Abstract: A high capacity thrust bearing is disclosed for use in a tubular drilling string to support axial loads resulting from upward or downward jarring forces. The thrust bearing comprises an inner mandrel and an outer housing. A mandrel pressure chamber string and a housing pressure chamber string are journalled between the mandrel and the housing. The mandrel pressure chamber string and the housing chamber string are arranged to form a number of individual pressure chambers. Alternating pressure chambers contain high pressure fluid or low pressure fluid, thereby forming a repeating pressure differential between adjacent chambers. As loads are applied axially to the drill string, such as jarring loads, the pressure differential over the surface area of the pressure chambers provides a thrust bearing. The thrust bearing is rotatable by its connection to the drill string.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved apparatus for controlling the weight on the drill bit during operation. In this invention, an inner mandrel has a telescoping movement in response to added drill string length at the surface. As the inner mandrel telescopes closed, it approaches a restrictor which is fixedly disposed in the lower housing of the drill string assembly. When the inner mandrel mates with the restrictor, a stand-pipe pressure increase noticeable to the operator occurs. The operator then stops the drill string and allows the motor to drill ahead. As the motor drills ahead, the inner mandrel telescopes open and the operation is then repeated.

Abstract: A drill string orienting tool for insertion into a well bore includes a housing that has a plurality of inwardly projecting splines. A mandrel is disposed within the housing. The orienting tool has two operating positions, a running position, and an orienting position. The housing is longitudinally moveable relative to the mandrel between the running position and the orienting position. The mandrel and the housing define an annular chamber that is vented to the exterior of the housing. A flexible metallic coiled tube is disposed within the annular chamber and contains hydraulic fluid. The upper end of the coiled tube is coupled to the housing and is in fluid communication with the first fluid chamber. The lower end of the coiled tube is coupled to the mandrel. The mandrel has outwardly projecting splines that are engageable with a corresponding set of inwardly projecting splines on the housing when the orienting tool is in the running position. A piston is movably disposed within the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for use in a drill string 10 to prevent separation of a lower tubular member 16 from an upper tubular member 15 by a rotational force applied from a down-hole motor 22. The down-hole motor 22 is rotated by drilling fluid pumped from the surface, through a passage formed within the drill string 10, and into the down-hole motor 22. A valve 36 is positioned in the passage in the drill string 10 and has a first operating position adapted for passing the drilling fluid to the down-hole motor 22, and a second operating position adapted for substantially blocking the drilling fluid from being delivered through the down-hole motor 22. The value is of a two piece construction, having a first body 44 connected to an upper tubular section 14 and a second body 46 connected to the down-hole motor 22.

Abstract: A down-hole motor and bearing arrangement 22 includes a pair of longitudinally spaced apart bearings 26, 28 that each have multiple rows of ball bearings 36 positioned between a unitary inner race 34 and a two piece outer race 56. The race 34 includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced circumferential grooves 71-73 formed therein, while the outer race 56 includes a plurality of corresponding longitudinally spaced circumferential grooves 77-79 formed on an inner surface thereof. A series of openings 65-67 extend through the outer race 56 and intersect with the circumferential grooves 77-79. The openings 65-67 have a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the ball bearings 36 but less than the longitudinal width of the grooves 77-79.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for carrying out the seismic exploration of the strata which surrounds a borehole during the drilling of that borehole. A compressional mode jar mechanism is disposed in a drill string above a drill bit. Sufficient weights to cock and actuate the jar are disposed both below and above the jar mechanism respectively. A telescoping joint above the jar prevents the impact on the drill bit from propagating up the drill string and multiple geophones at the surface are utilized to receive the seismic waves generated by the impact of the drill bit within the borehole. In a preferred mode of the present invention, an additional geophone is disposed within the drill string proximate to the drill bit to detect the "first break" of the impact thus generated.

Abstract: The present invention includes a tubular body member with a central bore which has two spiralling or threaded interior surfaces, each interior surface having a leading edge at nearly right angles to the longitudinal axis of the body and a sloped or tapered trailing edge along the bore from an end portion toward the central portion of the bore. The upper portion of the body has a left-hand spiralling or threaded surface. The lower portion of the body has a right-hand spiralling or threaded surface. Inserted into the central portion of the body member from each end is a slip segment or member. The outer surface of the upper slip segment has a left-hand spiralling or threaded surface, whereas the outer surface of the lower slip segment has a right-hand spiralling or threaded surface. Each such spiralling or threaded surface conforms to the spiralling or threaded surface of the corresponding interior surface of the stabilizer body.

Abstract: A slip-on stabilizer is provided for adjustable positioning along a drill collar. The stabilizer includes a body positioned around the drill collar with a threaded section on each end and at least one tapered inner surface with the tapering surface beginning at the end of the interior threads and tapered to a generally narrower interior diameter; a plurality of slip segments with at least one tapered surface complementary matching the tapered surface of the stabilizer body; a locking pin and threaded end caps forcing the slip segment toward the center of the stabilizer body thereby wedging the slip segments against the drill collar by screwing the end cap into the body and thereby clamping the stabilizer body assembly onto the drill collar.