US3603412A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for drilling in casing from the top of a borehole
Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
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Filing: 1970-02-02
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Granted: 1971-09-07
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Expires: 1990-02-02
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for drilling in casing at the top of a borehole, such as drilling a borehole commencing at an ocean floor, including inserting a retrievable coupling device in a casing shoe aboveground and expanding the coupling members of the device into shoe slots to secure the coupling device to the shoe, a bit being secured to the coupling device with expandable cutters to drill a borehole larger than the outside diameter of the casing or casing pile. The shoe is then secured to a casing section or sections thereabove and the casing string lowered to bring the bit against the top of the formation, or ocean floor, where drilling of the borehole is to commence. The casing string is rotated, drilling weight being applied to the casing string and through the coupling device to the bit, and drilling fluid pumped down the casing string to remove the cuttings from the bottom of the borehole being produced. When the borehole has been drilled to the required depth, the coupling members are retracted from the shoe slots, and the assemblage of coupling device and bit, with its cutters retracted, elevated through the casing string and withdrawn therefrom at the top of the finished borehole. The casing string or piling remains in the borehole and can be cemented in place therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Archer W Kammerer Jr
- 👤 Gary R Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 08:44
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B7/00; E21B7/20; E21B7/208; E21B10/00; E21B10/26; E21B10/32; E21B10/34; E21B10/64; E21B10/66
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
In apparatus for drilling a borehole in a formation: a string of pipe to be lowered toward the formation and thereinto, said pipe including a shoe at its lower end and having a slot; a coupling device movable longitudinally through the pipe and into its shoe and having an initially expanded coupling member in said slot for coupling said device to said shoe; said shoe having stop means therein; said coupling device having stop means above said coupling member engageable with said other stop means to prevent downward movement of said coupling member from said slot; a well tool secured to said coupling device depending therefrom below said shoe, said welL tool being movable longitudinally through said pipe; a tubular member movable in said coupling device and having a straight-through unobstructed central passage extending throughout its length, said tubular member engaging said coupling member to retain said coupling member in said slot; said tubular member having releasable means thereon for moving said tubular member in said coupling device to a position released from said coupling member to permit retraction of said coupling member from said slot and upward withdrawal through said pipe of said coupling member and well tool secured thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
In apparatus for drilling a borehole in a formation: a string of pipe to be lowered toward the formation and thereinto, said pipe including a shoe at its lower end and having a slot; a coupling device movable longitudinally through the pipe and into its shoe and having an initially expanded coupling member in said slot for coupling said device to said shoe; said shoe having stop means therein; said coupling device having stop means above said coupling member engageable with said other stop means to prevent downward movement of said coupling member from said slot; a well tool secured to said coupling device depending therefrom below said shoe, said welL tool being movable longitudinally through said pipe; a tubular member movable in said coupling device and having a straight-through unobstructed central passage extending throughout its length, said tubular member engaging said coupling member to retain said coupling member in said slot; said tubular member having releasable means thereon for moving said tubular member in said coupling device to a position released from said coupling member to permit retraction of said coupling member from said slot and upward withdrawal through said pipe of said coupling member and well tool secured thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said releasable means comprising an internal circumferential groove in said tubular member surrounding said passage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said slot having opposed sidewalls simultaneously engaging said coupling member when said coupling member is fully expanded into said slot; said coupling device being rotatable freely within said shoe through more than one revolution when its stop means engages said shoe stop means to align said coupling member with said slot.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said well tool having expandable and retractable cutter means thereon for drilling the borehole in the formation, said cutter means having an expanded hole cutting diameter greater than the outside diameter of said string of pipe; said cutter means being retractable to allow said well tool to be moved upwardly through the string of pipe.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
113 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said well tool having expandable and retractable cutter means thereon for drilling the borehole in the formation, said cutter means having an expanded hole cutting diameter greater than the outside diameter of said string of pipe; said cutter means being retractable to allow said well tool to be moved upwardly through the string of pipe; said slot having opposed sidewalls simultaneously engaging said coupling member when said coupling member is fully expanded into said slot; said coupling device being rotatable freely within said shoe through more than one revolution when its stop means engages said shoe stop means to align said coupling member with said slot.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
128 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said well tool having expandable and retractable cutter means thereon for drilling the borehole in the formation, said cutter means having an expanded hole cutting diameter greater than the outside diameter of said string of pipe; said cutter means being retractable to allow said well tool to be moved upwardly through the string of pipe; said slot having opposed sidewalls simultaneously engaging said coupling member when said coupling member is fully expanded into said slot; said coupling device being rotatable freely within said shoe through more than one revolution when its stop means engages said shoe stop means to align said coupling member with said slot; said releasable means comprising an internal circumferential groove in said tubular member surrounding said passage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said tubular member having means thereon engaging said coupling member upon upward movement of said tubular member in said coupling device to retract said coupling member from said slot.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
186 words
In a method of drilling a borehole in a formation beginning at the top thereof, providing a string of pipe having a coupling device releasably secured to its lower end portion and a drill bit secured to the coupling device and having expandable and retractable cutter means thereon below the lower end of the string of pipe, expanding said cutter means to an effective bore hole drilling diameter greater than the outside diameter of said pipe, then lowering said pipe into engagement with the top of the formation, rotating said pipe with said cutter means expanded while progressively lowering said said pipe to apply drilling weight from said pipe to said coupling device and to said drill bit and its cutter means to cut the borehole to a desired depth and To a diameter greater than the outside diameter of the pipe, releasing said coupling device from the lower end portion of said pipe, retracting said cutter means from their expanded condition, and elevating said coupling device and drill bit through the pipe to the top of the borehole while said pipe remains in the borehole.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
186 words
In a method of drilling a borehole in a formation beginning at the top thereof, providing a string of pipe having a coupling device releasably secured to its lower end portion and a drill bit secured to the coupling device and having expandable and retractable cutter means thereon below the lower end of the string of pipe, expanding said cutter means to an effective bore hole drilling diameter greater than the outside diameter of said pipe, then lowering said pipe into engagement with the top of the formation, rotating said pipe with said cutter means expanded while progressively lowering said said pipe to apply drilling weight from said pipe to said coupling device and to said drill bit and its cutter means to cut the borehole to a desired depth and To a diameter greater than the outside diameter of the pipe, releasing said coupling device from the lower end portion of said pipe, retracting said cutter means from their expanded condition, and elevating said coupling device and drill bit through the pipe to the top of the borehole while said pipe remains in the borehole.
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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) | 1974-09-06 | 1975-03-08 | 1975-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-06 | 1979-03-08 | 1979-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-06 | 1983-03-08 | 1983-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |