US2277989A - Method and apparatus for drilling wells - Google Patents

Description

March 31, 1942. Y L. P. KINNEARY 2,277,989

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRILLING WELLS Filed Dec. 12, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 Rmmm IN VENT 0Z2, WpQ WA/ March 31, 1942.

| P. KINNEAR METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRILLING WELLS Filed Dec. 12, 1935 4 Sheets-Shet 2 March 31, 1942. L. P. KINNEAR 2,277,989

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRILLING WELLS Filed Dec. 12, 1935 4 Sheefg-Sheet s 44 524 mm a 4 3 3m 3 W 4 4 C 4I U O 3 5 4 344% 4 Maya as I March 31, 1942. 1.. P. KINNEAR 2,277,939

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRILLING WELLS Filed Dec. 12, 1953 4'SheetsSheet 4 lNl/ENTOP,

Patented Mar. 31, 1942 stares FATE Leland I. Kinnear, Beaumont, Tex.

Application December 12, 1933, Serial No. 701,951

(ill. 255-72) Claims.

The invention relates to newand useful improvements in a system of drilling wells by use of drilling apparatus which may be transported through pipe sections and attached and detached to a chuck connected to said pipe sections, without removing the chuck and pipe sections from the well hole.

An object of the invention is to provide a -method by which drilling apparatus may be transported to and from a chuck through pipe sections connected thereto, said .drilling apparatus being attached, detached and removed from the chuck and pipe sections by use of moving fluid under pressure, without removing the chuck and pipe sections from the well hole.

A further objector the invention is to provide a method whereby moving fluid under pressure may be utilized to replace a drilling apparatus and means to regulate the pressure within the well hole while the drilling apparatus is in transit, to hold wild pressures, such as oil and gas pressures in abeyance and prevent heaving and slufling formations of the earth from freezing the pipingin the well hole.

A further object of the invention is'to provide a method whereby drilling apparatus may be controlled within the pipe sections by means regulating the flow of the moving fluid.

A still further object or the invention is to provide a grapple apparatus which may be used in case of necessity to be dispatched through pipe sections by moving fluid under pressure to engage a drilling apparatus of the above type, and means whereby moving fluid under pressure may be utilized to dislodge said drilling apparatus and transport the same and said grapple apparatus upwardly through the chuck and pipe section's without removing the chuck and pipe sections from the well hole.

Another object of the invention is to provide drilling apparatus which may be interchangeably attached and detached of a chuck through pipe sections by use of moving fluid under pressure to carry out my system of drilling wells.

These and other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be more fully disclosed.

In the drawings, which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a vertical side view, partly sectional, showing the surface casing cemented in the earth forming a support for the well cap attached thereto with the upper portion of the members surrounding the pipesections allowing the pipe sections to be rotated and fed forward therethrough by the well known rotary system of drilling, with catcher stationed within the upper portion of the pipe sections and turn table joint andswivel connection thereabove for connection with regulating valve, also well cap connection provided with regulating valve by which the flow of the fluid may be regulated, the single arrowheads denoting the course oi the fluid downwardly through theipipe sections returning upwardly exteriorly ofsaid pipe sections and interiorly of the well hole to be dis charged through the valve connection in the well cap; the double arrow heads denoting the course of the fluid in opposite direction passing downwardly through the valve connection into the well cap and downwardly through the well hole exteriorly of the pipe sections and upwardly interiorly of the pipe sections to be discharged through the valve connections attached to the swivel thereabove.

Fig. lb is a vertical side view, partly sectional, showing the lower portion of the pipe sections and chuck with the drilling apparatus seated on the chuck in operative position for drilling, the single arrow heads indicating the course of the fluid passing downwardly through the pipe sections directed through the fluid passageways in the drilling apparatus in communication with the interior of the pipe sections, to be expelled at the lower end thereof and forced upwardly.

exteriorly of the chuck and pipe sections to be discharged through valve connections in the well cap.

Fig. 1c is a vertical side view, partly sectional, showing the lower portion of the pipe sections and chuck with the drilling apparatus being forced upwardly therethrough by moving fluid under pressure, the course of the fluid being indicated by double arrow heads,

Fig. 1d is a vertical side view, partly sectional, showing the lower portion of the pipe sections and chuck with the sample drilling apparatus seated on the chuck in operative position for drilling, the single arrow heads indicating the course of the fluid passing downwardly through the pipe sections and directed through the sample drilling apparatus to be expelled at the lower end thereof and forced upwardly exteriorly oi the chuck and pipe sections to be discharged through valve connections in the well cap.

Fig. la is a vertical side view, partly sectional, showing the lower portion of the pipe sections with the sample drilling apparatus being forced upwardly therethrough by moving fluid under by double arrow heads.

Fig. 1e is a continuation of Fig. 1e, showing the lower portion of the sample drilling apparatus being a view similar to'Fis. is.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view, in part section,

' illustrating the upper portion of the spear tube head of the drilling apparatus in engagement with thecatcherstationed within the upper portion of the pipe sections.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical side view, partly sectional, of the grapple apparatus being forced downwardly through pi'pe sections, the single arrow heads denoting the course of the fluid.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical side view, partly sectional, of the grapple apparatus, illustrating the grapple stem in engagement with the upper portion of the spear tube head of the drilling apparatus, the single arrow heads showing the course of the fluid downwardly.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1b.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section on the line 65 of Fig. lb.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section on the line '|'I of Fig. 1b.

Fig. 8 is a cross-section on the line 88 of Fig, 1b.

' Fig. 9 is a cross-section on the line 9-9 of Fig. lb.

Fig. 10 is a cross-section on the line |0l0 of Fig. 1b.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line Il-l| of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line l2-l2 of Fi 3.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view showing the lower end of the chuck with the drill bits and wedges seated thereon and in edge view.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view on the line l4ai4a of Fig. 1e. I

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the central cutter of the drilling apparatus.

Fig. 16 is a top view of a wedge member.

Fig. 1'7 is a vertical side view, partly sectional,

of an elongated spear tube head used in connection with the drilling apparatuses and grapple apparatus in pipe sections and couplings having irregular internal bores, illustrating the elongated spear tube head passing through pipe sections and couplings of irregular internal bores with sealing rings seated within the couplings whose openings conform substantially to the outer periphery of the elongated spear tube head.

Fig. 18, is a sectional view taken on the line l8|8 of Fig. 1d. v

The invention is directed to a system of drilling wells by the use of drilling apparatuses adapted to drilla complete well without removingthe piping from the well hole. By use of the novel drilling devices, unexplored depths can be reached by reason of the principles involved in replacing the desired type of drill through the pipe sections and attaching and detaching the same interchangeably of a chuck connected to the pipe sections by force of moving fluid under pressure without removing the chuck and pipe sections from the well hole, and without resort to mechanical means acting as a conveyor for the drilling 2,277,989 pressure, the course of the fluid being indicated to the pipe sections without removing the chuck and pipe sections from the well hole.

In the drawings, l denotes a plurality of easing members joined by threaded engagement with each other and cemented in the earth to form a permanent surface casing for the well hole II, with the upper portion of the surface casing protruding above the earth's surface, generally indicated at Ill. The surface casing serves as a conduit for the drilling fluid employed in the rotary system of drilling wells as well as providing a support for a well cap 2 through which the pipe sections 3 and chuck 4 attached to the pipe sections may be inserted and revolved, said well cap being utilized as a sealing member through which the pipe sections may be rotated and fed forward by the use of the well known turntable and machinery adapted for such purposes, said well cap being provided with a valve 5 and suitable connections 5 through which the drilling fluid may be passed and the flow thereof regulated. A turn-table joint I having suitable connections 8 and valve 9 attached thereto. The turn-table joint is joined in threaded engagement with the pipe sections through which the drilling fluid may be passed and the flow thereof regulated by the valve 9. Thus it will be seen that circulation of the drilling fluid under high pressures may be forced by slush pumps, (not shown here) connected to either of the two connections and valvesabove, in either direction to suit the purpose of the operator in carrying out a method hereinafter disclosed of replacing drilling apparatuses through pipe sections and attaching and detaching the same on a chuck connected to said pipe sections by use of moving fluid under pressure without removing the chuck and pipe sections from the well hole. Drilling apparatus as hereinafter described are adapted to be inserted into the pipe sections 3 and the tumtable joint 1 is connected to the pipe sections and fluid under pressure is forced into said turntable joint through connections 6 and valve 5 by slush pumps in communication therewith, which forces the drilling apparatus down to a seated and locked operative position on the chuck I located at the bottom of the pipe section's.-

While the drilling apparatus is in transit on its downward movement through the pipe sections the drilling apparatus is effective as a piston-like member within the pipe sections. No fluid can pass the drilling apparatus on its downward movement through the pipe sections as members are provided to substantially conform to the inner cylindrical bore of the pipe sections and chuck and will not permit the passage of fluid therethrough until the drilling apparatus is positively seated in operative position on the chuck. During the above operation as the apparatus enters the chuck a shoulder 4a is provided therein to stop the downward movement of the apparatus at which time the locking devices are free to be seated in operative position on the chuck 4 by the force of the moving fluid under pressure expass therethrough may be regulated to hold the desired pressure within the well hole, thereby keeping the walls of the well hole from caving or sluiling and freezing the piping. It is apparent that in forcing a drilling apparatus through pipe sections depended within a well hole that the'fiuid pressure may be controlled by the manipulation of the valve and the drilling apparatus may be transported downwardly through the pipe sections at the desired speed and the desired fluid pressure within the well hole may be maintained. This is a very essential factor in my method of drilling in that when wild oil or gas pressures are encountered and it is necessary to replace a drilling apparatus it canbe done with safety and dispatch by holding the wild pressures in abeyance within the well hole by regulated continuous circulation of the fluid under pressure and the pipe sections and chuck may be rotated to prevent their becoming fast in the earth. By converting the line 6 in the well cap 2 and the well hole H into an intake line with suitable connections to the slush pumps and by conversion of the chuck 4,.pipe sections 3, turntable joint I and the connecting line 8 thereto as the discharge line for the fluid the following procedure may be adopted in forcing a drilling apparatus upwardly through the pipe sections and chuck without removing the chuck and pipe sections from the well hole by the use of moving fluid under pressure. As moving fluid under pressure is forced downwardly into the well hole ll, exteriorly of the pipe sections 3 a-fluid pressure will be exerted against the drilling apparatus from the bottom thereof and as the arrangement of the parts in the apparatus are so constructed that a back-pressure valve ild within the spear tube head I! closes the fluid passage Hg to prevent communication of the moving fluid under pressure from below with the interior of the pipe sections thus preventing passage of fluid upwardly through the drilling apparatus and again the apparatus is effective as a piston like member within the chuck and pipe sections. The locking members are constructed to be dislodged by the force of upwardly moving fluid under pressure and the drilling apparatus is unseated from the chuck free to be moved upwardly through the pipe sections. In detaching a drilling apparatus from a chuck and transporting it upwardly through the pipe sections connected to said chuck by the use of moving fluid under pressure in the manner described, the speed of the drilling apparatus and the desired pressure may be maintained within the well hole by the manipulation of the valve 9. A catcher I2 is stationed within the pipe sections at or near top thereof to receive the drilling apparatus which has been forced up through the pipe sections by the moving fluid, which holds the same for the'convenience of the operator. Where pipe and couplings having irregular internal bores are used in drilling wells by the'system herein described it may be necessary to make an extension or elongation of the members and parts of the drilling apparatus, such as that shown in Fig. 1'7, to make the same effective as a piston like member in transporting the drilling apparatus through the pipe sections, said extension or elongation having a length greater than the distance between two irregularities within the bores of the couplings and the pipe sections, the outer periph cry of said extension or elongation conforming substantially to the reduced bore of the couplings and the pipe sections.

Sealing rings 3b may be stationed-within the couplingmembers 3a and pipe sections [to positively prevent the by-passing of fluid between the outer periphery of the extension or elongation and the opening within the sealing rings as the drilling apparatus thus constructed is in transit within the pipe sections, thus it will be seen that the extension or elongation, being the spear tube head I! on the drilling apparatus and 33 on the sample drilling apparatus or 25 on the. grapple apparatus, is at all times disposed through one or more coupling members and/0r sealing rings to form the piston like member necessary by which the drilling apparatus and grapple apparatus are forced through the pipe sections and couplings having irregular bores by the use of moving fluid under pressure.

A grapple apparatus such as shown in Fig. 3 may be employed to be forced by moving fluid under pressure downwardly through the pipe sections to which the chuck is connected to engage a drilling apparatus and transport it from the well hole. The grapple apparatus is constructed to be eifective as a piston-like member within the pipe sections and chuck when in transit from the earth's surface to its objective. The grapple apparatus is used in-case of emergency should the back-pressure valve in the spear tube heads of either the drilling apparatus or sample drilling apparatus become ineifective to render the method of detaching and forcing the drills upwardly through the pipe sections of themselves by the utilization of moving fluid under pressure.

Having thus described the method wherein a drilling apparatus may be transported and forced through pipe sections and attached and detached to a chuck connected thereto by the use of moving fluid under pressure without removing the chuck andpipe sections from the well hole, a detail description of the unit employed to drill and sample the earth's formations in carrying out my system of drilling wells is hereinafter set forth.

Upon engagement of the grapple apparatus with the spear tube head II of the drilling apparatus the shoulder 23 on the depending grapple-v stem 24 stops the downward movement of the grapple stem and the ball bearings 24a which" stem is attached until the spear tube head rests on top of the shoulder 23 of thegrapple stem as shown in Fig,- 4, at which time the fluid passages 27, 21 in body 26 have been raised within the chamber 28 of the spear tube head 25 which is of larger diameter than the body 26, to allow free passage of fluid under pressure to pass through the fluid passages 2?, 21 in body 26 and downwardly through'the fluid passages 29 in the grapple stem 24 thereby allowing the moving fluid under pressure to pass downwardly through a drilling apparatus such as herein shown so that circulation of fluid downwardly may be maintained. By a reversal of the course of the fluid. that is, by forcing the same downwardly exterioriy of the pipe sections and the chuck and within the well hole proper a iiuld pressure is exerted against the spear tube head 2i the grapple apparatus which is effective as a pistonlike member within the-chuck and the pipe sections in that the back-pressure valves 30 in the body 30a of the grapple apparatus will close the fluid passages 30b with the aid of the spring 3110, thereby preventing fluid from passing upwardly therethrough while the corrugated sealing packer 3| will prevent any fluid to by-pass between the outer periphery of the packer and the inner periphery of the chuck and pipe sections as the grapple apparatus is being forced upwardly through the chuck and pipe sections. By carrying a drilling apparatus which the grapple apparatus has engaged and detached from a chuck the same may be transported upwardly to or near the top of the pipe sections to be received by a catcher stationed therein to engage and hold the same for the convenience of the operator. This is one form of grapple apparatus that may be used to carry out the above method of forcing a grapple apparatus through pipe sections and chuck having substantially uniform internal bores by use of moving fluid under pressure in engaging a drilling apparatus and withdrawing the same from a well hole without removing the pipe sections and chuck from the well hole, however, it will be understood that the grapple apparatus may be changed in construction and be used for transporting any object upwardly or,downwardly through pipe.

' ingly against the inner bore thereof.

intermesh with corresponding shaped shoulders la oi the chuck the downward movement or the head i! and the parts attached thereto, namely the central cutter I4 and the movable cutters l3, I! are stopped and positioned on the chuck to be locked into engagement with the recesses 4b,

lb and the inclined rounded notches 4e, 4e oi the chuck. Between shoulders llc, I80 on the upper rounded portions llb, lib oi. the wedge bars and the bottom ofthe spear tube head I! a packing gasket 2! and plate 22 are sleevably mounted. Head l1 having a corrugated sealing packer "a surrounding the outer periphery thereof to prevent the by-passing oi fluid between the spear tube head I! and the inner bore of the pipe sections and chuck. The sealing packer Ila has corrugations on its outer periphery which are cupped upwardly when the drilling apparatus is moving downwardly within the pipe sections and chuck and are held yield- The corrugations remain in an upwardly cupped position while the drilling apparatus i in drilling position on the chuck and aids packing gasket 2! to prevent by-passing oi the fluid and to positively direct the fluid through the fluid passageways .sure from below forces the same upwardly through the pipe sections. Inwardly within the spear tube head 11, valve rods llb, l'lb are provided for the fluid passageways 18d, l8d of the wedge bars said valve rods being rigidly connected to trip rods l'lc,. llc which are slidably disposed through spear tube head I! and extend therebelow, said valve rods serve to close the fluid passageways Hid, l8d of the wedge bars while the central cutter II which is rigidly connected to a supporting head I5 is used to drill the inner or center portion of the hole. The movable cutters are similar in. construction and are attached to the central cutter by pins l6, l6 which are a part of the upper portion of the shank oi the movable cutters l3, l3 said cutters being swung from separate axis. The pin joint connections are so arranged to allow the movable cutters and shank portions free bodily penduious movement in opposite directions outwardly when being seated on the chuck in operative position for drilling and free bodily pendulous movement inwardly of the chuck to an inoperative position. A spear tube head I1 is provided, which carries the wedge bars I8, iii, the upper rounded portion lab, Nb of the wedge bars being connected into spear tube head H by pin IS. The rounded portion of the wedge bars are free to slide through head l5, and the lower portion of the wedge bars extend below head l5 and being provided with shoulders i8a, i8a by which head I5 is carried while the drilling apparatus is in transit within the pipe sections as shown by Fig. 1c, and form a support for head-l5 and central cutter I4 which is attached thereto by bolts 20, and the movable cutters l3, l3 at the pins l6, l6. Thus it will be seen that while thedrilling apparatus is in transit within the pipe sections that spear tube head I! forms a support for the entire apparatus. When triangular shaped shoulders lid on the stopping head I! the drilling apparatus is passing. downwardly through the pipe sections and prior to the full extent of the wedging action in looking the cutters on the chuck. It is apparent that the spear tube head I! and associated parts comprise a piston like member within the pipe sections and chuck. To accomplish the wedging action the spear tube head I! to which the wedge bars are connected is forced down by moving fluid under pressure to rest on head l5 when the tool is stopped and placed in position for locking engagement with the-chuck by the wedge bars.

' The enlarged portion l3a, l3a on the shank of the movable cutters l3, iii are urged into locking engagement with the recesses 41), 4b of the chuck by the fluid pressure exerted against the spear tube head whereby positive rotation of the cut ters will be imparted upon rotation of the pipe sections and chuck. As the spear tube head I! is nearing its full downward seated position on the chuck, however, depending trip rods I10, I10 which are slidably mounted within spear tube head 11 and through packing gasket 2| and plate 22 and extend therebelow to engage the head i5 prior to plate 22. As the trip rods I10, I10 contact the head IS the plate 22, packing gasket 2| and spear tube head il slide downwardly over the trip rods and valve rods, to rest and stop on the head l5 andin so doing the valve rods which are shorter than the trip rods clear the top of the fluid passageways l8d, lid of the wedge bars in which they were disposed and are held in this distended -position by thejtrip rods which rest on the head II. This placesthe drilling apparatus into positive locked operative position onthe chuck as shown in Fig. 1b. The course of the fluid denoted by the single arrow heads which is now free to pass downwardly through the fluid passages Hg in the back-pressure valve body "I as the valve Nd and springs 11h will yield to the downward pressure applied on the flushing fluid and rush to the opened fluid passageways lBd, I M of the wedge bars to be expelled at the lower end thereof. The relative position of each wedge bar to its respective movable cutter and shank portion is such that the wedge bar that actuates its respective movable cutter into locked operative position on the chuck is provided with fluid passageways id, id through its members and when said wedge bars are in operative position on said chuck,'fluid under pressure may be directed therethrough to wash the cuttings from the faces of the cutters and to force the cuttings upwardly exteriorly of l drilling apparatus is transported 'upwardlythrough the pipe section to be received by catcher I2 stationed within the pipe sections at or near the top thereof.

A sample drilling apparatus such as shown in Figs. 1d, 1e and le' may beemployed to sample the earths formations and is adapted to be interchangeably connected to the chuck 4 in replacing the drilling apparatus as shown in Figs. 1b and 10 by the force of moving fluid. under pressure and transported in like manner through the pipe sections 3 and constructed-to be transported through pipe sections of substantial uniform internal bores or pipe sections of irregular internal bores. The grappling apparatus likewise is suitably arranged to be used in connection with the sample drilling apparatus as in the case of the drilling apparatus. It is thought that the device'will be better understood from a detail description thereof. An expander 32 is provided which is carried by a spear tube head indicated here at 33, being similar in construction to spear tube head l1 of the drilling apparatus. A shank 34 is carried by the expander to which the sample drill 35 is attached. When triangular shaped shoulders 36 on the shank 34 engage and intermesh with corresponding shap d stopping shoulders 4a, 4a of the chuck 4 the downward movement of the shank is arrested and positioned so that the windows 31, 31 in said shank and the floating key members 38, 38 disposed therein are in alignment with the recesses 4b, 4b of the chuck 4. Thus positioned said floating key members are free to be actuated into locking engagement with said recesses 4b, 4b of the chuck by the expander 32 to positively hold said shank non-rotatable within said chuck. The bottom faces of the windows 31-31 of the headed tubular sleeve or shank 34 are inclined outwardly and downwardly to form a seat for the lower inclined portions of the locking keys 38-,-3 8 and for hearing the thrust of said locking keys when the same are in extended operative position on the drill stem and the weight of the drill stem is applied as during coring operations in drilling with a drilling instrument of this character,

The upper inclined portions of the locking keys are adapted to bear against correspondingly shaped seats 4d-4d of the chuck when the looking keys are in extended operative position. Also the bottom faces of the windows 3131,are inclined outwardly and downwardly to act as guides for deflecting the locking keys which slide I downwardly and outwardly on the bottom inclined faces of the windows 31--31 in response to the downward movement of the central wedge bar. An upward movement of the central wedge bar will cause the locking keys to move upwardly and inwardly to retracted position within said windows 31-31 and thereby unlock said drilling instrument or core barrel from the chuck and drill stem. The expander has longitudinal grooves 33, 39 on its outer periphery with the face at the bottom'of said grooves being inclined downwardly and inwardly on which relative inclined faces on the key members race. When the expander is actuated downwardly to move said key members outwardly through windows 31, 31 into locked engagement with the recesses 4b, 4b in the chuck. Inclined seats 4d, 4d at the top of the recesses 4b, 4b bear the upward thrust of corresponding inclined shoulders 38b, 38b on the top of the key members 38, 38 during the sample drilling operation. When the expander reaches its full downward movement, plate 40 rests on top of bushing 4| attached to the top of shank 34. The plate 40 and packing gasket 42 are sleeveably mounted on the upper portion of the expander, said expander being attached to and carried by spear tube head 33 with the packing gasket and the plate mounted below said spear tube head. The spear tube head is surrounded by a corrugated sealing packer 43 to prevent the by-passing of fluid as the spear tube head is forced through the pipe sections by moving fluid under pressure. Within spear tube head 33 a back pressure valve 44 is provided in body 44a which is screwed interiorly of said spear tube head, and a spring 440 to normally hold said back-pressure valve seated in said body 44a, thereby closing the fluid passages 44b in body 44a to resist an upward pressure. Trip rods 45 are provided within said head and extend through said head, the packing gasket and plate with a valve rod 46 attached rigidly to said trip .rods by a cross member. The valve rod is, disposed within the fluid passageway 41 through the expander 32 to close said fluid passageway giving the spear tube head the effect of a pistonlike member while being forced downwardly through the pipe sections by moving fluid under pressure. As the downward movement of the hank 34 is arrested by stopping shoulders 4a of chuck the fluid pressure on the spear tube head forces said head downwardly which in turn forces the expander downwardly within the shank to actuate the floating key members outtrip rods is held distended away from the fluid passageway 41 to allow th fluid under pressure to pass downwardly through the communicating holes "a to wash the cuttings from the cutters and carry the same upwardly within the well hole without injury to the core formed within the sample drill and receptacle. Fig. 1d shows the sample drilling apparatus in locked operative position on the chuck.

In Figs. 1c and la the sample drilling apparatus is shown being forced upwardly through the pipe sections having been detached from the chuck by moving fluid under pressure the course of which is indicated .by the double arrow heads. The moving fluid under pressure is forced downwardly exteriorly of the pipe section and chuck which are depended within the well hole which exerts an upward pressure against the spear tube head 33, the fluid passing thru the communicating holes 35a thereby forcing said head upwardly carrying the expander to unlock the key members from engagement with the recesses of the chuck. A body 48 with packer I9, is attached to the lower end of the expander and is provided with an inwardly beveled annular shoulder 48a to engage corresponding beveled faces 38a of the inner extending portion of the crotches of the key members at the bottom thereof and as the expander is lifted upwardly the inclined grooves 88, 39 allow the key members to be lifted upwardly and inwardly to a retracted position within the windows to disengage the shank from the chuck, thus permitting the sample drilling apparatus to be moved upwardly of the chuck and the pipe sections by the force of the moving fluid under pressure, the spear tube head a ain being'eilectlve as a piston like member within the chuck and pipe sections in that the backpressure valve 44 will close and prevent the moving fluid under pressure from passing upwardly therethrough while the corrugated sealing packer 4! will prevent the moving fluid under pressure to by-pass between the outer periphery of the sealing packer and the inner periphery of the 'bore of the chuck and the pipe sections. A catcher comprising a stem I! with inclined raceways |2a is part of the body 12d which is screwed into the kelley sub-coupling 1a for receiving the spear tube head of the drilling apparatuses or the grapple apparatus all of which are similar in construction. Ball bearings I 2b are Provided for said inclined raceways l2a with a pin |2e to hold the same within the respective raceways. Fluid passages l2c permit fluid to pass through the body l2d in either direction. As the spear tube head is forced into engagement with the stem I! of the catcher the portion of the ball bearings which protrude outwardly of said stem are forced inwardly and upwardly in the raceways to P rmit the spear tube head to sleeve over the entire stem at which time the ball hearings will fall back to normal position and that portion which protrudes outwardly of said stem will engage the upper internal shoulders I 1e, 25a and 33a of the collars Hi, 25b and 33b screwed to the tops of the spear tube heads I1, 25 and 33 respectively to hold the apparatuses. After the upward pressure has been released the operator may easily withdraw the apparatuses from the P pe Sections y screwlng the kelley sub-coupling Ia and lift the same from the pipe sections.

It is apparent that a very simple means has been provided to carry out my system of drilling wells which will be useful in reducing the cost of drilling deep wells by a safe and expedient method as well as being able to drill at great depths heretofore unexplored.

-It is obvious that many changes in the details of construction and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a drilling instrument a jointed drill stem pipe having constrictions therein at said joints. sealing rings at said constrictions, an inner'tube slldable longitudinally of said drill stem and through said sealing rings and constrictions the full length of said drill stem, the said inner tube being longer than the distance between said constrictions whereby fluid may act on said tube to move the same longitudinally of said drill stem.

2. In drilling wells by rotary method, the method of operation including the steps of inserting a drilling instrument into the upper end of a drill stem pipe extending in a well and moving said instrument downwardly and locking it in operative position at the lower end of said drill stem, operating said drill stem and instrument to drill the well, and then reversing the course of the fluid by sealing between the surface casing and the drill stem and pumping fluid downwardly between the surface casing and the drill stem and into the well below so as to act on said instrument at the lower end of said drill stem and release said instrument and to force said instrument upwardly through said drill stem to efl'ect a recovery of said instrument without removing said drill stem from the well.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising a drill stem pipe extended in a well, a removable drilling instrument having cutter members thereon adapted to be moved through said drill stem, including a head having locking members thereon, hydraulically operated means to extend said locking members to engage said drill stem, said locking members being releasable by an upward circulation of fluidin said drill stem to release said drilling instrument from said drill stem and allow said drilling instrument to be elevated by said circulating fluid upwardly throughv said drill stem to the surface without removing said drill stem from the well.

4. In drilling wells by rotary method, the method of operation including the steps of inserting a grapple apparatus into the upper end of a drill stem pipe extending in a well andmoving' said grapple downwardly to engage a removable device at the lower end of said drill stem. then reversing the course of the fluid by sealin between the surface casing and the drill stem and pumping fluid downwardly between the surface casing and said drill stem and into the well below so as to act on said grapple to carry said grapple and removable 'device upwardly through the drill stem to eilect a recovery of said grapple and removable device without removing said drill stem from the well.

5. An apparatus of the character described comprising a drill stem pipe extended in a well, a removable sampling device adapted to be moved through said drill stem, including an upper locking device having locking keys thereon, hydraulically operated means to extend said keys to engage said drill stem, a sample tube below said locking device with a receiving chamber therein, said locking keys being releasable by an upward circulation of fluid in said drill stem to release said sampling device from said drill stem and allow said sampling device to be elevatcd by said circulating fluid upwardly through said drill stem to the surface without removing said drill stem from the well. 7

6. A drilling apparatus comprising a drill stem pipe extended in a well, a seat in said drill stem, a removable core barrel assembly adapted to be moved through said drill stem to the seat therein and including a headed shank having locking keys thereon and a core receiving tube therebelow, a seat on said drill stem inclined outwardly and downwardly to bear the thrust of said keys, a guide on said shank inclined outwardly and downwardly adapted to deflect said keys outwardly to engage said drill stem, an expander mounted on said shank and adapted to control said keys and movable relative to said shank and said keys and adapted to cause said keys to engage said drill stem upon the downward movement of said expander relative to said shank and adapted to cause said keys to become disengaged from said drill stem upon an upward movement of said expander relative to said shank.

7. A drilling apparatus comprising a drill stem pipe extended in a well, a seat in said drill stem. a surface casing set in the well and having a casing head thereon adapted to seal between the drill stem and said surface casing, a removable core barrel assembly adapted to be moved through said drill stem to the seat therein and including a headed shank having locking keys thereon and a core receiving tube therebelow, a seat on said shank inclined outwardly and downwardly to bear the thrust of said keys, an expander mounted on said shank and adapted to control said keys and movable relative to said shank and said keys and adapted to cause said keys to engage said drill stem upon the downward movement of said expander relative to said shank in response to pressure on flushing fluid pumped downwardly through said drill stem and adapted to cause said keys to become disengaged from said drill stem upon an upward movement of said expander relative to said shank in response to pressure on flushing fluid pumped downwardly between said surface casing and said drill stem.

8. In a drilling apparatus comprising a drill stem pipe extended in a well, a seat in said drill stem, at surface casing set in said well having a casing head thereon adapted to seal between the drill stem and said surfacecasing, a removable drill bit assembly including drill bits adapted to be moved through said drill stem and seated thereon. means adapted to move said drill bits one by the other to an opened extended operative position on said drill stem. a piston head provided with means to open a passageway whereby flushing fluid pumped downwardly through said drill stem may pass to the exterior of said drill stem for maintaining circulation of the flushing fluid during drilling operations, said assembly adapted to be forced upwardly through said drill stem in response to flushing fluid pumped downwardly between said surface casing and said drill stem acting on said assembly to force said drill bits one by the other inwardly to closed position and causing said assembly to be moved upward through said 'drill stem to the surface without removing said drill stem from the well.

9. In a drilling apparatus comprising a drill stem pipe extended in a well, a seat in said drill stem, a surface casing set in said well and having a casing head thereon adapted to seal between the drill stem and said surface casing, a removable drill bit assembly including drill bits adapted to be moved through said drill stern and seated thereon. means adapted to move said drill bits one by the other to an opened extended operative position on said drill stem, a piston closed position and causing said assembly to be moved upward through said drill'stemto the surface without removing said drill stem from the well.

10. A drilling apparatus comprising a drill stem pipe extended in a well, a seat in said drill stem, a surface casing set in said well and having a casing head thereon adapted to seal between the drill stern and said surface casing, a removable drill bit assembly including a supporting head carrying drill bits adapted to be moved through said drill stem and seated thereon, a piston head provided with a packing member and having actuating means connected thereto for moving said drill bits to an extended operative position on said drill stem by a relative downward movement in respect to said supporting head carrying the drill bits in response to pressure on the flushing fluid pumped downwardly, through said drill stem, said drill bits adapted to be moved inwardly to a released position with respect to the drill stem by an upward movement of said piston head relative to said supporting head carrying the drill bits in response to flushing fluid pumped downwardly between said surface casing and said drill stem into the well and to force said assembly upward through the drill stem to the surface without removing said drill stem from the well.

11. The method of taking core samples from drilled wells, which comprises forcing a sample taking device through a set tubular drill stem to the lower end of the latter by pumping mud into the stem behind the device, then operating the stem and drill in the usual manner to effect the movement of a core into the device, then driving a plug down the stem by means of mud pumped thereinto and effecting the coupling of the plug and device together, and finally pumping mud into the well around the outside of the stem for entrance thereinto beneath the device and plug to effect the raising of the device.

12. An apparatus of the character described comprising a drill stem pipe extended in a well. a removable sampling device adapted to be moved through said drill stem, including an upper locking device having locking keys thereon and a core receiving tube therebelow, hydraulically operated means to extend said keys to engage said drill stem, a cutter member on said core receiving tube, said locking keys being releasable by an upward circulation of fluid in said drill stem to release said sampling device from said drill stem and allow said sampling device to be elevated by said circulating fluid upwardly through said drill stem to the surface without removing said drill stem from the well.

13. A drilling apparatus comprising a drill stem pipe extended in a well, a seat in said drill stem, a. removable core barrel assembly adapted to be moved through said drill stem to the seat therein and including a headed shank havin locking keys thereon and a core receiving tube therebelow, a cutter member on said core receiving tube, a seat on said drill stem inclined outwardly and downwardly to bear the thrust of said keys. and expander mounted on said shank adapted to control said keys and movable relative to said shank and said keys and adapted to cause said keys to engage said drill stem upon the downward movement of said expander relative to said shank and adapted to cause said keys to become disengaged from said drill stem upon an upward movement of said expander relative to said shank. o

14. A drilling apparatus comprising a dri stem pipe extended in a well, a seat in said drill stemra'removable core barrel assembly adapted to be moved through said drill stem to the seat therein and including a headed shank having locking keys thereon and a core receiving tube therebelow, a seat on said shank inclined outwardly and downwardly to bear the thrust of said keys. a guide on said shank inclined outwardly and downwardly adapted to deflect said locking keys outwardly to engage said drill stem, expander means mounted on said shank and adapted to control said locking keysand movable relative to said shank and said locking keys and adapted to cause said locking keys to engage said drill stem upon the downward movement of said expander relative to said shank and adapted o cause said locking keys to become disengaged from said drill stem upon an upward movement of said expander relative to said shank.

15. A drilling apparatus comprising a drill stem pipe extended in a well. a seat in said drill stem, a removable core barrel assembly adapted to be moved through said drill stem to the seat therein and including a headed shank having locking keys thereon and a core receiving tube therebelow, a cutter member on said core receiving tube, a seat on said shank inclined outwardly and downwardly to bear the thrust of said keys, a guide on said shank inclined outwardly and downwardly adapted to deflect said keys outwardly to engage said drill stem, expander means mounted 'on said shank and adapted to control said locking keys and movable relative to said shank and said locking keys and adapted to cause said locking keys to engage said drill stem upon the downward movement of said expander relative to said shank and adapted to cause said locking keys to become disengaged from said drill stem upon an upward movement '01 said expander relative to said shank.

aLELAND P. KINNEAR.

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