Patent ID: 7353888

Claim:
A method for placing in tension a downhole assembly utilized in a bottom hole assembly of a drill pipe string for drilling oil and gas wells, said method comprising: providing a plurality of tubulars comprising a plurality of associated threaded connections, said plurality of tubulars being threadably connectable together to form said downhole assembly; providing a plurality of slidable force transfer members within said plurality of tubulars such that said plurality of slidable force transfer members are operable for transferring a sufficient force through each of said plurality of threaded connections to a drilling member during drilling of said borehole to hold one or more of said plurality of tubulars in tension; and mounting said plurality of slidable members in said plurality of tubulars prior to said plurality of tubulars being threadably connected together to form said downhole assembly, and wherein said plurality of slidable members are mounted to remain within said plurality of tubulars subsequently to said plurality of tubulars being disconnected and removed from a wellbore.