US2514586A - Apparatus for drilling wells - Google Patents

Description

July 3950 M. L. NATLAND ETAL 2,514,585

APPARATUS FOR DRILLING WELLS Filed oct. 25, 1946 61 n Ii 2f/32 .l i. l l l @VEA/Top5: /VANLE-Y L. NAT/ AND HOWARD A. 7Y/.OR 5y THEIR '177mm Patented July 1l, 1950 APPARATUS FOB. DRILLING WELLS Manley L..Nauana and Howard A. Tay1oi,.Long' Beach, Calif.; said Taylor assignor to `Lester Callahan Application october 25, 1946,*seria-1No. 105,610

15 Claims.

Our invention lrelates to well .drilling and, more vvparticularly to a novel idrilling apparatus suited to -obtain core sections during continued -drilling 'and/or a residual Yor -lamentary core upon withdrawal oi the drilling `bit for inspection, repair, or replacement.

AThe present invention contemplates cutting into the earth in lan annularzone to leave a-central -core portion which is maximized in length ,by being progressively .disintegrated into `core particles, and it is van object of the invention to provide an improved drilling structure of the type shown in .the .copending application of vI-Ioward A. Taylor Serial No. 705,691, filed Oct. 25,

By the term disintegrating, `We ,have reference to a subdivision of the central .core portion into core particles, irrespective v of the size .thereof. As :pointed out in .the application supra, such vcore particles vmay .be relatively small sand-like or .cutting-.like particles, as when the core portion is substantially `completely disintegrated, `.or they may 'be in the vfor-rn of larger masses, here inafter .termed core sections, which are severed,

broken, `or otherwise removed from the central core portion, beingv 'of substantial size but. representing more than arriere temporarily compacted mass of cuttings from abit. `Such core specimens give ,particularly valuable data .concerning subterranean strata including geological age, slope and character of subterranean strata, etc.

The .present inventioncontemplates that the core particles, .resulting vfrom the progressive disintegration of the -central core portion during continued drillingshall be discharged to the exinto a column of fluid moving upward in the well. For examplait is `common practice t0 Adrill wells by use of a rotary bit during the time that a 'high-density drilling mud is forced into the zone i the lcuttersto carry upward in the' portion .preferably .takes place a substantial but terior of the drilling kstructure and preferably constant distance above the -cutting elements,

whereby the lower end of such acentral passage .contains a lamentary core. vBy use of the present invention, this COre .can be severed or detached from the earths strata preparatory to Ylifting the drilling structure, and can be car- .a residual lamentary .core from a heavy duty drilling structure .when withdrawn from the well.

Another .object is to provide anyeasily -removable internal structure which-carries such a residual core, this internal structure .being designed to facilitate removal of the residual core ,therefrom.

yFurther Aobjects and advantages .of the .invention will be evident vfrom Ythe following description of exemplaryemhodiments.

Referring to the drawings: f

Fig. 1 is a utility view, showing diagrammatically well drilling equipment employing Vone -form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional yiewof the drilling structure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view, taken along the line 3--3 of (Fig. 2 and Fig. iis a bottom 'View Aof the drilling .amc` ture of Fig. 2.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the invention is shown as being used .to drill va well or bore I0 in the earth to penetrate strata suggested `at Il, a portion of the well being -shown cased `by a casing I2. A derrick floor l3 carries theusual rotary drilling 'table M tnrned byl asuitable ypower source, notY shown, to rotate `a drill column I 6 formed of Vsections of drill pipe If'l coupled by joints |48. At the upperv end of the drill column 1 6 is the usual swivelrZythe'lowering ofthe drill column being controlledby the position of a travelling block 2| connected to the swivel 'through a ban 22. The upper end of the anu column lis ysupplied with Sa `iiuid, such as 'a highdensity drilling mud, to ymove downward therethrough and carry the cuttings upward infthe well. This `rfluid may be supplied at high pressure and very considerable Volume through hose 23 and pipe v24 by akcirculating pump 25,.

The drilling structure 30 of the inventionis lsecured tothe lower end .of the drill .column L6, as by a collar 3|. Essentially, the drillingstruc'- ture 30 includes a bit 32 and adrivo .unit 33, here shown as a drill collar or sub 34 detachably connected to the (collar 3l.

The bit 32 is shown as including a body 35 having a depending head 36 having a central opening 31. The body 35 has two diametrically opposite arms 38 and two additional diametrically opposite arms 39. In the space between each of the arms 38 and the depending head 36 is a peripherally-toothedfrusto-conical gage cutter 46 rotating on a suitable pin, not shown, extending between the arms and the head. Similarly, in the space between each arm 39 and the depending head 36 is a peripherally-toothed frusto-conical mill cutter 4|, similarly journalled onapin',

4 to facilitate the cutting action and remove cuttings. Similarly, high-pressure drilling mud or other uid may flo-w from the chamber 56 through four small passages 51, respectively directed toward the upper portions of thecutters 40 and 4| to wash the cuttings therefrom and facilitate the cuttingaction thereof. l As inthe usual practice, such drilling :mud or other fluid rises in the well I0 around the drilling structure 30, as indicated ,by arrows 58, carrying the cuttings to the surface of the ground where the fluid and its associated cuttings discharge through a pipe 56v into not shown. The innermost. portions .of the two mill cutters 4| are preferably spaced a'distance substantially corresponding to the diameter of the central opening 31, as best shown in Fig. 4. As the bit 32 turns, the cutters 40, 4| rotate-Son their respective pins and revolve relative tothe central axis A-A of the bit, which axis vcoincides with the axisof the central opening 31. During rotation of the bit 32, the cutters 40 and 4| cut into the earth in an outer annular zone, the gage 'cutters Y40 deepening the bore in the outer portion of such zone and determining the well diameter, ywhile the mill cutters 4| cut into the earth in the inner portion of such outer annular zone and, in the @absence of other cutting elements, would leave lacore portion of a diameter substantially equal to thatrof the central opening 31..

WIn this embodiment of the invention, addition- `al core-cutting means is provided, comprising a core-cutting element 45 detachably extending 'into the central opening 31. The loweroend of thiscore-cutting element provides teeth 46 which terminate opposite or somewhat above or below `the lower portions of the cutters 4|), 4|. These teeth are disposed around a central passage l1 'of the core-cutting elementd and cut into the "earth in an inner Aannular zone within the previously mentioned outer annular zone to leave a centralcore portion 50 which extends upward in thecentralpassage 41.

The core-cutting element 45 is detachably connected tothe body in anyY suitable manner.. As shown, the lower end of the depending head 36 yprovides diametrically opposite-cavities 5|, and the core-cutting element carries arms 52 extending snugly therein and retained by pins-53. The upper end of thecore-cutting element 45 ,comprises a-neck 54 extending into the central .opening 3'|.. Y A

The. inner surface of this opening 31 preferably cooperates withfthe outer surface of theV neck .54.. vto provide a downwardly-directedv passage vmeans for jettingdrilling mud or other fluid at Ihigh velocity toward the bottom ofthe well, pref- .erablynear -the junction of theinner and outer .annular rzones, respectively penetrated byv the .teeth 46 and-by the cutters 40, 4|. In the prelBf) ferred construction,.the inner wall ofthe central opening 31 iscylindrical and engages snugly the" outerwall of theneck ,54. However, this v"outer .wall .provides longitudinal grooves around its.'periphery,..these lgrooves facing the wall of the v.centrallopening-.31and cooperating therewith in defining a plurality of passages 55, best shown in Fig. .4.4 .The upper ends of these passages communicate with achamber 56 of the bit so that the drilling mud v-cr other uid in this chamber hydraulic mining, lor by directing the cutting g..

fluid in the immediate vicinity of the teeth 4.6

a sump 60. y

lThe sub 34, forming the drive unit of this embodiment of the invention, provides an externally-threaded neck 6| threaded into a cavity 62 of the bit. AThe uppermost end of the sub 34 is suitably connected to the collar 3| or to some other element of the drill column I6. As shown, the upper end of the sub includes a threaded neck 63 :threadedly received by the collar 3|. In the present invention, the sub 34 is preferably formed as a massive tubular member relatively easy to fabricate and providing a longitudinal passage 64 through which mud or other fluidmay ow to the chamber 56 under high pressure.

The invention provides' a means for progressively disintegrating the central core portion 5I) at a position within the drilling structure 30, and preferably within the drive unit 33. The preferred embodiment of the present invention contemplates the *use of a structure for subjecting thecentralv core portion ,50 to bending stresses, e. g; by providingrr an axially curved core passage means along which the central core portion 50 is lmoved to 'break core sections from the central coreportion; A preferred structure of this type is'obest shown in Fig. 2. o v

.Referring particularly to Fig. 2, the central pas sage Y41 is counterbored to receive the lower end of a tubular member 65 traversing the chamber `56 and of an internal size slightly larger than the central core portion 50. In this respect, the central passage 414 may be stepped in size at an intermediate. position, as suggested in Fig. 2, and its lower end may be of slightly smaller diameter than the interior of the tubular member 65.

Telescoping with' the upper end of the tubular member 65 and coaxial with the axis A-A is a straight tubular member 61 cooperating with the Itubular member 65 to define acore-receiving passage 68 which is preferably somewhat larger in diameter than the'core portion 56. If desired, the lower end of the tubular member 61 may be slightly enlarged to receive the tubular member .65, as shown, it being` desirable toremploy a tele- '.scoping connectionbetween the 'tubular members65 and. 61. VThe junction between these members .can be .relatively snug4 or somewhat loose. AIn the latter event someof the drilling lmudl or other cutting fluidmay move from the chamber 56 between the telescoping members and `into the core-receiving passage 68.' Such drill- Ving mud or -other fluid reaches the chamber 56 `by flow Ythrough an annular fluid-conducting space 69 within the longitudinal passage 64 out- ;side the tubular member 61.

' `The drill collar or sub 34,v comprising the drive unit in 1 this embodiment, is usually relatively long, typically '7 ft. or more, whereby a relatively vlong section of the core portion 50 may be contained in the core-receiving passage 68.

. .The invention contemplates .the use of a novel l disintegrating Vmeans for disintegrating the core portion rising'above the upper' end ofthe tubufiar member 6111. It .contemplates also that the :upper lendof lthe tubular-member.61*shall be removably connected-to such disintegrating means 'so that the tubular member '61, with-its retained core portion, can ybe withdrawn from .the drill collar 314 and this ycore `portion subsequently lremoved from 'the tubular member.

Asbest shown in Figs. 2 and 3 lthe drive unit, here vshown as the drill collar or sub v34, provides an opening 1i! which extends 'from the longitudinal passage 64 to the exterior of the drill collar. 'In vthis opening is mounted a box-like exit unit 1 2 shown as comprising sidewallsf13 with a heavy bottom Wall 14 anda sloping or curved wall '15, extending therebetween'and-welded thereto. 'The curved wall 1:5 extends from'aposition above the rising core `portion 50 to a position within `the opening 10. The wallsof the exit unit 1,2 cooper'ate in den'ing a chamber 16 vhaving an -exit opening 11 shown as substantially rectangular -in shape and opening on the side of the drill collar or subtil. 'The box-'like eXit unit 12 maybe integral `with or suitably fixed to the drill colla:` or sub 34 randshould-not completely block the'longitudinal passage '64 so as to provide a passage means 'for downward fiow of the mud or cutting uid'to-the fluid-conducting `space 69. As shown, vthis exit unit is vseparately assembled and then welded in the opening 1l), as by being welded around'aperipheralportion 18.

The upper endV of the tubular member 61 is removably connected to the exit unit 12 as by being slidably extended into or threaded in an opening 8i) ofthe bottom wall 14. The threaded connection is illustrated and, to facilitate un- `screwing of the tubular member 61, its'lowe'r end provides notches 8| into which a suitable tool can To guide the tubular member 61 in its attachment and to substantially 'center it in the vlongitudinal passage 64, we prefer to use a spider-like guide shown as including upper .and lower sets of radial arms .t2 extending from the tubular member 51 y'into c'loseadjacency to the inner wall of the longitudinal .passage B4.

As the drilling structure .30 rotates, the bt32 will cut into the vearth in an `annular ,zone Vand the upstanding core portion 50 will rise in the core passage ,63, rusually while still .affixed to the earth. This core .portion will be stationary relative to the now-turning exit unit 1,2. However,

`if the core portion U has, for some reason, been l.core portion is rotating with the drive Iunit, forcing same .against the .cunvedfwall 15 willapply a lbending stress .in adirection toward the aexit opening 11. -Depending ipartiallyupon vthe `'char-- acter -of the :core portion 59,' this :disintegration will lbe vintofcore -particles Vof va size varying from minute subdivisions lof the'corep'ortion tosizable 'core sections. A11n drilling through hard -for-mations, sizable chunks forming the core sections are broken rfrom the'core portion'SlL usually along natural cleavage planes, one such core section being indicated'at 83. Such-core -sectionsforfparlticles vare formed, in the present invention, fin the relatively large chamber 18 and are discharged into the rising mud-stream through the relatively Ilarge exit opening 11, thus `minimizing vverosive action Suchaswould take place vif the core section l83 were lgraciually extruded .sidewise from' :the drill collar or sub Sli.

The core particles, whether they be small or 'in the form of core' sections, are carried upwardly to the surface of the ground `with the rising mud stream .and can 4be discharged through the pipe '58 onto a yscreen 85. Adhering mud can be washed therefrom 'by a spray 86. Such core sections give an accurate indication of the character of the formation being penetrated, theslope of this formation, 'and `much yother information apparent to a .skilled `geologist or paleontologist as to the age and oil-bearing possibilities of the strata being penetrated. n i

'One 'of the important features of the present invention yis Athat Ya residual core vportion remains lin the -core "passage @it when Athe bit -is raised -for inspection, repair or replacement. As pointedout in lthe vapplication supra,v vvarious means may be `used for severing the central corefiportion from the earth, vpreferably- -at Aa position adjacent `the bottom of the'vbore preparatory-to -removalof the bit from the well. Such severa-nce `can be effected by rstopping the circulation of drilling mud while continuing to rotate the bit rapidly, often With substantially 'increased 'cutting pressure applied to the bit. This"burns in the core portion, causing it'to 4wedge tightly inthe central passage 4'! of the bit and eau-sing severance from the earths strata. Thereafter, the residual core portion'can be raised to 'the surface of the ground with the bit.

n When vit is desired to remove this residual core portion from tne drilling 'structure 3D the bit 32 .is unscrewed from the drive'unit 33 and the-tubular member drawn from its telesco-ping relationship with the tubular member 61. A-suitable tool is inserted in the notches 8i and the entire tubular member 61 unscrewed 4from lthe opening im of the .bottom'wall 14; The residual core portion 'is thenforced from the tubular `member 61.

"Thel straightness of this tubular member facilitates :the removal of the core portion without breakage. In addition, lthis residual core portion .oanbe made substantially as Along as desired due to 'the 'fact that the tubular member 161 is not limited 'in 'length by lbends or .structural features.

"Various changes and .modiiications can be made vwithout departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.l

We claim as our invention:

1.4.App-arzatus for drilling into the earth with a .rotary bit providing means `for cutting into the earth in an annular Zone to leave a central vcore portion, said apparatus including: a drive unit .adapted to -be .de tacliably connected .to Asaid bit; vatubular core-receivingmember in'said drive unit .and providing a lowerend ladapted to receive said core portion as drilling `progresses and an upper .end .havingan .opening adapted to expel said c ore .said .tubular core-receiving member is straight and in whichsaidixed wall provides an opening of va size to receive .said `upper end of said corereeeining member, said `core-receiving member being Withdrawable .from the lower end of said drive unit when said bit is detached from Said drive unit and said core-receiving member is released byfsaid connecting means.

f3. r`Apparatus for drilling into the earth Within lawrence rotarybit providing means for cutting into the earth in an annular zone to leave a central core portion, said apparatus including: a drive unit providing means for detachably connecting same to said bit; a tubular core-receiving member in said drive unit and providing a lower end adapted to receive said core portion as drilling progresses and an upper end having an opening adapted to expel said core portion and having a threadedportion; and a box-like exit unit carried by said drive unit and providing an exit opening communicating with the exterior of said drive unit and providing an entrance opening threadedly receiving said threaded portion of said corereceiving member to permit unscrewing and lwithdrawal of said core-receiving member from rotary bit providing means for cutting into the earth in an annular zone to leave a central core portion, said apparatus including: a tubular drive unit for said bit, said drive unit including a longitudinal passage for conducting to said bit a cutting fluid; a box-like exit unit xed to said drive unit and extending inwardly into said longitudinal passage from one side of said tubular drive unit to leave a portion of said longitudinal passage open for conducting said cutting iiuid, said exit unit including a lower wall extending inward from said one side of said tubular drive unit; a tubular core-receiving member within said longitudinal passage to provide an annular space for vconducting said cutting fluid toward said bit, said core-receiving member providing a lower end adapted to receive said core portion as drilling progresses and providing an upper end from which said core portion is expelled; and means vfor detachably connecting said upper end to said lower wall with said upper end in open communication with the interior of said exit unit to discharge said core portion thereinto, said exit unit providing an exit opening for the material of said core portion, i

6. An apparatus as deiined in claim 5, in which said exit opening of said exit unit communicates with the exterior of said drive unit, and in which said exit unit includes an angled wall extending angularly from a position above said lowerwall to said exit opening tobe contacted by said core portion in a manner to disintegrate same and .produce core particles, said core particles being discharged from said exit opening.

'7. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, in which said drive unit includes a side opening communicating with the exterior of said drive unit and of larger size than said exit opening of said exit unit,

' and in which said box-like exit unit provides a first portion of a size to t in said side opening and a second portion extending into said longitudinal passage, said first portion of said exit unit being secured in said side opening as the exclusive support for said exit unit, said exit unit being secured in said side opening by being welded to` said drive unit adjacent the periphery of said side opening. Y

8. Apparatus for drilling into the earth with a rotary bit providing means-for cutting into the earth in an annular zoneto leave a central core portion; said apparatus including: a drive; unit providing'means for detachably connecting same to said bit, said drive unit includinga longitudinal passage and a sidewardly-facing exit opening; a relatively -massive wall :member secured to said drive unit and yextending substantially transversely of said longitudinal passage, Vsaid wall member incompletely blocking saidlongitudinal passage and providing walls bounding a passage means throughvwhich cutting fluid may iiow toward4 said bit; a tubular core-receiving member Vadapted for insertion into said longitudinal passage of saiddrive unit from its lower end to cooperate with said drive unit in providing a iiuidconducting space communicating with said passage means to conduct said cutting iiuid to said bit, said tubular core-receiving member providing av lower end adapted to receive said core portion asvdrilling progresses and an upper end providing an opening adapted to expel said core portion; interengaging means on the upper end of said core-receiving member and said massive Wall member for removably securing said core-receiving .member to said relatively massive wall member, said interengaging means being releasable by movement of said lower end. of said core-receiving member relative to said drive unit; and wall means providing a chamber` communicating between said opening of said upper end of said core-receiving member and said sidewardlyfacing exit opening of said drive unit to conduct the material of said core portion from the former to the latter.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, in which said relatively massive wall member provides an opening of sufcient size to receive said upper end of said tubular core-receiving member, and in which said interengaging means for removably securing said core-receiving member to said wall member includes means for connecting said upper end in iiuid-tight relationship with said kwall member at the junction ofv said upper end and said wall member.

10. Apparatus for drilling into the earth with a rotary bit providing means for cutting into the earth in an annular zone to leave a central core portion, said apparatus including: a drive unit including means for connecting same to said bit, said drive unit including a longitudinal passage and a sidewardly-facing exit opening extending from said longitudinal passage to the exterior of said drive unit; a tubular core-receiving member of a size to extend along said longitudinal passage and to cooperate with said drive unit in providing a duid-conducting space for conducting cutting uid to said bit, said tubular core-receiving member providing a lower end adapted to receive saidcore portion as drilling progresses and an upper end having an opening adapted to expel the material of said core portion; an exit unit secured to said drive unit and extending into said longitudinal passage from the .vicinity of saidl exit opening of said drive unit, said exit unit including walls dening a passage means for conducting said cutting uid past said exit unit to said fluidconducting space, said exit unit including an opening of a size to receive said tubular core-receiving member, said exit unit including a chamber extending sidewardly from said opening of Said upper end of said core-receiving member to said'sidewardly-facing exit opening of said drive unit to conduct the material of said core portion sidewardly from said drive unit; and means for removably securing said tubular core-receiving member to said exit unit with said upper end of said core-receiving member in said opening of said exit unit.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, in which said means for removably securing said tubular core-receiving member to said exit unit includes interengaging means on said core-receiving member and said exit unit and engageable when said core-receiving member is inserted into the lower end of said drive unit, said interengaging means being disengageable by movement of the lower end of said core-receiving member relative to said drive unit.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, in which said lower end of said tubular core-receiving member is positioned within the lowerend of said drive unit when said interengaging means are engaged, and in which said lower end of said tubular core-receiving member provides tool-receiving means facilitating disengagement of said interengaging means to release said core-receiving member with its contained core portion.

13. Apparatus for drilling into the earth with a rotary bit providing means for cutting into the earth in an annular zone to leave a central core portion, said apparatus including: a drive unit including means for detachably connecting same to said bit, said drive unit including a longitudinal passage and a sidewardly-facing exit opening; a tubular core-receiving member of a size to extend along said longitudinal passage and to cooperate with said drive unit in providing a uidconducting space for conducting cutting fluid to said bit, said tubular core-receiving member providing a lower end adapted to receive said core portion as drilling progresses and an upper end' having an opening adapted to expel the material of said core portion; and means for removably suspending said tubular core-receiving member in said longitudinal passage, said means including an exit unit secured to said drive unit and extending into said longitudinal passage from the vicinity of said exit opening of said drive unit, said exit unit including a relatively massive wall, said means including interengaging means on said relatively massive wall and said core-receiving member to be moved into engagement to suspend said core-receiving member in said longitudinal passage, said exit unit including a chamber extending from said opening of said upper end of said core-receiving member and sidewardly to said exit opening of said drive unit to conduct the material of said core portion sidewardly from said drive unit.

14. Apparatus for drilling into the earth with a rotary bit providing means for cutting into the earth in an vannular zone to leave a central core portion, said apparatus including: a tubular drive unit for said bit, said drive unit including a longitudinal passage for conducting to said bit a cutting fluid; a box-like exit unit carried by said drive unit and extending inwardly into said longitudinal passage from one side of said tubular drive unit to leave a portion of said longitudinal I passage open for conducting said cutting iiuid, said exit unit including a pair of side walls, a bottom wall extending between said side walls and a curved wall extending between said side walls to deiine a chamber having an exit opening communicating with the exterior of said drive unit, said curved wall curving upwardly and outwardly from said bottom wall to said exit opening; and a tubular core-receiving member within said longitudinal passage to provide an annular space for conducting said cutting iiuid toward said bit, said core-receiving member providing a lower end adapted to receive said core portion as drilling progresses and an upper end communicating with the interior of said exit unit to discharge said core portion thereinto.

15. An apparatus as dened in claim 5, including means for detachably connecting the upper end of said core-receiving member and said bottom Wall to permit removal of said core-receiving member from said drive unit while containing said core portion.

MANLEY L. NATLAND. HOWARD A. TAYLOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,644,947 Phipps Oct. 11, 1927 1,756,503 Baker Apr. 29, 1930 1,785,120 Harding Dec. 16, 1930 1,785,405 Candee et al Dec. 16, 1930 1,867,024 Oliver July 12, 1932 2,306,491 Noble etal Dec. 29, 1942

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