# US 5,343,964 A · Petroleum, gas or geothermal driling apparatus

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- Number: US 5,343,964 A
- Document ID: US5343964A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/129,170
- Filed: 1993-12-10
- Granted: 1994-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 1991-04-12
- Inventors: Andre Leroy
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5343964A

## CPC

- E21B 4/00: Drives for drilling, used in the borehole
- E21B 4/02: Fluid rotary type drives
- E21B 4/20: combined with surface drive (E21B4/10 takes precedence)
- E21B 7/28: Enlarging drilled holes, e.g. by counterboring
- E21B 44/005: {Below-ground automatic control systems}
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

The invention relates to a petroleum, gas or geothermal drilling apparatus comprising a central tool and a coaxial bit, wherein the central tool is driven by the rotor of a bottom engine which is fed by the drilling mud and wherein the bit is driven from the surface by the rods of a drill gear which is part of a rotary system, these same rods subjecting the apparatus to an axial load. It is characterized in that there is a prismatic connection between the stator (4) of the bottom engine and the base (5) of the bit, which allows the relative axial displacement of the two tools, and that a spring (6) is interposed between the stator (4) and the base (5) in such a way as to form a constraint on the stator when the central tool tends to fall behind in respect to the bit during their respective forward movements, so as to control the relative axial displacement of the two tools and to distribute between them, as a function of the displacement, the axial load to which the apparatus is subjected. Used in the drilling material industry, namely for petroleum, gas or geothermal drilling.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A petroleum, gas or geothermal drilling apparatus comprising a central tool (1) and a coaxial bit (2), wherein the central tool (1) is driven by the rotor of a bottom engine which is fed by the drilling mud and wherein the bit (4) is driven from the surface by the rods (3) of a drill gear which is part of a rotary system, these same rods subjecting the apparatus to an axial load, this drilling apparatus being
characterized in that it comprises a prismatic connection (450) between the stator (4) of the bottom engine and the base (5) of the bit, which allows the relative axial displacement of the two tools, and that a resilient means (6) is interposed between the stator (4) and the base (5) in such a way as to form a constraint on the stator when the central tool tends to fall behind in respect to the bit during their respective forward movements, so as to control the relative axial displacement of the two tools and to distribute between them, as a function of the displacement, the axial load to which the apparatus is subjected.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A drilling apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the stator (4) of the bottom engine and the base (5) of the bit have, in a shape which is delimited between them, an orifice (7) with a profile which is a function of their relative positions, by which orifice (7) the mud is deflected to the inlet orifice (8) of the motor in such a way as to increase the output admitted to the motor when the relative axial displacement of the stator takes place in a direction where it tends to constrain the spring (6) and vice versa.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A drilling apparatus in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that a free wheel (211) of a type allowing the relative axial displacement of the two tools is interposed between the base (11) of the central tool (1) and the bit (2) and mounted in such a way that it locks when the absolute rotating speed of the central tool tends to fall below that of the bit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A drilling apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that a free wheel (211) of a type allowing the relative axial displacement of the two tools is interposed between the base (11) of the central tool (1) and the bit (2) and mounted in such a way that it locks when the absolute rotating speed of the central tool tends to fall below that of the bit.