Auto-extending/retracting electrically isolated conductors in a segmented drill string

• US 6,223,826 B1
• Filed: 05/24/1999
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Merlin Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Digital Control Incorporated
• Inventors: Mercer, John E., Chau, Albert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): NEUDER, WILLIAM P
• Application Number:
  US09/317,308
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 175/320, 166/65.1, 166/380, 439/557, 439/578
• US Class Current: 166/380
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/003 with electrically conducting or insulating means E21B17/028 and E21B17/023 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/0232 at least one of the energy sources or one of the detectors being located on or above the ground surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/533 Bases, cases made for use in extreme conditions, e.g. high temperature, radiation, vibration, corrosive environment, pressure H01R13/52 takes precedence

Abstract

Arrangements and associated methods are described for providing an isolated electrically conductive path in a system in which a boring tool is moved through the ground in a region. The system includes a drill rig and a drill string which is connected between a boring tool, or other in-ground device, and the drill. The drill string is made up of a plurality of electrically conductive drill pipe sections, each of which includes a section length and all of which are configured for removable attachment with one another to facilitate the extension and retraction of the drill string by one section length at a time. The arrangement associated with each drill pipe section provides part of at least one electrically conductive path along the section length of each drill pipe section, which electrically conductive path is electrically isolated from its associated drill pipe section and extends from the boring tool to the drill rig such that the electrically conductive path is extended by the section length when the drill string is extended by attachment of an additional drill pipe section to the drill string at the drill rig and the electrically conductive path is shortened by the section length when the drill string is shortened by detaching the additional drill pipe section from the drill string at the drill rig.

Claims

1. In a system in which a boring tool is moved through the ground in a region, said system including a drill rig and a drill string which is connected between said boring tool and said drilling and is configured for extension and/or retraction from said drill rig such that, when said drill string is extended, the boring tool moves in a forward direction through the ground and, when the drill string is retracted, the boring tool moves in a reverse direction approaching the drill rig, said drill string being made up of a plurality of drill pipe sections, each of which includes a section length defining an innermost passage and all of which are configured for removable attachment with one another to facilitate the extension and retraction of the drill string by one section length at a time, the improvement comprising:

an arrangement positioned within the innermost passage of each drill pipe section for providing part of at least one electrically conductive path along the section length of each drill pipe section, which electrically conductive path is electrically isolated from its associated drill pipe section and extends from the boring tool to the drilling rig such that the electrically conductive path is extended by said section length when the drill string is extended by attachment of an additional drill pipe section to the drill string at the drill rig and said electrically conductive path is shortened by said section length when the drill string is shortened by detaching the additional drill pipe section from the drill string at the drill rig.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein each drill pipe section includes opposing first and second ends having first and second end fittings, respectively, such that adjacent drill pipe sections which form the drill string are attached to one another using one first end fitting mated with one second end fitting and wherein said arrangement includes first and second adapters configured for installation within said innermost passage at corresponding opposing ends of each drill pipe section such that the first and second adapters of adjacent drill pipe sections mate when the first and second end fittings of adjacent drill pipe sections are mated to form an electrical connection as additional drill pipe sections are added to the drill string in a way which extends said electrically conductive path along the section length of the additional drill pipe section.

3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said arrangement further includes an insulated electrical conductor positioned in said innermost passage and in electrical communication with said first and second adapters such that the electrical conductor forms a portion of said electrically conductive path between the first and second adapters.

4. The improvement of claim 3 wherein said first and second adapters each include connector means for attachment to said insulated electrical conductor.

5. The improvement of claim 4 wherein said attachment means includes a crimp connection.

6. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said first and second end fittings include a self aligning configuration which causes adjacent drill pipe sections to move into an aligned arrangement as the first end fitting of one of the adjacent drill pipe sections engages the second end fitting of the other one of the adjacent drill pipe sections and wherein said first and second adapters of the adjacent drill pipe sections are configured to engage one another at a predetermined point when the first and second end fittings of the adjacent drill pipe sections are partially engaged and the adjacent drill pipe sections have moved, at least to some extent, into said aligned arrangement such that engagement of the first and second end fittings of the adjacent drill pipe sections serves, at least to some extent, to align the first and second adapters prior to the first and second adapters engaging one another to form said electrical connection as the adjacent drill pipe sections are attached.

7. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said arrangement is configured such that said electrically conductive path is shortened by said section length as the drill string is shortened by separating the first and second adapters which are mated between the additional drill pipe section and its adjacent drill pipe section as the additional drill pipe section is detached from the drill string to break said electrical connection.

8. The improvement of claim 2 wherein each drill pipe section defines an opening leading into said innermost passage at each of said opposing ends and wherein one of said first or second adapters is received in said innermost passage in proximity to the opening defined at one end of each drill pipe section and the other one of said first or second adapters is received in said innermost passage in proximity to the opening defined at the other end of each drill pipe section such that the first and second adapters of adjacent drill pipe sections mate to form said electrical connection when the first and second end fittings of adjacent drill pipe sections are mated.

9. The improvement of claim 8 wherein said first end fitting at the first end of one drill pipe section is a box fitting and said second end fitting at the other end of the drill pipe section is a pin fitting and wherein said first adapter installed in the innermost passage in proximity to the first end fitting includes a pin configuration and the second adapter installed in the innermost passage in proximity to the second end fitting includes a box configuration.

10. The improvement of claim 9 wherein the box configuration of said second adapter defines a contact surface and the pin configuration of said first adapter includes contact means for forming an electrical connection with the contact surface as the first and second ends of adjacent drill pipe sections are attached to one another.

11. The improvement of claim 10 wherein said contact means includes at least one contact finger configured for forming said electrical connection with said contact surface.

12. The improvement of claim 11 wherein said first and second adapters are configured such that mated first and second adapters, received in the innermost passages of a pair of adjacent drill pipe sections in the drill string, define a through opening between the innermost passages of the pair of adjacent drill pipe sections such that the innermost passages of the pair of adjacent drill pipe sections are in communication via the through opening of the mated first and second adapters and wherein said second adapter is configured having an inner surface defining a portion of said through opening and said contact surface is formed on said inner surface such that said contact finger extends into the portion of the through opening defined by the second adapter to form said electrical connection with the contact surface when the first and second adapter are mated.

13. The improvement of claim 8 wherein said first and second adapter are affixed in said innermost passage using an adhesive.

14. The improvement of claim 8 wherein said first and second adapters each include attachment means and a first or second adapter body, respectively, said attachment means for holding the first and second adapter bodies in proximity to the drill pipe openings.

15. The improvement of claim 14 wherein said attachment means is selectively connectable with the first and second adapter body such that the attachment means can be replaced and the first and second adapter bodies may be used with a different drill pipe section.

16. The improvement of claim 15 wherein said attachment means and said first and second adapter bodies are configured for threadable engagement.

17. The improvement of claim 14 wherein the attachment means is configured to be received by said innermost passage to hold the first and second adapters in proximity the drill pipe openings.

18. The improvement of claim 14 wherein said attachment means includes a barbed arrangement designed to be radially compressed within said innermost passage to hold the first and second adapters in proximity the drill pipe openings.

19. The improvement of claim 18 wherein the drill pipe section at each opposing end defines an interior thread within the openings leading into said innermost passage and said attachment means includes a threaded arrangement designed to be received by said interior thread to hold the first and second adapters in proximity to the drill pipe openings.

20. The improvement of claim 8 wherein said first and second end fittings include a self aligning configuration which causes adjacent drill pipe sections to move into an aligned arrangement as the first end fitting of one of the adjacent drill pipe sections engages the second end fitting of the other one of the adjacent drill pipe sections and wherein said first and second adapters of the adjacent drill pipe sections are configured to engage one another at a predetermined point when the first and second end fittings of the adjacent drill pipe sections are partially engaged and the adjacent drill pipe sections have moved, at least to some extent, into said aligned arrangement such that engagement of the first and second end fittings of the adjacent drill pipe sections serves, at least to some extent, to align the first and second adapters prior to the first and second adapters engaging one another to form said electrical connection as the adjacent drill pipe sections are attached.

21. The improvement of claim 8 wherein said innermost passage of each drill pipe section includes an interior surface and an interior diameter and wherein said first and second adapters include a locking arrangement having a pre-installation diameter which is less than the interior diameter of the innermost passage of the drill pipe sections such that the first and second adapters are initially slidably receivable in the innermost passage and, after the first and second adapters are positioned at desired locations in said innermost passage, said locking arrangement is configured to be expanded radially against the interior surface of the innermost passage in a way which fixes the position of the first or second adapter.

22. The improvement of claim 21 wherein said system is configured to direct drilling mud from the drill rig to the boring tool through the drill string using the innermost passage defined in the drill pipe sections and wherein said locking arrangement includes an expandable elastomeric sleeve to lock each adapter in place and to seal against drilling mud passing between the elastomeric sleeve and the interior surface of the drill pipe section.

23. The improvement of claim 8 wherein said system is configured to direct drilling mud from the drill rig to the boring tool through the drill string using the innermost passages defined in the drill pipe sections and wherein said first and second adapters are configured such that mated first and second adapters, received in the innermost passages of a pair of adjacent drill pipe sections in the drill string, define a through opening between the through holes of the pair of adjacent drill pipe sections such that the innermost passages of the pair of adjacent drill pipe sections are in communication via the through opening of the mated first and second adapters for the passage therethrough of said drilling mud.

24. The improvement of claim 8 wherein said first adapter is a box adapter tube fitting and said second adapter is a pin adapter tube fitting, the box and pin adapter tube fittings each including a tubular locking body defining locking edges which cooperate in a way that maintains circumferential expansion of the locking body to fix the box and pin adapter tube in position within the innermost passe of a respective drill pipe section.

25. The improvement of claim 24 wherein said locking edges are serrated such that the pin and box adapter tube fittings including said locking body may be inserted into one of said openings leading into the innermost passage with the locking edges disengaged and, thereafter, the locking body is circumferentially expanded to engage the locking edges with one another to accomplish a ratcheting action which maintains the circumferential expansion against the interior surface of the innermost passage to fix the locking body in position 9. The improvement of claim 8 wherein said first end fitting at the first end of one drill pipe section is a box fitting and said second end fitting at the other end of the drill pipe section is a pin fitting and wherein said first adapter installed in the innermost passage in proximity to the first end fitting includes a pin configuration and the second adapter installed in the innermost passage in proximity to the second end fitting includes a box configuration.

26. The improvement of claim 25 wherein said locking edges extend partially, circumferentially around the locking body.

27. The improvement of claim 24 wherein said pin and box adapter tube fittings are integrally formed from tubular stock.

28. The improvement of claim 27 wherein said pin adapter tube includes a pin head arrangement defining a compression slot such that certain circumferential forces around the pin head arrangement will result in the pin head arrangement having a reduced radius and said box adapter tube fitting includes a box head arrangement configured to engage the pin head arrangement in a way which applies force circumferentially around the pin head arrangement to reduce said diameter so as to insert the pin head arrangement into the box head arrangement forming electrical contact therewith when adjacent drill pipe sections are mated.

29. The improvement of claim 24 wherein said pin and box adapter tube fittings are each inserting into an electrical insulating tube which is disposed between each pin and box adapter tube fitting and the interior surface of one of said innermost passages to provide electrical isolation of the pin and box adapter tube fittings from drill pipe sections.

30. The improvement of claim 24 wherein said locking body includes a length disposed between first and second openings and said locking edges are defined by a through cut having a predetermined configuration extending along said length from said first opening to said second opening.

31. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said arrangement is configured within said innermost passage for providing at least two electrically conductive paths along the section length of each drill pipe section, which electrically conductive paths are electrically isolated from the drill pipe sections and from one another and which extend from the boring tool to the drill rig such that each electrically conductive path is extended by said section length when the drill string is extended by attachment of an additional drill pipe section to the drill string at the drill rig.

32. The improvement of claim 31 wherein each drill pipe section includes opposing first and second ends having first and second end fittings, respectively, such that adjacent drill pipe sections which form the drill string are attached to one another using one first end fitting mated with one second end fitting and wherein said arrangement includes first and second adapters configured for installation at corresponding opposing ends of each drill pipe section such that the first and second adapters of adjacent drill pipe sections mate when the first and second end fittings of adjacent drill pipe sections are mated to form an electrical connection corresponding to each electrically conductive path as additional drill pipe sections are added to the drill string in a way which extends each electrically conductive path along the section length of the additional drill pipe section.

33. In a system in which a boring tool is moved through the ground in a region, said system including a drill rig and a drill string which is connected between said boring tool and said drill rig and is configured for extension and/or retraction from said drill rig such that, when said drill string is extended, the boring tool moves in a forward direction through the ground and, when the drill string is retracted, the boring tool moves in a reverse direction approaching the drill rig, said drill string being made up of a plurality of drill pipe sections, each of which includes a section length defining an innermost passage and all of which are configured for removable attachment with one another to facilitate the extension and retraction of the drill string by one section length at a time, in a method for providing at least one electrically conductive path which is electrically isolated from the drill pipe sections and which extends from the boring tool to the drill rig, the improvement comprising the step of:

configuring each drill pipe section having an associated arrangement within said innermost passage such that said electrically conductive path is extended by one section length through the innermost passage by removably attaching one drill pipe section to an above ground end of said drill string and said electrically conductive path is shortened by one section length by detaching said one drill pipe section from the above ground end of said drill string.

34. In a system in which a boring tool is moved through the ground in a region, said boring tool including an electronic package, said system including a drill rig and a drill string which is connected between said boring tool and said drill rig and is configured for extension and/or retraction from said drill rig such that when said drill string is extended, the boring tool moves in a forward direction through the ground and, when the drill string is retracted, the boring tool moves in a reverse direction approaching the drill rig, said drill string being made up of a plurality of drill pipe sections each of which includes a pipe body defining an innermost passage, each of which includes a section length and all of which are configured for removable attachment with one another to facilitate the extension and retraction of the drill string by one section length at a time, a method for operating said system said method comprising the steps of:

a) configuring each drill pipe section having an arrangement within said innermost passage to provide at least one electrically conductive path between opposing ends of each drill pipe section and electrically isolated from said pipe body;

b) attaching one end of an initial drill pipe section to said boring tool to form an initial portion of the drill string such that said electrically conductive path of the arrangement associated with the initial drill pipe section is in electrical communication with the electronic package in the boring tool; and

c) attaching one of the opposing ends of a second drill pipe section to the other, above ground end of the initial drill pipe section in a way which connects the electrically isolated conductive path of the arrangement associated with the second drill pipe section to the electrically isolated conductive path of the arrangement associated with the initial drill pipe section to form an overall electrically isolated conductive path extending between the other, above ground end of the overall conductive path at the drill rig and the boring tool through the innermost passage of each drill pipe section.

35. The method of claim 34 including the step of:

d) advancing the boring tool using the drill string made up of the second drill pipe section and the initial drill pipe section.

36. The method of claim 35 including the step of electrically energizing said overall isolated electrically conductive path as the boring tool is advanced.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein said overall isolated electrically conductive path is electrically energized to provide electrical power to said electronic package.

38. The method of claim 36 wherein said overall isolated electrically conductive path is electrically energized to carry a data signal from said electronic package to the drill rig.

39. The method of claim 35 including the steps of:

e) attaching one of the opposing ends of an additional drill pipe section configured with said arrangement to the above ground end of the drill string in a way extends the drill string and which connects the electrically isolated conductive path defined within the innermost passage of the additional drill pipe section to the overall isolated electrically conductive path such that, as the additional drill pipe section is attached to the drill string, the overall electrically conductive path is extended by one section length; and

f) further advancing the boring tool using the extended drill string.

40. The method of claim 39 including the step of successively repeating steps (e) and (f) until such time that the boring tool has been advanced by a desired amount.

41. The method of claim 39 including the step of:

g) electrically energizing the overall electrically conductive path as the boring tool is advanced using the drill string.

42. The method of claim 41 including the step of repeating steps (e) through (g), in sequence, until such time that the boring tool has been advanced by a desired amount.

43. In a system in which a boring tool is moved through the ground in a region using a drill rig, said system including a drill rig and a drill string which is connected between said boring tool and said drill rig and is made up of a plurality of drill pipe sections such that the drill string can be advanced or retracted from said drill rig to move the boring tool in a forward direction or in a reverse direction, respectively, through the ground, each drill pipe section comprising:

a) first and second opposing ends and an elongated body having a length between said opposing ends and defining a through hole along said length, the opposing ends being configured for removable attachment with the opposing ends of other drill pipe sections within the drill string; and

b) an arrangement for providing at least one electrically conductive path along said length between said opposing ends which electrically conductive path is electrically isolated from said elongated body and which arrangement is configured for electrical connection to the electrically conductive path of another one of the drill pipe sections such that attaching one of the first or second opposing ends of a first drill pipe section to the other one of the first or second opposing ends of a second drill pipe section electrically interconnects the electrically conductive paths of the first and second drill pipe sections.

44. The drill pipe section of claim 43 wherein said first and second opposing ends include first and second end fittings, respectively, such that adjacent drill pipe sections which form the drill string are attached to one another using one first end fitting mated with one second end fitting and wherein said arrangement includes first and second adapters configured for installation at corresponding ones of said first and second opposing ends such that the first and second adapters of adjacent drill pipe sections mate when the first and second end fittings of adjacent drill pipe sections are mated to form an electrical connection as additional drill pipe sections are added to the drill string in a way which extends said electrically conductive path along the length of the additional drill pipe section.

45. The drill pipe section of claim 44 wherein said arrangement further includes an insulated electrical conductor positioned in said innermost passage and in electrical communication with said first and second adapters such that the electrical conductor forms part of said electrically conductive path between the first and second adapters associated with each drill pipe section.

46. The drill pipe section of claim 45 wherein said first and second end fittings include a self aligning configuration which causes adjacent drill pipe sections to move into an aligned arrangement as the first end fitting of one of the adjacent drill pipe sections engages the second end fitting of the other one of the adjacent drill pipe sections and wherein said first and second adapters of the adjacent drill pipe sections are configured to engage one another at a predetermined point when the first and second end fittings of the adjacent drill pipe sections are partially engaged and the adjacent drill pipe sections have moved, at least to some extent, into said aligned arrangement such that engagement of the first and second end fittings of the adjacent drill pipe sections serves, at least to some extent, to align the first and second adapters prior to the first and second adapters engaging one another to form said electrical connection as the adjacent drill pipe sections are attached.

47. The drill pipe section of claim 46 wherein an entrance opening leads into said innermost passage at each of said opposing ends and wherein one of said first or second adapters is received in said innermost passage in proximity to the entrance opening defined at one end of said length and the other one of said first or second adapters is received in said innermost passage in proximity to the entrance opening defined at the other end of said length such that the first and second adapters of adjacent drill pipe sections mate to form said electrical connection when the first and second end fittings of adjacent drill pipe sections are mated.

48. The drill pipe section of claim 47 wherein said entrance opening leading into said innermost passage at each of said opposing ends includes a configuration which cooperates with the first and second adapters to retain the first and second adapters in position within the innermost passage.

49. The drill pipe section of claim 48 wherein the configuration of said entrance opening includes peripheral threads and wherein said first and second adapters include mating threads configured to engage said peripheral threads in a way that supports the first and second adapters in position.

50. The drill pipe section of claim 48 wherein the configuration of said entrance opening includes an enlarged diameter which is greater than an overall diameter of the innermost passage extending between the entrance opening at opposing ends of the drill pipe section such that a peripheral shoulder is formed between each entrance opening and the overall innermost passage and wherein said first and second adapters are configured to be received within said enlarged diameter against said peripheral shoulder.

51. The drill pipe section of claim 47 wherein said first end fitting at the first end of said length is a box fitting and said second end fitting at the other end of said length is a pin fitting and wherein said first adapter installed in the innermost passage in proximity to the first end fitting includes a pin configuration and the second adapter installed in the innermost passage in proximity to the second end fitting includes a box configuration.

52. The drill pipe section of claim 47 wherein said first and second adapters each include attachment means and a first or second adapter body, respectively, said attachment means for holding the first and second adapters in proximity to said openings.

53. The drill pipe section of claim 52 wherein said attachment means is selectively connectable with the first and second adapter body such that the attachment means can be replaced and the first and second adapter bodies may be used with a different drill pipe section.

54. The drill pipe section of claim 52 wherein the attachment means is configured to be received by said innermost passage to hold the first and second adapters in proximity to said openings.

55. The drill pipe section of claim 47 wherein said innermost passage along said length is defined by an interior surface and includes an interior diameter and wherein said first and second adapters include a locking arrangement having a pre-installation diameter which is less than the interior diameter of the innermost passage along said length such that the first and second adapters are initially slidably receivable in the innermost passage and, after the first and second adapters are positioned at desired locations in said innermost passage, said locking arrangement is configured to be expanded radially against the interior surface of the innermost passage in a way which fixes the position of the first or second adapter.

56. The drill pipe section of claim 55 wherein said system is configured to direct drilling mud from the drill rig to the boring tool through the drill string using the innermost passage defined along said length of each drill pipe section of the drill string and wherein said locking arrangement includes an expandable elastomeric sleeve to lock each adapter in place and to seal against drilling mud passing between each elastomeric sleeve and each interior surface.

57. The drill pipe section of claim 47 wherein said system is configured to direct drilling mud from the drill rig to the boring tool through the drill string using the innermost passage defined in each drill pipe section of the drill string and wherein said first and second adapters are configured such that mated first and second adapters, received in the innermost passages of a pair of adjacent drill pipe sections in the drill string, define a through opening between the innermost passages of the pair of adjacent drill pipe sections such that the innermost passages of the pair of adjacent drill pipe sections are in communication via the through opening of the mated first and second adapters for the passage therethrough of said drilling mud.

58. The drill pipe section of claim 43 wherein said arrangement within the innermost passage of each drill pipe section is configured for providing at least two electrically conductive paths along said length associated with each drill pipe section, which electrically conductive paths are electrically isolated from each elongated body and from one another and which extend from the boring tool to the drill rig such that each electrically conductive path is extended by said length when the drill string is extended by attachment of an additional drill pipe section to the drill string at the drill rig.

59. In a system in which a boring tool is moved through the ground in a region, said system including a drill rig and a drill string which is connected between said boring tool and said drill rig and is configured for extension and/or retraction from said drill rig such that, when said drill string is extended, the boring tool moves in a forward direction through the ground and, when the drill string is retracted, the boring tool moves in a reverse direction approaching the drill rig, said drill string being made up of a plurality of drill pipe sections having opposing first and second ends and a section length defining an interior passage therebetween and all of which are configured for removable attachment with one another by physically connecting the first end of one drill pipe section with the second end of another drill pipe section to facilitate the extension and retraction of the drill string by one section length at a time, an arrangement for use with each one of the drill pipe sections, said arrangement comprising:

a) opposing first and second electrically conductive connectors adapted for connection with the first and second ends, respectively, of an associated one of said drill pipe sections in an electrically isolated manner, said first and second electrically conductive connectors being configured to be positioned within said innermost passage and to electrically connect with cooperating second and first electrically conductive connectors respectively associated with another one of the drill pipe sections; and

b) an electrically conductive wire located in the innermost passage extending between and electrically connected to said first and second electrically conductive connectors of each drill pipe section so as to provide an electrically conductive path interconnecting the first and second connectors and electrically isolated from each drill pipe section such that physical connection of one drill pipe section with another drill pipe section forms at least one continuous electrical path including the electrically conductive wires of the physically connected drill pipe sections and the first and second electrically conductive connectors therebetween whereby, when a series of drill pipe sections are connected together in a drill string, an overall continuous electrically conductive path is provided by the cooperation of said arrangement in each of the connected drill pipe sections which make up the drill string.

60. The arrangement of claim 59 wherein said first and second opposing ends of each drill pipe section include first and second end fittings, respectively, such that adjacent drill pipe sections which form the drill string are attached to one another using one first end fitting mated with one second end fitting and wherein said first and second connectors are configured to mate when the first and second end fittings of adjacent drill pipe sections are mated to form an electrical connection as part of said continuous electrical path.

61. The arrangement of claim 60 wherein said first and second end fittings include a self aligning configuration which causes adjacent drill pipe sections to move into an aligned arrangement as the first end fitting of one of the adjacent drill pipe sections engages the second end fitting of the other one of the adjacent drill pipe sections and wherein said first and second connectors associated with the adjacent drill pipe sections are configured to engage one another at a predetermined point when the first and second end fittings of the adjacent drill pipe sections are partially engaged and the adjacent drill pipe sections have moved, at least to some extent, into said aligned arrangement such that engagement of the first and second end fittings of the adjacent drill pipe sections serves, at least to some extent, to align the first and second connectors prior to the first and second connectors engaging one another to form said electrical connection as the adjacent drill pipe sections are attached.

62. The arrangement of claim 60 wherein each drill pipe section defines an opening leading into said innermost passage at each of said opposing ends and wherein one of said first or second connectors is received in said innermost passage in proximity to the opening defined at one end of said length and the other one of said first or second connectors is received in said innermost passage in proximity to the opening defined at the other end of said length such that the first and second connectors of adjacent drill pipe sections mate to form said electrical connection when the first and second end fittings of the adjacent drill pipe sections are mated.

63. The arrangement of claim 62 wherein said first end fitting at the first end of said length is a box fitting and said second end fitting at the other end of said length is a pin fitting and wherein said first connector installed in the innermost passage in proximity to the first end fitting includes a pin configuration and the second connector installed in the innermost passage in proximity to the second end fitting includes a box configuration.

64. The arrangement of claim 62 wherein said first and second connectors each include attachment means and a first or second connector body, respectively, said attachment means for holding the first and second connector bodies in proximity to said openings.

65. The arrangement of claim 64 wherein said attachment means is selectively connectable with the first and second connector body such that the attachment means can be replaced and the first and second connector bodies may be used with a different drill pipe section.

66. The arrangement of claim 64 wherein the attachment means is configured to be received by said innermost passage to hold the first and second connectors in proximity to said openings.

67. The arrangement of claim 62 wherein said innermost passage along said length is defined by an interior surface and includes an interior diameter and wherein said first and second connectors include a locking arrangement having a pre-installation diameter which is less than the interior diameter of the innermost passage along said length such that the first and second connectors are initially slidably receivable in the innermost passage and, after the first and second connectors are positioned at desired locations in said innermost passage, said locking arrangement is configured to be expanded radially against the interior surface of the innermost passage in a way which fixes the position of the first and second adapter.

68. The arrangement of claim 67 wherein said system is configured to direct drilling mud from the drill rig to the boring tool through the drill string using the innermost passage defined along said length of each drill pipe section of the drill string and wherein said locking arrangement includes an expandable elastomeric sleeve to lock each connector in place and to seal against drilling mud passing between each elastomeric sleeve and each interior surface.

69. The arrangement of claim 62 wherein said system is configured to direct drilling mud from the drill rig to the boring tool through the drill string using the innermost passage defined in each drill pipe section of the drill string and wherein said first and second connectors are configured such that mated first and second connectors, received in the innermost passages of a pair of adjacent drill pipe sections in the drill string, define a through opening between the innermost passages of the pair of adjacent drill pipe sections such that the innermost passages of the pair of adjacent drill pipe sections are in communication via the through opening of the mated first and second connectors for the passage therethrough of said drilling mud.

70. The arrangement of claim 59 configured for providing at least two continuous electrical paths, which electrically conductive paths are electrically isolated from each drill pipe section and from one another and which extend from the boring tool to the drill rig such that each continuous electrical path is extended by said section length when the drill string is extended by attachment of an additional drill pipe section to the drill string at the drill rig.