Patent ID: 8579047
Filing Date: 2013-11-12
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A downhole fluid pressure restraining apparatus, comprising: a section of drill string proximate to a well-drilling bit assembly; a tubular casing member to rotatively couple to the section of drill string and to track with the section of drill string down a borehole during drilling operations; at least one seal assembly to extend radially from the tubular casing member for 360 degrees around the tubular casing member to an uncased drilling formation wall associated with the borehole, the seal assembly to support a column of reservoir effluent standing in an annulus between a drill string extending upward from the downhole pressure restraining apparatus and the drilling formation wall, to isolate pressure associated with the column of effluent from a pressurized flow of drilling fluids and/or cuttings at the well-drilling bit assembly, and to engage in rolling motion with the formation wall along a longitude of the formation wall as the drilling operations progress; at least one inner annular bearing assembly positioned about the section of drill string to operate in an intermediate annulus between the tubular casing member and the section of drill string and to perform at least one of preventing contact between an inner surface of the tubular casing member and an outer surface of the section of drill string or reducing friction between the inner surface of the tubular casing member and the outer surface of the section of drill string; and at least two annular bearing keeper collars, at least one annular bearing keeper collar affixed below the inner annular bearing assembly and at least one annular bearing keeper collar affixed above the inner annular bearing assembly, each annular bearing keeper collar affixed to at least one of the inner surface of the tubular casing member or the outer surface of the section of drill string to support the at least one inner annular bearing assembly and to inhibit relative movement between the tubular casing member and the section of drill string along a longitudinal axis of the section of drill string.