CPC E21B 17/1007 (2013.01) | 19 Claims |
1. A non-rotating drill pipe protector comprising a collar for attachment to a drill pipe and a sleeve positioned around the collar wherein drilling fluid passes between flexible bearing surfaces between on collar and the sleeve which generates hydrodynamic fluid bearings in both an axial and thrust direction of the drill pipe, wherein a portion of the flexible bearing surfaces on the sleeve are flats extending in a longitudinal and a circumferential direction on the inner surface of the sleeve, wherein the collar has multiple circumferential bearing rings spaced along the length of the collar, wherein the bearing rings have at least one longitudinal channel for axial flow of the drilling fluid through the protector, and wherein the longitudinal channel is circumferentially staggered between adjacent bearing rings.
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