Patent ID: 7040406

Claim:
A drill pipe disconnect for connecting a lower portion of a drill pipe string with an upper portion of the drill pipe string, the-lower portion of the drill pipe string extending downward from the drill pipe disconnect through a well bore, the upper portion of the drill pipe string extending downward from a drilling rig to the drill pipe disconnect, such that the drill pipe disconnect is selectively actuated to disengage a lower end of the upper portion of the drill pipe string from an upper end of the lower portion of the drill pipe string, the drill pipe disconnect comprising: a male drill pipe disconnect member having a central axis; a first drill pipe non-rotational engagement member secured to the male drill pipe disconnect member; and a female drill pipe disconnect member for axially receiving the male drill pipe disconnect member therein, each of the male drill pipe disconnect member and the female drill pipe disconnect member being secured to one of the lower end of the upper portion of the drill pipe string and the upper end of the lower portion of the drill pipe string; a second drill pipe non-rotational engagement member secured to the female drill pipe disconnect member for non-rotational engagement with the first drill pipe non-rotational engagement member; a seal for sealing between the male drill pipe disconnect member and the female disconnect member; and a drill pipe interconnection device axially moveable from a latch position for mechanically interconnecting the male drill pipe disconnect member and the female drill pipe disconnect member to an unlatch position for releasing the male drill pipe disconnect member from the female disconnect member.