Displaceable plug in a tool string filter

Oil and gas well drilling operations typically require drilling mud to be circulated throughout the system. As drilling mud is recirculated during downhole drilling operations, debris from earth formations, drill bit cuttings, shavings, and other abrasive articles may damage sensitive downhole equipment. Filters used to collect the debris are known in the art. Often these filters are placed in an uppermost drill pipe of a drill string. As new pipe is added to the drill string, the filter is removed, dumped out and cleaned, hoisted to the top of the derrick, and placed into the newly attached uppermost pipe in the drill string.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,165,633 to Hall et al., which is herein incorporated by reference for all that it contains, discloses a drilling fluid filter for placement within a bore of a tubular drill string component. The drilling fluid filter includes a perforated receptacle with an open end and a closed end. A hanger for engagement with the wall is mounted at the open end of the perforated receptacle. A mandrel is adjacent and attached to the open end of the perforated receptacle. A linkage connects the mandrel to the hanger. The linkage may be selected from the group consisting of struts, articulated struts and cams. The mandrel operates on the hanger through the linkage to engage and disengage the drilling fluid filter from the tubular drill string component. The mandrel may have a stationary portion having a first attachment to the open end of the perforated receptacle and a telescoping adjustable portion having a second attachment to the linkage. The mandrel may also have a top-hole interface for top-hole equipment.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,275,594 to Hall et al., which is herein incorporated by reference for all that it contains, discloses a tool string stab guide for axially aligning first tool string components with second tool string components. The stab guide has a body with an axial length along a longitudinal axis with a first and a second section. The first section of the body is adapted for removable attachment within a bore of a tool string component. The second section of the body has a centering element with a flow channel. The ratio of the axial length to the diameter is at least 2:1.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,303,029 to Hall et al., which is herein incorporated by reference for all it contains, discloses a filter for a drill string comprising a perforated receptacle having an open end, a perforated end, a first mounting surface adjacent to the open end and a second mounting surfaces adjacent to the open end. A transmission element is disposed within each of the first mounting surface and the second mounting surface. A capacitor may modify electrical characteristics of an LC circuit that are a part of the transmission elements. The respective transmission elements are in communication with each other and with a transmission network integrated into the drill string. The transmission elements may be inductive couplers, direct electrical contacts, or optical couplers. In some embodiments, the filter includes an electronic component. The electronic component may be selected from the group consisting of a sensor, a router, a power source, a clock source, a repeater, and an amplifier.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,976,546 to Herst, which is herein incorporated by reference for all that it contains, discloses a filter system for filtering drill bit cuttings, shavings, and other abrasive articles from a drilling mud that is passed through an oil or gas well drilling system that includes an overhead drilling system, a drill string connected to the overhead drilling system, and a mud filter for filtering the drilling mud, wherein the mud filter is disposed within a drilling mud fluid passage that extends from the entry point of the drilling mud into the overhead drilling system and the entry point of the drilling mud into the drill string.

A filter for a drill string includes a perforated receptacle having an upper end and a lower end. The upper end of the filter has a drilling mud intake, and the lower end of the filter has an opening. A displaceable plug is seated on the opening at the lower end.

The displaceable plug may be a ball, a disc, or a seal. The displaceable plug may have a stopper proximate the lower end. A first end of a shaft may be attached to the stopper, while a second end of the shaft may extend towards the upper end of the filter. The second end of the shaft may be attached to a spider. The displaceable plug may seat within the lower end of the perforated receptacle or on an exterior of the lower end of the perforated receptacle. The displaceable plug may be threadably attached to the lower end of the perforated receptacle. The displaceable plug may include pins receivable within grooves. The pins may be utilized to seat the displaceable plug.

The perforated receptacle may have a substantially conical shape. The perforated receptacle may include at least one rod and a coil circumferentially disposed around the at least one rod. The perforated receptacle may have perforations that are shaped as circles, squares, ovals, rectangles or other shapes. The perforated receptacle may be disposed within a saver sub or swivel. The lower end of the perforated receptacle may have a detachable part. A structure having bristles may be disposed within the filter.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional diagram of an well bore illustrating an embodiment of a downhole drill string.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional diagram of a drill pipe illustrating an embodiment of a filter.

FIG. 3 a is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of a filter for a drill string.

FIG. 3 b is a top-view diagram of an embodiment of a filter for a drill string.

FIG. 4 a is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a filter for a drill string.

FIG. 4 b is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a filter for a drill string.

FIG. 5 a is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a filter for a drill string.

FIG. 5 b is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a filter for a drill string.

FIG. 6 a is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a filter for a drill string.

FIG. 6 b is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a filter for a drill string.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional diagram of a drill string component illustrating an embodiment of a filter.

Referring now to FIG. 1 , a drill string 101 may be suspended by a derrick 102 . The drill string 101 may comprise one or more downhole components 100 , linked together in a the drill string 101 . The drill string 101 may be in communication with an uphole assembly 103 . The uphole assembly 103 may have a kelly drive or a top-drive. The drill string 101 may include a saver sub 104 . An upper end 106 of the saver sub 104 may be attached to the uphole assembly 103 . A lower end 105 of the saver sub 104 may attach to the drill string 101 . As the drill string 101 advances into the earth 110 additional downhole components 100 may be added to the drill string 101 at the lower end 105 of the saver sub 104 .

FIG. 2 is a diagram depicting an embodiment of a drill string filter 200 disposed within the saver sub 104 of FIG. 1 . The saver sub 104 may be placed intermediate the uphole assembly 103 and the drill string 101 . The saver sub 104 may also be utilized as a break joint for adding new downhole components 100 as the drill string 101 advances farther into the earth 110 . The saver sub 104 may remain in communication with the uphole assembly 103 while new pipe is being added to the drill string 101 .

FIG. 3 a is a diagram depicting an embodiment of a drill string filter 200 A suitable for use in the drill string 101 . The filter 200 A may have a perforated receptacle 310 A and a displaceable plug 301 A. The displaceable plug 301 A may have a stopper 302 A, a shaft 303 A, a spider 304 A, and a through-hole 308 A. When the displaceable plug 301 A is seated, the stopper 302 A may obstruct a port 306 A in a lower end 315 A of the filter 200 A. A first end 320 A of the shaft 303 A may be attached to the stopper 302 A. A second end 325 A of the shaft 303 may extend towards an upper end 330 A of the filter 200 A. The second end 325 A of the shaft 303 A may be attached to or pass through a spider 304 A. The spider 304 A may have at least one bar 309 A running perpendicular to the shaft 303 A. In the embodiment of FIG. 3 a , the spider 304 A is adapted to seat on a drilling mud intake 307 A.

During drilling operations the filter 200 A may be disposed within the saver sub 104 . The saver sub 104 may be attached to the uphole assembly 103 . In some embodiments the filter 200 A may be disposed within the uphole assembly 103 . The uphole assembly 103 feeds drilling mud into the drill string 101 through the saver sub 104 and the filter 200 A. The filter 200 A serves the purpose of removing larger particles and debris from the drilling mud. The process of filtration may lead to a build up of particles and debris within the filter 200 A. The removal of these particles and debris often occurs when new downhole components 100 are added to the drill string 101 . Present embodiments of the filter 200 A may be cleaned without requiring the physical removal of the filter 200 A from the drill string 101 . The filter 200 A may be cleaned by inserting a rod into the lower end 315 A of the filter 200 A and displacing the displaceable plug 301 A, allowing the buildup of particles and debris to flow around the displaceable plug 301 A and out of the filter 200 A.

By allowing the filter 200 A to be cleaned from the lower end 315 A, several benefits may be gained. Firstly, in many of the present embodiments of filters that are used in the oil industry, when a filter needs cleaning it must be removed from a drill string at the bottom of a derrick and then hoisted up to the top of the derrick to be inserted into the new uppermost pipe. This hoisting action creates potential for injury to the workers below the derrick as the filter is handled in the air above them.

A second benefit that may be gained is that of non-interference with certain downhole telemetry systems such the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,670,880 to Hall, which is herein incorporated by reference for all that it discloses. Present embodiments of many drill string filters have been found to interfere with the communication signals transmitted through certain drill string telemetry systems.

Third, Embodiments of the present invention may save time because the filter does not need to be removed, but may simply be emptied while still in the top hole equipment of the drill rig. This may save considerable expense, as the time required to remove and reinstall a filter is expensive.

The through-hole 308 A on top of the spider 304 A provides an attachment point to completely remove the displaceable plug 301 A from the filter 200 A if that should ever become necessary. If the filter 200 A was disposed within the saver sub 104 then the saver sub 104 may have to be detached from the uphole assembly 103 to access the through-hole 308 A. If the filter 200 A was disposed within the uphole assembly 103 then the uphole assembly 103 may have to be disassembled to allow access to the through-hole 308 A.

FIG. 3 b depicts a top view of the embodiment of the filter shown in FIG. 3 a . The spider 304 A is shown seated upon the drilling mud intake 307 A. The spider 304 A may exert a downward force onto the rest of the displaceable plug 301 A when drilling fluid is being pumped into the filter 200 A. This downward force may act to further seat the displaceable plug 301 A.

FIG. 4 a is a depiction of another embodiment of a drill string filter 200 B. In this embodiment the filter 200 B has a displaceable plug 301 B in the form of a ball 401 . The ball 401 is sized such that it lodges in a port 306 B at a lower end 315 B of the filter 200 B. The filter 200 B in this embodiment would also be cleaned by using a stick or pole to displace the ball 401 and allow the particles and debris to flow out.

FIG. 4 b is a depiction of another embodiment of a drill string filter 200 C. In this embodiment the filter 200 C has a displaceable plug 301 C. The displaceable plug 301 C may comprise a stopper 302 C, a spider 304 C, and a shaft 303 C having a through-hole 308 C. The shaft 303 C may have a set of bristles 402 extending perpendicularly outward towards an inner filter wall 405 . The bristles 402 may provide additional filtering ability. The filter 200 C in the embodiment would also be cleaned by using a stick or pole to displace the displaceable plug 301 C and allow the particles and debris to flow out. Additional fluid may be required to run through the filter 200 C during cleaning to remove the particles and debris from the bristles 402 C.

FIG. 5 a is a depiction of another embodiment of a filter 200 D wherein a perforated receptacle 310 D has perforations 501 in the shape of a square. The perforations 501 may be shaped in a variety of ways including but not limited to: square, circular, oval, slit, polygonal, or triangular. This embodiment would allow for use of any of the displaceable plugs that have previously been discussed.

FIG. 5 b is a depiction of another embodiment of a filter 200 E. In this embodiment, the perforations are gaps 505 between wires 502 which have been wrapped around a set of supporting rods 503 . This embodiment would allow for use of any of the displaceable plugs that have previously been discussed.

FIG. 6 a is a depiction of another embodiment of a filter 200 F. In this embodiment, the filter 200 F has a displaceable plug 301 F. The displaceable plug 301 F seats on an exterior of the lower end 315 F of a perforated receptacle 310 F. The displaceable plug 301 F may seat on the perforated receptacle 310 F through a thread form connection 601 or through a pin and groove connection (not shown). The displaceable plug 301 F may have a seal 602 . The seal 602 may aid in keeping debris within the filter 200 F during operation. In this embodiment the filter would be cleaned by removing the displaceable plug 301 F from an exterior of the perforated receptacle 310 F. This embodiment may have the added benefit of allowing for the complete removal of the displaceable plug 301 F from the filter 200 F. The complete removal of the displaceable plug 301 F may allow for more space for the particles and debris to exit the filter 200 F.

FIG. 6 b is a depiction of another embodiment of a filter 200 G. In this embodiment the filter 200 G comprises a displaceable plug 301 G and a perforated receptacle 310 G. The lower end 315 G of the perforated receptacle 310 G has a detachable part in the form of a keeper nut 603 G. The displaceable plug 301 G seats within the lower end 315 G of the perforated receptacle 310 G on the keeper nut 603 . The keeper nut 603 may seat on an exterior of the lower end 315 G of the perforated receptacle 310 G. The keeper nut 603 may be in communication with the perforated receptacle 310 G through a threadform 605 or through a pin and groove connection (not shown). This embodiment may have the added benefit of providing for a larger port 306 G in the lower end 315 G of the perforated receptacle 310 G. If the opening provided by displacing the displaceable plug 301 G did not allow adequate room for the expulsion of debris and particles then the keeper nut could be removed to increase the size of the port 306 G.

FIG. 7 is a depiction of another embodiment of a filter 200 H. In this embodiment, the filter 200 H is disposed within a saver sub 104 H. The filter 200 H has a displaceable plug 301 H. The displaceable plug 301 H may have a stopper 302 H, a spider 304 H, and a shaft 303 H having a through-hole 308 H. An upper end 705 of the shaft 303 H may extend above a drilling mud intake 307 H. A spider 304 H may be attached to the upper end 705 of the shaft 303 H. The spider 304 H may have catches 701 that interface with receivers 702 within the saver sub 104 H. A lower end 703 of the shaft 303 H may extend beyond the stopper 302 H into a space below the filter 200 H. The lower end 703 of the shaft 303 H may function as a handle when cleaning the filter 200 H.

Whereas the present invention has been described in particular relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the scope and spirit of the present invention.