Casing Centralizer Coupling

Abstract

A well casing centralizer coupling is provided. The casing centralizer coupling is constructed to be suitable for coupling well casing for use in drilling with casing operations. The casing centralizer coupling includes a body having a number of centralizing blades arranged radially around an exterior surface of the body for contacting an inner surface of a well bore to centralize the well casing. Each centralizing blade includes a transverse profile that results in the blade having a reduced contact with the well bore and includes a hard faced contact surface. A method of constructing the well casing centralizer coupling to have a number of centralizing blades with such a transverse profile and a hard faced surface is also provided.

1 . A well casing centralizer comprising: 
 a body having a threaded first end, a threaded second end, a through bore extending from said first end to said second end, and an exterior surface;    a plurality of centralizing blades projection outwardly and extending along a length of said exterior surface;    each of said plurality of centralizing blades defining an outwardly facing surface having an arcuately shaped transverse cross section, opposed outwardly beveled transverse edges and opposed outwardly beveled longitudinal edges; and    wherein at least said outwardly facing surface is hard faced.    
   
   
       2 . The well casing centralizer of  claim 1 , wherein said outwardly facing surface is parallel to said exterior surface.  
   
   
       3 . The well casing centralizer of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of centralizing blades being integral with said body.  
   
   
       4 . The well casing centralizer of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of centralizing blades being attached to said body.  
   
   
       5 . The well casing centralizer of  claim 4 , wherein said opposed outwardly beveled transverse edges and opposed outwardly beveled longitudinal edges being of weld material.  
   
   
       6 . The well casing centralizer of  claim 1 , wherein said hard facing material is tungsten in a matrix.  
   
   
       7 . The well casing centralizer of  claim 1 , wherein said hard facing material is tungsten carbide in a matrix.  
   
   
       8 . The well casing centralizer of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of centralizing blades is swept-shaped.  
   
   
       9 . The well casing centralizer of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of centralizing blades is helical shaped.  
   
   
       10 . A combined casing coupling and casing centralizer, comprising: 
 a body having a threaded first end, a threaded second end, a through bore extending from said first end to said second end, and an exterior surface;    at least one centralizing blade projection outwardly and extending along a length of said exterior surface; and    each of said plurality of centralizing blades defining an outwardly facing surface having an arcuately shaped transverse cross section.    
   
   
       11 . The combined casing coupling and casing centralizer of  claim 10 , wherein each of said at least one centralizing blade comprising: 
 a central body defining said opposed outwardly beveled transverse edges and opposed outwardly beveled longitudinal edges; and    wherein said outwardly facing surface being of a hard facing material.    
   
   
       12 . The combined casing coupling and casing centralizer of  claim 11 , wherein said hard facing material is tungsten in a matrix.  
   
   
       13 . The combined casing coupling and casing centralizer of  claim 11 , wherein said hard facing material is tungsten carbide in a matrix.  
   
   
       14 . The combined casing coupling and casing centralizer of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one centralizing blade is selected from the group consisting of a swept blade and a helical blade.  
   
   
       15 . The combined casing coupling and casing centralizer of  claim 14 , wherein said hard facing material is tungsten in a matrix.  
   
   
       16 . The combined casing coupling and casing centralizer of  claim 14 , wherein said hard facing material is tungsten carbide in a matrix.  
   
   
       17 . The combined casing coupling and casing centralizer of  claim 10 , wherein each of said plurality of centralizing blades comprising: 
 a central body;    weld material defining said opposed outwardly beveled transverse edges and opposed outwardly beveled longitudinal edges; and    wherein said outwardly facing surface being of a hard facing material.    
   
   
       18 . The combined casing coupling and casing centralizer of  claim 17 , wherein said hard facing material is tungsten in a matrix.  
   
   
       19 . The combined casing coupling and casing centralizer of  claim 17 , wherein said hard facing material is tungsten carbide in a matrix.  
   
   
       20 . The combined casing coupling and casing centralizer of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one centralizing blade is selected from the group consisting of a swept blade and a helical blade.  
   
   
       21 . The combined casing coupling and casing centralizer of  claim 20 , wherein said hard facing material is tungsten in a matrix.  
   
   
       22 . The combined casing coupling and casing centralizer of  claim 20 , wherein said hard facing material is tungsten carbide in a matrix.  
   
   
       23 . A method of making a combined casing coupling and casing centralizer including the steps of: 
 attaching at least one centralizing blade core to a casing coupling by pulse arc GMAW welding such that opposed outwardly beveled transverse edges and opposed outwardly beveled longitudinal edges are formed along the perimeter of said at least one centralizing blade core; and    hard facing an outward facing surface of said at least one centralizing blade core.    
   
   
       24 . The method of making a combined casing coupling and casing centralizer of  claim 23 , wherein said hard facing of said outward facing surface forms a hard faced surface along the length of said outward facing surface of an arcuately shaped transverse cross section.  
   
   
       25 . The method of making a combined casing coupling and a casing centralizer of  claim 24 , wherein four centralizing blade cores are attached to said casing coupling.  
   
   
       26 . The method of making a combined casing coupling and a casing centralizer of  claim 24 , wherein said at least one centralizing blade core is swept.  
   
   
       27 . The method of making a combined casing coupling and a casing centralizer of  claim 24 , wherein said at least one centralizing blade core is helical.  
   
   
       28 . The method of making a combined casing coupling and a casing centralizer of  claim 23 , further comprising the step of: 
 post weld heat treating said at least one centralizing blade cores prior to hard facing said outward facing surface.    
   
   
       29 . The method of making a combined casing coupling and casing centralizer of  claim 28 , wherein said hard facing of said outward facing surface forms a hard faced surface along the length of said outward facing surface of an arcuately shaped transverse cross section.  
   
   
       30 . The method of making a combined casing coupling and a casing centralizer of  claim 29 , wherein four centralizing blade cores are attached to said casing coupling.  
   
   
       31 . The method of making a combined casing coupling and a casing centralizer of  claim 29 , wherein said at least one centralizing blade core is swept.  
   
   
       32 . The method of making a combined casing coupling and a casing centralizer of  claim 29 , wherein said at least one centralizing blade core is helical.