Wellbore percussion adapter and tubular connection

{
  "publication_number": "US2011031020A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Wellbore percussion adapter and tubular connection",
  "abstract": "A percussion adapter that is driven to generate a percussive axial motion on a wellbore structure. One percussion adapter includes a drive connection to mechanically convert rotational drive to axially directed percussive motion. Another percussion adapter employs a valve that creates back pressure causing axially directed percussive motion. A wellbore tubular connection is also disclosed that transitions torque to resist back off when left hand or right hand torque is applied.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method for accelerating the drilling penetration of a rotary driven drill bit, the method comprising: providing a positive displacement motor including a motor housing, a fluid discharge and a rotor powered by fluid pressure; providing a drill bit; providing a drilling accelerator including a housing and a drive connection to mechanically convert rotational drive to axially directed percussive motion; connecting the drilling accelerator below the motor including connecting the housing to move with the motor housing, connecting the drive connection to be driven rotationally by the rotor and bringing the fluid passage into communication with the fluid discharge; connecting the drill bit below the drilling accelerator with the drive connection in drive communication with the drill bit; pumping fluid through the motor to drive the rotor and the drive connection to rotate and to generate axial percussive motion which is communicated from the drive connection to the drill bit and; discharging fluid from the fluid discharge to pass through the drilling accelerator and the drill bit. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the drive connection mechanically converts rotational drive by use of a gear assembly. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the drive connection mechanically converts rotational drive by use of a cam assembly. 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising stopping the generation of axial percussive motion by eliminating weight on bit. 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising rotating the drill bit by rotation of a drill string to which the drilling accelerator is connected. 6. The method of claim 1 further comprising rotating the drill bit by conveying rotational drive through the drive connection to the drill bit. 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the axial percussive motion is generated by a hammering effect of one part of drive shaft of the drive connection dropping down on another part of a drive shaft of the drive connection. 8. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a threaded connection to accommodate left hand torque in the housing, the threaded connection including a collar including an upwardly facing box formed to accept a right hand thread form and a downwardly facing box formed to accept a left hand thread form. 9. A drilling accelerator comprising: a housing including an upper end and a lower end; a drive connection including an upper axially rotatable drive shaft for receiving an input of rotational motion, a rotational to axial mechanical drive converter in communication with the upper axially rotatable drive shaft for converting the input of rotational motion to an axial sliding motion; a lower longitudinally moveable drive shaft in communication with the rotational to axial mechanical drive converter to receive the axial sliding motion from the rotational to axial mechanical drive converter and a lower drill bit installation site connected to the lower longitudinally moveable drive shaft for receiving the axial sliding motion and capable of conveying axial percussive motion there through, the lower drill bit installation site telescopically mounted adjacent the lower end of the housing and slidably moveable relative thereto. 10. The drilling accelerator of claim 9 wherein the lower longitudinally moveable drive shaft includes a drill bit box sub. 11. The drilling accelerator of claim 9 wherein the lower drill bit installation site is a drill bit box. 12. The drilling accelerator of claim 9 wherein the lower drill bit installation site is connected for rotational movement with the housing. 13. The drilling accelerator of claim 9 wherein the lower drill bit installation site is connected for rotational movement with the upper axially rotatable drive shaft. 14. The drilling accelerator of claim 9 wherein the rotational to axial mechanical drive converter includes a gear assembly driving an eccentric member. 15. The drilling accelerator of claim 14 wherein the gear assembly includes gears to convey rotational motion to the lower drill bit installation site. 16. The drilling accelerator of claim 9 wherein the rotational to axial mechanical drive converter includes a cam assembly. 17. The drilling accelerator of claim 16 wherein the cam assembly is in operable except when the lower longitudinally moveable drive shaft is driven upwardly into the housing by weight on bit. 18. The drilling accelerator of claim 16 wherein the cam assembly includes cam surfaces that separate out of operational contact when the drilling accelerator is not positioned with weight on bit. 19. The drilling accelerator of claim 16 wherein upper axially rotatable drive shaft is secured to move axially with the housing and the cam assembly includes an upper cam surface on the housing and a lower cam surface on the lower longitudinally moveable drive shaft and the upper cam surface of the housing is driven by the lower cam surface to lift the housing and the upper axially rotatable drive shaft and drop the upper axially rotatable drive shaft onto the lower longitudinally moveable drive shaft to create the axial percussive motion. 20. The drilling accelerator of claim 9 wherein the upper axially rotatable drive shaft and the lower longitudinally moveable drive shaft are connected by a telescoping connection such that the lower longitudinally moveable drive shaft can slide axially relative to the upper axially rotatable drive shaft. 21. The drilling accelerator of claim 20 wherein the telescoping connection is configured to convey rotational drive therethrough. 22. The drilling accelerator of claim 9 the housing includes a threaded connection connecting a first tubular section of the housing and a second tubular section of the housing, the first tubular section including a first threaded pin end with a right hand thread form and a protrusion extending from its pin end face to create a stepped area thereon, the second tubular section of the housing including a second threaded pin end with a left hand thread form and a recess on its pin end face forming a shoulder sized to accept the stepped area of the first pin end seated thereagainst, and the threaded connection including a collar having a first threaded box with a first selected thread form selected to threadedly engage the right hand thread form of the first threaded pin end and a second threaded box with a second thread form selected to threadedly engage the left hand thread form of the second threaded pin end. 23. The drilling accelerator of claim 9 further comprising a positive displacement motor including a stator housing and a rotor within the stator housing, the housing connected at its upper end below and for movement with the stator housing of the positive displacement motor and the rotor providing the input of rotational motion to the drive connection and a drill bit connected below the lower drill bit installation site. 24. A wellbore string tubular connection comprising: a first tubular including a first threaded pin end with a right hand thread form and a protrusion extending from its pin end face to create a stepped region thereon, a second tubular including a second threaded pin end with a left hand thread form and a recess on its pin end face forming a shoulder sized to accept the stepped region of the first pin end seated thereagainst, and a collar including a first threaded box with a first selected thread form selected to threadedly engage the right hand thread form of the first threaded pin end and a second threaded box with a second thread form selected to threadedly engage the left hand thread form of the second threaded pin end. 25. The wellbore string tubular connection of claim 24 wherein the first tubular and the second tubular 388 are housing sections of a mud motor-containing down hole assembly. 26. The wellbore string tubular connection of claim 24 wherein the protrusion includes a left hand facing stepped region and a right hand facing stepped region and the recess includes a right hand facing shoulder and a left hand facing shoulder forming a gap therebetween sized to accept the protrusion. 27. The wellbore string tubular connection of claim 24 wherein the stepped region extends along a line substantially aligned with the first tubular's long axis. 28. The wellbore string tubular connection of claim 24 wherein the stepped region creates a tooth extending out from the first tubular pin end face and the recess forms a gap in the second tubular pin end face and wherein the tooth is sized to fit closely into the gap. 29. The wellbore string tubular connection of claim 24 wherein the first tubular includes a plurality of protrusions and the second tubular includes a plurality of recesses and the plurality of protrusions of the first tubular, the plurality of recesses of the second tubular being selected to mesh together when the first and the second tubulars are brought into pin-end to pin end contact to resist relative rotation between the first tubular and the second tubular about their long axis. 30. The wellbore string tubular connection of claim 24 wherein the stepped region includes a face formed to extend substantially along a radial line extending out from a center axis of the first tubular. 31. The wellbore string tubular connection of claim 24 wherein gaps are provided in the connection to provide for lateral flex. 32. A method for making up a wellbore connection, the method comprising: providing a first wellbore tubular with a threaded pin end and an tooth extending from a pin end face thereof, a second tubular with a threaded pin end and recess in a pin end face thereof, the recess sized to accept the tooth of the first wellbore tubular and a collar including a first threaded box end and an opposite threaded box end; aligning the first wellbore tubular and the second wellbore tubular to be threaded into the box ends of the collar and with the tooth aligned with the recess and rotating the collar about its long axis to engage the threaded pin ends of the first wellbore tubular and the second wellbore tubular and draw the threaded pin ends into the collar. 33. The method of claim 32 wherein the threaded pin end of the first tubular includes a right hand thread form and the first threaded box end of the collar includes a thread form to accept the right hand thread form and the method further comprises, positioning the wellbore connection with the first tubular on the uphole end. 34. A method for applying an axially directed percussive force to a wellbore structure, the method comprising: running into a wellbore with a string including (i) a positive displacement motor including a motor housing, a fluid discharge and a rotor powered by fluid pressure; (ii) a percussion adapter including a housing and a drive connection to mechanically convert rotational drive to axially directed percussive motion; and (iii) a wellbore structure, the percussion adapter being connected below the motor such that the housing moves with the motor housing, the drive connection is driven rotationally by the rotor and the fluid passage is in communication with the fluid discharge and the wellbore structure being connected below the percussion adapter with the drive connection in drive communication with the wellbore structure; pumping fluid through the motor to drive the rotor and the drive connection to rotate and to generate axial percussive motion which is communicated from the drive connection to the wellbore structure and; discharging fluid from the fluid discharge to pass through the percussion adapter toward the wellbore structure. 35. The method of claim 34 wherein the drive connection mechanically converts rotational drive by use of a gear assembly. 36. The method of claim 34 wherein the drive connection mechanically converts rotational drive by use of a cam assembly. 37. The method of claim 34 further comprising stopping the generation of axial percussive motion by lifting the string assembly such that the percussion adapter is placed in tension. 38. The method of claim 34 further comprising rotating the wellbore structure by rotation of the string. 39. The method of claim 34 further comprising rotating the wellbore structure by conveying rotational drive through the drive connection to the wellbore structure. 40. The method of claim 34 wherein the axial percussive motion is generated by a hammering effect of one part of a drive shaft of the drive connection dropping down on another part of a drive shaft of the drive connection. 41. The method of claim 34 further comprising providing a threaded connection to accommodate left hand torque in the housing, the threaded connection including a collar including an upwardly facing box formed to accept a right hand thread form and a downwardly facing box formed to accept a left hand thread form. 42. The method of claim 34 wherein the axial percussive motion reduces drag along the string. 43. The method of claim 34 wherein the string includes a second percussive adapter spaced from the percussive adapter. 44. The method of claim 34 wherein the wellbore structure is a liner and the axial percussive motion is applied to the liner to assist installation of the liner. 45. The method of claim 34 wherein the string further includes a shock sub on a side opposite the wellbore structure. 46. A percussion adapter comprising: a housing including an upper end and a lower end; a drive connection including an upper axially rotatable drive shaft for receiving an input of rotational motion, a rotational to axial mechanical drive converter in communication with the upper axially rotatable drive shaft for converting the input of rotational motion to an axial sliding motion; a lower longitudinally moveable drive shaft in communication with the rotational to axial mechanical drive converter to receive the axial sliding motion from the rotational to axial mechanical drive converter and a base end of the lower longitudinally moveable drive shaft for receiving the axial sliding motion and capable of conveying axial percussive motion there through, the base end mounted adjacent the lower end of the housing and slidably moveable relative thereto. 47. The percussion adapter of claim 46 wherein the lower longitudinally moveable drive shaft connects directly to the wellbore structure. 48. The percussion adapter of claim 46 wherein the lower wellbore structure installation site is connected for rotational movement with the housing. 49. The percussion adapter of claim 46 wherein the base end is connected for rotational movement with the upper axially rotatable drive shaft. 50. The percussion adapter of claim 46 wherein the rotational to axial mechanical drive converter includes a gear assembly driving an eccentric member. 51. The percussion adapter of claim 50 wherein the gear assembly includes gears to convey rotational motion to the lower wellbore structure installation site. 52. The percussion adapter of claim 46 wherein the rotational to axial mechanical drive converter includes a cam assembly. 53. The percussion adapter of claim 52 wherein the cam assembly is inoperable except when the lower longitudinally moveable drive shaft is driven upwardly into the housing. 54. The percussion adapter of claim 52 wherein the cam assembly includes cam surfaces that separate out of operational contact when the percussion adapter is placed in tension. 55. The percussion adapter of claim 52 wherein upper axially rotatable drive shaft is secured to move axially with the housing and the cam assembly includes an upper cam surface on the housing and a lower cam surface on the lower longitudinally moveable drive shaft and the upper cam surface of the housing is driven by the lower cam surface to lift the housing and the upper axially rotatable drive shaft and drop the upper axially rotatable drive shaft onto the lower longitudinally moveable drive shaft to create the axial percussive motion. 56. The percussion adapter of claim 46 wherein the upper axially rotatable drive shaft and the lower longitudinally moveable drive shaft are connected by a telescoping connection such that the lower longitudinally moveable drive shaft can slide axially relative to the upper axially rotatable drive shaft. 57. The percussion adapter of claim 56 wherein the telescoping connection is configured to convey rotational drive therethrough. 58. The percussion adapter of claim 46 wherein the housing includes a threaded connection connecting a first tubular section of the housing and a second tubular section of the housing, the first tubular section including a first threaded pin end with a right hand thread form and a protrusion extending from its pin end face to create a stepped area thereon, the second tubular section of the housing including a second threaded pin end with a left hand thread form and a recess on its pin end face forming a shoulder sized to accept the stepped area of the first pin end seated thereagainst, and the threaded connection including a collar having a first threaded box with a first selected thread form selected to threadedly engage the right hand thread form of the first threaded pin end and a second threaded box with a second thread form selected to threadedly engage the left hand thread form of the second threaded pin end. 59. The percussion adapter of claim 46 further comprising a positive displacement motor including a stator housing and a rotor within the stator housing, the housing connected at its upper end below and for movement with the stator housing of the positive displacement motor and the rotor providing the input of rotational motion to the drive connection and a wellbore structure connected below the base end. 60. A wellbore drilling percussion adapter comprising: an upper housing; a fluid flow channel extending from the upper end to the lower end of the upper housing, the first fluid flow channel including a fluid entry end opening adjacent the upper end and a fluid exit adjacent the lower end; a lower housing telescopically installed for axially sliding motion relative to the lower end of the upper housing; a second fluid flow channel extending from an inlet end open at the upper end to a discharge end opening at the lower end of the lower housing, the inlet end being in fluid communication with the outlet end of the first fluid flow channel; an axial drive generator positioned to act with fluid flow through the first fluid flow channel and the second fluid flow channel and including a valve and a pressure chamber adjacent the valve, the valve being closeable to create a force in the pressure chamber to drive the upper housing axially away from the lower housing and the valve being openable to release pressure from the pressure chamber such that the upper housing can be forced down against the lower housing to create a hammering effect against the lower housing. 61. The wellbore drilling percussion adapter of claim 60 wherein the valve meters fluid passing from the first fluid flow channel through the second fluid flow channel to create a back pressure driving the upper housing longitudinally outwardly from the lower housing when the valve is closed and allowing the parts to come together when the valve is opened, the valve being opened by a back pressure when the fluid pressure exceeds a set value and the valve being closed to create the back pressure when the pressure falls below the set value. 62. A method for applying a vibratory force to a downhole string, the method comprising: providing a wellbore string with a percussion adapter installed therein, a fluid supply to the percussion adapter and a drill bit installed below the percussion adapter; positioning the bottom hole assembly relative to a formation to drill a wellbore; pumping fluid through the percussion adapter to generate axial percussive motion by generating a back pressure causing an upper housing of the percussion adapter to lift away from and a lower portion of the percussion adapter and releasing the back pressure to allow the upper housing to drop onto the lower portion to create a percussive force, the percussive force being communicated to the wellbore string to create a vibration therein and; discharging fluid from the percussion adapter to continue to pass through the wellbore string."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to down hole tools and, in particular, a wellbore percussion adapter for applying an axially directed percussive effect to wellbore structure and a tubular connection.\n\nThe application of a percussive force to a wellbore structure may be of interest. For example, if one could add a percussive force to the drill bit while drilling a wellbore, it is believed that the rate of drilling penetration could be significantly increased, the required weight on bit could be significantly reduced and torque required to turn the drill bit could be significantly reduced. A “percussionized” drill bit should be an efficient drilling tool.\n\nMany previous attempts at developing percussion adapters have focused on hydraulically driven devices. These devices use the flow of drilling fluid to drive pistons with a percussion adapter to create an axially directed percussive effect at the drill bit.\n\nA common problem experienced in down hole operations relates to the effect of torque on tubular connections. This problem may be exaggerated when torque is generated in the operation of a tool down hole.",
  "cpc": [
    "E21B 4/10",
    "E21B 1/38",
    "E21B 17/042",
    "E21B 17/07",
    "E21B 4/14",
    "E21B 7/24",
    "F16L 15/001"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E21B 4/00",
    "E21B 7/00",
    "E21B 7/24",
    "F16L 25/00",
    "E21B 10/36",
    "E21B 4/14"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "BBJ Tools Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Bradley R. Cote"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2010-09-09",
  "publication_date": "2011-02-10",
  "priority_date": "2008-03-13",
  "application_number": "US-87855110-A",
  "family_id": "43533965",
  "cited_by_count": 69,
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}