Granted Patent B2

US 8,556,004 · App. 12/959,649 · Granted Oct 15, 2013

Abstract

Claims (95)

1. A conduit assembly for use in a drilling system, the conduit assembly comprising:

an upper section including a first seal, the first seal including an opening sized and configured to receive and form a seal with an inner drill string;

an intermediate section including an outlet for a flushing medium; and

a first lower section sized and configured to be connected to and disconnected from the intermediate section, the first lower section including a leading portion sized and configured to be connected to and disconnected from a connecting portion of a first outer drill string, the first lower section further including an enlarged portion sized and configured to engage a clamp when the first lower section is connected to the first outer drill string to prevent a loss of the first outer drill string down a borehole.

2. The conduit assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the first lower section is sized and configured to be connected to the intermediate section in four discrete relative orientations that are about ninety degrees apart.

3. The conduit assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the first lower section is sized and configured to be connected to the intermediate section in a plurality of discrete relative orientations.

4. The conduit assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the first lower section is sized and configured to be connected to the intermediate section in a continuous range of orientations.

5. The conduit assembly as in claim 1 , further comprising:

projections formed in the first lower section; and

recesses formed in the intermediate section, the recesses being sized and configured to receive one or more portions of the projections to connect the first lower section to the intermediate section.

6. The conduit assembly as in claim 5 , further comprising:

one or more pins configured to retain the one or more portions of the projections of the first lower section within the recesses of the intermediate section.

7. The conduit assembly as in claim 1 , further comprising:

projections formed in the intermediate section; and

recesses formed in the first lower section, the recesses being sized and configured to receive one or more portions of the projections to connect the first lower section to the intermediate section.

8. The conduit assembly as in claim 7 , further comprising:

one or more pins configured to retain the one or more portions of the projections of the intermediate section within the recesses of the first lower section.

9. The conduit assembly as in claim 1 , further comprising:

a second lower section sized and configured to be connected to and disconnected from the intermediate section, the second lower section including a leading portion sized and configured to be connected to and disconnected from a connecting portion of a second outer drill string;

wherein the leading portion of the first lower section includes one or more threads sized and configured to engage one or more threads formed in the connecting portion of the first outer drill string;

wherein the leading portion of the second lower section includes one or more threads sized and configured to engage one or more threads formed in the connecting portion of the second outer drill string; and

wherein the one or more threads formed in the connecting portion of the first outer drill string have a first size; and

wherein the one or more threads formed in the connecting portion of the second outer drill string have a different, second size.

10. The conduit assembly as in claim 1 , further comprising:

a second lower section sized and configured to be connected to and disconnected from the intermediate section, the second lower section including a leading portion sized and configured to be connected to and disconnected from a connecting portion of a second outer drill string;

wherein the leading portion of the first lower section includes one or more threads sized and configured to engage one or more threads formed in the connecting portion of the first outer drill string;

wherein the leading portion of the second lower section includes one or more threads sized and configured to engage one or more threads formed in the connecting portion of the second outer drill string; and

wherein the one or more threads formed in the connecting portion of the first outer drill string have a first configuration; and

wherein the one or more threads formed in the connecting portion of the second outer drill string have a different, second configuration.

11. The conduit assembly as in claim 1 , further comprising:

a second lower section sized and configured to be connected to and disconnected from the intermediate section, the second lower section including a leading portion sized and configured to be connected to and disconnected from a connecting portion of a second outer drill string;

wherein the connecting portion of the first outer drill string has a first outer diameter; and

wherein the connecting portion of the second outer drill string has a different, second outer diameter.

12. A conduit assembly for use in a drilling system, the conduit assembly comprising:

an upper portion including a first seal, the first seal including:

an outer edge;

an opening sized and configured to receive and form a seal with an inner drill string; and

at least one slit extending from the outer edge of the first seal to the opening of the first seal;

an intermediate portion including an outlet for a flushing medium; and

a lower portion sized and configured to be connected to and disconnected from a connecting portion of an outer drill string,

wherein the lower portion of the conduit assembly is sized and configured to engage a clamp when the lower portion of the conduit assembly is connected to the outer drill string to prevent a loss of the outer drill string down a borehole.

13. The conduit assembly as in claim 12 , wherein the at least one slit forms a seam;

and wherein portions of the first seal that abut each other at the seam axially overlap.

14. The conduit assembly as in claim 12 , wherein the at least one slit forms a seam that extends at an oblique angle relative to an upper face of the first seal.

15. The conduit assembly as in claim 12 , wherein the at least one slit forms a seam that extends at an angle relative to an upper face of the first seal that is between thirty degrees to sixty degrees.

16. The conduit assembly as in claim 12 , wherein the at least one slit forms a seam that extends at an angle relative to an upper face of the first seal that is between forty degrees to fifty degrees.

17. The conduit assembly as in claim 12 , wherein the at least one slit forms a seam that extends at an angle relative to an upper face of the first seal that is about 45 degrees.

18. The conduit assembly as in claim 12 , wherein the at least one slit forms a seam that extends at an oblique angle relative to a lower face of the first seal.

19. The conduit assembly as in claim 12 , wherein the at least one slit forms a seam that extends at an angle relative to a lower face of the first seal that is between thirty degrees to sixty degrees.

20. The conduit assembly as in claim 12 , wherein the at least one slit forms a seam that extends at an angle relative to a lower face of the first seal that is between forty degrees to fifty degrees.

21. The conduit assembly as in claim 12 , wherein the at least one slit forms a seam that extends at an angle relative to a lower face of the first seal that is about 45 degrees.

22. The conduit assembly as in claim 12 , wherein the at least one slit comprises:

a plurality of slits extending from the outer edge of the first seal to the opening of the first seal.

23. The conduit assembly as in claim 22 , wherein the upper portion further comprises a thrust plate adjacent the first seal, the thrust plate including:

an outer edge;

an opening sized and configured to receive the inner drill string; and

a plurality of slits extending from the outer edge of the thrust plate to the opening of the thrust plate.

24. The conduit assembly as in claim 23 , wherein the slits of the first seal are offset from the slits of the thrust plate.

25. The conduit assembly as in claim 23 , wherein the upper portion further comprises a second seal adjacent the thrust plate, the second seal including:

an outer edge;

an opening sized and configured to receive and form a seal with the inner drill string; and

a plurality of slits extending from the outer edge of the second seal to the opening of the second seal.

26. The conduit assembly as in claim 25 , wherein the slits of the first seal are offset from the slits of the thrust plate; and wherein the slits of the second seal are offset from the slits of the thrust plate.

27. The conduit assembly as in claim 25 , wherein the slits of the first seal are offset from the slits of the thrust plate; wherein the slits of the second seal are offset from the slits of the thrust plate; and wherein the slits of the second seal are offset from the slits of the first seal.

28. The conduit assembly as in claim 25 , wherein the upper portion further comprises a housing that houses at least a portion of the first seal, at least a portion of the thrust plate, and at least a portion of the second seal, the housing including:

an outer edge;

an opening sized and configured to receive the inner drill string; and

a plurality of slits extending from the outer edge of the housing to the opening of the housing.

29. The conduit assembly as in claim 28 , wherein the slits of the first seal are offset from the slits of the thrust plate; wherein the slits of the second seal are offset from the slits of the thrust plate; and wherein the slits of the housing are offset from the slits of the second seal.

30. A conduit assembly for use in a drilling system, the conduit assembly comprising:

an upper portion including a first seal, the first seal including an opening sized and configured to receive and form a seal with an inner drill string;

an intermediate portion including:

a hollow interior;

an outer surface;

an inner surface; and

an outlet for a flushing medium, the outlet including a projection that extends into the hollow interior beyond the interior surface; and

a lower portion sized and configured to be connected to and disconnected from a connecting portion of an outer drill string,

wherein the projection that extends into the hollow interior beyond the interior surface is sized and configured to break up portions of the flushing medium and debris conveyed by the flushing media.

31. The conduit assembly as in claim 30 , wherein the projection that extends into the hollow interior beyond the interior surface comprises a tube that extends into the hollow interior beyond the interior surface.

32. The conduit assembly as in claim 30 , wherein the outlet is disposed at an oblique angle relative to the outer surface.

33. A conduit assembly for use in a drilling system, the conduit assembly comprising:

an upper portion including:

a first seal including:

an outer edge; and

an opening sized and configured to receive and form a seal with an inner drill string; and

a housing that houses at least a portion of the first seal, the housing including:

an inner surface that abuts the outer edge of the first seal such that, when the first seal is axially compressed, a radial force increases a strength of the seal formed between the inner drill string and the opening in the first seal;

an intermediate portion including an outlet for a flushing medium; and

a lower portion sized and configured to be connected to and disconnected from a connecting portion of an outer drill string.

34. The conduit assembly as in claim 33 , wherein the upper portion of the conduit assembly further includes a first thrust plate;

wherein the intermediate portion of the conduit assembly further comprises a second thrust plate; and

wherein the first seal is axially compressed between the first and second thrust plates to create the radial force that increases the strength of the seal formed between the inner drill string and the opening in the first seal.

35. The conduit assembly as in claim 33 , wherein the upper portion of the conduit assembly further includes a thrust plate; and

wherein the first seal is axially compressed between the thrust plate and the housing to create the radial force that increases the strength of the seal formed between the inner drill string and the opening in the first seal.

36. The conduit assembly as in claim 33 , wherein the first seal is axially compressed between a component of the upper portion of the conduit assembly and a component of the intermediate portion of the conduit assembly to create the radial force that increases the strength of the seal formed between the inner drill string and the opening in the first seal.

Assignments (10)