Auto-extending/retracting electrically isolated conductors in a segmented drill string
First Claim
1. In a system including a drill string having a length which is configured for extension and/or retraction, said drill string being made up of a plurality of pipe sections having opposing first and second ends and a section length having an inner wall defining an innermost passage and all of which pipe sections are configured for removable attachment with one another by physically connecting the first end of one pipe section with the second end of another pipe section to facilitate extension of the drill string by one section length at a time, an assembly for use with each one of the pipe sections, said assembly comprising:
- a) contact means for forming an isolated electrical connection between attached ones of the pipe sections and located within the innermost passage at each opposing end of each pipe section; and
b) an electrically conductive arrangement located in the innermost passage of each pipe section and in electrical communication with said contact means at each opposing end each pipe section to extend therebetween in a way which provides an electrically conductive path that is arranged against the inner wall of the innermost passage of each pipe section and which electrically conductive path cooperates with said contact means to form an overall electrically isolated conductive path through the drill string.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system includes a drill string made up of a plurality of connectable pipe sections. An assembly is provided for use with each pipe section including contact arrangement for forming an isolated electrical connection between attached pipe sections at each end of each pipe section. An electrically conductive arrangement is located in the innermost passage of each pipe section and is in electrical communication with the contact arrangement to extend therebetween in a way which provides an electrically conductive path that is arranged against the inner wall of the innermost passage of each pipe section in cooperation with the contact arrangement to form an overall electrically isolated conductive path through the drill string. The electrically conductive arrangement resiliently biases the electrically conductive path against the inner wall, which path may take the form of a helix.
72 Citations
67 Claims
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1. In a system including a drill string having a length which is configured for extension and/or retraction, said drill string being made up of a plurality of pipe sections having opposing first and second ends and a section length having an inner wall defining an innermost passage and all of which pipe sections are configured for removable attachment with one another by physically connecting the first end of one pipe section with the second end of another pipe section to facilitate extension of the drill string by one section length at a time, an assembly for use with each one of the pipe sections, said assembly comprising:
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a) contact means for forming an isolated electrical connection between attached ones of the pipe sections and located within the innermost passage at each opposing end of each pipe section; and
b) an electrically conductive arrangement located in the innermost passage of each pipe section and in electrical communication with said contact means at each opposing end each pipe section to extend therebetween in a way which provides an electrically conductive path that is arranged against the inner wall of the innermost passage of each pipe section and which electrically conductive path cooperates with said contact means to form an overall electrically isolated conductive path through the drill string. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. In a system including a drill string having a length which is configured for extension and/or retraction, said drill string being made up of a plurality of pipe sections having opposing first and second ends and a section length defining an innermost passage and all of which pipe sections are configured for removable attachment with one another by physically connecting the first end of one pipe section with the second end of another pipe section to facilitate extension of the drill string by one section length at a time, a method comprising the steps of:
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arranging contact means within the innermost passage at each opposing end of each one of said pipe sections for forming an isolated electrical connection between attached ones of the pipe sections; and
electrically interconnecting the contact means at the opposing ends of each pipe section through the innermost passage by arranging an electrically conductive path against the inner wall of the innermost passage of each pipe section to electrically interconnect the contact means at the opposing ends of each pipe section cooperating with the contact means to form an electrically isolated path through the drill string. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. In a drill string, a pipe section comprising:
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a section length defining an innermost passage between opposing first and second ends of the pipe section that are removably connectable with other, identical ones of the pipe section to form a length of the drill string;
contact means installed in the innermost passage at each opposing end of the pipe section for forming an isolated electrical connection between attached ones of the pipe sections; and
an electrically conductive arrangement located in the innermost passage of the pipe section and in electrical communication with said contact means at each opposing end of the pipe section to extend therebetween in a way which provides an electrically conductive path that is arranged against the inner wall of the innermost passage of the pipe section to form an electrically isolated conductive path through the pipe section, such that attachment of the pipe section with other, identically configured pipe sections forms an overall electrically isolated path through the drill string. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A drill string, comprising:
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a plurality of pipe sections each of which includes a section length defining an innermost passage between opposing first and second ends of each pipe section that are removably connectable with other ones of the pipe sections to form a length of the drill string;
contact means for forming an isolated electrical connection between attached ones of the pipe sections and installed in the innermost passage at each opposing end of each pipe section; and
an electrically conductive arrangement located in the innermost passage of each pipe section and in electrical communication with said contact means at each opposing end of each pipe section to extend therebetween in a way which provides an electrically conductive path that is arranged against the inner wall of the innermost passage of each pipe section to form an electrically isolated conductive path through each pipe section, such that attached ones of the pipe sections form an overall electrically isolated path as part of said drill string. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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Specification