| 摘要 |
A buoyant drill pipe for drilling subterranean wells includes a tubular element, such as a length of metal pipe or tubing, and a buoyant element, such as an inflatable element, or a buoyant collar, attached to an outside diameter of the tubular element. The tubular element provides a conduit for injecting a drilling fluid into a well bore. The buoyant element interacts with the lo drilling fluid in the well bore to provide buoyancy for the drill pipe. The buoyant drill pipe can be used to construct a drilling system, and to perform a drilling method for an extended reach well bore having a horizontal or inclined segment. During drilling, the buoyant element interacts with the drilling fluid in the horizontal or inclined segment, such that a weight of the drill pipe, a torque required to rotate the drill pipe, and torsional stresses on the drill pipe are reduced.
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