drill pipe
Quick Summary
Drill pipe is a heavy-walled tube used in petroleum drilling to connect the drill bit to surface equipment. It's a crucial component for transmitting rotary motion to the bit and for circulating drilling mud. This mud is fed through the pipe to the bottom of the borehole, where it scours loose rock and carries it to the surface.12
Key parts of the drill pipe system include:
* Kelly: The top section, often square, that passes through a turntable to transmit rotation.2
* Drill Collars: Extra-heavy sections at the bottom that concentrate weight on the bit and help maintain a vertical wellbore.2
Drilling often involves inserting steel casing pipes to prevent fluid transfer between the borehole and surrounding formations, with progressively smaller diameters used as drilling deepens.3
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