Drill pipe with vibration dampening liner

Abstract

An instrumented drill pipe including an elastomeric tubular liner secured to the inner surface of a tubular member. The elastomeric liner has an interior surface configured to form a plurality of lobes extending radially inwardly and spaced circumferentially about the liner. An elongated measurement instrument assembly is positioned within the longitudinal passage of the liner and frictionally engaged by the lobes of the liner whereby the instrument is supported in the longitudinal passage of the liner so that vibration imparted to the instrument is absorbed by the liner and fluid is permitted to pass through recesses formed between the lobes.

1 . An instrumented drill pipe, comprising: 
 a tubular member having a first end, a second end, an outer surface, and an inner surface, the first end and the second end connectable to adjacent tubular members;    an elastomeric liner secured to the inner surface of the tubular member, the elastomeric liner being tubular in shape and having a first end, a second end, and an interior surface defining a longitudinal passage through the liner, the interior surface having a plurality of lobes extending radially inwardly and spaced circumferentially about the liner, the lobes defining a plurality of recesses therebetween; and    an measurement instrument assembly positioned within the longitudinal passage of the liner and frictionally engaged by the lobes of the liner whereby the measurement instrument assembly is supported in the longitudinal passage of the liner so that vibration imparted to the measurement instrument assembly is absorbed by the liner and fluid is permitted to pass through the recesses formed between the lobes.    
   
   
       2 . The instrumented drill pipe of  claim 1  wherein each of the lobes of the liner extends from the first end to the second end of the liner in a substantially parallel relationship to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member.  
   
   
       3 . The instrumented drill pipe of  claim 2  wherein the liner extends from the first end of the tubular member to the second end of the tubular member.  
   
   
       4 . The instrumented drill pipe of  claim 2  wherein the elastomeric liner has at least three lobes.  
   
   
       5 . The instrumented drill pipe of  claim 1  wherein each of the lobes of the liner extends from the first end to the second end of the liner in a helical pattern.  
   
   
       6 . The instrumented drill pipe of  claim 5  wherein the liner extends from the first end of the tubular member to the second end of the tubular member.  
   
   
       7 . The instrumented drill pipe of  claim 1  wherein the tubular member is non-magnetic.  
   
   
       8 . The instrumented drill pipe of  claim 1  wherein the tubular member is a drill collar.  
   
   
       9 . An instrumented drill pipe, comprising: 
 a tubular member having a first end, a second end, an outer surface, and an inner surface, the first end and the second end connectable to adjacent tubular members;    an elastomeric liner secured to the inner surface of the tubular member, the elastomeric liner being tubular in shape and having a first end, a second end, and an interior surface defining a longitudinal passage through the liner, the interior surface configured to form a plurality of lobes radially inwardly extending lobes, the lobes spaced circumferentially about the liner so as to define plurality of recesses there between and each lobe extending from the first end to the second end of the liner in a helical pattern; and    an measurement instrument assembly positioned within the longitudinal passage of the liner and frictionally engaged by the lobes of the liner whereby the measurement instrument assembly is supported in the longitudinal passage of the liner so that vibration imparted to the measurement instrument assembly is absorbed by the liner and fluid is permitted to pass through the recesses formed between the lobes.    
   
   
       10 . The instrumented drill pipe of  claim 9  wherein the liner extends from the first end of the tubular member to the second end of the tubular member.  
   
   
       11 . The instrumented drill pipe of  claim 9  wherein the tubular member is non-magnetic.  
   
   
       12 . The instrumented drill pipe of  claim 9  wherein the tubular member is a drill collar.