Wedge Brake Device for Drill String Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
During drilling operations, especially in horizontal or upwardly oriented boreholes, there is a risk of the inner tube assembly being expelled from the borehole at high velocity, posing hazards to equipment and personnel, and conventional methods require complete withdrawal of the drill string for borehole surveys, significantly reducing drilling efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A brake device is introduced that engages the inner surface of the drill string or borehole, featuring a driving member with wedge surfaces and a biasing member to radially lock the device against the inner surface, preventing undesired movement and allowing for in-situ borehole surveys without removing the drill string.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the inner tube assembly is pumped into place using hydraulic pressure in horizontal or upwardly oriented boreholes, then the core sample retrieval time is reduced, but the risk of the inner tube assembly falling out and being expelled at high velocity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The brake device is activated before the inner tube assembly can fall out and be expelled. The biasing member预先 positions the braking elements against the inner surface of the drill string, creating a restraining force that counteracts the potential high velocity expulsion hazard before it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake device acts as an intermediary safety mechanism between the inner tube assembly and the hazardous expulsion. The braking elements provide a mediating restraining force that prevents the direct harmful interaction between gravity/pressure and the inner tube assembly, eliminating the high velocity expulsion hazard while maintaining the efficient wireline retrieval method.
2Measurement precision
If the entire drill string is withdrawn from the borehole for borehole surveys, then measurements can be obtained, but drilling operations are significantly interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The brake device extracts the drill string from the survey process. Instead of requiring the entire drill string to be withdrawn for measurements, the brake device allows the drill string to remain in place while enabling survey operations through the brake mechanism, thus maintaining drilling operation continuity while obtaining necessary measurements.
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 brake device effectively prevents the expulsion of drilling components from the borehole, enhancing safety and enabling continuous drilling operations by allowing for measurements to be taken without withdrawing the drill string, thus improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The brake retainer has a biasing member that is operatively coupled to the driving member. The biasing member is configured to bias the driving member in a proximal direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the drill string
Implementation Method 2
The plurality of wedge surfaces of the driving member are configured to drive the plurality of braking elements radially outwardly into corresponding radial openings of the brake retainer to engage the inner surface of the drill string
Implementation Method 3
The plurality of braking elements are positioned in contact with at least a portion of the outer surface of the driving member... to engage the inner surface of the drill string
Data Source
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AI summary
A brake device for engaging an inner surface of a drill string within a borehole. The brake device has a driving member that defines a plurality of wedge surfaces, a brake retainer that receives at least a portion of the driving member, and a plurality of braking elements positioned in contact with at least a portion of the outer surface of the driving member. The brake retainer has a biasing member that is operatively coupled to the driving member. The biasing member of the brake retainer biases the driving member in a proximal direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the drill string to position the wedge surfaces in contact with corresponding braking elements, and the wedge surfaces drive the braking elements radially outwardly to engage the inner surface of the drill string. The brake device is not coupled to an inner tube assembly.