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US3825079A
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US
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Method for mounting an electric conductor in a drill string
Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co
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Filing: 1973-07-30
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Granted: 1974-07-23
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Expires: 1993-07-30
Abstract
Abstract Method for performing wellbore telemetry operations wherein an electric circuit between a subsurface location in a pipe string and the surface is established and maintained by placing an electric conductor in the pipe string to extend from the subsurface location to the surface, arranging the conductor in an overlapped configuration having an upper loop and a lower loop, biasing the lower loop downwardly to remove slack from the conductor, advancing the wellbore in increments of sufficient length to require lengthening the pipe string and for each such incremental advancement, lengthening the pipe string by adding a length of pipe thereto. The length of pipe added to the drill string has extending therethrough an electrical conductor section for lengthening the conductor in the pipe string.
Inventors
- 👤 J Heilhecker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 15:49
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B19/00; E21B17/00; E21B17/003; E21B19/22; E21B23/00; E21B23/14; E21B4/00; E21B4/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of establishing and maintaining electric continuity between a subsurface location within a pipe string used to drill a well and a location substantially at the surface which comprises placing an electric conductor string in said pipe string to extend between said locations; overlapping a portion of said conductor string to form an upper loop and a lower loop; biasing said lower loop downwardly while maintaining said upper loop in said pipe string to remove slack from the said conductor string; advancing said well in increments of sufficient length to require lengthening said pipe string; and for each of said incremented advancements lengthening both said pipe string and said conductor string by inserting a length of pipe into the pipe string and a conductor section into the conductor string, said conductor section having a length different from said pipe length.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of establishing and maintaining electric continuity between a subsurface location within a pipe string used to drill a well and a location substantially at the surface which comprises placing an electric conductor string in said pipe string to extend between said locations; overlapping a portion of said conductor string to form an upper loop and a lower loop; biasing said lower loop downwardly while maintaining said upper loop in said pipe string to remove slack from the said conductor string; advancing said well in increments of sufficient length to require lengthening said pipe string; and for each of said incremented advancements lengthening both said pipe string and said conductor string by inserting a length of pipe into the pipe string and a conductor section into the conductor string, said conductor section having a length different from said pipe length.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein each conductor section is slightly longer than its associated pipe length and wherein the biasing step moves the lower loop downwardly from the upper loop to remove slack from the conductor string introduced by each addition of a pipe length and a conductor section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as defined in claim 1 and further comprisiNg the step of preventing the upper and lower loops from twisting relative to one another.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of establishing and maintaining electric continuity between a subsurface location within a pipe string used to drill a well and a location substantially at the surface which comprises lowering an electric conductor string in said pipe string to extend between said locations; overlapping a portion of said conductor string to form an upper loop and a lower loop; biasing said upper loop and lower loops apart; and preventing said upper loop and lower loops from twisting relative to one another.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of establishing and maintaining electric continuity between a subsurface location within a pipe string used to drill a well and a location substantially at the surface which comprises lowering an electric conductor string in said pipe string to extend between said locations; overlapping a portion of said conductor string to form an upper loop and a lower loop; biasing said upper loop and lower loops apart; and preventing said upper loop and lower loops from twisting relative to one another.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
88 words
A method as defined in claim 4 and further comprising the steps of advancing said well sufficiently to require the addition of a length of pipe; adding a conductor section into said conductor string to lengthen said conductor string by an amount slightly longer than said length of pipe and adding said length of pipe to said pipe string to lengthen said pipe string, said step of biasing said loops apart being operative to remove slack from said conductor string introduced by the addition of said conductor section.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for establishing and maintaining electric continuity between a subsurface location within a pipe string used to drill a well and a location substantially at the surface which comprises lowering an electric conductor string in said pipe string to extend between said locations; looping said conductor string around upper and lower guides to form overlapped conductor portions; supporting the upper guide within said drill string; and mounting said lower guide on a track connected to said upper guide to maintain the lower guides in substantial vertical alignment with the upper guide, said lower guide being suspended on a looped portion of said conductor string and being movable along said track.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for establishing and maintaining electric continuity between a subsurface location within a pipe string used to drill a well and a location substantially at the surface which comprises lowering an electric conductor string in said pipe string to extend between said locations; looping said conductor string around upper and lower guides to form overlapped conductor portions; supporting the upper guide within said drill string; and mounting said lower guide on a track connected to said upper guide to maintain the lower guides in substantial vertical alignment with the upper guide, said lower guide being suspended on a looped portion of said conductor string and being movable along said track.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for installing an electric conductor string within a rotatable pipe string used to drill a well which comprises lowering an electric conductor string in said pipe string; looping said conductor string around upper and lower guides to form overlapped conductor portions; supporting the upper guide within said drill string; and maintaining said lower guide in substantial vertical alignment with said upper guide as said pipe string is rotated to prevent said overlapped conductor portions from twisting while enabling said lower guide to move vertically in relation to said upper guide.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for installing an electric conductor string within a rotatable pipe string used to drill a well which comprises lowering an electric conductor string in said pipe string; looping said conductor string around upper and lower guides to form overlapped conductor portions; supporting the upper guide within said drill string; and maintaining said lower guide in substantial vertical alignment with said upper guide as said pipe string is rotated to prevent said overlapped conductor portions from twisting while enabling said lower guide to move vertically in relation to said upper guide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as defined in claim 7 wherein said upper and lower guides are maintained in substantial vertical alignment by a rigid track secured to said upper guide, said lower guide being slidably mounted on said track.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-22 | 1978-01-21 | 1978-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-22 | 1982-01-21 | 1982-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-22 | 1986-01-21 | 1986-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |