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US 8,770,319 B2Granted
Pump-in seal
AssigneeLongyear TM, Inc.
InventorsChristopher L. Drenth, George Iondov, George Ibrahim
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An assembly may be disposed within a drill string. The assembly may be moved within and along the drill string using hydraulic pressure. A core sample may be collected within the assembly, and the assembly may be retrieved to obtain the core sample. The assembly may include a seal that may be configured to form a seal with different inner diameters of a variable-diameter drill rod of the drill string.
Claims18
An apparatus comprising:
- a variable-diameter drill rod comprising:
- a first portion having a first, larger inner diameter;
- and
- a second portion having a second, smaller inner diameter;
- and
- a first seal disposed within the variable-diameter drill rod, the first seal comprising:
- a central core;
- and
- a lip spaced apart from the central core, the lip comprising:
- a projection configured to form a seal with the larger and smaller inner diameters of the variable-diameter drill rod,
- wherein the projection of the first seal is configured to, when forming a seal with the larger inner diameter of the variable-diameter drill rod, be disposed in an expanded configuration in which the projection is radially-extended and axially-retracted;
- wherein the projection of the first seal is configured to, when forming a seal with the smaller inner diameter of the variable-diameter drill rod, be disposed in a compressed configuration in which the projection is radially-retracted and axially-extended;
- and
- wherein the first seal further comprises means for biasing the projection from the compressed configuration towards the expanded configuration.
11 more elements
A method comprising:
- disposing an inner tube assembly within a drill string, the drill string including a variable-diameter drill rod, the inner tube assembly including:
- a head assembly;
- and
- a first seal including:
- a central core including a passageway receiving at least a portion of the head assembly;
- and
- a lip spaced apart from the central core, the lip including a projection configured to form a seal with different inner diameters of the variable-diameter drill rod;
- using hydraulic pressure to move the inner tube assembly from a first position within the drill string to a second position within the drill string;
- wherein, when the inner tube assembly is at the first position within the drill string, the projection of the first seal forms a seal with a larger inner diameter of the variable-diameter drill rod and is disposed in an expanded configuration in which the projection is radially-extended and axially-retracted;
- wherein, when the inner tube assembly is at the second position within the drill string, the projection of the first seal forms a seal with a smaller inner diameter of the variable-diameter drill rod and is disposed in a compressed configuration in which the projection is radially-retracted and axially-extended;
- and
- wherein the first seal further comprises means for biasing the projection from the compressed configuration towards the expanded configuration.
9 more elements
A method for use in a drilling process, the method comprising:
- disposing a first seal within a drill string, the drill string including a variable-diameter drill rod, the first seal including:
- a first seal including a projection configured to form a seal with different inner diameters of the variable-diameter drill rod;
- and
- using hydraulic pressure to move the first seal from a first position within the drill string to a second position within the drill string,
- wherein, when the first seal is at the first position within the drill string, the projection of the first seal forms a seal with a larger inner diameter of the variable-diameter drill rod and is disposed in an expanded configuration in which the projection is radially-extended and axially-retracted,
- wherein, when the first seal is at the second position within the drill string, the projection of the first seal forms a seal with a smaller inner diameter of the variable-diameter drill rod and is disposed in a compressed configuration in which the projection is radially-retracted and axially-extended, and
- wherein the first seal further comprises means for biasing the projection from the compressed configuration towards the expanded configuration.
4 more elements
A seal for a head assembly of a core barrel assembly, the seal comprising:
- a first unitary, one-piece structure comprising:
- a central core;
- and
- a lip spaced apart from the central core, the lip comprising:
- a projection configured to form a seal with different inner diameters of a variable-diameter drill rod;
- and
- a second unitary, one-piece structure that includes an annular extension,
- wherein the second unitary, one-piece structure is configured to, in response to pressurized fluid being pumped into a drill string that includes the variable-diameter drill rod, exert an axial force against the lip of the first unitary, one-piece structure.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.