# US 10,018,001 B2 · Centralising device and method therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,018,001 B2 - Document ID: US10018001B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/892,853 - Filed: 2014-05-20 - Published: 2016-05-05 - Granted: 2018-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-05-21 - Assignees: Matrix Composites & Engineering Ltd. - Applicants: Matrix Composites & Engineering Ltd - Inventors: Paul Riordan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10018001B2 ## CPC - E21B 19/24: Guiding or centralising devices for drilling rods or pipes - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract The present disclosure provides a centralizing device and a method for using the centralizing device to immovably centralize a conductor casing within an aperture of a supporting framework. The centralizing device has one or more body portions, each having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface(s) are arranged for abutting the conductor casing and the outer surface(s) are arranged for abutting the framework. The body portion(s) are located within the aperture between the conductor casing and the framework for limiting movement of the conductor casing relative to the framework. Each body portion includes a first member providing the outer surface and a second member providing the inner surface. The first member and second member are movable relative to each other, to thereby permit adjusting the position of the inner surface relative to the position of the outer surface, so as to centralize the conductor casing within the aperture. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A centralising device for use in centralising a conductor casing within an aperture of a supporting framework, the centralising device comprising: a body portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface being arranged for abutting the conductor casing, the outer surface being arranged for abutting the framework, the body portion being adapted to be located in the aperture between the conductor casing and the framework for limiting movement of the conductor casing relative to the framework, and the body portion including adjustment means for enabling eccentric relative movement between the inner surface and the outer surface, wherein the body portion includes a first member and a second member, the second member being movable relative to the first member, wherein the outer surface is provided on the first member and the inner surface is provided on the second member; and a packer member being adapted to be located between the first member and the second member to cause the movement of the first member relative to the second member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The centralising device of claim 1, wherein the relative movement is lateral movement in a tangential dimension of the conductor casing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The centralising device of claim 1, wherein the relative movement is lateral movement in a radial dimension of the conductor casing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The centralising device of claim 1, wherein the first member has a recess adapted to substantially receive at least a portion of the second member therein. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The centralising device of claim 1, further comprising a locking member for selectively limiting the relative movement between inner surface and the outer surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The centralising device of claim 1, wherein the body portion is made from a plastics material or a composite plastics material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The centralising device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of body portions adapted to be arranged adjacent to each other in an annular configuration for surrounding the conductor casing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The centralising device of claim 1, further comprising at least three body portions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The centralising device of claim 1, wherein the supporting framework is a deck plate of a drill rig. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The centralising device of claim 1, wherein the aperture has an annular configuration. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The centralising device of claim 10, wherein the annular configuration is an eccentric annular configuration. ### Claim 12 A method for centralising a conductor casing within an aperture of a supporting framework, the method comprising the steps of: providing a centralising device having a body portion with a first member comprising an outer surface and a second member comprising an inner surface, wherein the inner surface is arranged for abutting the conductor casing and the outer surface is arranged for abutting the framework, and the body portion includes adjustment means for enabling eccentric relative movement between the inner surface and the outer surface; locating the body portion in the aperture between the conductor casing and the framework so that it limits movement of the conductor casing relative to the framework; and inserting or removing a packer member between the outer surface and the inner surface to cause relative movement between the inner surface and the outer surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of adjusting the position of the inner surface relative to the position of the outer surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of locking the body portion to selectively prevent relative movement between the inner surface and the outer surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1, 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising the use of the centralising device of claim 1.