Compliant module connections

Abstract

Systems capable of compliantly coupling electrical assemblies located within drill string modules or drill collars to one another can include male and female mating portions, wire-carrying hollow tubes including helical portions thereof, a plurality of wires, and interconnection systems for interconnecting the plurality of wires. Related methods can include manufacturing the drill string modules and various components thereof, coupling the drill string modules to one another, and tripping the drill string modules into a wellbore.

1 . A compliant module connection system, comprising:
 a first module including a first drill collar, a first electric component, a first hollow tube, a first wire that is electrically coupled to the first electrical component and that extends through the first hollow tube, and a first portion of a module connection system;   a second module including a second drill collar, a second electric component, a second hollow tube, a second wire that is electrically coupled to the second electrical component and that extends through the second hollow tube, and a second portion of the module connection system;   the second portion of the module connection system complementary to the first portion of the module connection system; and   the first hollow tube comprising at least one of:
 a telescopic joint of the first hollow tube, and 
 a helical portion of the first hollow tube. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first portion of the module connection system is a male portion of a male-female module connection system and the second portion of the module connection system is a female portion of the male-female module connection system. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first portion of the module connection system is a female portion of a male-female module connection system and the second portion of the module connection system is a male portion of the male-female module connection system. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first module includes a third electric component and a third wire that is electrically coupled to the third electric component and that extends through the first hollow tube. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein when the first portion of the module connection system is engaged with the second portion of the module connection system, the first wire is electrically coupled to the second wire. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first module is a first drill string module and the second module is a second drill string module. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A method of making compliant module connections, comprising:
 positioning a first electric component within a first drill collar of a first module;   electrically coupling a first wire to the first electric component;   running the first wire through a first hollow tube;   positioning a second electric component within a second drill collar of a second module;   electrically coupling a second wire to the second electric component;   running the second wire through a second hollow tube; and   electrically coupling the first wire to the second wire by physically connecting the first module to the second module.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein running the first wire through a first hollow tube includes running the first wire through a helical portion of the first hollow tube. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein running the first wire through a first hollow tube includes running the first wire through a telescopic joint of the first hollow tube. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein physically connecting the first module to the second module includes mating a male portion of the first module with a female portion of the second module. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 positioning a third electric component within the first drill collar;   electrically coupling a third wire to the third electric component; and   running the third wire through the first hollow tube.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the first module is a first drill string module and the second module is a second drill string module. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising tripping the first drill string module and the second drill string module into a wellbore. 
     
     
         15 . A drill string length adjustment system, comprising:
 an inner hollow shaft having a threaded external surface and a longitudinally extending keyway formed in the threaded external surface;   an outer hollow shaft having a threaded internal surface complementary to the threaded external surface of the inner hollow shaft and an opening formed through an end portion of the outer hollow shaft; and   an alignment key configured to extend through the opening and into the keyway.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising an outer sleeve configured to extend over the inner hollow shaft, the outer hollow shaft, and the alignment key to lock the inner hollow shaft, the outer hollow shaft, and the alignment key to one another. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15  wherein when the alignment key extends through the opening and into the keyway, the alignment key rotationally locks the inner hollow shaft to the outer hollow shaft.