Adjustable Hydraulic Coupling For Drilling Tools And Related Methods

Abstract

An adjustable hydraulic coupling device allows simultaneously mounting of different parts of a downhole drilling tool to the drill string near its upper and lower extremities. This top- and bottom-mounting is made to points on the drill string separated by an indeterminate length. The coupling device allows a mechanical and sealed fluid connection between two portions of the tool, and allows assembling of both portions of the drilling tool into one functional unit, and allows both axial translation and rotational motion therebetween. A cylindrical protruding tube is attached to the portion of the drilling tool mounted at its upper extremity while a mating cylindrical tube is attached to the part of the drilling tool mounted near the bottom. During assembly, the smaller tube enters the larger tube and provides a sealed fluid path and also allows for the engagement length of the assembly to vary as required.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 451,538, filed Jan. 27, 2017, and that application is incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]In general, the present invention relates to a device or system capable of allowing a downhole drilling tool to be simultaneously mounted at two different axial locations to a drill string while allowing the length of the tool to vary as required to accommodate such mounting locations. Specifically, the present invention discloses a hydraulic coupling device that allows the top portion of the tool and the bottom portion of the tool to be mounted to the drill string at points on the drill string that are separated by an indeterminate length and still allow a mechanical and sealed fluid connection between the two portions. Thus, this invention allows a drilling tool to potentially use both a top mounted telemetry or sensor s...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an advantageous hydraulic coupling and mounting mechanism, along with a MWD tool system and method of using them. This hydraulic coupling has a durable construction, which can be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed at a low cost. It is simple to assemble, requires minimal training, and can operate efficiently. The hydraulic coupling is designed to be interchangeable in various types of wells and with various types of telemetry devices. Additionally, the invention provides a new hydraulic coupling apparatus with a reliable sliding seal system that can accommodate the translation of the hydraulic apparatus during installation without compromising its quality and effectiveness. This hydraulic coupling has the capability to downhole operations offshore and under water, making it highly versatile and adaptable to various drilling fluid conditions.

Problems solved by technology

MWD tools of the types described are limited in that they are non-reciprocating in nature.

Such data delivery systems, whether EM, Acoustic or Mud Pulse, have particular inherent limitations which make use in all applications challenging.

For example, EM systems are often limited by the depth they can be used to due to the inherent attenuation of the earth's rock formations.

Acoustic telemetry systems are also limited by depth due to the length of the drill string and by the attenuating effects of the friction of the drill string against the borehole, which tend to retard the transmission of the acoustic sound pulses to the surface.

Mud pulse telemetry tools are generally more robust and can be used in most applications; however, these tools are bandwidth limited and are generally not able to provide data at a high rate.

Using multiple telemetry methods simultaneously can be challenging due to the nature of the drilling process & how the telemetry methods work.

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