US3696332A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telemetering drill string with self-cleaning connectors
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
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Filing: 1970-05-25
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Granted: 1972-10-03
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Expires: 1990-05-25
Abstract
Abstract A telemetering drill string in which segments of an insulated electrical conductor are joined by connectors in the pipe joints is improved by electrical connectors having generally ring-shaped contact-making surfaces which are wiped together as the pipe joints are interconnected. A process of telemetering while drilling in a deep borehole is improved by installing a wire line telemetering system between the drill bit and a section of the above type of segmented electrical conductor-containing telemetering drill string.
Inventors
- 👤 Leon L Dickson Jr
- 👤 Emmett G Ward
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:30
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B17/00; E21B17/02; E21B17/028; E21B17/0285
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
In a telemetering drill string in which segments of an insulated electrical conductor are joined by electrical connectors in mating portions of drill string pipe joints that contain mating sealing shoulders, an improvement in the arrangement of electrical connectors which comprises: in each electrical connector, a generally ring-shaped substantially full-circle contact-making ring of conductive metal that is mounted within an annular groove in a pipe joint element, is electrically insulated from the wall of the groove, and is electrically connected to a segment of said insulated electrical conductor; within each assembled pipe joint, at least one resilient biasing means operatively associated with at least one of said contactmaking rings to urge the ring toward a position from which it is displaced with a wiping action by the adjacent contactmaking ring as the pipe joint elements are screwed together; and, a location of said grooves and contact-making rings in said drill string pipe joints between the innermost and outermost portions of the mating sealing shoulders such that said grooves and rings are located beyond the inner diameter of the drill string and are isolated from the fluid in and around the drill string by the metal to metal joining of said innermost and outermost portions of the mating sealing shoulders.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
In a telemetering drill string in which segments of an insulated electrical conductor are joined by electrical connectors in mating portions of drill string pipe joints that contain mating sealing shoulders, an improvement in the arrangement of electrical connectors which comprises: in each electrical connector, a generally ring-shaped substantially full-circle contact-making ring of conductive metal that is mounted within an annular groove in a pipe joint element, is electrically insulated from the wall of the groove, and is electrically connected to a segment of said insulated electrical conductor; within each assembled pipe joint, at least one resilient biasing means operatively associated with at least one of said contactmaking rings to urge the ring toward a position from which it is displaced with a wiping action by the adjacent contactmaking ring as the pipe joint elements are screwed together; and, a location of said grooves and contact-making rings in said drill string pipe joints between the innermost and outermost portions of the mating sealing shoulders such that said grooves and rings are located beyond the inner diameter of the drill string and are isolated from the fluid in and around the drill string by the metal to metal joining of said innermost and outermost portions of the mating sealing shoulders.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 1 in which, within each pair of said contact-making rings, the contact-making surface of one ring is substantially flat and smooth while the contact-making surface of the other ring is roughened to provide wiping contours for wiping the flat surface of the mating contact-making ring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
111 words
In a process for drilling into a relatively deep zone and telemetering downhole measurement information along a drill string within a borehole, the improvement which comprises: extending a drill string within a borehole to a selected relatively deep depth; installing a system for obtaining downhole measurement information and transmitting it along an extended continuous length of wire line within said drill string and connecting the wire line to a pipe joint electrical connector of a segmented electrical conductor-containing telemetering drill string; and, adding additional drill string sections of said segmented electrical conductor-containing telemetering drill string as required in order to drill into and telemeter downhole measurement information from said deep zone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
111 words
In a process for drilling into a relatively deep zone and telemetering downhole measurement information along a drill string within a borehole, the improvement which comprises: extending a drill string within a borehole to a selected relatively deep depth; installing a system for obtaining downhole measurement information and transmitting it along an extended continuous length of wire line within said drill string and connecting the wire line to a pipe joint electrical connector of a segmented electrical conductor-containing telemetering drill string; and, adding additional drill string sections of said segmented electrical conductor-containing telemetering drill string as required in order to drill into and telemeter downhole measurement information from said deep zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
134 words
In a process for drilling into a relatively deep zone and telemetering downhole measurement information along a drill string within a borehole, the improvement which comprises: extending a drill string containing a measuring device near the drill bit within the borehole to a selected relatively deep depth; inserting a wire line measurement information telemetering means having an extended continuous length of wire line into said drill string; connecting said wire line telemetering means with the lower end being connected remotely to said measuring device and the upper end being connected to a pipe joint electrical connector of a segmented electrical conductor-contaIning telemetering drill string; and adding additional drill string sections of said segmented electrical conductor-containing telemetering drill string as required in order to drill into and telemeter downhole measurement information from said deep zone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
134 words
In a process for drilling into a relatively deep zone and telemetering downhole measurement information along a drill string within a borehole, the improvement which comprises: extending a drill string containing a measuring device near the drill bit within the borehole to a selected relatively deep depth; inserting a wire line measurement information telemetering means having an extended continuous length of wire line into said drill string; connecting said wire line telemetering means with the lower end being connected remotely to said measuring device and the upper end being connected to a pipe joint electrical connector of a segmented electrical conductor-contaIning telemetering drill string; and adding additional drill string sections of said segmented electrical conductor-containing telemetering drill string as required in order to drill into and telemeter downhole measurement information from said deep zone.
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) | 1975-10-03 | 1976-04-03 | 1976-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-03 | 1980-04-03 | 1980-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-03 | 1984-04-03 | 1984-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |