Kelly

• US 3,876,972 A
• Filed: 12/26/1973
• Issued: 04/08/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William R. Garrett
• Original Assignee: William R. Garrett
• Inventors: Garrett, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilbur, Maynard R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Moskowitz, N.
• Application Number:
  US05/427,442
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 340/18LD,18NC 175/27,50 73/136A,136B
• US Class Current: 367/82
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/00 Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/003 with electrically conducting or insulating means E21B17/028 and E21B17/023 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/08 Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables E21B19/22 takes precedence; automatic feed E21B44/02; Apparatus for increasing or decreasing the pressure on the drilling tool; Apparatus for counterbalancing the weight of the rods
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/007 Measuring stresses in a pipe string or casing for locating blocked portions of pipes E21B47/09
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency

Abstract

A kelly useful in the rotary system of drilling comprises a tubular member having threaded box connection means at each end for making connection with other fluid conducting members to transmit fluid and mechanical stress therebetween, surface configuration means at the exterior of the kelly adapted for making an axially slidable torque transmitting connection with a rotary table, said configuration means extending between said connection means, transducer means in one of said connection means for producing electric signals that are a function of a drill string parameter to which the transducer means is responsive, e.g. torque and/or tension, electrical connection means connected to said transducer means and extending therefrom inside the kelly within a productive tube to the other connection means at the other end of the kelly and thence out through a hole in the side of said other connection means, a housing around said other connection means, radio transmitter means in said housing connected to said electrical connection means and responsive to electrical signals transmitted by said electrical connection means from said transducer, and a loop antenna connected to said radio transmitter means and carried coaxially by said housing in a band of insulation therein, said transmitter being powered by battery means also located in said housing. Signals from the transmitter are received by a receiver located, e.g., on a leg of the drill rig, receiver being connected to suitable display means of the indicator and/or recording type whereby drilling torque and/or weight, or other drill string parameters can be continuously measured, indicated, and recorded versus time.

Claims

1. In a kelly adapted to form part of a drill string useful in the rotary system of drilling, said kelly comprising a one-piece tubular member adapted to extend through a rotary table and kelly bushing from the underside thereof to the upper side thereof to transmit fluid and mechanical stress between above and below the rotary table and kelly bushing, said tubular member having upper connection means at one end for making connection with fluid connecting and mechanical stress transmitting means above the rotary table and kelly bushing and lower connection means at the other end for making connection with fluid conducting and mechanical stress transmitting drill pipe means below the rotary table and kelly bushing and non-circular surface configuration means at the exterior of the tubular member adapted for making an axially slidable torque transmitting connection with a kelly bushing in a rotary table, said configuration means extending between said connection means, the improvement adapting said kelly to performance of the additional function of torque measurement in the drill string at a level below the rotary table and kelly bushing comprising transducer means in said lower connection means for producing torque indicating electric signals that are a function of torque about the axis of said tubular member in the portion thereof below the rotary table and kelly bushing, torque signal transmission means adapted to convey said torque indicating signals from said transducer means in said lower connection, that is to be positioned below said rotary table and kelly bushing, and thence interiorly of said surface configuration means, that is to be positioned extending through the rotary table and kelly bushing, to said upper connection means, that is to be positioned above said rotary table and kelly bushing, said torque signal transmission means comprising electrically conductive wire connected to said transducer means and extending therefrom inside the kelly to the upper connection means at the other end of the kelly, and radio transmitter means connected to said wire at said upper connection means of the kelly and responsive to said torque indicating signals to transmit radio signals that are a function of torque about the axis of said tubular member at the level of said lower connection means that is to be positioned below the rotary table and kelly bushing.

2. A kelly according to claim 1 including a protective metal tube extending inside the inner periphery of said tubular member from adjacent said transducer to adjacent said radio transmission means, said electrically conductive wire being disposed in said tube.

3. A kelly according to claim 2, said kelly having a box at each end, said tube extending from one box to the other, said transducer being disposed in one box and said radio transmission means being disposed adjacent the other box.

4. A kelly according to claim 3, said radio transmission means being disposed around the outside of said other box, said tube connecting to a hole in said other box through which said electrical connection means extends.

5. A kelly according to claim 6 including ring means inside said tubular member positioning said tube against the inner periphery of said tubular member.

6. A kelly according to claim 5 wherein said ring means are fastened to said tube at axially spaced locations.

7. A kelly according to claim 5 wherein said rings are split snap rings.