Self-assembling segmented coiled tubing
| DWPI Title: Self-assembling segmented coiled tubing apparatus for use in drill string tubular system for e.g. oil and gas drilling applications, has spherical joint unit for providing restoring force that pulls pipe segments in contact with one another |
| Abstract: Self-assembling segmented coiled tubing is a concept that allows the strength of thick-wall rigid pipe, and the flexibility of thin-wall tubing, to be realized in a single design. The primary use is for a drillstring tubular, but it has potential for other applications requiring transmission of mechanical loads (forces and torques) through an initially coiled tubular. The concept uses a spring-loaded spherical ‘ball-and-socket’ type joint to interconnect two or more short, rigid segments of pipe. Use of an optional snap ring allows the joint to be permanently made, in a ‘self-assembling’ manner. |
| Use: Self-assembling segmented coiled tubing apparatus for use in a drill string tubular system for oil and gas drilling applications, water well drilling applications and geothermal drilling applications. Can also be used for conveying large mechanical loads e.g. forces and torques. |
| Advantage: The apparatus enhances strength of a thick-wall rigid pipe and flexibility of a thin-wall pipe with a single design structure. The spherical joint unit can be activated to allow rotation of individual pipe segments relative to one another, thus allowing the individual pipe segments to circumscribe periphery of a mounting spool in piece-wise smooth fashion. The apparatus allows a snap ring to ensure that mated components do not slip relative to one another during torque transmission by maintaining desired levels of axial thrust generated by inclined surfaces of interlocking mating surfaces that transmit the torque, while eliminating bending operation during unwinding as the tubing can be self-assembled as a rigid pipe. |
| Novelty: The apparatus has a spring-loaded spherical joint unit (24) for providing restoring force that pulls first and second rigid pipe segments (10, 12) in contact with one another and back together after being separated. The joint unit comprises a connecting link (14) in the first segment, where an end of the link includes a spherical hollow ball (16). A coil spring (13) is placed around the link and in the first segment. A socket (18) comprises an internal semi-spherical cavity for holding the ball, where the ball pivots within the socket without a rocker cam between the ball and the socket. |
| Filed: 2/16/2009 |
| Application Number: US2009371696A |
| Tech ID: SD 10962.1 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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