What makes up a drill string
The drill string is a key component that connects surface equipment and downhole drill bits in drilling operations. It undertakes multiple important tasks such as transmitting power, transporting drilling fluid, and controlling downhole operations. The components of a drill string mainly include the following aspects:
1. Kelly:
This is the top dog of the drill string. It's that square or hex-shaped piece that sticks up at the top.
Its job is to take the spinning power from the big turntable on the surface and pass it down to the rest of the drill string.
Basically, it's the thing that gets the whole drill string turning.
2. Drill Pipe:
These are the long pipes that make up most of the drill string. They're all screwed together to make one long line.
They do a couple of things: they connect the surface stuff to the drill down at the bottom, they spin the drill bit, and they carry the drilling mud down.
How many pipes you use depends on how deep you're trying to go.
3. Drill Collars:
These are like the heavyweights of the drill string. They're thick and heavy, and they sit down at the bottom.
They push down on the drill bit to help it cut through the rock, and they also keep the drill string from bending and shaking too much.
They're there to make drilling smoother and keep things from breaking.
4. Drill Bit:
This is the business end of the drill string. It's what actually chews through the rock.
There are all sorts of drill bits, depending on what kind of rock you're drilling through.
5. Other Helpful Stuff:
Stabilizers: These keep the drill string from wobbling around too much.
Shock Absorbers: These take the bumps and shakes out of the drill string, so nothing gets damaged.
Jar: If the drill string gets stuck, this thing gives it a big jolt to try and free it.
Hole Openers: These make the hole bigger, if you need to.
Connections: These are what hold all the pipes and tools together.
Candy