used to load the drill bit, the fluid pressure can be generated within the unit, as by a motor driven pump unit 189. The pressure fluid from this source can be applied also to operation of the actuators 184. A power distributor or a power generator such as the unit 189 can be located at any appropriate position or positions along the drill string 1, and in the drill unit, wherever power is reguired for a specific operation, for example to activate local control mechanisms or sensing or measuring equipment. Such local power generators can be controlled remotely as by electrical control signals from the control equipment 14 and can themselves be powered electrically or from pressure fluid or the flow of drilling mud.
Although the functions of the various drill units described with references to Flgures 11-15 can be controlled from the platform 2, provision can be made for a degree of local control at the drilling unit itself in response to locally sensed conditions. Also, if the hydraulic pressure required for axial drill bit ... .
.
loading and/or for clamp operation is generated locally, within the drill unit, the pressure fluid source can be controlled from the equipment on the platform 2 or in response to locally sensed conditions.
Although the invention has been described with reference to fixed offshore platform it will be evident that it can be employed also with floating drilling rigs or vessels and onshore drilling installations.
It will be evident that the drilling system and the various components thereof specifically shown and described can be modified substantially within the proper scope of the invention.
Claims (35)
1. A drilling system comprising a drill string extending between topside equipment and a drilling unit, the drill string comprising a drill pipe, a mud pipe within the drill pipe for providing a mud passage for supply of drilling mud from the topside equipment to the drilling unit, and electrical conductor means of tubular configuration and comprising a plurality of electrical conductors within the drill pipe and providing electrical communication between the topside equipment and the drilling unit, the electrical conductor means defining with at least one of the drill pipe and the mud pipe at least one fluid passage extending between the topside equipment and the drilling unit.
2. A drilling system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electric conductor means is located between the drill pipe and the mud pipe, a first and a second of the fluid passages being between the conductor means and the drill pipe and between the conductor means and the mud pipe respectively.
3. A drilling system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electric conductor means is within the mud pipe, a first and a second of the fluid passages being between the conductor means and the mud pipe and within the conductor means respectively.
4. A drilling system as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the plurality of electrical conductors comprises concentric tubular conductors having sleeves of solid electric insulation therebetween.
5. A drilling system as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the plurality of electrical conductors comprises angularly spaced arcuate conductors engaged by a support pipe having radially extending spacer portions between the conductors.
6. A drilling system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrical conductors comprises angularly spaced arcuate conductors engaged by a support pipe having radially extending spacer portions between the conductors, the support pipe being within the plurality of conductors.
7. A drilling system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrical conductors comprises angularly spaced arcuate conductors engaged by a support pipe having radially extending spacer portions between the conductors, the spacer portions extending to the drill pipe or to the mud pipe and define therewith a plurality of the fluid passages.
8. A drilling system as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein insulating material surrounds each of the arcuate conductors.
9. A drilling system as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 having means at the topside equipment supplying electrically insulation fluid along the at least one fluid passage, the fluid providing insulation for the electrical conductor means.
10. A drilling system as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 having two of the fluid passages and means at the topside equipment circulating electrically insulating fluid along the fluid passages, the fluid providing insulation for the electrical conductor means.
11. A drilling system as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the at least one fluid passage communicates with the drilling unit.
12. A drilling system as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the at least one fluid passage communicates with the drilling unit, and wherein operation of the drilling unit is effected by fluid conveyed by the at least one fluid passage.
13. A drilling system as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 having at least one drive unit carried externally by the drill pipe and selectively operable to move the drill pipe along a drill hole.
14. A drilling system as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the drill pipe externally carries at least one piston element selectively inflatable by fluid conveyed thereto by the at least one fluid passage for effecting movement of the drill pipe along a drill hole in response to fluid movement therealong.
15. A drilling system as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 having at least one remotely controllable power generating unit in the drilling unit and/or the drill pipe for effecting local control and/or sensor operations.
16. A drilling system comprising an intermediate pipe concentrically received within a drill pipe with spacing to define a first conduit of annular cross-section therebetween, an inner pipe concentrically received within the intermediate pipe with spacing to define a second conduit of annular cross-section therebetween, a plurality of spacers extending radially between the intermediate pipe and one of the drill pipe and the inner pipe to divide one of the first and second conduits into a plurality of arcuate conduit portions of generally arcuate cross-section, and a plurality of electrical conductors of generally arcuate cross-section, each electrical conductor being located within a respective one of the arcuate conduit portions.
17. A drilling system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the spacers extend radially between the intermediate pipe and the drill pipe, and wherein each conductor occupies part only of the arcuate conduit portion in which the conductor means is located.
18. A drilling system as claimed in claim 17 wherein each conductor engages the outer surface of the intermediate pipe and the spacers defining the arcuate conduit portion within which the conductor means is located.
19. A drilling system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the spacers extend radially between the intermediate pipe and the inner pipe and wherein each of the conductors occupies part only of the arcuate conduit portion in which the conductor means is located.
20. A drilling system as claimed in claim 19 wherein each conductor has an inner curved surface engaging the inner pipe and an outer curved surface spaced from the intermediate pipe.
21. A drilling system as claimed in claim 16, 17 or 19 wherein the spacers are three in number and are equiangularly distributed around said intermediate pipe.
22. A drilling system as claimed in claim 16, 17 or 19 wherein the plurality of conductors forms a ring of conductors, the conductors of the ring being separated only by the spacers.
23. A drilling system as claimed in claim 16, 17 or 19 comprising topside equipment, a drilling unit, means effecting electrical communication between the topside equipment and the drilling unit by way of the plurality of electrical conductors, and means for supplying fluid from the topside equipment along at least one of the first and second conduits.
24. A drilling system as claimed in claim 16, 17 or 19 wherein the drill pipe extends between topside equipment and a drill unit, and wherein at least one remotely controllable power generating unit is provided in at least one of the drill unit and the drill pipe for effecting at least one of local control and local sensor operations.
25. A drilling system comprising a drill string extending between topside equipment and a drilling unit, wherein the drill string comprising a mud pipe concentrically received within a drill pipe and defining a mud passage for supply of drilling mud from the topside equipment to the drilling unit, electrical conductors means providing electrical communication between the topside equipment and the drilling unit and comprising three concentric angularly spaced arcuate conductors of equal radii, the mud pipe being received within the conductors, an inner pipe received concentrically between the mud pipe and the arcuate conductors, spacer portions on the inner pipe extending radially outwardly between the arcuate conductors to engage the drill pipe, and wherein a first and a second fluid passage each extending between the topside equipment and the drilling unit are provided between the mud pipe and the inner pipe and between the conductors and the drill pipe respectively.
26. A drilling system comprising a drill string extending between topside equipment and a drilling unit, wherein the drill string comprises a mud pipe concentrically received within a drill pipe and defining a mud passage for supply of drilling mud from the topside equipment to the drilling unit, electrical conductor means providing electrical communication between the topside equipment and the drilling unit and comprising three concentric angularly spaced arcuate conductors of equal radii received within the mud pipe, an inner pipe received concentrically in the mud pipe and the arcuate conductors, three spacer portions on the inner pipe extending radially outwardly between the arcuate conductors to engage the mud pipe, and wherein a first and second fluid passage extending between the topside equipment and the drilling unit are provided between the conductors and the mud pipe and within the inner pipe respectively.
27. A drilling system comprising a drill pipe extending between topside equipment and a drilling unit, electrical conductor means within the drill pipe and comprising three arcuate electrical conductors of equal radii, an outer pipe concentrically received within the drill pipe, an inner pipe received within the outer pipe for conveyance of drilling mud to the drilling unit, the inner and outer pipes being spaced to provide therebetween a further passage for fluid communication between the topside equipment and said drilling unit, three angularly spaced spacer means extending between the outer pipe and the drill pipe, a respective one of the arcuate conductors being received between each adjacent pair of the spacer means with spacing to define fluid passage means for fluid communication between the topside equipment and the drilling unit.
28. A drilling system as claimed in claim 25, 26 or 27 comprising insulating material around each of the arcuate conductors.
29. A drilling system comprising a drill string extending between topside and downhole equipment, the drill string comprising plural concentric pipes spaced to provide at least one annular passage, spacers extending radially of the pipes to divide the annular passage into arcuate passage portions, plural electrical conductor means each of arcuate cross-section, the conductor means being concentrically located each in a respective one of the arcuate passage portions with radial spacing from one of the concentric pipes to provide fluid conduits within the passage portions.
30. A drilling system as claimed in claim 29 wherein each of the conductor means has an arcuate extent substantially equal to that of the arcuate passage portion in which it is located.
31. A drilling system as claimed in claim 29 wherein each of said conductor means engages one of the concentric pipes and extends between the spacers.
32. A drilling system as claimed in claim 29, 30 or 31 wherein the conductor means are three in number and are uniformly spaced around the drill string.
33. A drilling system as claimed in claim 29 comprising, at at least one position along the drill string, a drive unit selectively operable to move the drill string within a drill hole in response to power supplied and/or control signals transmitted by the conductor means.
34. A drilling system as claimed in claim 33 wherein the fluid comprises drilling mud.
35. A drilling system comprising a drill string extending from topside equipment to a drill unit, wherein the drill string comprises a drill pipe, a mud pipe, a tubular conductor assembly having a plurality of conductor elements each having the form of at least part of a tube and each of the drill pipe, the mud pipe and the plurality of conductor elements extending from the topside equipment to the drill unit, means mounting the mud pipe and the conductor assembly substantially concentrically within and spaced from the drill pipe, and spaced apart from each other, thereby to provide within the drill pipe a mud passage for supply of drilling mud from the topside equipment to the drill unit, and a first and a second fluid passage each providing fluid communication between the topside equipment and the drill unit, the first and second fluid passages being at least in part defined by the conductor assembly, wherein the drill unit comprises an electric motor for driving a drill bit, the electric conductor elements being connected to the electric motor for supplying power thereto from the topside equipment, and fluid passage means extending through the electric motor and communicating with the first and said second fluid passages, and wherein the topside equipment comprises means for supplying drilling mud through the mud passage to the drill unit, and means for circulating fluid downwardly through one of the first and second fluid passages to the drill unit, through the fluid passage means, and upwardly from the drill unit to the topside equipment through the other of the first and second passages.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB868616006A GB8616006D0 (en) | 1986-07-01 | 1986-07-01 | Drilling system |
| GB8616006 | 1986-07-01 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1327789C true CA1327789C (en) | 1994-03-15 |
Family
ID=10600347
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000541052A Expired - Fee Related CA1327789C (en) | 1986-07-01 | 1987-06-30 | Drilling system |
Country Status (9)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5060737A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0257744B1 (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE117047T1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1327789C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3750972T2 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2065888T3 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB8616006D0 (en) |
| GR (1) | GR3015667T3 (en) |
| NO (1) | NO301349B1 (en) |
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-
1987
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- 1987-07-01 EP EP87305838A patent/EP0257744B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1987-07-01 ES ES87305838T patent/ES2065888T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1987-07-01 AT AT87305838T patent/ATE117047T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1987-07-01 NO NO872738A patent/NO301349B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1987-07-01 DE DE3750972T patent/DE3750972T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1989
- 1989-11-29 US US07/443,016 patent/US5060737A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1995
- 1995-04-03 GR GR950400811T patent/GR3015667T3/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0257744B1 (en) | 1995-01-11 |
| GR3015667T3 (en) | 1995-07-31 |
| NO872738L (en) | 1988-01-04 |
| US5060737A (en) | 1991-10-29 |
| GB8616006D0 (en) | 1986-08-06 |
| NO872738D0 (en) | 1987-07-01 |
| NO301349B1 (en) | 1997-10-13 |
| ES2065888T3 (en) | 1995-03-01 |
| DE3750972T2 (en) | 1995-05-18 |
| DE3750972D1 (en) | 1995-02-23 |
| EP0257744A3 (en) | 1989-07-12 |
| EP0257744A2 (en) | 1988-03-02 |
| ATE117047T1 (en) | 1995-01-15 |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKLA | Lapsed |