US3552507A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for rotary drilling of wells using casing as the drill string
Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC
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Filing: 1968-11-25
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Granted: 1971-01-05
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Expires: 1988-11-25
Abstract
Abstract A rotary well drilling system employing well casing as the drill string; a bit assembly having radially expansible cutters bodily insertable and removable through the bore of the casing and releasably connected thereto; and a drive connection means releasably insertable into the upper end of the casing bore including casing-gripping means nonthreadedly engageable with the casing bore wall for transmitting rotational torque to the casing.
Inventors
- 👤 Cicero C Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:14
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B10/00; E21B10/64; E21B10/66; E21B10/26; E21B10/32; E21B10/34; E21B19/00; E21B19/02; E21B19/06; E21B19/07; E21B7/00; E21B7/20; E21B7/208; E21B3/00; E21B3/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A system for rotary drilling of wells using casing as the drill string comprising: a. a string of well casing; b. a bit assembly constructed and arranged to be bodily inserted and removed through the bore of the casing; c. latch means releasably securing said bit assembly to the lower end of the casing for rotation thereby; d. radially expansible and retractible cutter elements carried by the bit assembly for drilling a well bore to a diameter to receive said casing; and e. drive connection means operatively associated with said string of casing and adapted to be connected to a rotary drive power source and releasably insertable into the upper end of the bore of the casing having casing-gripping means nonthreadedly engageable with the casing bore wall for transmitting rotational torque from said source to the casing.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
137 words
A system for rotary drilling of wells using casing as the drill string comprising: a. a string of well casing; b. a bit assembly constructed and arranged to be bodily inserted and removed through the bore of the casing; c. latch means releasably securing said bit assembly to the lower end of the casing for rotation thereby; d. radially expansible and retractible cutter elements carried by the bit assembly for drilling a well bore to a diameter to receive said casing; and e. drive connection means operatively associated with said string of casing and adapted to be connected to a rotary drive power source and releasably insertable into the upper end of the bore of the casing having casing-gripping means nonthreadedly engageable with the casing bore wall for transmitting rotational torque from said source to the casing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said bit assembly includes: means actuated by fluid pressure applied through the casing for expanding said cutter elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said bit assembly includes: a. a generally tubular body; b. a pilot bit centrally secured to the lower end of said body; and c. fixed radial cutters mounted on the body between said cutter elements and said pilot bit adapted to drill said well bore to at least the diameter of said body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said bit assembly includes: a. a generally tubular body; b. pivot means pivotally connecting said cutter elements to said body; c. a cylinder in said body; d. piston means slidable in said cylinder in response to fluid pressure in said casing; and e. lever means drivingly connecting said piston means to said cutter elements for extending and retracting the same.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 4 wherein said lever means comprises toothed rack-and-gear means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 4, wherein said lever means comprises crank-and-pin connection means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
111 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said bit assembly includes: a. a tuBular housing coaxially connectable to the lower end of said casing and having an annular latching recess interiorly thereof; b. a generally tubular body coaxially insertable in said housing; c. latch elements mounted in the wall of said body for radial movement into and out of latching engagement with said recess; d. an expander sleeve slidably mounted in the bore of said body for axial movement therein between positions projecting said latch elements into said recess and releasing said latch elements for retraction from said recess; and e. means normally biasing said expander sleeve toward the latch-projecting position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
92 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said drive connection means includes: a. a tubular mandrel adapted to be connected to a rotary drive power source; b. a pipe-gripping assembly mounted about the mandrel including pipe-gripping elements radially movable into and out of gripping engagement with the casing in response to rotation of said mandrel; and c. arcuate shoe elements rockably disposed about said mandrel and carrying vertically extending teeth movable into and out of torsion-applying engagement with said casing in response to relative angular movement between the mandrel and the shoes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
110 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said drive connection means includes: a. a tubular mandrel adapted to be connected to a rotary drive power source; b. stop means on the mandrel engageable with the upper end of the casing to limit inward movement of the mandrel; c. pipe-gripping slips mounted on the mandrel for radial movement into and out of gripping-engagement with the casing; d. expander means mounted on the mandrel for axial movement into and out of wedging engagement with said slips in response to rotation of said mandrel; and e. pipe-engaging shoes rockably mounted about the mandrel for movement thereby into said nonthreaded engagement with the casing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 9 including complementary left-hand thread means connecting said mandrel to said expander means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-04 | 1974-07-06 | 1975-01-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-04 | 1978-07-06 | 1979-01-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-04 | 1982-07-06 | 1983-01-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |