Gas Research Institute

Pegasus Drilling Technologies, L.l.c.

Baker Hughes Corporation

Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.

William C Herben

William J McDonald

Gerard T Pittard

William C Maurer

Gunther Von Gynz-Rekowski

Michael R Wasson

Terry P Clifton

Brad Lamirand

An apparatus and method for detecting lubricant reservoir levels, particularly in bearing sections for downhole mud motors, is revealed. This allows rig personnel to more exactly ascertain the remaining bearing life of the assembly. In one embodiment, the assembly is pulled out of the hole and comprises of a signal source. A hand-held device is placed next to the bearing housing and the location of the strongest signal is a direct measurement of the position of the floating piston in the lubricant reservoir. The rig personnel can then readily obtain a level reading on the fluid level in the reservoir. An alternative design is also revealed where the position of the floating piston is sensed in real-time by receivers mounted at spaced locations in the lubricant reservoir. The position of the floating piston is thus detected by the receivers and sent to the surface, generally through the measurement-while-drilling (MWD) sub, so that rig personnel at the surface known at any given time the position of the floating piston and, thus, the remaining lubricant level in the reservoir. The signal source can be a magnetic component mounted in the bearing housing reservoir area where the surrounding components are nonmagnetic such that the receiver responds to the magnetic field created by the magnetic signal source. The signal source can also be powered by a stored electrical supply which can generate through a signal source a signal which can be measured, either over the air or by a hand-held receiver held by rig personnel, or by a connection to the bearing housing for a direct reading of the signal generated.

Lubricant level detection system for sealed mud motor bearing assembly

A mechanism for arients and maintains a key in a sub for guiding directional measurement equipment of a directional drilling assembly with respect to the drillbit. The orienting sub has an outer sleeve which is supported on an inner shoulder in the orienting sub. An inner sleeve which holds the key has an outer wedged profile which follows the shape of the outer sleeve. The outer sleeve can be longitudinally, obliquely, or spirally segmented and has a thread on one end so that a jam nut can be installed to advance the inner sleeve with the key until a wedging action occurs between the inner and outer sleeves and the sub. At that point, the key is oriented without any bores through the wall of the sub. Provisions can be made in the assembly to provide a biasing force on the inner sleeve which holds the key to compensate for vibrational loads on the assembly.

Bottomhole assembly orienting sub

In drilling equipment having at least one remote assembly (62) attached to a drill string (12), an electrically actuated disconnect apparatus and method (10) for releasing the remote assembly (62) has an electric signal transmitter electrically connected to a release device (16). The release device (16) operates a retaining device (22) holding strainer blocking devices (24) therein. A strainer (56) is connected to the drill string (12) after the retainer (22) and through which drilling fluid flows until blocked by the strainer blocking devices (24). A one way pressure relief mechanism (34) is provided in the drill string (12) conformed to operate when the flow of drilling fluid is continued after the strainer (56) is blocked by the strainer blocking devices (24) so that drilling fluid is allowed to impact against a movable piston (44), the moveable piston (44) conformed to the drill string (12), and movable to apply pressure to move a disconnect shift tube (52) so as to shift the disconnect shift tube (52) and release a coupling key (32), thereby releasing the remote assembly (64) from the drill string (12).

Electrically actuated disconnect apparatus and method

A test stand has a base supporting standards on which are mounted a crossbar and an adjustably locatable header. The header supports an actuator for raising and lowering the crossbar which holds V-blocks for engaging the handles of an impact or impact-rotary tool and which applies downward pressure to the tool. The tool chuck is fitted to the top of a guide rod whose lower end passes with a sliding fit through a disc to which it is keyed and bears against a piston in an hydraulically pressurized cylinder. Sensors detect rotation of the disc and movement of the piston to provide information to a computer as to impact energy and rotary speed. A manifold fitted with sensors for temperature, pressure, and flow rate supplies operating air to the tool. The computer includes a database with stored information as to past history of the tool and the manufacturer's recommended operating specifications to which the measured data is compared.

Impact and impact-rotary tool testing apparatus using rotary speed and

Long utility holes, for gas lines, electrical conduit, communications conduit and the like, may be bored or pierced horizontally through the earth, particularly under obstacles, such as buildings, streets, highways, rivers, lakes, etc. Such holes may be bored by an underground drilling mole (underground percussion drill) supported on a hollow drill rod and supplied with compressed air through the rod to operate an air hammer which strikes an anvil having an external boring face, preferably constructed to apply an asymmetric boring force. The drill rod is operated by a drill rig on the surface or recessed in special pit for horizontal drilling and provides for additional sections of pipe or hollow rod as the boring progresses. The asymmetric boring force causes the boring path to curve and, when straight line drilling is needed, the drill rod is rotated to counteract the asymmetric boring force. An alternative boring tool utilizes an expander supported on a solid or hollow drill rod and having a base end supported on and larger in diameter than the rod and tapering longitudinally forward therefrom. It may have a uniform extension protruding a short distance forward. The tool penetrates the earth upon longitudinal movement of the drill rod.

Guided earth boring tool

Long utility holes, for gas lines, electrical conduit, communications conduit and the like, may be bored or pierced horizontally through the earth, particularly under obstacles, such as buildings, streets, highways, rivers, lakes, etc. Such holes may be bored by an underground drilling mole (underground percussion drill) supported on a hollow drill rod and supplied with compressed air through the rod to operate an air hammer which strikes an anvil having an external boring face, preferably constructed to apply an asymmetric boring force. The drill rod is operated by a drill rig on the surface or recessed in special pit for horizontal drilling and provides for addition of sections of pipe or hollow rod as the boring progresses. The asymmetric boring force causes the boring path to curve and, when straight line drilling is needed, the drill rod is rotated to counteract the asymmetric boring force. An alternative boring tool utilizes an expander supported on a solid or hollow drill rod and having a base end supported on and larger in diameter than the rod and tapering longitudinally forward therefrom. It may have a uniform extension protruding a short distance forward. The tool penetrates the earth upon longitudinal movement of the drill rod.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

William C Herben