Retention device for drill pipe transmission line

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9850718-B2
Application number	US-201313961227-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 7, 2013
Priority date	Aug 7, 2013
Publication date	Dec 26, 2017
Grant date	Dec 26, 2017

Abstract

An apparatus for communicating a signal to or from a downhole tool includes a drill pipe configured to be rotated to drill a borehole, a tubular under axial tension and secured in the drill pipe, and a retention device secured to the tubular and configured to maintain the tubular under the axial tension. The retention device includes a portion extending from a body of the device in a direction that is non-inward-radial with respect to a longitudinal axis of the drill pipe. The apparatus further includes a transmission line disposed in the tubular and in an opening of the retention device and in communication with the downhole tool.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for communicating a signal to or from a downhole tool, the apparatus comprising:
a drill pipe configured to be rotated to drill a borehole;
a tubular under axial tension and secured in the drill pipe;
a retention device comprising a body and an arm extending from the body as one integral piece, the retention device being secured to the tubular and configured to maintain the tubular under the axial tension by having the arm configured to press directly against the drill pipe in order to maintain the tubular under the axial tension; and
a transmission line disposed in the tubular and in an opening of the retention device and in communication with the downhole tool;
wherein an outer diameter of the retention device and an outer diameter of the tubular are the same where the retention device meets the tubular.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a first dimension of the arm in a radial direction of the drill pipe is less than a second dimension of the arm in a circumferential direction of the drill pipe.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the retention device is T-shaped.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the arm is oval-shaped.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the arm is disposed in a cavity of the drill string, the cavity being form-fit to the arm.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the cavity is in a recess of a shoulder of the drill string, the recess being configured to accept a signal coupler configured to communicate signals with an adjacent signal coupler disposed in an adjacent drill pipe.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the retention device is secured to an end face of the drill pipe.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the tubular is disposed in a bore in the drill pipe.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the tubular is unsupported for a range of distances in between two ends of the drill pipe.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the axial tension occurs at least with the drill pipe not under axial tension.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the retention device comprises a first retention device secured to a first end of the tubular and a second retention device secured to a second end of the tubular.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission line is configured to communicate at least one of electrical signals, electromagnetic signals, and optical signals.

13. An apparatus for communicating a signal to or from a downhole tool, the apparatus comprising:
a drill pipe configured to be rotated to drill a borehole;
a tubular under axial tension and secured in the drill pipe;
a retention device comprising a body and an arm extending from the body as one integral piece, the retention device being secured to the tubular and configured to maintain the tubular under the axial tension by having the arm configured to press directly against the drill pipe in order to maintain the tubular under the axial tension; and
a transmission line disposed in the tubular and in an opening of the retention device and in communication with the downhole tool;
wherein the retention device is sealed to an end of the tubular by a butt weld.

14. An apparatus for communicating a signal to or from a downhole tool, the apparatus comprising:
a drill pipe configured to be rotated to drill a borehole;
a tubular under axial tension and secured in the drill pipe;
a retention device comprising a body and an arm extending from the body as one integral piece, the retention device being secured to the tubular and configured to maintain the tubular under the axial tension by having the arm configured to press directly against the drill pipe in order to maintain the tubular under the axial tension; and
a transmission line disposed in the tubular and in an opening of the retention device and in communication with the downhole tool;
wherein the retention device and the tubular do not overlap.

15. An apparatus for communicating a signal to or from a downhole tool, the apparatus comprising:
a drill pipe configured to be rotated to drill a borehole;
a tubular under axial tension and secured in the drill pipe;
a retention device comprising a body and an arm extending from the body as one integral piece, the retention device being secured to the tubular and configured to maintain the tubular under the axial tension by having the arm configured to press directly against the drill pipe in order to maintain the tubular under the axial tension; and
a transmission line disposed in the tubular and in an opening of the retention device and in communication with the downhole tool;
wherein the retention device comprises one or more slots at an end and an end of the tubular comprises one or more cooperative fingers configured to interlock with the one or more slots of the retention device.

16. An apparatus for communicating a signal to or from a downhole tool, the apparatus comprising:
a drill pipe configured to be rotated to drill a borehole;
a tubular under axial tension and secured in the drill pipe;
a retention device comprising a body and an arm extending from the body as one integral piece, the retention device being secured to the tubular and configured to maintain the tubular under the axial tension by having the arm configured to press directly against the drill pipe in order to maintain the tubular under the axial tension; and
a transmission line disposed in the tubular and in an opening of the retention device and in communication with the downhole tool;
wherein the tubular comprises a first outer diameter at an end face and a second outer diameter away from the end face, the second outer diameter being greater than the first outer diameter, and the opening in the retention device comprises an inner diameter configured to accept the first outer diameter of the tubular but not the second outer diameter.

Assignees

• Mueller Stephan
• Roders Ingo
• Buda Robert
• Schulz Rene
• Rahn Henning
• Benedict Detlev
• Baker Hughes A Ge Co Llc

Inventors

• Mueller Stephan
• Roders Ingo
• Buda Robert
• Schulz Rene
• Rahn Henning
• Benedict Detlev

Classifications

• E21B17/023

  Arrangements for connecting cables or wirelines to downhole devices · CPC title

• E21B17/003 Primary

  with electrically conducting or insulating means (E21B17/028 and E21B17/023 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B47/13

  by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency · CPC title

• E21B17/028

  Electrical or electro-magnetic connections · CPC title

• E21B47/12

  Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling · CPC title