Abstract: A core barrel head assembly having at least one electronic instrument that is configured to obtain orientation data; a power source; and a communication means to receive and/or transmit orientation data for use in a core sample down hole surveying and sample orientation system that is configured to provide an indication of the orientation of a core sample relative to a body of material from which the core has been extracted, and also to a method of core sample orientation identification.

Abstract: Implementations of the present invention include drill string components having a thread extending around a body. The leading end of the thread can have a configuration that resists jamming and cross-threading. In particular, the leading end of the thread can include a planar surface normal to the body. The leading end of the thread can provide an abrupt transition to full thread depth that helps reduce or eliminate cross-threading. The leading end of the thread can be oriented at an angle relative to the axis of the drill string component. When mating male and female threads are similarly structured, the mating threads slide together along an interface at the thread start face and are drawn into a fully thread-coupled condition. The thread starts may have full circumference mating with no jamming positions.

Abstract: Implementations of the present invention include drill string components having a thread extending around a body. The leading end of the thread can have a configuration that resists jamming and cross-threading. In particular, the leading end of the thread can include a planar surface normal to the body. The leading end of the thread can provide an abrupt transition to full thread depth that helps reduce or eliminate cross-threading. The leading end of the thread can be oriented at an angle relative to the axis of the drill string component. When mating male and female threads are similarly structured, the mating threads slide together along an interface at the thread start face and are drawn into a fully thread-coupled condition. The thread starts may have full circumference mating with no jamming positions.

Abstract: A cable release system for permitting detachment of a drilling cable from a drill string. The cable release system has a swivel body, a bearing assembly, one or more locking elements, and a release sleeve assembly. The swivel body is coupled to a drilling cable. The bearing assembly has a receptacle body that receives a portion of the swivel body and defines openings that receive a portion of corresponding locking elements. The bearing assembly has an outer sleeve that circumferentially surrounds the receptacle body and has a variable inner diameter such that axial movement of outer sleeve controls the radial position of the locking elements relative to the swivel body. The release sleeve assembly can be moved in a distal direction to engage the outer sleeve of the bearing assembly to move the outer sleeve to an axial position in which the swivel body and drilling cable are detachable from the remainder of the drill string.

Abstract: Implementations described herein include a hoisting device and method for handling, coupling and recovery of tubular members such as drill string components. The hoisting device has a self-energizing gripping means configured to releasably engage a drill string component. In one aspect, the self-energizing gripping means can be operable to increase at least one of a radial biasing force and a contact friction force applied to a drill string component, causing the gripping means to increase the overall gripping force applied to the component with minimal effort exerted by a hoisting device operator.

Abstract: A cable release system for permitting detachment of a drilling cable from a drill string. The cable release system has a swivel body, a bearing assembly, one or more locking elements, and a release sleeve assembly. The swivel body is coupled to a drilling cable. The bearing assembly has a receptacle body that receives a portion of the swivel body and defines openings that receive a portion of corresponding locking elements. The bearing assembly has an outer sleeve that circumferentially surrounds the receptacle body and has a variable inner diameter such that axial movement of outer sleeve controls the radial position of the locking elements relative to the swivel body. The release sleeve assembly can be moved in a distal direction to engage the outer sleeve of the bearing assembly to move the outer sleeve to an axial position in which the swivel body and drilling cable are detachable from the remainder of the drill string.

Abstract: A brake device for engaging an inner surface of a drill string within a borehole. The brake device has a driving member that defines a plurality of wedge surfaces, a brake retainer that receives at least a portion of the driving member, and a plurality of braking elements positioned in contact with at least a portion of the outer surface of the driving member. The brake retainer has a biasing member that is operatively coupled to the driving member. The biasing member of the brake retainer biases the driving member in a proximal direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the drill string to position the wedge surfaces in contact with corresponding braking elements, and the wedge surfaces drive the braking elements radially outwardly to engage the inner surface of the drill string. The brake device is not coupled to an inner tube assembly.

Abstract: Implementations described herein include a hoisting device and method for handling, coupling and recovery of tubular members such as drill string components. The hoisting device has a self-energizing gripping means configured to releasably engage a drill string component. In one aspect, the self-energizing gripping means can be operable to increase at least one of a radial biasing force and a contact friction force applied to a drill string component, causing the gripping means to increase the overall gripping force applied to the component with minimal effort exerted by a hoisting device operator.

Abstract: A core barrel head assembly having at least one electronic instrument that is configured to obtain orientation data; a power source; and a communication means to receive and/or transmit orientation data for use in a core sample down hole surveying and sample orientation system that is configured to provide an indication of the orientation of a core sample relative to a body of material from which the core has been extracted, and also to a method of core sample orientation identification.

Abstract: Threaded drill string component having a hollow elongate body with a box end portion, an opposing pin end portion and a cylindrical mid-body portion that extends longitudinally between the respective box and pin end portions and has a variable wall diameter. The mid-body inner wall of the mid-body portion has at least one projecting portion or upset that is spaced from both the box and pin end portions and extends inwardly toward a central longitudinal axis of the hollow body and a plurality of troughs defined in the mid-body inner wall of the mid-body portion.

Abstract: A brake device for engaging an inner surface of a drill string within a borehole. The brake device has a driving member that defines a plurality of wedge surfaces, a brake retainer that receives at least a portion of the driving member, and a plurality of braking elements positioned in contact with at least a portion of the outer surface of the driving member. The brake retainer has a biasing member that is operatively coupled to the driving member. The biasing member of the brake retainer biases the driving member in a proximal direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the drill string to position the wedge surfaces in contact with corresponding braking elements, and the wedge surfaces drive the braking elements radially outwardly to engage the inner surface of the drill string. The brake device is not coupled to an inner tube assembly.

Abstract: A core barrel head assembly having at least one electronic instrument that is configured to obtain orientation data; a power source; and a communication means to receive and/or transmit orientation data for use in a core sample down hole surveying and sample orientation system that is configured to provide an indication of the orientation of a core sample relative to a body of material from which the core has been extracted, and also to a method of core sample orientation identification.

Abstract: Drill string components having at least two threads extending around a body. The leading end of each thread can have a configuration having increased strength and resistance to jamming and cross-threading. In particular, the leading end of each thread can comprise a planar surface normal to the body. The leading end of each thread can provide an abrupt transition to full thread depth that helps reduce or eliminate cross-threading and can be oriented at an angle relative to the axis of the drill string component. Each thread can further provide at least one of a variable thread width and a variable thread pitch configured to create an axial progressive fit. Each thread can also provide a cylindrical thread root and a thread crest that circumscribes a frusta-cone over at least a portion of the axial length of the threads configured to create a radial progressive fit.

Abstract: Threaded drill string component having a hollow elongate body with a box end portion, an opposing pin end portion and a cylindrical mid-body portion that extends longitudinally between the respective box and pin end portions and has a variable wall diameter. The mid-body inner wall of the mid-body portion has at least one projecting portion or upset that is spaced from both the box and pin end portions and extends inwardly toward a central longitudinal axis of the hollow body and a plurality of troughs defined in the mid-body inner wall of the mid-body portion.

Abstract: A threaded drill string component having a hollow elongate body with a box end portion, an opposing pin end portion and a cylindrical mid-body portion that extends longitudinally between the respective box and pin end portions and has a variable wall diameter. The mid-body inner wall of the mid-body portion has at least one projecting portion or upset that is spaced from both the box and pin end portions and extends inwardly toward a central longitudinal axis of the hollow body and a plurality of troughs defined in the mid-body inner wall of the mid-body portion.

Abstract: Implementations of the present invention include drill string components having a thread extending around a body. The leading end of the thread can have a configuration that resists jamming and cross-threading. In particular, the leading end of the thread can include a planar surface normal to the body. The leading end of the thread can provide an abrupt transition to full thread depth that helps reduce or eliminate cross-threading. The leading end of the thread can be oriented at an angle relative to the axis of the drill string component. When mating male and female threads are similarly structured, the mating threads slide together along an interface at the thread start face and are drawn into a fully thread-coupled condition. The thread starts may have full circumference mating with no jamming positions.

Abstract: Fluid control assemblies including at least one ring. The fluid control assemblies are used within core barrel assemblies to: provide an indication that a core barrel assembly has reached a drilling position and is latched to a drill string; serve as a mechanical shut-off valve that restricts the flow of drilling fluid within a core barrel assembly; and/or serve as a grease seal at the connection between an inner tube cap and an inner tube that receives a core sample.

Abstract: Drill string components having at least two threads extending around a body. The leading end of each thread can have a configuration having increased strength and resistance to jamming and cross-threading. In particular, the leading end of each thread can comprise a planar surface normal to the body. The leading end of each thread can provide an abrupt transition to full thread depth that helps reduce or eliminate cross-threading and can be oriented at an angle relative to the axis of the drill string component. Each thread can further provide at least one of a variable thread width and a variable thread pitch configured to create an axial progressive fit. Each thread can also provide a cylindrical thread root and a thread crest that circumscribes a frusta-cone over at least a portion of the axial length of the threads configured to create a radial progressive fit.

Abstract: Drill string components having a thread extending around a body that have a configuration that resists jamming and cross-threading. A leading end of the thread includes a planar surface normal to the body that provides an abrupt transition to full thread depth to help reduce or eliminate cross-threading. When complementary male and female threads are similarly structured, the mating threads slide together along an interface at the thread start face and are drawn into a fully thread-coupled condition.

Abstract: A core lifter and method for making same for use in a drilling system. The core lifter can include a tubular body having an exterior surface and an interior surface and can have a plurality of longitudinally-oriented recesses formed in the exterior surface of the tubular body of the core lifter and extending radially inwardly relative to the central axis of the core lifter. The plurality of longitudinally-oriented recesses formed in the exterior surface of the tubular body of the core lifter can extend along at least 50 percent of the length of the core lifter.