Smith International, Inc.

Billy J Roberts

Arley Gene Lee

William H Strong

A method for assembling and delivering a drivepipe to a drill site. The method has the following steps: The drivepipe is assembled at a shoreline assembly station. Floatation devices are attached to the drivepipe and the drivepipe is floated in the ocean. The drivepipe is towed with tow vessels to a drill site. The drivepipe is delivered in a horizontal orientation to a drilling vessel at the drill site. An upper end of the drivepipe is attached to the drilling vessel and the tow vessels are detached from the drivepipe. The drivepipe is pivoted about its point of attachment to the drilling vessel until the drivepipe is vertically oriented. The buoyancy function of the floatation devices attached to the drivepipe is deactivated. The floatation devices are removed from the drivepipe. The drivepipe is equipped with a driving mechanism and the drivepipe is lowered with a running string from the drilling vessel to the sea bed.

Assembly and floatation method for drilling drivepipe

A method for driving a drive pipe into a subsea formation, the method being comprised of the following steps: suspending the drive pipe from a drill string; moving at least one mass in a direction having an upward component and within the drive pipe; accelerating at least one mass relative to the drive pipe, wherein the at least one mass is accelerated within the drive pipe; transferring energy from the accelerated at least one mass to the drive pipe; isolating the drill string from energy from the accelerated at least one mass; and removing a core of formation from within the drive pipe after the transferring. A system for driving a drive pipe into a subsea formation, the system having: a drill string suspendable from a marine vessel; a running tool attachable to the drill string, wherein a top of the drive pipe is connected to the running tool; at least one mass adapted to fit within the drive pipe; an accelerator of the at least one mass, wherein the accelerator is in mechanical communication with the running tool and the at least one mass; and a transferror of energy from the at least one mass to the drive pipe, wherein the transferror transfers energy after the at least one mass is accelerated by the accelerator.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Billy J Roberts