US3893523A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Curvable pipe section
Assignee: TEXAS DYNAMATICS Inc
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Filing: 1973-11-15
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Granted: 1975-07-08
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Expires: 1993-11-15
Abstract
Abstract A drill string section which may be used with its longitudinal axis straight or curved is made up of two or more coaxial tubular members, each bent in a continuous curve over part of its length, one rotatable within the other between selected rotational relative positions so that each member may strain the other toward straightness when their independent centers of curvature are on opposite sides of their mutual centerline with means to induce such relative rotation upon command. Alternately, two coaxial equally curved tubular members, as an assembly, inside a normally straight drill string section, or housing, is caused to tend to curve to impart a strained curvature to the housing. The inner assembly may be held stationary relative to earth while the housing is rotated, the result when the inner assembly is curved being a curved drill string section with its longitudinal axis lying in a stationary plane while the drill string is rotated about its longitudinal axis. Used in either configuration, the drill pipe section may be inserted into a well bore straight and used straight with the ability to induce the curve as needed for laterally deflecting the well bore as it is being drilled.
Inventors
- 👤 John Doise Jeter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 04:24
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B17/00; E21B17/20; E21B7/00; E21B7/04; E21B7/06; E21B7/067
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A curvable drill pipe section carried by a pipe string extending into a well bore that can be actuated to change the radius of curvatures of the longitudinal centerline of the section comprising; an inherently curved tubular outer member, an inherently curved cylindrical inner member axially supported and radially constrained within the bore of said tubular outer member such that the longitudinal centerline of the inner member is generally coincident with the longitudinal centerline of said outer member for relative rotation and relative rotational positioning within said outer member, means to rotate said inner member relative to said outer member, means to lock said inner member in selected rotational position relative to said outer member, so that by changing the rotational position of said inner member relative to said outer member said inner member will strain said outer member to change the curvature of the longitudinal centerline of the section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A curvable drill pipe section carried by a pipe string extending into a well bore that can be actuated to change the radius of curvatures of the longitudinal centerline of the section comprising; an inherently curved tubular outer member, an inherently curved cylindrical inner member axially supported and radially constrained within the bore of said tubular outer member such that the longitudinal centerline of the inner member is generally coincident with the longitudinal centerline of said outer member for relative rotation and relative rotational positioning within said outer member, means to rotate said inner member relative to said outer member, means to lock said inner member in selected rotational position relative to said outer member, so that by changing the rotational position of said inner member relative to said outer member said inner member will strain said outer member to change the curvature of the longitudinal centerline of the section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device of claim 1 in which said inherently curved tubular outer member and said inherently curved cylindrical inner member have such inherent radius of curvature of their longitudinal centerlines and such flexure characteristics that in at least one relative rotational position their mutual centerline is generally straight.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
273 words
A curvable drill string section carried by a pipe string extending into a well bore that can be actuated to change the radius of curvature of the longitudinal centerline of the section comprising; a housing having a generally cylindrical longitudinal opening, means at each end to attach said housing to pipe string components in end-to-end relationship, an inherently curved outer tubular member axially and radially supported within the opening of said housing such that the longitudinal centerline of said outer member generally coincides with the longitudinal centerline of said housing for rotation within said opening, an inherently curved cylindrical inner member axially and radially supported within the bore of said outer tubular member such that its longitudinal centerline generally coincides with the longitudinal centerline of said outer member for rotational movement and rotational positioning relative thereto, means to rotationally move and roTationally position said inner member relative to said outer member, means to rotate said inner and outer members as an assembly relative to said housing, whereby said inner member can be selectively rotationally positioned within said outer member to urge the centerline of said outer member to a selected curvature and said assembly can be rotated relative to said housing so that as said housing is rotated by the pipe string relative to earth the centerline of said assembly can be caused to lie in a plane independent of said housing so that said housing is urged by said assembly to curve along a centerline in said plane as said housing is rotated about said centerline to cause a drill bit attached thereto to tend to deflect laterally as drilling takes place.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
273 words
A curvable drill string section carried by a pipe string extending into a well bore that can be actuated to change the radius of curvature of the longitudinal centerline of the section comprising; a housing having a generally cylindrical longitudinal opening, means at each end to attach said housing to pipe string components in end-to-end relationship, an inherently curved outer tubular member axially and radially supported within the opening of said housing such that the longitudinal centerline of said outer member generally coincides with the longitudinal centerline of said housing for rotation within said opening, an inherently curved cylindrical inner member axially and radially supported within the bore of said outer tubular member such that its longitudinal centerline generally coincides with the longitudinal centerline of said outer member for rotational movement and rotational positioning relative thereto, means to rotationally move and roTationally position said inner member relative to said outer member, means to rotate said inner and outer members as an assembly relative to said housing, whereby said inner member can be selectively rotationally positioned within said outer member to urge the centerline of said outer member to a selected curvature and said assembly can be rotated relative to said housing so that as said housing is rotated by the pipe string relative to earth the centerline of said assembly can be caused to lie in a plane independent of said housing so that said housing is urged by said assembly to curve along a centerline in said plane as said housing is rotated about said centerline to cause a drill bit attached thereto to tend to deflect laterally as drilling takes place.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The device of claim 3 in which said outer inherently curved member and said inherently curved inner member have such intrinsic axial curvatures and flexure characteristics that in at least one relative rotational position therebetween their mutual centerline will be strained to approximate straightness.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
295 words
A curvable drill string section carried by a pipe string extending into a well bore that can be actuated to change the radius of curvature of the longitudinal centerline of the section comprising; a housing having a generally cylindrical central longitudinal opening, means at each end to attach said housing to pipe string components in end-to-end relationship, an inherently curved outer tubular member axially and radially supported within the opening of said housing such that the longitudinal centerline of said outer member generally coincides with the longitudinal centerline of said housing for rotation within said opening, an inherently curved cylindrical inner member axially and radially supported within the bore of said outer tubular member such that its longitudinal centerline generally coincides with the longitudinal centerline of said outer member for rotational movement and rotational positioning relative thereto, means to rotationally move and rotationally position said inner member relative to said outer member, means to rotate said inner and outer members as an assembly relative to said housing and to rotationally position and assembly relative to an earth related coordinate system, whereby said inner member can be selectively rotationally positioned within said outer member to urge the centerline of said outer member and said housing to a selected curvature and said assembly can be rotated relative to said housing so that as said housing is rotated by the pipe string relative to earth the centerline of said assembly can be caused to lie in a selected plane independent of said housing so that said housing is urged by said assembly to curve along a centerline in said plane as said housing is rotated about said centerline to cause a drill bit attached thereto to tend to deflect laterally in a selected direction as drilling takes place.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
295 words
A curvable drill string section carried by a pipe string extending into a well bore that can be actuated to change the radius of curvature of the longitudinal centerline of the section comprising; a housing having a generally cylindrical central longitudinal opening, means at each end to attach said housing to pipe string components in end-to-end relationship, an inherently curved outer tubular member axially and radially supported within the opening of said housing such that the longitudinal centerline of said outer member generally coincides with the longitudinal centerline of said housing for rotation within said opening, an inherently curved cylindrical inner member axially and radially supported within the bore of said outer tubular member such that its longitudinal centerline generally coincides with the longitudinal centerline of said outer member for rotational movement and rotational positioning relative thereto, means to rotationally move and rotationally position said inner member relative to said outer member, means to rotate said inner and outer members as an assembly relative to said housing and to rotationally position and assembly relative to an earth related coordinate system, whereby said inner member can be selectively rotationally positioned within said outer member to urge the centerline of said outer member and said housing to a selected curvature and said assembly can be rotated relative to said housing so that as said housing is rotated by the pipe string relative to earth the centerline of said assembly can be caused to lie in a selected plane independent of said housing so that said housing is urged by said assembly to curve along a centerline in said plane as said housing is rotated about said centerline to cause a drill bit attached thereto to tend to deflect laterally in a selected direction as drilling takes place.
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) | 1978-07-07 | 1979-01-06 | 1979-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-07 | 1983-01-06 | 1983-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-07 | 1987-01-06 | 1987-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |