Apparatus and method for recirculating mud when drilling under an obstacle
AssigneeBaker Energy Resources Corporation
InventorsRonald G. Halderman, George T. De La Matyr, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
New apparatii and processes are disclosed to create fluid continuity between opposite ends of a route drilled or bored under and/or around an obstacle. This invention allows fluids to be pumped through a reamer and a hollow swivel from either or both sides of the obstacle. It also allows the direct transfer of fluids from one side to the other through the connecting conduit located in the annular space produced during drilling and reaming operations.
Claims18
A method for recirculating mud through a hole occupied by a string of pipe having a conduit therethrough starting from one side of an obstacle and emerging at another side of the obstacle, comprising the steps of:
- attaching a means for working the hole to the string of pipe, said hole working means defining a conduit therethrough;
- closing the conduit on one side of said hole working means;
- pumping mud from the side of the obstacle opposite the closed side of the hole to operate said hole working means;
- and
- collecting mud expelled by said hole working means and forced out of the hole at both sides of the obstacle.
A method for recirculating mud through a hole starting from one side of an obstacle and emerging at another side of the obstacle where the hole is occupied by a string of pipe defining a first conduit therethrough, comprising the steps of:
- constructing a continuous conduit through the hole by attaching one end of a flow-through means for working the hole to the string of pipe and by attaching the other end of said flow-through hole working means to another string of pipe defining a second conduit emerging from the hole on the other side of the obstacle;
- connecting the second conduit to a vessel;
- and
- pumping mud into the first conduit through the hole working means and the second conduit into the vessel.
A method for working a hole, the hole starting on one side of an obstacle and emerging on another side of an obstacle, comprising the steps of:
- occupying the entire hole with a series of interconnected components including a string of pipe, a flow-through reamer, a flow-through swivel and a second string of pipe, said series of components establishing a conduit therethrough;
- pumping mud into the conduit from one side of the obstacle to the reamer;
- collecting mud forced out of either side of the hole in a vessel;
- and
- repumping the collected mud into the conduit on the side of the obstacle upon which it is collected.
A flow-through, high-tension swivel comprising:
- a shaft defining a bore therethrough;
- a piston defining a bore therethrough, said piston having a circumscribing piston ring and being rigidly connected to said shaft;
- a casing defining a zone for housing said piston and allowing passage of said shaft;
- a cap defining a bore therethrough, said cap being rigidly connected to said outer casing.
A flow-through, high tension swivel, comprising:
- a shaft defining a bore therethrough;
- a segmented piston defining a bore therethrough, said segmented piston being rigidly connected over said shaft and interposed between a first end and a second end of said shaft;
- a plurality of piston rings circumscribing said segmented piston;
- said segmented piston defining a hydraulic chamber in fluid communication with said piston rings;
- a casing defining a piston chamber and a bore allowing passage of the first end of said shaft;
- and
- a cap defining a bore therethrough for housing the second end of said shaft, said cap being rigidly connected to said casing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.