Threadless Filling Pipe for Drill Pipe Fluid Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for filling drill pipes with drilling fluid are time-consuming and prone to spillage, requiring multiple personnel and complex operations due to differential pressure and incompatible thread dimensions, which hinder efficient drilling operations.
Innovation Solution
A threadless filling pipe with two main parts, an upper and lower sleeve, featuring intermediate seal surfaces and overpressure valves, allowing for efficient fluid transfer and adaptation to different drill pipe sections without the need for special sealing rings, utilizing metal-to-metal seals and a float mechanism to manage air displacement and prevent fluid leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a drill pipe crossover (X/O) is connected to the drill pipe and saver sub using threaded connections, then fluid can be supplied from above without spills, but the operation requires at least two persons and is time-consuming due to making up connections with predefined torque
Solution Approach 1:
The filling pipe is divided into two separate parts: an upper part with an upper seal surface and a lower part with a lower seal surface. These parts can be independently positioned and connected, allowing for faster assembly without requiring threaded connections. The upper part connects to the fluid delivery system while the lower part inserts into the drill pipe, enabling rapid deployment by a single person.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the threading function from the filling pipe design, eliminating the need for threaded connections (X/O) entirely. Instead, the filling pipe uses direct insertion with seal surfaces that rely on metal-to-metal contact and fluid pressure for sealing, removing the time-consuming torque application step while maintaining spill-free operation.
2Strength
If threading is used to connect the filling pipe to the drill pipe, then a secure connection is achieved, but the operation requires predefined torque and multiple personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The threading mechanism is completely removed from the filling pipe design. The connection is achieved through direct insertion of the lower filling pipe part into the drill pipe, with sealing provided by seal surfaces that engage under fluid pressure. This eliminates the need for torque tools and multiple personnel while maintaining connection integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing mechanism is self-actuating through fluid pressure. When drilling fluid is supplied through the filling pipe, the pressure differential automatically pushes the lower seal surface against the drill pipe's upper seal surface, creating a secure seal without requiring external torque application or manual tightening operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the saver sub dimensions are made compatible with all drill pipe sections, then universal application is achieved, but the complexity of the saver sub increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filling pipe is segmented into upper and lower parts with different dimensional characteristics. The upper part maintains compatibility with the saver sub's fluid delivery system, while the lower part is designed to fit various drill pipe sections. This segmentation allows the filling pipe itself to provide adaptability rather than requiring the saver sub to accommodate all variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The filling pipe acts as an intermediary component between the saver sub and the drill pipe. It translates the saver sub's fixed dimensions into compatibility with various drill pipe sections through its own dimensional design, particularly the lower part's fit with different drill pipe openings, thereby providing versatility without modifying the saver sub.
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
The solution significantly reduces operational time and spillage, enabling efficient and flexible fluid filling during drill pipe extension, allowing for single-person operation and seamless adaptation to varying drill pipe dimensions, thereby enhancing drilling efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
the filling pipe's seal towards the fluid delivery system, respectively towards the top of the drill pipe is produced by the weight of the overlying fluid delivery system towards the filling pipe's circular upper and lower seal surfaces
Implementation Method 2
a connected float arranged to be switched between closing position when in contact with drilling fluid, and a deaeration—open position in contact with occurring air released from down inside the drill pipe
Implementation Method 3
one or more bleeding channels through the filling pipe's wall parts and which each comprises an overpressure valve which opens for flow outwards at a given fluid overpressure
Data Source
AI summary
It is discussed a method for drilling a well through a formation from a drilling installation, for the recovery of fluids, where a drill pipe (30) made up of a number of drill pipe sections is lead down into the formation and is supplied with liquid fluid from a fluid delivery system before one or more new drill pipe sections connected to the installations drill floor successively is screwed onto the upper end of the drill pipe (30), where a filling pipe (110) formed with a downwardly extending pipe spigot (17) that is lead down into the opening of the drill pipe section during assembly to start the fluid filling. The method is characterized by that it is used a threadless filling pipe (110) with two main parts defined by an complex upper sleeve (50) and a lower sleeve (52), and that includes mutual intermediate seal surfaces (47,49), and the filling pipe's (110) seal towards the outlet of the fluid delivery system (20), respectively towards the top part (31) of the drill pipe (30) is produced by the weight of the overlying fluid delivery system (20) towards the filling pipe's (10) circular upper and lower seal surfaces (12, 14; 16, 18). It is also discussed a new construction of a filling pipe (110), and the application of the method and the filling pipe.