Continuous rotary drilling system and method of use

摘要

A drilling system has a drill string that is made up of tubular segments of coiled tubing joined together by connectors. The connectors can be selectively changed between locked and unlocked configurations. When in the unlocked configuration adjacent tubular segments rotate with respect to one another, and when in the locked configuration the tubular segments are rotationally affixed. The connectors include clutch members coupled to each tubular segment, that axially slide into a slot formed in an adjacent tubular segment to rotationally lock the adjacent segments. A Kelly bushing and rotary table rotate the drill string; and an injector head is used to insert the drill string through the Kelly bushing and rotary table and into a wellbore. While the drill string is inserted through the bushing and table, the connectors are set into the locked configuration so that all tubular segments from the rotary table downward are rotationally affixed.

主权项

1. A method of foaming a wellbore in a subterranean formation comprising:
a. providing a tubular string comprising tubular segments, and connectors axially adjoining adjacent segments that are selectively changeable between an unlocked configuration where the adjacent segments are rotatable with respect to one another and a locked configuration where the adjacent segments are rotationally affixed to one another; b. changing connectors from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration to form a substantially rotationally cohesive portion of the tubular string and that comprises connectors that are in the locked configuration; c. inserting the substantially rotationally cohesive portion of the tubular string in the wellbore; and d. rotating the substantially rotationally cohesive portion of the tubular string, so that when a drill bit is provided on an end of the tubular string, cuttings are removed from the subterranean formation to create the wellbore e. exerting a downward force onto the tubular string to urge the tubular string deeper into the wellbore so that a one of the connectors is above an opening of the wellbore, temporarily suspending rotation of the rotationally cohesive portion of the tubular string, changing the one of the connectors from an unlocked to a locked configuration so that tubular segments adjacent to and above and below the one of the connectors are put into a rotationally cohesive configuration, and resuming rotation of the rotationally cohesive portion of the tubular string.