HOUSING FOR DOWNHOLE MEASUREMENT

Abstract

Systems, methods and devices for equipping a rotatable drill string with measurement equipment. The system includes a removable carriage unit arranged and designed to be disposed within a bore of a removable section of the rotatable drill string. The removable carriage unit has measurement equipment disposed within a cavity thereof. The method includes disposing measurement equipment in the cavity of the removable carriage unit, coupling the removable carriage unit with a first end portion of the removable section of the rotatable drill string after disposing the measurement equipment in the cavity, and coupling a second end portion of the removable section with a shaft of the rotatable drill string.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of, and priority to, U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/703,635, filed Sep. 20, 2012 and entitled “HOUSING FOR DOWNHOLE MEASUREMENT,” which application is hereby expressly incorporated herein by this reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Well drilling and coring are normally carried out by means of a drill bit that is coupled to a drive motor, located on the surface, by means of a drill string. As the drill bit progresses into the hole, drill pipes are added to the drill string to increase the depth of the bit within the hole.

Obtaining the maximum amount of information regarding the drilling or coring operations, especially regarding the medium being drilled and the dynamic behaviors of the drill string, is helpful. Information regarding the medium being drilled includes, e.g., the type of rock formation being drilled, the composition of the drilling mud, and the presence of hydrocarbons or other fluids. Information relating to the drill string includes, e.g., the instantaneous rotational speed of the drill string, variations in rotational speed of the drill string, the position of the cutting head relative to the wall of the hole drilled, variations in the rate of advance in the hole, lateral and axial accelerations suffered by the drill string, and the whirling of the drill string.

Such drilling information or parameters may be obtainable during the drilling or coring operation and used for analyzing problems that might arise during the drilling or coring operation (such as, for example, a momentary and unplanned slow-down in the rate of penetration of the cutting head into the rock formation or an abnormally rapid wear of the cutting head) or for adapting the conditions of other drilling or coring operations.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of equipping a rotatable drill string with measurement equipment, the method including disposing measurement equipment in a cavity in a removable carriage unit, coupling the removable carriage unit with a first end portion of a removable section of a rotatable drill string after disposing the measurement equipment in the cavity, and coupling a second end portion of the removable section with a shaft of the rotatable drill string.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a drilling system including a rotatable drill string for drilling a borehole, a removable section of the rotatable drill string, the removable section having an end portion coupled to a shaft of the rotatable drill string, and a removable carriage unit arranged and designed to be disposed within a bore of the removable section, the bore disposed in another end portion of the removable section, the removable carriage unit having a cavity therein and measurement equipment disposed within the cavity.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a drilling system including a rotatable drill string for drilling a borehole, the rotatable drill string having a shaft, and a removable carriage unit arranged and designed to be disposed within a bore of the shaft, the bore disposed in an end portion of the shaft, the removable carriage unit having a cavity therein and measurement equipment disposed within the cavity.

Other aspects and features of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims. The various characteristics described above, as well as other features, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description, and by referring to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a removable carriage unit coupled to a rotatable drill string according to embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a removable carriage unit according to embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a drilling system having a removable carriage unit disposed within a removable section of a rotatable drill string according to embodiments disclosed herein.

FIGS. 4A-4C are perspective views of a removable carriage unit having a disengaged removable cover according to embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 4D is a perspective view of the removable carriage unit of FIGS. 4A-4C having an engaged removable cover according to embodiments disclosed herein.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views of a removable carriage unit disposed within a removable section of a rotatable drill string according to embodiments disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following is directed to various example embodiments of the disclosure. According to one or more embodiments disclosed herein, the following disclosure is directed to a method of equipping a rotatable drill string with measurement equipment without affecting the operations of the downhole drilling tool. Further, according to one or more embodiments disclosed herein, the following disclosure is directed to a drilling system having measurement equipment disposed thereon to obtain realistic data/parameters without affecting the operations of the downhole drilling tool. This data may improve downhole tool development and reliability by helping an operator of the downhole drilling tool to understand the motion, e.g., the accelerations, RPM, that the drill string experiences or generates downhole.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the following description has broad application, and the discussion of any embodiment is intended to be an example of some embodiments, and not intended to suggest that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to that or any other particular embodiment. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed herein should not be interpreted, or otherwise used, as limiting the scope of the disclosure, including the claims.

Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not function. Moreover, while the figures are drawn to scale for some embodiments, other embodiments are expressly contemplated for which the figures are not to scale. Accordingly, certain features and components herein may be shown exaggerated or compressed in scale relative to other embodiments. Moreover, some figures may be shown in somewhat schematic form, and some details of conventional elements may not be shown in interest of clarity and conciseness.

In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to . . . .” Also, the term “couple” or “couples” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct connection. Thus, if a first component is coupled to a second component, that connection may be through a direct connection, or through an indirect connection via other components, devices, and connections.

Referring to FIG. 1, a cross-sectional view of a removable carriage unit 102 is shown disposed within a removable section 101 of a rotatable drill string 110, in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein. The removable carriage unit 102 may be coupled with a first end portion 106 of the removable section 101 of the rotatable drill string, as shown in FIG. 1. Further, and as illustrated, a second end portion 107 of the removable section 101 may be coupled with a shaft 111 of the rotatable drill string 110.

In one or more embodiments, the removable section 101 of the rotatable drill string 110 may be a modified shaft end cap that is coupled to the shaft 111 of the rotatable drill string 110. The removable section 101 may be configured to couple with both the removable carriage unit 102 and the shaft 111 of the rotatable drill string. For example, a first cavity/bore may exist or be formed in the first end portion 106 of the removable section 101, which may be configured to receive and engage with the removable carriage unit 102 (as shown in FIG. 1) such that a portion of the removable carriage unit 102 is positioned within the first bore, and a second portion of the removable carriage unit 102 acts as a cap or cover for the first bore. A second cavity/bore may exist or be formed in the second end portion 107 of the removable section 101, which may be configured to receive and engage with the shaft 111 (as shown in FIG. 1). Further, in one or more embodiments, a bore (not shown) may optionally be disposed through the entire axial length of removable section 101, and the removable carriage unit 102 may be within the bore and coupled with the first end portion 106 of the removable section 101, while the shaft 111 of the rotatable drill string 110 may also be located within the bore and coupled with the second end portion 107 of the removable section 101.

In other embodiments, the removable section 101 of the rotatable drill string 110 may be otherwise modified. For instance, the removable section 101 may include a shoulder (not shown) on an exterior surface thereof. The removable carriage unit 102 may then include an interior bore allowing the removable carriage unit 102 to be coupled with the first end portion 106 of the removable section 101 by positioning the removable carriage unit 102 around the removable section 101 and potentially adjacent the shoulder. Optionally, the shaft 111 may include a bore allowing the shaft 111 to be coupled with the second end portion 107 of the removable section 101, which may be configured to be inserted at least partially into the bore of the shaft 111.

In one or more embodiments, the removable carriage unit 102 may be threadingly engaged with the first end portion 106 of the removable section 101 of the rotatable drill string 110. Optionally, the shaft 111 of the rotatable drill string 110 may be threadingly engaged, as shown, with the second end portion 107 of the removable section 101 of the rotatable drill string 110.

In one or more embodiments, the removable section 101 is not limited to being removable. For example, in one or more embodiments, the removable section 101 may not be removable from the shaft 111 of the rotatable drill string 110, or from some other portion of the rotatable drill string 110. In one or more embodiments, the removable section 101 may be integral with the shaft 111. Further, in one or more embodiments, a cavity may be formed in a section of the shaft 111 that may be configured to receive the removable carriage unit 102.

Still referring to FIG. 1, a space 112 may exist between the removable carriage unit 102 and the shaft 111 of the rotatable drill string 110. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the space 112 may be any distance and that embodiments described herein are not limited to having the space 112 exist between the removable carriage unit 102 and the shaft 111 of the rotatable drill string 110. For example, the removable carriage unit 102 may abut the shaft 111 of the rotatable drill string 110 such that the space 112 does not exist, or the removable carriage unit 102 may overlap the shaft 111 of the rotatable drill string 110 such that the space 112 does not exist.

The removable carriage unit 102 may include or define a cavity 108, and/or may include an engagement portion 109. Measurement equipment 103A and/or a power supply 103B may be disposed and optionally secured within the cavity 108 of the removable carriage unit 102. In one or more embodiments, the measurement equipment 103A may include equipment such as a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a magnetometer, a manometer, or other equipment, or some combination thereof. The power supply 103B may include a battery, but may also include capacitors, fuel cells, or other devices, or some combination thereof. Moreover, in at least some embodiments, the power supply 103B may be included as part of the measurement equipment 103A. Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that other measurement equipment or power supplies may also be used and disposed within the cavity 108 of the removable carriage unit 102.

The measurement equipment 103A and/or power supply 103B may be secured within the cavity 108 of the removable carriage unit 102 in any suitable manner, including using mechanical fasteners, adhesives, interference fits, friction fits, or other mechanisms, or some combination thereof. According to at least some embodiments, a coupling, e.g., mounting bolt 104 may be used. One or more mounting bolts 104 may be used to couple the measurement equipment 103A and/or power supply 103B within the cavity 108 of the removable carriage 102.

Further, in one or more embodiments, the measurement equipment 103A, which may include the power supply 103B, may be embedded in a resin, gel, polymer or other similar component (not shown). Thus, resin, gels, or polymers and/or gels may be introduced into the cavity 108 of the removable carriage unit 102 and may be used to suspend and/or protect the measurement equipment 103A and power supply 103B, and mitigate vibration of the measurement equipment 103A and the power supply 103B during rotation and advancement of the rotatable drill string 110 within a borehole.

As shown in FIG. 1, the removable carriage unit 102 may also include a cover 105. The cover 105 may be a removable cover and may be configured to be secured over the cavity 108 of the removable carriage unit 102, e.g., to protect the measurement equipment 103A, which may include the power supply 103B, within the cavity 108. The cover 105 may be coupled or secured to the removable carriage unit 102 through any of a variety of mechanisms, including by use of mechanical fasteners such as one or more bolts, nuts, screws, clamps, pins, clasps or the like. In other embodiments, other removable and/or non-removable fasteners may be used to secure the cover 105 to the removable carriage unit 102.

In one or more embodiments, the removable carriage unit 102 may include a first seal 115 and a second seal 116. In the illustrated embodiment, the first seal 115 and second seal 115 are illustrated as O-rings; however, the first seal 115 and second seal 116 may take other forms. For instance, the first seal 115 and/or second seal 116 may include a diaphragm, gasket, U-cup, X-ring, or other component, or some combination thereof.

As shown, the first seal 115 may be coupled to a first end portion of the removable carriage unit 102 and the second seal 116 may be coupled to a second end portion of the removable carriage unit 102. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that each of the first seal 115 and the second seal 116 may be formed from any material known in the art or hereafter discovered. Examples of suitable materials may include metals, alloys, organic materials, polymers, composites, or other materials, or any combination of the foregoing.

The first seal 115 and the second seal 116 may help mitigate vibration of the measurement equipment 103A and the power supply 103B during rotation or advancement of the rotatable drill string 110. The first seal 115 and/or second seal 116 is optionally used to protect electrical elements of the measurement equipment 103A or power supply 103b from fluids, e.g., high pressure downhole fluids. However, embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to having both the first seal 115 and the second seal 116. For example, the removable carriage unit 102 may include a first seal 115 and may not include the second seal 116, or vice versa. Further, the removable carriage unit 102 may include three, four, five, or more seals coupled thereto. When multiple seals are used, the multiple seals may each have a similar structure; however, in some embodiments one or more seals may have a different structure relative to other seals. Thus, one or more seals may have one structure (e.g., O-ring, diaphragm, gasket, U-cup, X-ring) while other one or more seals may have a different structure.

In one or more embodiments, the removable carriage unit 102 may be mass-balanced about a central axis 150 of the removable carriage unit 102 and may be configured to mitigate vibrations during rotation of the rotatable drill string 110. In other words, the weight distribution across a cross-section of the removable carriage unit 102 may be substantially uniform. For example, the materials used to form the removable carriage unit 102 and/or the dimensions of the removable carriage unit 102 may be chosen such that the removable carriage unit 102 with the measurement equipment 103A and/or power supply 103B disposed thereon is mass-balanced. When mass-balanced, the removable carriage unit 102 with the measurement equipment 103A and power supply 103B disposed therein may rotate about the central axis 150 with minimal variations in the angular and/or radial velocity and/or acceleration due to non-uniform weight distribution across a cross-section of the removable carriage unit 102.

In one or more embodiments, the removable carriage unit 102, when mass-balanced, may refer to mass-balancing of the removable carriage unit 102 as a whole. In other words, in one or more embodiments, a mass-balanced removable carriage unit 102 may refer to the removable carriage unit 102 assembly as a whole being mass-balanced, including the removable carriage unit 102, the cover 105, the measurement equipment 103A, the power supply 103B, the mounting bolt 104, the first and second seals 115, 116, a resin or gel enclosure (not shown), and any other components or sub-components mounted thereon or included therewith.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a removable carriage unit 202 according to one or more embodiments disclosed herein. As shown, the removable carriage unit 202 may have a central axis 250 extending therethrough. The removable carriage unit 202 may include a cavity 208 disposed therein, which cavity 208 may be arranged and designed to receive and house measurement equipment, power supplies, or other equipment or components (see FIG. 1). In one or more embodiments, the removable carriage unit 202 may be configured to be coupled with a portion of a drill string (not shown) or within a removable section (see FIG. 1) of a drill string.

In one or more embodiments, the removable carriage unit 202 may include one or more fasteners configured to engage or couple the removable carriage unit 202 with a drill string or removable section of a drill string. As an example, and outer surface of the removable carriage unit 202 may be threaded so as to be configured to engage or couple with corresponding threaded portions formed on an inner surface of the drill string or within the removable section 101 (see FIG. 1) of the drill string.

The removable carriage unit 202 may further include a fastener such as an engagement portion 209. The engagement portion 209 may be configured to engage with a corresponding engagement tool, e.g., a hex key or Allen wrench, star wrench, or the like, such that the removable carriage unit 202 may be rotated about its central axis 250 by the engagement tool. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the engagement portion 209 may be configured to engage with a wrench or key of any shape, shape and is thus not limited to a hexagonal shape, star shape, or any particular shape or configuration.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the removable carriage units 102, 202 may include a slot or groove 113, 213 formed in the engagement portions 109, 209, respectively. In one or more embodiments, the grooves 113, 213 may be disposed in a first end portion of the removable carriage unit 102, 202 and may be configured to engage with a retrieval apparatus (not shown), e.g., a suitable clipper, such that the removable carriage unit 102 may be pulled out or removed, from the removable section 101, e.g., when the rotatable drill string 110 is in a vertical position or when the removable carriage unit 102 is stuck inside the removable section 101. For example, in one or more embodiments, the retrieval apparatus may be disposed in the engagement portion 109, 209 and may engage with the groove 113, 213 to pull out or remove the removable carriage unit 102, 202 from a removable section 101, 201.

Referring to FIG. 3, a partial cross-sectional view of an example drilling system 300 is illustrated having a rotatable drill string 310. The rotatable drill string 310 may include, or couple with, a removable carriage unit 302 and a removable section 301. The removable carriage unit 302 may be disposed within the removable section 301 of the rotatable drill string 310, in accordance with one or more embodiments disclosed herein.

As shown in FIG. 3, the rotatable drill string 310 may include a shaft 311. One or more parts of the rotatable drill string 310, e.g., the rotatable shaft 311, may include a positive displacement motor (PDM) or turbine (not shown). In one or more embodiments, the removable carriage unit 302 may be disposed in a dedicated sub, which may be coupled to a collar, sub, tool body, or other component.

As discussed herein, the removable carriage unit 302 may be threadingly engaged with a first end portion 306 of the removable section 301 of the rotatable drill string 310. Further, the shaft 311 of the rotatable drill string 310 may be threadingly engaged with a second end portion 307 of the removable section 301 of the rotatable drill string 310. The removable carriage unit 302 may also have a cavity 308 formed or defined therein. Measurement equipment 303A may be disposed in the cavity 308 of the removable carriage unit. Such measurement equipment 303A may include at least one of a battery or other power supply 303B, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a magnetometer or a manometer.

Further, as discussed above, the removable section 301 is not limited to being removable. For example, in one or more embodiments, the removable section 301 may not be removable from the rest of the shaft 311 or other components of the rotatable drill string 310. In one or more embodiments, the removable section 301 may be integral with the shaft 311. Further, in one or more embodiments, a cavity may be formed in a section of the shaft 311 that may be configured to receive the removable carriage unit 302, or the shaft 311 may be configured to have the removable carriage unit 302 positioned therearound.

In one or more embodiments, the measurement equipment 303A may be configured to measure and/or record at least one of shaft rotating speed of the rotatable drill string 310, drill bit rotating speed of the rotatable drill string 310, drill bit position of the rotatable drill string 310, the magnitude of axial and/or lateral movement of the rotatable drill string 310, or the direction of axial and/or lateral movement of the rotatable drill string 310. In one or more embodiments, a gyroscope may be mounted on an electronics board as part of the measurement equipment 303A, or otherwise arranged, and designed to measure turbine shaft RPM. Further, in one or more embodiments, sensors for three axes of acceleration and/or temperature may be integrated on the electronics board. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other measurement equipment may be used and optionally disposed within the cavity 308 of the removable carriage unit 302 to measure a variety of drilling parameters.

Further, as shown, the removable carriage unit 302 may include a cover 305. The cover 305 may be a removable cover and may be configured to be secured over the cavity 308 of the removable carriage unit 302. As discussed herein, the cover 305 may protect the measurement equipment 303A, which may include the power supply 303B, by enclosing the measurement equipment 303A within the cavity 308 of the removable carriage unit 302. In one or more embodiments, the cover 305 may be coupled or secured to the removable carriage unit 302 through any of a variety of mechanisms, including by use of mechanical fasteners such as one or more bolts, nuts, screws, clamps, pins, clasps, or the like. In other embodiments, other removable and/or non-removable fasteners may be used to secure the cover 305 to the removable carriage unit 302.

As discussed herein, the removable carriage unit 302 may include a first seal 315 and a second seal 316. The first seal 315 and the second seal 316 may facilitate in the mitigation of any vibration experienced by the measurement equipment 303A, which may include the power supply 303B, during rotation of the rotatable drill string 310. First and second seals 315, 316 may also be used to protect electric elements of the measurement equipment 303A from fluids, e.g., high pressure downhole fluids.

Still referring to FIG. 3, the removable carriage unit 302 may include an engagement portion 309 optionally disposed in an end portion of the removable carriage unit 302. The engagement portion 309 may be configured to engage with a corresponding engagement tool, e.g., an Allen wrench or hex key, or star wrench, such that the removable carriage unit 302 may be rotated about a central axis 350 by the engagement tool. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the engagement portion 309 may be configured to engage with any key shape and is thus not limited to a hexagonal or star shape, or any particular shape.

In one or more embodiments, the engagement portion 309 may allow the removable carriage unit 302 to be selectively tightened and/or loosened from threaded engagement with the removable section 301 of the rotatable drill string 310. As such, an appropriate-sized Allen wrench, star wrench, or other engagement tool, may be used to rotate the removable carriage unit 302 about its central axis 350 to remove the removable carriage unit 302 from a box connection of the rotatable drill string 310. This configuration may permit the measurement equipment 303A, which may include the power supply 303B, to be exchanged and/or replaced without removing the removable section 301 of the rotatable drill string 310, or without removing any remaining portions of the rotatable drill string 310 from the borehole (not shown). For example, the measurement equipment 303A may include one or more electronics boards with associated data storage components. In the embodiment described above, for example, an Allen or star wrench may be used to remove the removable carriage unit 302 from within the removable section 301, e.g., to “wake up” the electronics board, to download data recorded by the data storage components, to replace the electronics board, or for some combination of the foregoing.

As discussed herein, the removable carriage unit 302 may be mass-balanced about the central axis 350 of the rotatable drill string 310 and may be configured to mitigate vibrations during rotation of the rotatable drill string 310. In other words, in one or more embodiments, the center of gravity of the removable carriage unit 302 may be located at or very closely to the central axis 350. The materials used to form the removable carriage unit 302 and/or the dimensions of the removable carriage unit 302 may be chosen to achieve the desired mass balance. Under the desired mass balance, the removable carriage unit 302, with the measurement equipment 303A disposed thereon, may rotate about the central axis 350 with minimal variations in the angular and/or radial velocity and/or acceleration due to non-uniform weight distribution across a cross-section of the removable carriage unit 302.

As shown in FIG. 3, the removable carriage unit 302 may be substantially centered relative to the rotatable drill string 310. In other words, a central axis of the removable carriage unit 302 may be about co-axial with the central axis 350 of the rotatable drill string 310. When the removable carriage unit 302 is centered relative to the rotatable drill string 310 and mass balanced, the removable carriage unit 302 may rotate about its own central axis, which is aligned with the central axis 350, with minimal variations in angular and/or radial velocity or acceleration due to non-uniform weight distribution.

In other embodiments, the removable carriage unit 302 may be offset relative to the central axis 350. In such an embodiment, the materials used to form the removable carriage unit 302 and/or the dimensions of the removable carriage unit 302 may be chosen to achieve the desired mass balance such that the removable carriage unit 302 and the rotatable drill string 310 collectively are mass balanced across a cross-section of the rotatable drill string 310. According to some embodiments, the removable carriage unit 302 and cross-section of the rotatable drill string 310 may not be individually mass-balanced; however, when coupled may collectively be mass-balanced.

As discussed herein, in one or more embodiments, mass-balanced removable carriage unit 302 may refer to mass-balance of the removable carriage unit 302 individually, or of a cross-section of the rotatable drill string 310 as a whole. In other words, in one or more embodiments, the mass-balanced removable carriage unit 302 may refer to the removable carriage unit 302 assembly as a whole being mass-balanced, including the removable carriage unit 302, the cover 305, the measurement equipment 303A, including the battery 303B, one or more mounting bolts (not shown), the first and second seals 315, 316, and any other components or sub-components mounted thereon. In other embodiments, the mass-balanced removable carriage unit 302 may refer to the removable carriage unit 302 assembly as being mass-balanced when coupled with a cross-section of the rotatable drill string 310.

Referring to FIGS. 4A-4C, perspective views of a removable carriage unit 402 are illustrated in which a removable cover 405 is disengaged from a body of the removable carriage unit 402, in accordance with one or more embodiments disclosed herein. FIG. 4D provides a perspective view of the removable carriage unit 402 having the removable cover 405 engaged with the body of the removable carriage unit 402, in accordance with one or more embodiments disclosed herein.

As discussed above, the cover 405 may be a removable cover and may be configured to be secured over a cavity 408 disposed in the removable carriage unit 402. The cover 405 may be arranged and designed to protect measurement, power, logging, or other equipment (not shown) disposed within the cavity 408 of the removable carriage unit 402 by enclosing the cavity 408 of removable carriage unit 402. In one or more embodiments, the cover 405 may couple or be secured to the removable carriage unit 402 through a threaded connection, mechanical fasteners, e.g., bolts, clamps, clasps, nuts, and/or screws, or in other manners.

Further, and as discussed herein, the removable carriage unit 402 may be threadingly engaged with a first end portion of a removable section (not shown) of a rotatable drill string (not shown). As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the removable carriage unit 402 may include a threaded portion 420 optionally configured to engage with a corresponding threaded portion (not shown) disposed on an inner surface of a removable section of a rotatable drill string.

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, perspective views are shown of a removable carriage unit 502 disposed within a removable section 501 of a rotatable drill string, in accordance with one or more embodiments disclosed herein. As discussed above, the removable carriage unit 502 may be threadingly engaged with a first end portion of the removable section 501 of a rotatable drill string (not shown). The removable carriage unit 502 may include a threaded portion 520 that may be configured to engage with a corresponding threaded portion 521 of the removable section 501 of the rotatable drill string. For instance, the threaded portion 530 may be formed on an exterior surface of the removable carriage unit 502 and configured to mate with and engage a corresponding threaded portion disposed on an inner surface of the removable section 501. Now referring specifically to FIG. 5B, the removable carriage unit 502 may be coupled to, e.g., disposed within, the removable section 501 of a rotatable drill string.

Further, as discussed herein, the removable section 501 is not limited to being removable. For example, in one or more embodiments, the removable section 501 may not be removable from a shaft (not shown) or other component of a rotatable drill string (not shown). In one or more embodiments, the removable section 501 may be integral with the shaft. Further, in one or more embodiments, a cavity may be formed in a section of the shaft that may be configured to receive the removable carriage unit 502.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method of equipping a rotatable drill string with measurement equipment, the method including disposing measurement equipment in a cavity in a removable carriage unit, coupling the removable carriage unit with a first end portion of a removable section of a rotatable drill string after disposing the measurement equipment in the cavity, and coupling a second end portion of the removable section with a shaft of the rotatable drill string.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the measurement equipment 103A, which may include the power supply 103B, may be disposed within and secured at least partially within the cavity 108 of the removable carriage unit 102. In one or more embodiments, the measurement equipment 103A and/or the power supply 103B may be secured within the cavity 108 of the removable carriage 102 through a mounting bolt 104. Further, and as previously described, the method may also include securing a cover 105 (see also cover 405 in FIGS. 4A-4D) over the cavity 108 before coupling the removable carriage unit 102 with the first end portion 106 of the removable section 101 of the rotatable drill string 110. The cover 105 may couple or be secured to the removable carriage unit 102 through one or more bolts, clamps, clasps, nuts, screws, or other mechanical fasteners, or in other manners.

As shown in FIG. 1, the removable carriage unit 102 may be coupled to the first end portion 106 of the removable section 101 of the rotatable drill string 110, and the shaft 111 of the rotatable drill string may be coupled to the second end portion 107 of the removable section 101 of the rotatable drill string 110. In one or more embodiments, and, coupling the removable carriage unit 102 with the first end portion 106 of the removable section 101 may include threadingly engaging the removable carriage unit 102 with the removable section 101 of the rotatable drill string 110. Similarly, coupling the second end portion 107 of the removable section 101 with the shaft 111 of the rotatable drill string 110 may include threadingly engaging the shaft 111 of the rotatable drill string 110 with the removable section 101. Each of the removable carriage unit 102 and the shaft 111 of the rotatable drill string 110 may include male threads configured to engage with corresponding female threads formed within the first end portion 106 and the second end portion 107 of the removable section 101, respectively. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that each of the removable carriage unit 102 and the shaft 111 of the rotatable drill string 110 may include female threads configured to engage with corresponding male threads formed on the first end portion 106 and the second end portion 107 of the removable section 101, respectively.

The method may also include decoupling the removable carriage unit 102 from within the removable section 101 of the rotatable drill string 110, removing the cover 105 from the removable carriage unit 102, and/or removing a component of the measurement equipment 103A, which may include the power supply 103B, from within the cavity 108 of the removable carriage unit 102. For example, the removable carriage unit 102 may be removed from the removable section 101 of the rotatable drill string 110, e.g., by rotating the removable carriage unit 102 about its central axis 150 to unthread the removable carriage unit 102 from the removable section 101 of the rotatable drill string 110. Further, the cover 105 may be removed from the removable carriage unit 102 to expose the measurement equipment 103A, which may include the power supply 103B. One or more components of the measurement equipment 103A, which may include the power supply 103B, may further be removed from or accessed within the cavity 108 of the removable carriage unit following removable of the cover 105.

The method may also include replacing one or more components of the measurement equipment 103A with a replacement component. For example, one or more components of the measurement equipment 103A, which may include the power supply 103B, may be removed from the removable carriage unit 102 and replaced with one or more replacement components (not shown). The replacement components may be identical, similar to or different from the one or more components of the removed measurement equipment 103A. Thus, the measurement equipment 103A in FIG. 1 may represent original and/or replaced measurement equipment. Furthermore, additional measurement equipment (not shown) may be added to cavity 108, e.g., without removing any components of the measurement equipment 103A. The removable carriage unit 102 may then be re-coupled to the first end portion 106 of the removable section 101 of the rotatable drill string 110. In some embodiments, equipping the rotatable drill string 110 and/or replacing one or more components of the measurement equipment 103A may include mass-balancing the removable carriage unit 102 and/or maintaining a mass balance of the removable carriage unit 102.

The method may also include measuring at least one drilling parameter. Example drilling parameters may include the shaft rotating speed of the rotatable drill string 110, the drill bit rotating speed of the rotatable drill string 110, the drill bit position of the rotatable drill string 110, the magnitude and/or direction of axial movement of the rotatable drill string 110, the magnitude and/or direction of lateral movement of the rotatable drill string 110, the composition of a rock or other formation in which the rotatable drill string 110 is located, the composition of drilling mud within a borehole, or the presence of hydrocarbons or other fluids.

As discussed herein, the measurement equipment 103A, which may include the power supply 103B, optionally disposed in cavity 108 may include at least one of a battery, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a magnetometer or a manometer. In one or more embodiments, the measurement equipment 103A may be configured to measure and/or record at least one of shaft rotating speed of the rotatable drill string 110, drill bit rotating speed of the rotatable drill string 110, drill bit position of the rotatable drill string 110, or the magnitude and direction of axial and lateral movement of the rotatable drill string 110. In one or more embodiments, a gyroscope may be included with the measurement equipment 103A and be used to measure turbine shaft RPM. Further, sensors for three axes of acceleration and/or temperature may also be integrated on an electronics board of the measurement equipment 103A. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other measurement equipment may be used and potentially disposed within the cavity 108 of the removable carriage unit 102.

Aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure may allow convenient access to measurement equipment disposed on or in a rotatable drill string. For example, in one or more embodiments, measurement equipment may be loaded onto a removable carriage unit, e.g., the removable carriage unit 102 of FIG. 1, before the equipment is taken to a drilling site, and the measurement equipment may be installed in a rotatable drill string, e.g., the rotatable drill string 110 of FIG. 1, at the drilling site. The removable carriage unit 102 may protect the measurement equipment 103A during transit and/or while within a borehole. Further, aspects and embodiments disclosed herein may allow for convenient access to the measurement equipment at the drilling site without removing the entire drill string from the borehole.

A few example embodiments have been described in detail above; however, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the example embodiments without materially departing from this disclosure. Accordingly, any such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function, as well as structural equivalents and equivalent structures. Thus, although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may be equivalent structures. It is the express intention of the applicant not to invoke 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6 for any limitations of any of the claims herein, except for those in which the claim expressly uses the words ‘means for’ or ‘step for’ together with an associated function.

Claims

1. A method of equipping a rotatable drill string with measurement equipment, the method comprising:

disposing measurement equipment in a cavity in a removable carriage unit;

coupling the removable carriage unit with a first end portion of a removable section of a rotatable drill string after disposing the measurement equipment in the cavity; and

coupling a second end portion of the removable section with a shaft of the rotatable drill string.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising securing a cover over the cavity before coupling the removable carriage unit with the first end portion of the removable section of the rotatable drill string.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling the removable carriage unit with the first end portion of the removable section includes threadingly engaging the removable carriage unit with the first end portion of the removable section of the rotatable drill string.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising decoupling the removable carriage unit from within the removable section of the rotatable drill string.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing a cover from the removable carriage unit, thereby exposing the cavity in the removable carriage unit.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising removing a component of the measurement equipment from within the cavity of the removable carriage unit.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising replacing the component of the measurement equipment with a replacement component of measurement equipment in the cavity of the removable carriage unit.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurement equipment includes at least one of a power supply, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a magnetometer, or a manometer.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring at least one of shaft rotating speed of the rotatable drill string, drill bit rotating speed of the rotatable drill string, drill bit position of the rotatable drill string, or magnitude and direction of axial and lateral movement of the rotatable drill string.

10. A drilling system comprising:

a rotatable drill string;

a removable section of the rotatable drill string, the removable section having an end portion coupled to a shaft of the rotatable drill string; and

a removable carriage unit arranged and designed to be disposed within a bore of the removable section, the bore disposed in another end portion of the removable section, the removable carriage unit having a cavity therein and measurement equipment disposed within the cavity.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a removable cover disposed over the cavity.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the removable carriage unit is threadingly engaged with the removable section of the rotatable drill string.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the shaft of the rotatable drill string is threadingly engaged with the end portion of the removable section of the rotatable drill string.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the measurement equipment is configured to measure at least one of shaft rotating speed of the rotatable drill string, drill bit rotating speed of the rotatable drill string, drill bit position of the rotatable drill string, and the magnitude and direction of axial and lateral movement of the rotatable drill string.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the removable carriage unit is mass-balanced about a central axis of the rotatable drill string.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the removable carriage unit includes a first seal and a second seal, the first seal being coupled to a first end portion of the removable carriage unit and the second seal being coupled to a second end portion of the removable carriage unit.

17. The system of claim 19, wherein one or more of the first and second seals comprises an O-ring.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the measurement equipment is embedded in one of a resin or a gel mitigating vibration of the measurement equipment during rotation of the rotatable drill string.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the removable carriage unit includes a groove disposed in a first end portion of the removable carriage unit, the groove arranged and designed to cooperate with a retrieval apparatus pulling the removable carriage unit away from the removable section.

20. A drilling system comprising:

a rotatable drill string for drilling a borehole, the rotatable drill string having a shaft; and

a removable carriage unit arranged and designed to be disposed within a bore of the shaft, the bore disposed in an end portion of the shaft, the removable carriage unit having a cavity therein and measurement equipment disposed within the cavity.