High pressure injection flushing heads and systems including such flushing heads

A high pressure injection flushing head comprising:

• a flushing body comprising:
• an upper body portion, and
• a lower body portion coupled to the upper body portion,
• wherein the upper body portion and the lower body portion cooperate to define a bore, wherein the lower body portion comprises a fluid connection;
• a shaft rotatably disposed at least partially within the bore;
• a wear bushing rotatably disposed within the bore;
• a plurality of rotary elements that are configured to facilitate rotational movement of the shaft relative to the flushing body, wherein the plurality of rotary elements comprises:
• a thrust bearing in engagement between the upper body portion of the flushing body and the shaft;
• a radial bearing in engagement between the lower body portion of the flushing body and the shaft;
• and
• a tapered roller bearing in engagement between the flushing body and the shaft, wherein the tapered roller bearing is disposed between the radial bearing and the thrust bearing with respect to a rotational axis of the high pressure injection flushing head, wherein the flushing body comprises a lubrication system having:
• at least one lubricant nipple, and
• a network of pathways in fluid communication with the at least one lubricant nipple that are configured to deliver grease to the rotary elements.

A high pressure injection flushing head comprising:

• a flushing body comprising:
• an upper body portion, and
• a lower body portion coupled to the upper body portion,
• wherein the upper body portion and the lower body portion cooperate to define a bore, wherein the lower body portion comprises a fluid connection;
• a high pressure hose coupling;
• a shaft rotatably disposed at least partially within the bore;
• a plurality of rotary elements that are configured to facilitate rotational movement of the shaft relative to the flushing body, wherein the plurality of rotary elements comprises:
• a thrust bearing in engagement between the upper body portion of the flushing body and the shaft;
• a radial bearing in engagement between the lower body portion of the flushing body and the shaft;
• and
• a tapered roller bearing in engagement between the flushing body and the shaft, wherein the tapered roller bearing is disposed between the radial bearing and the thrust bearing with respect to a rotational axis of the high pressure injection flushing head, wherein the flushing body comprises a lubrication system having:
• at least one lubricant nipple, and
• a network of pathways in fluid communication with the at least one lubricant nipple that are configured to deliver grease to the rotary elements.

An apparatus comprising:

• a high pressure injection flushing head comprising:
• a flushing body comprising:
• an upper body portion, and
• a lower body portion coupled to the upper body portion,
• wherein the upper body portion and the lower body portion cooperate to define a bore, wherein the lower body portion comprises a fluid connection;
• a shaft rotatably disposed at least partially within the bore;
• and
• a plurality of rotary elements that are configured to facilitate rotational movement of the shaft relative to the flushing body, wherein the plurality of rotary elements comprises:
• a thrust bearing in engagement between the upper body portion of the flushing body and the shaft;
• a radial bearing in engagement between the lower body portion of the flushing body and the shaft;
• and
• a tapered roller bearing in engagement between the flushing body and the shaft, wherein the tapered roller bearing is disposed between the radial bearing and the thrust bearing with respect to a rotational axis of the high pressure injection flushing head,
• wherein the flushing body comprises a lubrication system having:
• at least one lubricant nipple, and
• a network of pathways in fluid communication with the at least one lubricant nipple that are configured to deliver grease to the rotary elements;
• a pressurized lubrication source that is configured to provide a lubricant to the high pressure injection flushing head;
• and
• a lubricant diverter that is configured to receive the lubricant from the pressurized lubricant source, wherein the lubricant diverter defines at least a portion of a conduit between the pressurized lubricant source and the at least one lubricant nipple.

A method comprising:

• using an apparatus comprising:
• a high pressure injection flushing head comprising:
• a flushing body comprising:
• an upper body portion, and
• a lower body portion coupled to the upper body portion,
• wherein the upper body portion and the lower body portion cooperate to define a bore, wherein the lower body portion comprises a fluid connection;
• a shaft rotatably disposed at least partially within the bore;
• and
• a plurality of rotary elements that are configured to facilitate rotational movement of the shaft relative to the flushing body, wherein the plurality of rotary elements comprises:
• a thrust bearing in engagement between the upper body portion of the flushing body and the shaft;
• a radial bearing in engagement between the lower body portion of the flushing body and the shaft;
• and
• a tapered roller bearing in engagement between the flushing body and the shaft, wherein the tapered roller bearing is disposed between the radial bearing and the thrust bearing with respect to a rotational axis of the high pressure injection flushing head,
• wherein the flushing body comprises a lubrication system having;
• at least one lubricant nipple, and
• a network of pathways in fluid communication with the at least one lubricant nipple that are configured to deliver grease to the rotary elements;
• and
• a rod adapter having a first end that is attached to the flushing head and a second end that is configured to attach to a drill rod, wherein the rod adapter of the apparatus is a first rod adapter that is coupled to a first drill rod;
• decoupling the first drill rod from the first rod adapter of the apparatus;
• replacing the rod adapter with a second rod adapter different than the rod adapter in at least one of size or profile, wherein replacing the rod adapter with a second rod adapter comprises attaching a first end of the second rod adapter to the flushing head;
• and
• engaging a second drill rod with a second end of the second rod adapter, wherein the second drill rod is different from the first drill rod in at least one of size, profile, or thread type.

A high pressure injection flushing head comprising:

• a flushing body comprising:
• an upper body portion, and
• a lower body portion coupled to the upper body portion,
• wherein the upper body portion and the lower body portion cooperate to define a bore, wherein the lower body portion comprises a fluid connection;
• a shaft rotatably disposed at least partially within the bore;
• a wear bushing rotatably disposed within the bore, wherein the wear bushing comprises at least one of a tungsten carbide nickel coating, a chromized coating, or a quench-polish-quench (QPQ) prepared surface;
• and
• a plurality of rotary elements that are configured to facilitate rotational movement of the shaft relative to the flushing body,
• wherein the flushing body comprises a lubrication system having:
• at least one lubricant nipple, and
• a network of pathways in fluid communication with the at least one lubricant nipple that are configured to deliver grease to the rotary elements.