TELEMETRY SYSTEMS FOR TUBULARS
A device for securing a telemetry segment in a drill pipe includes a pair of diametrically opposed arcuate arms for outwardly engaging an interior wall of the drill pipe, the diametrically opposed arcuate arms being interconnected to one another by a radially inwardly projecting lobe section for capturing the telemetry segment between the lobe section and the interior wall of the drill pipe.
The present disclosure relates to well drilling and exploration, and more particularly, to telemetry systems for tubulars.
2. Description of Related ArtFor well drilling applications, telemetry components can be positioned inside well tubulars (e.g. drill pipes) to transmit telemetry signals through terahertz (THz) radiation. In certain systems, segmented (and periodically amplified) optical fibers can be used inside of a conduit or other suitable covering to form telemetry segments that transmit signals. In such applications, the telemetry segments need to be secured to the tubular before the tubular is placed in the well.
So that those skilled in the art to which the subject disclosure appertains will readily understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject disclosure without undue experimentation, embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein:
Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject disclosure.
As recognized in the embodiments described below, telemetry segments may be installed within the interior of a drill pipe such that the telemetry segments stay in position, close to the interior walls of the drill pipes. If the telemetry segments are able to move around freely, they could move toward the center of the drill pipe, where the telemetry segments would be subjected to the greatest mud flow velocity within the pipe, causing unwanted wear and tear on the segments for example. By contrast, the mud flow velocity is much lower closer to the interior walls of the drill pipes.
Furthermore, during a drilling operation, it is sometimes necessary to insert specialized tools into the drill pipe (e.g., tools to release a stuck drill bit). For this reason too, it can be beneficial to keep the telemetry segments close to the walls of the drill pipes. Otherwise, if the telemetry segments are permitted to move towards the center of the drill pipe, they can block the path for inserted tools.
Further still, if the telemetry segments are floating freely within the drill mud inside of the drill pipe, they might be flushed downwards within the pipe by the mud flow. In this case, a number of telemetry segments could become concentrated at the lower end of the drill pipe, where they might eventually block the drill pipe. Also, the mudflow will likely put strain on freely floating telemetry segments, which could cause them to be pulled apart.
As shown in
The arcuate arms 24, 26 can be circumferentially spaced about a center of the clamp body 22, such that each arm 24, 26 engages the ID of the drill pipe 14 (
Still referring to the example of
The clamp 20 can be positioned within and fixed to the drill pipe 14 in any suitable manner. For example, the clamp 20 can be biased via a spring member (e.g., integral with and/or forming all or part of the arms 24, 26/lobe section 40, and/or through a separate biasing member) to push against the interior walls 44. In certain embodiments, the clamp 20 can be constructed from a metallic material and/or any other suitable material that has mechanical characteristics and a sufficient thickness to withstand movement between the expanded position of
In certain embodiments, the spring member that biases the clamp 20 can include a separate spring member. Referring to
Referring to
While the clamp 20 is shown as being deformed and allowed to expand to be biased against the interior wall 44, it is contemplated that the clamp 20 can be non-resilient and may require one or more suitable fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts) and/or any other suitable attachment (e.g., one or more adhesives, magnets, cement) to fix the clamp 20 to the interior wall 44 of the tubular. Moreover, the clamp 20 and/or attachments that affix the clamp 20 can have mechanical and/or material properties that are sufficient to prevent movement of the clamp 20 relative to the interior wall 44 of the drill pipe 14 when it is subjected to drag forces exerted by fluid or drilling mud passing through the drill pipe 14 when the clamp 20 is in the expanded position, as illustrated for example in
To use the mechanical clamp of the subject disclosure as intended, a first drill pipe 114 is provided in a bore hole 112, as shown in
As shown in
It is contemplated that any suitable number of telemetry segments can be utilized with any suitable number of tubulars. For example if each drill pipe has a length of 10 meters, and a stand of three drill pipes is used, then the length of the stand is 30 meters. In this case three telemetry segments each having a length of 10 meters could be utilized. Alternatively, for example, a single telemetry segment having a length of 30 meters can be utilized, and in that case only a single telemetry segment for the entire 30 meter stand can be utilized.
In accordance with any embodiment or combination of embodiments disclosed above, a device for securing a telemetry segment in a drill pipe includes a pair of diametrically opposed arcuate arms for outwardly engaging an interior wall of the drill pipe, the diametrically opposed arcuate arms being interconnected to one another by a radially inwardly projecting lobe section for capturing the telemetry segment between the lobe section and the interior wall of the drill pipe.
In accordance with any embodiment or combination of embodiments disclosed above, the device can further include a spring element for biasing the arcuate arms into outward engagement with the interior wall of the drill pipe, wherein the arcuate arms interconnected by the lobe section are moveable against the biasing of the spring element to a compressed position for installation within a drill pipe.
In accordance with any embodiment or combination of embodiments disclosed above, the spring element can be positioned between an end of each of the arcuate arms.
In accordance with any embodiment or combination of embodiments disclosed above, the spring element includes at least a portion of one or more of the arcuate arms and/or the lobe section.
In accordance with any embodiment or combination of embodiments disclosed above, the spring member provides a spring force sufficient to cause frictional engagement greater than a predetermined force exerted by a fluid flow through the drill pipe when the device is outwardly engaged to the interior wall of a drill pipe.
In accordance with any embodiment or combination of embodiments disclosed above, a drill pipe assembly can include an elongated drill pipe having an interior bore defined by an interior wall, a telemetry segment for installation within the interior bore of the drill pipe, and a device for securing the telemetry segment in the drill pipe, comprising a pair of diametrically opposed arcuate arms for outwardly engaging an interior wall of the drill pipe, the diametrically opposed arcuate arms being interconnected to one another by a radially inwardly projecting lobe section for capturing the telemetry segment between the lobe section and the interior wall of the drill pipe.
In accordance with any embodiment or combination of embodiments disclosed above, the assembly can include a spring element for biasing the arcuate arms into outward engagement with the interior wall of the drill pipe, wherein the arcuate arms interconnected by the lobe section are moveable against the biasing of the spring element to a compressed position for installation within a drill pipe.
In accordance with any embodiment or combination of embodiments disclosed above, a method for clamping a telemetry segment in a drill pipe includes providing a first drill pipe, positioning a first telemetry segment inside the first drill pipe, and clamping the first telemetry segment adjacent to an interior wall of the first drill pipe.
In accordance with any embodiment or combination of embodiments disclosed above, the method can include connecting a second telemetry segment to an upper end of the first telemetry segment.
In accordance with any embodiment or combination of embodiments disclosed above, the method can include positioning a second drill pipe over the second telemetry segment and connecting the second drill pipe to an upper end of the first drill pipe.
In accordance with any embodiment or combination of embodiments disclosed above, the method can include clamping the second telemetry segment adjacent to an interior wall of the second drill pipe.
In accordance with any embodiment or combination of embodiments disclosed above, clamping can include installing a first clamp in the first drill pipe proximate to an upper end of the first drill pipe, wherein the first clamp includes a section for accommodating the first telemetry segment.
In accordance with any embodiment or combination of embodiments disclosed above, installing a first clamp in the first drill pipe can include moving the first clamp from a normally expanded position to a compressed position.
In accordance with any embodiment or combination of embodiments disclosed above, installing a first clamp in the first drill pipe can include returning the first clamp to the normally expanded position from the compressed position.
In accordance with any embodiment or combination of embodiments disclosed above, clamping can include installing another clamp in the first drill pipe in a medial section of the drill pipe for accommodating the first telemetry segment.
In accordance with any embodiment or combination of embodiments disclosed above, clamping the second telemetry segment can include installing a second clamp in the second drill pipe proximate to an upper end of the second drill pipe, wherein the second clamp includes a section for accommodating the second telemetry segment.
In accordance with any embodiment or combination of embodiments disclosed above, a method for clamping one or more telemetry segments within a stand of drill pipes can include providing a stand of at least two connected drill pipes, positioning one or more telemetry segments inside the stand of connected drill pipes, and clamping the one or more telemetry segments adjacent to an interior wall of an uppermost drill pipe in the stand of connected drill pipes.
In accordance with any embodiment or combination of embodiments disclosed above, clamping can include installing a clamp in the uppermost drill pipe in the stand of connected drill pipes proximate to an upper end of the uppermost drill pipe, wherein the clamp includes a section for accommodating the one or more telemetry segments.
In accordance with any embodiment or combination of embodiments disclosed above, clamping can include installing a clamp in the uppermost drill pipe in the stand of connected drill pipes includes moving the clamp from a normally expanded position to a compressed position.
In accordance with any embodiment or combination of embodiments disclosed above, installing a clamp in the uppermost drill pipe in the stand of connected drill pipes further can include returning the clamp to the normally expanded position from the compressed position.
The devices and methods of the present disclosure, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for improved clamping of telemetry segments within the interior of drill pipes. While the devices and methods of the subject disclosure have been shown and described with reference to certain embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A device for securing a telemetry segment in a drill pipe, comprising:
- a pair of arcuate arms for outwardly engaging an interior wall of the drill pipe, interconnected by a radially inwardly projecting lobe section for capturing the telemetry segment between the lobe section and the interior wall of the drill pipe.
2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a spring element for biasing the arcuate arms into outward engagement with the interior wall of the drill pipe, wherein the arcuate arms interconnected by the lobe section are moveable against the biasing of the spring element to a compressed position for installation within a drill pipe.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the spring element is positioned between an end of each of the arcuate arms.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the spring element includes at least a portion of one or more of the arcuate arms and/or the lobe section.
5. The device of claim 2, wherein the spring member provides a spring force sufficient to cause frictional engagement greater than a predetermined force exerted by a fluid flow through the drill pipe when the device is outwardly engaged to the interior wall of a drill pipe.
6. A drill pipe assembly, comprising:
- an elongated drill pipe having an interior bore defined by an interior wall;
- a telemetry segment for installation within the interior bore of the drill pipe; and
- a device for securing the telemetry segment in the drill pipe, comprising a pair of diametrically opposed arcuate arms for outwardly engaging an interior wall of the drill pipe, the diametrically opposed arcuate arms being interconnected to one another by a radially inwardly projecting lobe section for capturing the telemetry segment between the lobe section and the interior wall of the drill pipe.
7. The assembly of claim 6, further comprising a spring element for biasing the arcuate arms into outward engagement with the interior wall of the drill pipe, wherein the arcuate arms interconnected by the lobe section are moveable against the biasing of the spring element to a compressed position for installation within a drill pipe.
8. A method for clamping a telemetry segment in a drill pipe, comprising:
- providing a first drill pipe;
- positioning a first telemetry segment inside the first drill pipe; and
- clamping the first telemetry segment adjacent to an interior wall of the first drill pipe.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising connecting a second telemetry segment to an upper end of the first telemetry segment.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising positioning a second drill pipe over the second telemetry segment and connecting the second drill pipe to an upper end of the first drill pipe.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising clamping the second telemetry segment adjacent to an interior wall of the second drill pipe.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein clamping includes installing a first clamp in the first drill pipe proximate to an upper end of the first drill pipe, wherein the first clamp includes a section for accommodating the first telemetry segment.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein installing a first clamp in the first drill pipe includes moving the first clamp from a normally expanded position to a compressed position.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein installing a first clamp in the first drill pipe further includes returning the first clamp to the normally expanded position from the compressed position.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein clamping further comprises installing another clamp in the first drill pipe in a medial section of the drill pipe for accommodating the first telemetry segment.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein clamping the second telemetry segment includes installing a second clamp in the second drill pipe proximate to an upper end of the second drill pipe, wherein the second clamp includes a section for accommodating the second telemetry segment.
17. A method for clamping one or more telemetry segments within a stand of drill pipes, comprising:
- providing a stand of at least two connected drill pipes;
- positioning one or more telemetry segments inside the stand of connected drill pipes; and
- clamping the one or more telemetry segments adjacent to an interior wall of an uppermost drill pipe in the stand of connected drill pipes.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein clamping includes installing a clamp in the uppermost drill pipe in the stand of connected drill pipes proximate to an upper end of the uppermost drill pipe, wherein the clamp includes a section for accommodating the one or more telemetry segments.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein clamping includes installing a clamp in the uppermost drill pipe in the stand of connected drill pipes includes moving the clamp from a normally expanded position to a compressed position.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein installing a clamp in the uppermost drill pipe in the stand of connected drill pipes further includes returning the clamp to the normally expanded position from the compressed position.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 10, 2016
Publication Date: May 9, 2019
Inventors: Wolfgang Hartmut Nitsche (Humble, TX), John Laureto Maida (Houston, TX)
Application Number: 16/099,993