Patent ID: 6530428
Filing Date: 2003-03-11
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
An apparatus for use in a borehole with a drill string having a drill pipe and a drill bit, comprising:an upper sleeve and a lower sleeve telescopically coupled together, the upper and lower sleeves being structured and arranged to be connected in line with the drill string above the drill bit, with the lower sleeve being closer to the drill bit than is the upper sleeve, the upper and lower sleeves having an interior passage therethrough, the upper and lower sleeves rotating together in unison; a valve seat located in the interior passage and coupled to the lower sleeve, the valve seat being structured and arranged to accept a valve member which, when seated in the valve seat, closes the interior passage; a plurality of separate fluid chambers located between the upper and lower sleeves, the fluid chambers having lower end walls that are connected to the upper sleeve and having upper end walls that are connected to the lower sleeve, the lower end walls, the upper end walls, and the upper and lower sleeves sealing the fluid chamber from the interior passage, the fluid chambers having fluid therein; and a plurality of separate inflatable packers coupled to the lower sleeve, the packers having packer chambers therein, the packer chambers being in communication with respective fluid chambers.