DRILL PIPE WITH ROLLER ASSEMBLY

摘要

A drill pipe assembly includes a tubular body and a roller assembly for reducing friction between the drill pipe and the inner wall of a wellbore. The tubular body includes a substantially cylindrical body outer surface defining roller pockets. Alternatively, the drill pipe assembly may have a sleeve that fits concentrically and rotatably around the tubular body, with the sleeve outer surface defining the roller pockets. Each roller pocket has a roller assembly that includes an axle having opposed ends retained by the tubular body or the sleeve. A roller is retained by and rotates on each axle, partially disposed in the roller pocket and partially projecting outwardly from the outer surface.

主权项

1. A drill pipe assembly installable between an up-hole component and a down-hole component of a drill string insertable in a wellbore, the drill string defining an axial direction and a transverse direction perpendicular thereto, the drill pipe assembly comprising:
(a) a tubular body comprising:
an up-hole end adapted for connection to the up-hole component, and a down-hole end adapted for connection to the down-hole component;an inner surface defining an inner bore extending axially between the up-hole end and the down-hole end;a substantially cylindrical body outer surface defining a plurality of inwardly extending roller pockets; (b) for each of the plurality of roller pockets, a corresponding roller assembly comprising:
an axle having opposed ends each retained by the tubular body; anda roller retained by the axle for rotating axially relative to the tubular body, partially disposed within the roller pocket and partially projecting outwardly from the body outer surface.