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US3647007A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Steering sub for underwater drilling apparatus
Assignee: Global Marine Inc
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Filing: 1970-01-09
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Granted: 1972-03-07
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Expires: 1990-01-09
Abstract
Abstract A tubular steering sub, connected adjacent a drill bit at the bottom of a drill string, steers the bit into alignment with an underwater well. The steering sub comprises an inner barrel splined to an outer barrel to permit axial relative movement between the barrels so that laterally disposed jet ports of the inner barrel and the outer barrel move in and out of alignment. When the jet ports are aligned, a lateral steering force on the bottom of the drill string is generated by pumping fluid down the drill string and out the jet ports. A releasable spring latch closes the steering sub by securing the barrels in fixed relation with their jet ports out of alignment.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas R Norton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:04
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B41/00; E21B41/0007; E21B41/0014; E21B17/00; E21B17/02; E21B17/04; E21B17/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A sub for use in association with oil and gas wells and the like, the sub comprising: a. an outer barrel; b. a hollow inner barrel inside the outer barrel and movable axially relative to the outer barrel between a first position and a second position; c. releasable latching means normally operative to maintain the inner barrel and the outer barrel in their first relative position; d. means responsive to fluid pressure within the inner barrel for releasing the latching means to permit relative movement of the inner and outer barrels to their second relative position; and e. means cooperating between the inner and outer barrels for defining a lateral fluid flow passage through the barrels only in the second relative position of the barrels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A sub for use in association with oil and gas wells and the like, the sub comprising: a. an outer barrel; b. a hollow inner barrel inside the outer barrel and movable axially relative to the outer barrel between a first position and a second position; c. releasable latching means normally operative to maintain the inner barrel and the outer barrel in their first relative position; d. means responsive to fluid pressure within the inner barrel for releasing the latching means to permit relative movement of the inner and outer barrels to their second relative position; and e. means cooperating between the inner and outer barrels for defining a lateral fluid flow passage through the barrels only in the second relative position of the barrels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the outer barrel defines one end of the steering sub and the inner barrel defines the other end of the steering sub.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including means coupling the inner and outer barrels for only axial relative movement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the sub is adapted for connection in a drill string.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the outer barrel is adapted for coupling with the upper portion of the drill string and the inner barrel is adapted for coupling with the lower portion of the drill string.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the outer barrel has substantially the same diameter as the drill string.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the latching means includes a keeper lug cooperating between the inner and outer barrels, and spring-biasing means cooperating with the keeper lug to maintain the barrels in their first relative position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the spring-biasing means maintains keeper lug cooperatively engaged with a keeper bore disposed in the inner barrel; and wherein the latch release means includes a piston adapted for engagement with the keeper lug, the piston being movable within the keeper bore in response to fluid pressure in the inner barrel to urge the keeper lug out of engagement with the keeper bore to permit relative movement of the inner and outer barrels.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
222 words
A method for aligning with a desired location on the bottom of a body of water the lower end of a drill string pendulously supported from a drilling vessel or the like floating on the body of water, the method comprising the steps of: a. providing in the drill string adjacent to the lower end thereof a hollow, axially extensible steering sub having a foreshortened first operative condition and an extended second operative condition and defining in the second operative condition thereof a fluid flow passage laterally therethrough from the interior of the drill string to said body of water, and including means effective in the first operative condition to maintain the sub in the first operative condition and responsive to the existence of fluid pressure within the drill string in excess of a predetermined pressure for enabling the sub to move from its first to its second operative condition; b. disposing the sub in its second operative condition; and c. moving the lower end of the drill string into the desired alignment by applying fluid under pressure to the drill string when the sub is in its second operative condition, thereby to produce a reactive fluid jet force laterally effective on the drill string, and adjusting the effective direction of the force by adjusting the angular position of the drill string.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
222 words
A method for aligning with a desired location on the bottom of a body of water the lower end of a drill string pendulously supported from a drilling vessel or the like floating on the body of water, the method comprising the steps of: a. providing in the drill string adjacent to the lower end thereof a hollow, axially extensible steering sub having a foreshortened first operative condition and an extended second operative condition and defining in the second operative condition thereof a fluid flow passage laterally therethrough from the interior of the drill string to said body of water, and including means effective in the first operative condition to maintain the sub in the first operative condition and responsive to the existence of fluid pressure within the drill string in excess of a predetermined pressure for enabling the sub to move from its first to its second operative condition; b. disposing the sub in its second operative condition; and c. moving the lower end of the drill string into the desired alignment by applying fluid under pressure to the drill string when the sub is in its second operative condition, thereby to produce a reactive fluid jet force laterally effective on the drill string, and adjusting the effective direction of the force by adjusting the angular position of the drill string.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method according to claim 9 including adjusting the sub from its second to its first operative condition by at least partially supporting the weight of the drill string on the lower end thereof when the pressure of any fluid in the drill string at the sub is less than said predetermined pressure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method according to claim 9 wherein the sub is adjusted from its first to its second operative condition by disposing the drill string out of supportive engagement with the bottom of said body of water and producing within the drill string at the sub a fluid pressure in excess of said predetermined pressure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method according to claim 11 wherein the drill string terminates at its lower end in a rotary drill bit, and said excess fluid pressure is produced by pumping fluid down the drill string from the vessel at a rate in excess of the maximum rate at which the drill bit can pass such fluid therethrough.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
143 words
A sub for use in association with oil and gas wells and the like, the sub comprising: a. an outer barrel adapted for coupling with an upper portion of a drill string; b. a hollow inner barrel inside the outer barrel and movable axially relative to the outer barrel between a first position and a second position, the inner barrel being adapted for coupling with a lower portion of the drill string; c. releasable latching means normally operative to maintain the inner barrel and the outer barrel in their first relative position; d. means for releasing the latching means to permit relative movement of the inner and outer barrels to their second relative position; and e. means cooperating between the inner and outer barrels for defining a lateral fluid flow passage through the barrels only in the second relative position of the barrels.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
143 words
A sub for use in association with oil and gas wells and the like, the sub comprising: a. an outer barrel adapted for coupling with an upper portion of a drill string; b. a hollow inner barrel inside the outer barrel and movable axially relative to the outer barrel between a first position and a second position, the inner barrel being adapted for coupling with a lower portion of the drill string; c. releasable latching means normally operative to maintain the inner barrel and the outer barrel in their first relative position; d. means for releasing the latching means to permit relative movement of the inner and outer barrels to their second relative position; and e. means cooperating between the inner and outer barrels for defining a lateral fluid flow passage through the barrels only in the second relative position of the barrels.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the outer barrel has substantially the same diameter as the drill string.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
120 words
A sub for use in association with oil and gas wells and the like, the sub comprising: a. an outer barrel; b. a hollow inner barrel inside the outer barrel and coupled for only axial movement relative to the outer barrel between a first position and a second position; c. releasable latching means normally operative to maintain the inner barrel and the outer barrel in their first relative position; d. means for releasing the latching means to permit relative movement of the inner and outer barrels to their second relative position; and e. means cooperating between the inner and outer barrels for defining a lateral fluid flow passage through the barrels only in the second relative position of the barrels.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
120 words
A sub for use in association with oil and gas wells and the like, the sub comprising: a. an outer barrel; b. a hollow inner barrel inside the outer barrel and coupled for only axial movement relative to the outer barrel between a first position and a second position; c. releasable latching means normally operative to maintain the inner barrel and the outer barrel in their first relative position; d. means for releasing the latching means to permit relative movement of the inner and outer barrels to their second relative position; and e. means cooperating between the inner and outer barrels for defining a lateral fluid flow passage through the barrels only in the second relative position of the barrels.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
194 words
A sub for use in association with oil and gas wells and the like, the sub comprising: a. an outer barrel; b. a hollow inner barrel inside the outer barrel and movable axially relative to the outer barrel between a first position and a second position; c. releasable latching means including a keeper lug cooperating between the inner and outer barrels, and spring biasing means to maintain the keeper lug cooperatively engaged with a keeper bore disposed in the inner barrel to maintain the barrels in their first relative position; d. means for releasing the latching means to permit relative movement of the inner and outer barrels to their second relative position, the latch release means including a piston adapted to engagement with the keeper lug, the piston being movable within the keeper bore in response to fluid pressure in the inner barrel to urge the keeper lug out of engagement with the keeper bore to permit relative movement of the inner and outer barrels; and e. means cooperating between the inner and outer barrels for defining a lateral fluid flow passage through the barrels only in the second relative position of the barrels.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
194 words
A sub for use in association with oil and gas wells and the like, the sub comprising: a. an outer barrel; b. a hollow inner barrel inside the outer barrel and movable axially relative to the outer barrel between a first position and a second position; c. releasable latching means including a keeper lug cooperating between the inner and outer barrels, and spring biasing means to maintain the keeper lug cooperatively engaged with a keeper bore disposed in the inner barrel to maintain the barrels in their first relative position; d. means for releasing the latching means to permit relative movement of the inner and outer barrels to their second relative position, the latch release means including a piston adapted to engagement with the keeper lug, the piston being movable within the keeper bore in response to fluid pressure in the inner barrel to urge the keeper lug out of engagement with the keeper bore to permit relative movement of the inner and outer barrels; and e. means cooperating between the inner and outer barrels for defining a lateral fluid flow passage through the barrels only in the second relative position of the barrels.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-03-07 | 1975-09-06 | 1976-03-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-07 | 1979-09-06 | 1980-03-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-07 | 1983-09-06 | 1984-03-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |