Weldable blade stabilizer

Abstract

A drill string stabilizer having either an adjacent or underlying surface affixed to the high strength drill string member which is made of easily weldable material. The easily weldable material is affixed to the drill string member by weld beads under carefully controlled temperature and other environmental conditions to ensure that such weld beads do not have cracks or blemishes created therein. The weldable material permits the welding of a wear element or blade structures to be made in uncontrolled or field conditions without adverse consequences to the resulting weld beads. Low carbon steel or weld material may be such easily weldable material, neither of which are prone to cause weld cracking, even under a field welding environment. The wear element structures may be individual elements or incorporated in a partial or complete sleeve. One embodiment includes welding a portion of the wear elements to the stabilizer body, but the areas where the high stresses occur are welded to easily weldable material, which is not nearly so susceptible to cracking.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.