Reverse-Circulation Drilling Assembly Latch Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing reverse-circulation drilling assemblies face performance issues and safety concerns due to reliance on fluid pressure for deployment and retrieval, making it difficult for operators to track the location of the head assembly within a borehole and ensuring safe drilling conditions.

Innovation Solution

A reverse-circulation drilling assembly with an overshot subassembly and a head subassembly that includes a latch assembly, valve assembly, and check valve, allowing for axial movement and fluid flow control, enabling precise deployment and retrieval using pressurized fluid, and featuring a latch retracting case that moves between retracted and deployed positions to engage the drill string.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If fluid pressure is used to deploy and retrieve the drilling assembly, then the deployment and retrieval operations can be performed, but the location of the head assembly cannot be closely tracked and unsafe drilling conditions occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment and retrieval operationVSAvoidlocation tracking of head assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a feedback mechanism where the system provides information about the state and location of the drilling assembly during deployment and retrieval operations. This allows operators to track the head assembly location and respond appropriately, eliminating the information loss problem while maintaining operational productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary signaling system that communicates the position and status of the drilling assembly between the deployment/retrieval mechanism and the operators. This intermediary provides real-time information about head assembly location, enabling safe monitoring without interfering with the fluid pressure-driven operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If fluid pressure is used to deploy the latching mechanism, then the latching operation can be performed, but it becomes impossible to track when the head assembly is in a latched condition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelatching mechanism deploymentVSAvoidlatched condition status

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback signaling that communicates the latched condition status to operators. When the latching mechanism is deployed using fluid pressure, the system simultaneously provides information about whether the latching is complete and successful, eliminating the information loss about latched condition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces or supplements the purely mechanical latching indication with a signaling system that can communicate status information. This substitution allows operators to know when latching is complete without compromising the ease of fluid pressure-driven latching operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If existing reverse-circulation drilling assemblies are used, then drilling operations can be performed, but poor performance and unsafe drilling conditions occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling operationVSAvoiddrilling assembly performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the drilling assembly into distinct functional segments with independent control mechanisms. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, improving overall reliability while maintaining drilling productivity. The modular design enables better tracking and control of each segment's status and position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic control capabilities that allow the drilling assembly to adapt its operation based on real-time conditions. This includes dynamic monitoring and adjustment of deployment, retrieval, and latching operations, improving reliability by responding to changing conditions while maintaining efficient drilling productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances the safety and efficiency of drilling operations by allowing precise tracking and control of the drilling assembly within the borehole, improving performance and reducing unsafe conditions through controlled fluid flow and axial movement mechanisms.

Implementation Method 1

the check valve assembly is biased to the closed position and configured to move from the closed position to the open position in response to a pressure differential

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

Reverse circulation drilling operations rely on fluid pressure to deploy and retrieve a drilling assembly within a borehole

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid pressure: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS11578552B2Reverse-circulation drilling assemblies and methods of using same

Publication Date: 2023.02.14 BOART LONGYEAR MANUFACTURING & DISTRIBUTION INC

AI summary

A reverse-circulation drilling assembly having an overshot subassembly and a head subassembly. In the event retrieval of the drilling assembly by reverse-circulation fails, the drilling assembly can be retrieved using a secondary overshot.