US 12,006,778 B2
Non-rotating drill pipe protector tool having multiple types of hydraulic bearings
Sarah Banks, Fullerton, CA (US); and Norman Bruce Moore, Aliso Viejo, CA (US)
Assigned to WWT North America Holdings, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed by WWT NORTH AMERICA HOLDINGS, INC., Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Sep. 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/931,274.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/261,551, filed on Sep. 23, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0087579 A1, Mar. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. E21B 17/10 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 17/1007 (2013.01) 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
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.