Patents Assigned to VAM DRILLING FRANCE
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Patent number: 9217298Abstract: A holding device insertable into a central bore of a drill string component, the central bore having a first diameter along at least part of a central portion of the drill string component and a second diameter proximate ends of the drill string component. The second diameter is lower than the first diameter. The holding device includes an elongated body forming at least partly a housing for a transmission line. The elongated body has transversal dimensions lower than the second diameter. A plurality of arcuate elements are arranged along the elongated body and distinct from and attached to the elongated body. The arcuate elements are elastically bendable so as to be able to move through the second diameter and have a largest chord greater than the first diameter in a free state so as to be able to expand within the first diameter once past the second diameter.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2009Date of Patent: December 22, 2015Assignee: VAM DRILLING FRANCEInventors: Marta Lafuente, Francois Pineau, Gabriel Roussie
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Patent number: 9004197Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary drill stem component for exploration of a hydrocarbon well with drilling mud in movement around the component from a bottom of the well towards the surface. The drill can include a central tubular element having an axis of revolution and extended on either side respectively by a first and a second tool joint each respectively and successively including a first cylindrical portion connected to the tubular element, a second tapered portion, a third cylindrical portion with a radius greater than that of the tubular element. The drill can include a threaded end which can connect the component to another component, the component including a first shell provided with one or more functional zones, the first shell being mounted on one of the tool joints in a cohesive and removable manner.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2010Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Vam Drilling FranceInventors: Gabriel Roussie, Christophe Rohart
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Patent number: 8950787Abstract: An ensemble including a pipe for transporting substances which can flow, the pipe having a structure forming a coaxial transmission line including: a first tubular layer of electrically conductive material; a second tubular layer of electrically conductive material; and at least one first layer of dielectric material mounted in-between the first and the second layers of electrically conductive material, such that: the first layer of electrically conductive material forms an outer conductor of a section of the coaxial transmission line; the second layer of electrically conductive material forms an inner conductor of the section of the coaxial transmission line, and further including an electromagnetic coupler coupling the coaxial transmission line with a complementary coaxial transmission line carried by a pipe complementary to the pipe.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2011Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Vam Drilling FranceInventors: Jean-Alain Chabas, Brian Minnis
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Patent number: 8915315Abstract: A drillpipe for a drill stem to drill a hole. The drill stem includes a drill string and a bottom hole assembly. The drillpipe includes a first end having a first inertia, a second end having a second inertia, a first intermediate zone adjacent to the first end, a second intermediate zone adjacent to the second end, and a central substantially tubular zone with an external diameter smaller than the maximum external diameter of at least the first or the second end. A casing is fixed on the pipe over a portion of the external surface thereof, at least one physical parameter sensor is disposed in the casing, and at least one data transmission/storage mechanism is connected to the sensor output, the casing being disposed at a distance from the first and second ends, the casing being integral with the central zone at a distance from the first and second intermediate zones and having a smaller inertia than the first and second inertias.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2010Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignees: Vam Drilling France, Association Pour la Recherche et le Developpement de Methodes et Processus IndustrielsInventors: Jean Boulet, Stéphane Menand
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Patent number: 8844654Abstract: A drill string element including an elongate tubular body delimiting an interior surface longitudinally including at least one portion of revolution and including a first hole provided in the elongate tubular body. That first hole includes a first end opening at the portion of revolution, and in a vicinity of the first end a longitudinal axis intersecting the interior surface at an intersection location. The longitudinal axis, in projection into a first plane passing through the central axis of the portion of revolution and containing the intersection location, forms a first angle of a value that is not zero and in projection into a second plane tangential to the interior surface at the intersection location forms a second angle of a value that is not zero.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2009Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Vam Drilling FranceInventor: Jean Boulet
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Publication number: 20140174715Abstract: A tubular component for oil exploration includes an electromagnetic half-coupler that can be coupled to a half-coupler of another tubular component to allow data transmission, wherein an end portion of the tubular component includes a housing accommodating the half-coupler, the half-coupler including a coupling element and an annular armature for the coupling element, the coupling element including an annular body formed from a material with a high magnetic permeability and an electrical conductor having turns, the armature including a first portion and a second portion configured to accommodate the coupling element, the armature being partially surrounded by an isolating and impervious material to protect the half-coupler against infiltration.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2012Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicant: VAM DRILLING FRANCEInventors: Francois Millet, Yvan Boudey, Stephane Thobois
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Publication number: 20140104073Abstract: An element for a drill string including a body with a generally axisymmetric appearance and a wave type communication device installed in the body. The communication device includes a set of antennae including plural antennae distributed at a periphery of the body, about an axis of symmetry thereof, and capable of operating in transmission and in reception, operating electronics capable of organizing transfer of data, in transmission and in reception, an actuator capable of selectively connecting the antennae of the set to the operating electronics, and an antenna monitor configured to regularly evaluate a reception quality parameter for at least one sub-assembly of the set of antennae, to repetitively select one or more antennae of the set as a function of reception quality parameters derived from the sub-assembly and to command the actuator to connect the selected antenna or antennae to the operating electronics.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2012Publication date: April 17, 2014Applicant: VAM DRILLING FRANCEInventors: Alexandre Fraignac, Yannick Mfoulou
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Publication number: 20140102806Abstract: A tubular component for a drill stem that can be cabled includes a first end zone, a second end zone, a sheath, the sheath extends between the first end zone and the second end zone, and a liner fixed in a bore of the first end zone. The liner includes at least one take-up chamber for a cable disposed in the sheath.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2012Publication date: April 17, 2014Applicant: Vam Drilling FranceInventors: Francois Millet, Madjid Ladjici, Julien Breche
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Publication number: 20140080338Abstract: A pair of contact or capacitive HF couplers for drill stem components. Each of the first and second couplers includes a central conductor, a supplemental conductor, and an annular dielectric mechanism. The dielectric mechanism is disposed between the conductors. The conductors are isolated from each other. The supplemental conductor includes two electrical contact surfaces. The central conductor includes an electrical contact surface or electrode. The central conductors of the first and second couplers interact electrically in the coupled state. The supplemental conductors of the first and second couplers are in electrical contact in the coupled state. The supplemental conductors surround the central conductors. In the mounted state, the supplemental conductors form a shielding for the central conductors.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2012Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: VAM DRILLING FRANCEInventors: Beranger Mitjans, Franck Moukanda Mbango, Roland Amiel
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Patent number: 8668510Abstract: A tubular component of a drill stem comprises a first end including a first threading, a second end including a second threading, and a substantially tubular central zone, the component further comprising a device for electrical connection with another component, mounted on at least one of the ends, and a cable for the transmission of signals between the first end and the second end, connected to the connecting device, the connecting device including at least one conductor provided with an electrically insulated link portion and an electrical contact portion; a dielectric to isolate the insulated link portion; and an annular sealing surface defining a protected zone, said electrical contact portion being disposed in the protected zone, the annular sealing surface being disposed at the surface of the insulated link portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2011Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Vam Drilling FranceInventor: Gabriel Roussie
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Publication number: 20140041945Abstract: An electromagnetic coupler includes first and second coupling elements for mounting on respective first and second support elements. The first and second coupling elements include respective first and second annular bodies each including a high magnetic permeability material that houses a conductive winding and an open transverse section. The first and second bodies have complementary shapes that when two support elements respectively receiving the first and second coupling elements are coupled, the first and second bodies form a structure enclosing the first and second conductive windings. The first and second conductive windings are respectively positioned in the first and second bodies such that respective surfaces of the first and second conductive windings are substantially parallel when two support elements respectively receiving the first and second coupling elements are coupled.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2012Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: VAM DRILLING FRANCEInventors: Rachid Guelaz, Yvan Boudey, Vincent Buchoud, Francois Millet
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Publication number: 20140034393Abstract: A rotary drill stem for a well including a central tubular element, and first and second connectors each including a threaded portion that can connect the element to another element. At least one of the connectors includes a chamber in communication with a pressure outside the chamber. The connector includes an annular signal transmission coupler. The annular coupler includes a ring having an annular coupling surface. The coupler includes an insulating support that leaves the annular coupling surface free. The coupler includes a piston surface axially opposite to the annular coupling surface. The annular coupler forms a piston.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 29, 2012Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: VAM DRILLING FRANCEInventors: Beranger Mitjans, Vincent Buchoud, Pierre Mesnil
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Publication number: 20130169385Abstract: A coupler for coupling a first and a second section of a transmission line embedded in a first and a second component respectively, includes a first half-coupler including a first electrically conductive housing, a first electrically conductive structure, and a first structure of dielectric material, and a second half-coupler including a second electrically conductive housing, a second electrically conductive structure, and a second structure of dielectric material. When the first and second components are connected end-to-end, the first and second housings come into contact to form together an electromagnetic cavity, inside which the first and second conductive structures are separated from each other by the first and second dielectric structures, so as to allow the first and second conductive structures to be in electromagnetic communication with each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2011Publication date: July 4, 2013Applicant: Vam Drilling FranceInventors: Jean-Alain Chabas, Brian Minnis
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Publication number: 20130118728Abstract: The tubular component (30) comprises a main body (32) of rotation about a longitudinal axis (X) of the component (30) provided, at least at one of its ends (34B), with a first connector (36B) for attaching the component (30) to another tubular component (30). The component (30) is moreover intended to be at least temporarily gripped in a peripheral zone (Z, Z1, Z2) by means for retaining the component (30) on the operating facility (10). The component (30) comprises inside the zone (Z, Z1, Z2) a coating (58) for protecting the component (30) against mechanical damage likely to be caused by the retaining means. In particular, the coating (58) being produced from a material with a hardness greater than the hardness of the material forming the component but less than a value of 70 HRC.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2012Publication date: May 16, 2013Applicant: VAM DRILLING FRANCEInventor: VAM DRILLING FRANCE
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Patent number: 8434570Abstract: An element for a drill string includes at least one zone bearing on a wall of the drilled hole, the bearing zone including at least one bearing section with an external diameter greater than the diameter of the other portions of the element, and two activation zones substantially adjacent to the bearing zone and disposed upstream and downstream of the bearing zone. The activation zones include a plurality of grooves with a generally helical shape about the axis of the element. The bearing zone includes two guide sections in a shape of a convex rounded body of revolution, disposed upstream and downstream of the bearing section in a manner adjacent to the bearing section, and tangential to the bearing section and to the activation zones.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2009Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Vam Drilling FranceInventor: Jean Boulet
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Publication number: 20120306199Abstract: The invention concerns a tubular component (2) for the exploration or operation of a hydrocarbon well, comprising a pipe body (24) with an axis of revolution (20) extended at at least one of its ends (25) by a first tool joint (23) provided with a threaded end that can connect the tubular component (2) to another tubular component by makeup, the first tool joint (23) being friction welded to said end (25) of the pipe body (24) in order to define a first weld zone (21), characterized in that the circumferential surface of the tubular component comprises an annular groove (22) extending in the region of the first weld zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2012Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: VAM DRILLING FRANCEInventor: Didier DAVID
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Publication number: 20120228034Abstract: A rotary drill stem component for exploration of a hydrocarbon well with drilling mud in movement around the component from a bottom of the well towards the surface includes a central tubular element having an axis of revolution and extended on either side respectively by a first and a second tool joint each respectively and successively including a first cylindrical portion connected to the tubular element, a second tapered portion, a third cylindrical portion with a radius greater than that of the tubular element, and a threaded end which can connect the component to another component, the component including a first shell provided with one or more functional zones, the first shell being mounted on one of the tool joints in a cohesive and removable manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2010Publication date: September 13, 2012Applicant: VAM DRILLING FRANCEInventors: Gabriel Roussie, Christophe Rohart
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Publication number: 20120199400Abstract: A drillpipe for a drill stem to drill a hole. The drill stem includes a drill string and a bottom hole assembly. The drillpipe includes a first end having a first inertia, a second end having a second inertia, a first intermediate zone adjacent to the first end, a second intermediate zone adjacent to the second end, and a central substantially tubular zone with an external diameter smaller than the maximum external diameter of at least the first or the second end. A casing is fixed on the pipe over a portion of the external surface thereof, at least one physical parameter sensor is disposed in the casing, and at least one data transmission/storage mechanism is connected to the sensor output, the casing being disposed at a distance from the first and second ends, the casing being integral with the central zone at a distance from the first and second intermediate zones and having a smaller inertia than the first and second inertias.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2010Publication date: August 9, 2012Applicants: ASSN POUR LA RECH ET LE DEV DE METH ET PROCESS IND, VAM DRILLING FRANCEInventors: Jean Boulet, Stéphane Menand
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Publication number: 20120122330Abstract: A tubular component of a drill stem comprises a first end including a first threading, a second end including a second threading, and a substantially tubular central zone, the component further comprising a device for electrical connection with another component, mounted on at least one of the ends, and a cable for the transmission of signals between the first end and the second end, connected to the connecting device, the connecting device including at least one conductor provided with an electrically insulated link portion and an electrical contact portion; a dielectric to isolate the insulated link portion; and an annular sealing surface defining a protected zone, said electrical contact portion being disposed in the protected zone, the annular sealing surface being disposed at the surface of the insulated link portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2011Publication date: May 17, 2012Applicant: VAM DRILLING FRANCEInventor: Gabriel ROUSSIE
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Publication number: 20120111555Abstract: A drill string element including a main pipe with connection ends and a protective mechanism for at least one wire. The protective mechanism extends within a central bore of the main pipe. The main pipe presents a first hole in one of the connection ends and a second hole in the other connection end, both holes communicating with the central bore. The protective mechanism includes a guide tube arranged for housing the wire, both ends of which being respectively disposed within the first hole and the second hole. A retaining mechanism is arranged in at least one of the first hole and the second hole for the respective end of the guide tube. The retaining mechanism is configured to prevent the respective end of the guide tube from moving relative to the one of the first hole and the second hole according to at least one longitudinal direction of the hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2010Publication date: May 10, 2012Applicant: VAM DRILLING FRANCEInventors: Gerard Leveau, Gabriel Roussie, Didier David