US 12,270,257 B1
Insulated drill pipes and processes of making and using same
Milton Hruschak, Conroe, TX (US)
Filed by COMMAND TUBULAR PRODUCTS, LLC, New Caney, TX (US)
Filed on Jun. 7, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/737,363.
Int. Cl. F16L 58/02 (2006.01); E21B 17/00 (2006.01); E21B 17/042 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 17/003 (2013.01) [E21B 17/042 (2013.01); F16L 58/02 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An insulated drill pipe, comprising:
a) a tubular outer drill pipe including a pin upset end having external tapered threads and internal non-tapered threads, and a box upset end having internal tapered box threads and a non-tapered threaded section internal of a shoulder of the box upset end, the tubular outer drill pipe having a non-threaded inner surface, and an inner bore defining a longitudinal axis;
b) an inner tubing within the tubular outer drill pipe and forming an annulus therebetween, the inner tubing having a non-threaded inner surface and an outer surface having a non-threaded portion extending a major length of the inner tubing and one external threaded section extending a minor length of the inner tubing from a first end of the inner tubing;
c) insulating material positioned in a major portion of the annulus between the tubular outer drill pipe non-threaded inner surface and the non-threaded portion of the outer surface of the inner tubing;
d) a first tubular coupler having a shaft and a flange on one end, a threaded outer shaft surface, and a threaded inner shaft surface, the flange creating a solid stop internal of the flange;
c) a second tubular coupler having a shaft and a flange on one end, a threaded outer shaft surface, and a non-threaded inner shaft surface, the flange creating a solid stop internal of the flange; and
f) a tubular expansion joint positioned between a second end of the inner tubing and the solid stop of the second coupler;
wherein the inner tubing is retained within the outer drill pipe by the first coupler external threads interfacing with the internal threads of the first end of the outer drill pipe, and the first coupler internal threads interfacing with the threaded section of the inner tubing, and
the second coupler non-threaded internal surface interfacing with the non-threaded exterior surface of the inner tubing second end, and the threaded exterior surface of the second coupler threadingly-mating with the internal threaded surface of the second end of the outer drill pipe.