IP Library Granted Patent US 11,149,500
Granted Patent B2
US 11,149,500 · App. 16/925,825 · Granted Oct 19, 2021

Contact module for communicating with a downhole device

Inventors: Kenneth C. Miller (Houston, TX); David Cramer (Okotoks, CA)
Assignees: Black Diamond Oilfield Rentals, LLC; Erdos Miller, Inc.
E21B17/028E21B47/13
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,149,500
App. No.
16/925,825
Granted
Oct 19, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system including a tool drill string having a downhole device. The system includes at least one external contact to be electrically coupled to the downhole device to communicate with the downhole device, one or more insulators that electrically insulate the at least once external contact from other parts of the system, and one or more seals situated between the one or more insulators and the at least one external contact to pressure seal the system from external fluids.

Claims (37)

1. A downhole tool, comprising:

a first member having an axis, a distal end configured to be coupled to a downhole device and a central shaft contiguous and monolithic with the first member, and the central shaft extends axially therefrom to a proximal end;

electrical contacts and insulators mechanically coupled to the central shaft, the electrical contacts are electrically insulated from the central shaft, and the central shaft extends through the electrical contacts and insulators;

a second member coupled to the proximal end of the central shaft to axially restrain the electrical contacts and insulators relative to the central shaft;

the electrical contacts, insulators and second member comprise axial faces, and physical contact between the electrical contacts, insulators and second member consists of contact between the respective axial faces thereof; and

the second member comprises a spear tip nose at a proximal end thereof, the spear tip nose is configured to stab into and engage a female receptacle in an overshot tool to carry an entire weight of the downhole tool and the downhole device at the spear tip nose to be retrieved from a well, such that an entire tensile load connection and capacity of the downhole tool is supported by the spear tip nose.

2. The downhole tool of claim 1 , further comprising seal apertures located in the axial faces of the electrical contacts and second member, such that the insulators are free of seal apertures.

3. The downhole tool of claim 2 , further comprising o-ring seals positioned exclusively in the seal apertures.

4. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein:

each of the electrical contacts is an annular metal ring that completely circumscribes the central shaft, and each of the insulators is an annular ceramic ring that completely circumscribes the central shaft; and further comprising

additional electrical insulators located between the electrical contacts, respectively, and the central shaft.

5. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein:

the electrical contacts are electrically coupled to a communications path with electrical connectors, respectively, via fasteners;

the communications path is connected to the first member via a strain relief;

the central shaft comprises a connections slot to facilitate connecting the electrical connectors to the communications path; and

the central shaft comprises a key slot having an insulated key that engages and limits the electrical contacts from rotation relative to the axis.

6. A spearpoint assembly, comprising:

a first member having an axis and a central shaft that is contiguous and monolithic with the first member, and the central shaft extends to a proximal end of the first member;

a plurality of electrical contacts having a ring shape and coaxially aligned and supported by the central shaft;

a plurality of insulators having a ring shape and coaxially aligned and supported by the central shaft;

the ring shape of the electrical contacts and the insulators extends axially and comprises a constant outer diameter along an entire length of the plurality of electrical contacts and the plurality of insulators;

a second member coupled to the proximal end of the central shaft to axially restrain the electrical contacts and the insulators; and

the first member and the second member are electrically insulated from the electrical contacts.

7. The downhole tool of claim 6 , wherein each of the first member, electrical contacts, insulators and second member comprises axial faces, and physical contact between the each of the first member, electrical contacts, insulators and second member consists of contact between the respective axial faces thereof.

8. The downhole tool of claim 7 , further comprising seal apertures located only in the axial faces of the first member, electrical contacts and second member, such that the insulators are free of seal apertures.

9. The downhole tool of claim 8 , further comprising o-ring seals positioned exclusively in the seal apertures in the axial faces of the first member, electrical contacts and second member.

10. The downhole tool of claim 6 , wherein the electrical contacts are electrically insulated from each other by the insulators.

11. The downhole tool of claim 6 , wherein each of the electrical contacts is an annular metal ring that completely circumscribes the central shaft, and each of the insulators is an annular ceramic ring that completely circumscribes the central shaft.

12. The downhole tool of claim 6 , further comprising semicircular electrical insulators located between the electrical contacts, respectively, and the central shaft.

13. The downhole tool of claim 6 , wherein the electrical contacts are electrically coupled to a communications path with electrical connectors, respectively, via fasteners.

14. The downhole tool of claim 13 , wherein the communications path is connected to the second member via a strain relief.

15. The downhole tool of claim 13 , wherein the central shaft comprises a connections slot to facilitate connecting the electrical connectors to the communications path.

16. The downhole tool of claim 13 , wherein the central shaft comprises a key slot having a key that engages and limits the electrical contacts from rotation relative to the axis and the second member.

17. The spearpoint assembly of claim 6 , wherein the central shaft comprises a central shaft slot.

18. The spearpoint assembly of claim 17 , wherein the electrical contacts are keyed for receipt of a key that is disposed in and engages the central shaft slot to prevent relative rotation between the central shaft and the electrical contacts.

19. The spearpoint assembly of claim 18 , wherein the insulators are keyed for receipt of the key that is disposed in and engages the central shaft slot to prevent relative rotation between the central shaft and the insulators.

20. The spearpoint assembly of claim 6 , wherein the second member comprises a latch rod that can be received by and coupled to an overshot tool.

Assignments (7)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 21, 2026
From: BASIN ENERGY LLC; BLACK DIAMOND OILFIELD RENTALS LLC; BASIN MANAGEMENT LLC; WENZEL US LLC; WENZEL DOWNHOLE TOOLS ULC
To: CHILDS, JOHN W.; JOHN W. CHILDS 2021 B-H CHARITABLE REMAINDER TRUST
Reel/Frame 075630/0673 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 6, 2023
From: ERDOS MILLER, INC.
To: BASIN DRILLING TOOLS LP
Reel/Frame 065464/0702 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 6, 2023
From: BASIN DRILLING TOOLS LP
To: ERDOS MILLER, INC.; BLACK DIAMOND OILFIELD RENTALS LLC
Reel/Frame 065464/0894 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 6, 2023
From: MILLER, KENNETH C.; CRAMER, DAVID
To: ERDOS MILLER, INC.
Reel/Frame 065464/0532 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 21, 2022
From: CRESCENT CAPITAL BDC, INC.
To: BLACK DIAMOND OILFIELD RENTALS LLC
Reel/Frame 060581/0914 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 20, 2022
From: BASIN INDUSTRIES LLC; BASIN MATERIAL HANDLING LLC; BLACK DIAMOND OILFIELD RENTALS LLC; PINNACLE OILFIELD INSPECTION SERVICES LLC; BASIN RENTALS LP
To: CALLODINE COMMERCIAL FINANCE, LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 060765/0369 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 22, 2020
From: BLACK DIAMOND OILFIELD RENTALS LLC
To: CRESCENT CAPITAL BDC, INC.
Reel/Frame 054142/0090 →