Downhole flexible drive system

• US 4,227,584 A
• Filed: 12/19/1978
• Issued: 10/14/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SCK, Inc. (RS Legacy Corp.)
• Original Assignee: W. B. Driver
• Inventors: Driver, W. B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Purser, Ernest R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Favreau, Richard E.
• Application Number:
  US05/970,919
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 175/61, 175/73, 175/74, 175/75, 175/76, 175/79, 175/81, 175/104, 175/107, 175/95, 175/320, 175/325
• US Class Current: 175/95
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 4/02 Fluid rotary type drives
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 4/04 Electric drives E21B4/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 4/16 Plural down-hole drives, e.g. for combined percussion and rotary drilling E21B4/10 takes precedence; Drives for multi-bit drilling units
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/068 drilled by a down-hole drilling motor down-hole drives per se E21B4/00, E21B7/067 takes precedence

Abstract

An improved downhole system for operating a drill bit around a small radius of bend in the directional drilling of curved holes from a vertical well hole in an oil or gas formation. The system is comprised of a plurality of double shaft downhole motors assembled in line and their shafts are connected by a flexible coupling. A flexible assembly encloses the area between the motors and provides a means for drilling fluids to be pumped through the system to a drill bit. The system can be constructed of either electrical motors or fluid turbine motors which can operate from drilling fluids pumped down a drill pipe string.

Claims

1. A downhole flexible drive system which attaches to the downhole end of a drill pipe string and operates a drill bit for the drilling of a curved hole in earth formations and drilling fluids can be pumped through the downhole flexible drive system and the downhole flexible drive system comprises:

an assembly of motors comprising a plurality of double shaft downhole motors assembled in line a three hundred and sixty degree flexible connection connects the respective ends of said double shafts of said motors forming a flexible joint between said motors, a three hundred and sixty degree flexible assembly constructed to said motors and encloses said flexible connection forming a flex point in said drive system and supports the structure of said drive system and providing a means for drilling fluids to be pumped through said system, an uphole tool joint attached to the uphole end of said system so said drive system can be attached to said drill pipe string and receive drilling fluids from said drill pipe string, a downhole tool joint, a connecting mechanism for connecting said downhole tool joint to the downhole end of said drive system so said drive system can be attached to said drill bit and said motors can operate said drill bit, a plurality of centralizers, a centralizer attached around said system on the uphole side and downhole side of each said flexible connection near said flexible connection.

2. In claim 1 said assembly of motors being comprised of a plurality of double shaft downhole electrical motors, a flexible shaft connecting the respective downhole ends and uphole ends of said double shafts of said electrical motors providing said three hundred and sixty degree flexible connection between said electrical motors, said flexible assembly comprising a plurality of tube sections each said tube section enclosing a housing of said electrical motor, inside diameter of said tube sections being larger than the outside diameter of said electrical motors, a plurality of supports attached to the inside wall of each said tube sections connects to the respective electrical motor and supports said electrical motors so the axial center of said tube sections and said electrical motors will be the same, a plurality of flexible tubes, each said flexible tube connecting the respective ends of said tube sections between said electrical motors enclosing said flexible shaft and providing a means for drilling fluids to be pumped through said system and with said flexible shaft providing a three hundred and sixty degree flexible point in said system between said electrical motors, a drive shaft, uphole end of said drive shaft connected to the downhole end of said double shaft of the electrical motor located at the downhole end of said assembly of motors, said tube section which encloses said housing of said electrical motor located at the downhole end of said assembly of motors being long enough in length to enclose all but the downhole end portion of said drive shaft, diameter of said drive shaft being large enough to be in contact with the inside wall of said tube section and still turn, downhole end of said drive shaft connected to the uphole end of said downhole tool joint, a plurality of holes constructed through the length of said drive shaft so said drilling fluids can be pumped through said drive shaft, uphole end of said tube section enclosing said electrical motor located at the uphole end of said assembly of motors connected to the downhole end of said uphole tool joint, an electrical power line extending down through said uphole tool joint between said electrical motors and the inside wall of said tube sections attaching to each said electrical motor and providing electrical power to each said electrical motor.

3. In claim 1 said assembly of motors being comprised of a plurality of double shaft downhole fluid motors, input port of said fluid motors constructed on the uphole end of said fluid motors, output port of said fluid motors being constructed on the downhole end of said fluid motors, double shaft of said fluid motors constructed to extend through the input port and output port of said fluid motors, a plurality of flexible shafts, each flexible shaft connecting the respective downhole end and uphole end of said fluid motor assembled in line providing said three hundred and sixty degree flexible connection between said fluid motors, said flexible assembly comprising a plurality of flexible tubes, each flexible tube connecting the interfacing ends of respective fluid motors assembled in line and enclosing said flexible shaft and the respective output port and input port of said fluid motors so drilling fluid can be pumped through said system and with said flexible shaft provide a three hundred and sixty degree flexible point between said fluids motors so said system will be flexible between said fluid motors, downhole end of said uphole tool joint being attached to the uphole end of said fluid motor located at the uphole end of said assembly of motors, a plurality of supports attached to the inside wall of said downhole tool joint attaches to the downhole end portion of the double shaft of the fluid motor located on the downhole end of said assembly of motors so the axial center of said double shaft and said downhole tool joint will be the same, inside diameter of said downhole tool joint being less than the overall diameter of said fluid motors, a seal interfaces the uphole end of said downhole tool joint with the downhole end of said fluid motor located at the downhole end of said assembly of motors so said drilling fluids will not flow through said interface when said downhole tool joint is turning.