Downhole bearing assembly

Patent · Tue Jun 10 04:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:5373604

Lingafelter, J

A sealed downhole bearing assembly is described which consists of: an outer tube adapted to be connected to a first portion of a drill string; an inner tube adapted to be connected to a second portion of a drill string and disposed within the outer tube to define an enclosed annular space therebetween; at least one bearing mounted in the annular space between the outer and inner tubes to allow relative rotation therebetween; at least one high pressure seal mounted in the annular space between the outer and inner tubes to divide the annular space into first and second chambers; first and second abrasion resistant, metal-to-metal seals mounted between the inner and outer tubes to seal the first and second chambers, respectively, the first seal in fluid communication with an outer region exterior of the outer tube and the second seal in fluid communication with an inner region interior of the inner tube, the metal-to-metal seals adapted to seal effectively when in contact with drilling mud; first and second pressure balancing systems in communication with the first and second chambers, respectively, the first pressure balancing system also in communication with the outer region to balance pressure in the first chamber with respect to the outer region, the second pressure balancing system also in communication with the inner region to balance pressure in the second chamber with respect to the inner region; each of the pressure balancing systems comprising respective flexible, variable volume containers.

• Assignee: Geo Max Drill Corp., Hollywood, FL
• Patent Number(s): US 4593774
• OSTI ID: 5373604
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
ABRASION
ANNULAR SPACE
BEARINGS
CONFIGURATION
CONTAINERS
CONTROL
CORROSION RESISTANCE
DRILL BITS
DRILL PIPES
DRILLING
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
DRILLING FLUIDS
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
METALS
MOTION
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
PIPES
PRESSURE CONTROL
ROTATION
SEALS
SPACE
WELL DRILLING
WELLS