Tubing joint of multiple orientations containing electrical wiring

• US 7,390,032 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2003
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sunstone Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sonstone Corporation
• Inventors: Hughes, William James
• Primary Examiner(s): Hewitt; James M
• Application Number:
  US10/633,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20050023831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,789 Days
• Field of Search: 285/913, 285/914, 285/330, 439/271, 439/191, 439/195, 439/194
• US Class Current: 285/330
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/028 Electrical or electro-magnetic connections
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/046 with ribs, pins, or jaws, and complementary grooves or the like, e.g. bayonet catches
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 25/01 specially adapted for realising electrical conduction between the two pipe ends of the joint or between parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/913 Interdigitating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/914 Irreversible

Abstract

A tubing connection for coupling two or more joints of tubing sections is disclosed comprising a plug assembly and a socket assembly. The plug assembly has a plurality of splines and the socket assembly has a plurality of receptacles adapted to receive the plurality of splines. The plurality of splines comprises a center spline and a plurality of outer splines configured to allow intermeshing with receptacle splines in a plurality of orientations. A coupling collar is used to secure the tubing joint. The plug assembly is connected to the socket assembly in a four-step process of: positioning the assemblies in close proximity, aligning the spline and the receptacle, plugging the spline into the receptacle, and then securing the two sections together with the coupling collar. The tubing joint may also have at least one conduit that may contain a wire or other material for transmitting power and data between the adjoined sections of tubing.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first tubing section and a second tubing section;

a plug fixedly engaged to a first tubing section proximate end and having a plug center spline, a plurality of plug outer splines, and a plurality of first conduits;

a socket fixedly engaged to a second tubing section distal end and having a socket receptacle, a plurality of socket receptacle splines and a plurality of second conduits;

a securing device for securing the plug to the socket;

wherein the plug may be joined to the socket in a plurality of orientations so that, in each of the plurality of orientations, the plurality of first conduits automatically align with the plurality of second conduits in an alignment; and

wherein the plug center spline, the plurality of plug outer splines and the plurality of first conduits are of unitary construction with each other; and

wherein the socket receptacle, the plurality of socket receptacle splines and the plurality of second conduits are of unitary construction with each other;

wherein a cavity created by the socket receptacle and the plurality of socket receptacle splines is shaped so that the plug center spline and the plurality of plug outer splines will intermesh with the socket receptacle and the socket receptacle splines when the plug and socket are plugged together; and

wherein a plurality of coarse threads of the socket are tapered.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the securing device is a coupling collar adapted for connecting the plug and the socket, the coupling collar initially engaged with the plug.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plug further comprises a plurality of fine threads.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first tubing section and the second tubing section are connectable in two distinct orientations.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first tubing section and the second tubing section are connectable in three distinct orientations.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first tubing section and the second tubing section are connectable in four or more distinct orientations.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first conduits and the plurality of second conduits are adapted to receive a plurality of wires, each capable of carrying an electrical current, and wherein the plug has an interior lip so that the each of the plurality of wires can pass through each of the plurality of first conduits and into a casing interior.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first tubing section and the second tubing section are pipe.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first tubing section and the second tubing section are casing.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first tubing section and the second tubing section are used to produce hydrocarbons from a well bore.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first tubing section and the second tubing section are used to produce water from a well bore.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first tubing section and the second tubing section are connectable in a plurality of distinct orientations.

13. An apparatus for providing power to a subterranean environment, compnsing:

a drilling assembly containing a plurality of tubing sections;

a plurality of tubing joints for connecting the plurality of tubing sections together, each tubing joint comprising;

a plug having a plug center spline and a plurality of plug outer splines and a plurality of first conduits;

a socket having a socket receptacle, a plurality of socket receptacle splines and a plurality of second conduits;

a securing device for securing the plug to the socket; and

wherein the plug and the socket may be joined in N orientations where N is equal number of plug outer splines; and

wherein the plurality of first conduits and the plurality of second conduits are automatically aligned when the plug and the socket are plugged together;

wherein a cavity created by the socket receptacle and the plurality of socket receptacle splines is shaped so that the plug center spline and the plurality of plug outer splines will intermesh with the socket receptacle and the socket receptacle splines when the plug and socket are plugged together;

wherein the plurality of plug outer splines and the plurality of socket receptacle splines are coaxially symmetric and have the same dimensions so that an alignment can be achieved in a plurality of orientations; and

wherein the securing device is a coupling collar adapted for connection to the plug and the socket, the coupling collar initially engaged with the plug;

wherein the socket further comprises a plurality of coarse threads; and

wherein the plurality of coarse threads of the socket are tapered.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the plug further comprises a plurality of fine threads.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the plug and the socket are connectable in two distinct orientations.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the plug and the socket are connectable in three distinct orientations.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the plug and the socket are connectable in four or more distinct orientations.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the plurality of tubing sections are pipe.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the plurality of tubing sections are casing.

20. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the plurality of tubing sections are used to produce hydrocarbons from a well bore.

21. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the plurality of tubing sections are used to produce water from a well bore.

22. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the plurality of tubing sections are connectable in a plurality of orientations.

23. An apparatus comprising:

a first casing section;

a second casing section removably connected to the first casing section; and

wherein the first casing section and the second casing section are connected in a plurality of distinct orientations by engaging a plug affixed to the first easing section and a socket affixed to the second casing section;

wherein in each of the plurality of distinct orientations, a first plurality of conduits are aligned for connectivity with a second plurality of conduits by mating a center spline and a plurality of outer splines with a receptacle and a plurality of receptacle splines, wherein the receptacle and the plurality of receptacle splines form a cavity; and

wherein the first plurality of conduits, the plurality of outer splines, the center spline, and the plug are all one piece, and the second plurality of conduits, the receptacle splines, the receptacle, and the socket are of unitary construction all one piece;

wherein the connection between the first casing section and the second casing section comprises a securing device for securing the plug to the socket; and

wherein the securing device is a coupling collar adapted for connection to the plug and the socket, the coupling collar initially engaged with the plug.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the plug further comprises a plurality of fine threads.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the socket further comprises a plurality of coarse threads.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the plurality of coarse threads of the socket assembly are tapered.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first casing section and the second casing section are connectable in two distinct orientations.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first casing section and the second casing section are connectable in three distinct orientations.

29. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first casing section and the second casing section are connectable in four or more distinct orientations.

30. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the first casing section and the second casing section are pipe.

31. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the first casing section and the second easing section are used to produce hydrocarbons from a well bore.

32. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the first casing section and the second casing section are used to produce water from a well bore.