Core Barrel Head Assembly

Abstract

A core barrel head assembly having a longitudinal axis can comprise an elongate tube body having an outer surface, an interior cavity, a proximal end, and a distal end. The elongate tube body can define a helical groove that extends from the interior cavity to the outer surface of the elongate tube body. The helical groove can be configured to allow the elongate tube body to elastically extend and compress. The elongate tube body can define at least one aperture that extends between the interior cavity and the outer surface. The core barrel head assembly can further comprise a valve body that is attached to the elongate tube body and is movable with respect to the proximal end of the elongate tube along the longitudinal axis, as the elongate tube body compresses. When sufficiently compressed, the valve body restricts flow through the at least one aperture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A core barrel head assembly having a longitudinal axis, the core barrel head assembly comprising:
 an elongate tube body having an outer surface, an interior cavity, a proximal end, and a distal end, wherein the elongate tube body defines a helical groove that extends from the interior cavity to the outer surface of the elongate tube body, wherein the helical groove is configured to allow the elongate tube body to elastically extend from a neutral length to an elongated length.   
     
     
         2 . The core barrel head assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate tube body defines at least one aperture that extends between the interior cavity and the outer surface, wherein the helical groove is configured to allow the elongate tube body to elastically compress from the neutral length, wherein the core barrel head assembly further comprises a valve body that is attached to the elongate tube body and is movable with respect to the proximal end of the elongate tube body along the longitudinal axis, as the elongate tube body compresses, from a first position to a second position, wherein, when in the second position, the valve body causes a greater restriction to flow through the at least one aperture than when the valve body is in the first position. 
     
     
         3 . The core barrel head assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one aperture defines a total flow area of less than 0.5 square inches. 
     
     
         4 . The core barrel head assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one aperture has a width dimension along the longitudinal axis that is less than 0.25 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The core barrel head assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising an electronics compartment having an outer surface, wherein the valve body defines an interior cavity, wherein the electronics compartment is disposed within the interior cavity of the valve body, wherein the electronics compartment is attached to the valve body so that the interior surface of the interior cavity of the valve body and the outer surface of the electronics department define a fluid passage, wherein the valve body, the electronics compartment, or a combination of at least one interior surface of the valve body and at least one exterior surface of the electronics compartment defines at least one opening for providing fluid communication between the fluid passage and the distal end of the valve body. 
     
     
         6 . The core barrel head assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the electronics compartment houses at least one of a battery or an electronic orientation instrument. 
     
     
         7 . The core barrel head assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the fluid passage defined by the interior surface of the interior cavity of the valve body and the outer surface of the electronics department is an annular cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The core barrel head assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the electronics compartment defines the at least one opening for providing fluid communication between the fluid passage and the distal end of the valve body. 
     
     
         9 . The core barrel head assembly of  claim 8 , wherein a portion of the outer surface of the electronics compartment defines at least one male thread along a threaded length, wherein the inner surface of the valve body defines at least one corresponding female thread, wherein the electronics compartment threadedly couples to the valve body via the at least one male thread and the at least one corresponding female thread, wherein the at least one opening extends through the electronics compartment along the threaded length. 
     
     
         10 . The core barrel head assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one opening comprises a plurality of openings separated by respective radially extending webs. 
     
     
         11 . The core barrel head assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the valve body defines the at least one opening for providing fluid communication between the fluid passage and the distal end of the valve body. 
     
     
         12 . The core barrel head assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the combination of at least one interior surface of the valve body and at least one exterior surface of the electronics compartment defines the at least one opening for providing fluid communication between the fluid passage and the distal end of the valve body. 
     
     
         13 . The core barrel head assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the core barrel head assembly comprises a single thrust bearing. 
     
     
         14 . The core barrel head assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the core barrel head assembly does not comprise a grease port. 
     
     
         15 . A drilling system comprising:
 a drill string having:
 a drill bit at a distal end of the drill string; 
 a core barrel head assembly of any of claims  1 - 14 , wherein the core barrel head assembly has a distal end; and 
 a core tube assembly attached to the core barrel head assembly, wherein the core tube assembly comprises:
 a core barrel having a distal end; and 
 a core lifter case at the distal end of the core barrel; 
 
   wherein, when the drill bit is in a drilling configuration, the drill bit is spaced distally of the core lifter case, and   wherein, when the drill bit is in a core break configuration, the drill bit is in contact with the core lifter case, and the elongate tube is elongated from the neutral length.   
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 positioning the drill string of the system of claim  15  within a borehole;   receiving a core sample within the core barrel;   retracting the drill string until the drill bit is in the core break configuration.   
     
     
         17 . A core barrel head assembly having a longitudinal axis, the core barrel head assembly comprising:
 an elongate tube body having an outer surface, an interior cavity, a proximal end, and a distal end, wherein the elongate tube body defines at least one aperture that extends between the interior cavity and the outer surface; and   a valve body that is movable with respect to the proximal end of the elongate tube along the longitudinal axis from a first position to a second position, wherein, when in the second position, the valve body causes a greater restriction to flow through the at least one aperture than when the valve body is in the first position.   
     
     
         18 . The core barrel head assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one aperture defines a total flow area of less than 0.5 square inches. 
     
     
         19 . The core barrel head assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one aperture has a width dimension along the longitudinal axis that is less than 0.25 inches. 
     
     
         20 . The core barrel head assembly of any of  claims 17  wherein the elongate tube body defines a helical groove that extends radially from the interior cavity to the outer surface of the elongate tube body and axially along the longitudinal axis of the core barrel head assembly, wherein the helical groove is configured to allow the elongate tube body to elastically compress from a neutral length. 
     
     
         21 . The core barrel head assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the valve body is attached to the distal end of the elongate tube body. 
     
     
         22 . The core barrel head assembly of any of  claims 17 , further comprising an electronics compartment having an outer surface, wherein the electronics compartment is disposed within the interior cavity of the valve body, wherein the electronics compartment is attached to the valve body so that the interior surface of the interior cavity of the valve body and the outer surface of the electronics department define a fluid passage, wherein the valve body, the electronics compartment, or a combination of at least one interior surface of the valve body and at least one exterior surface of the electronics compartment defines at least one opening for providing fluid communication between the fluid passage and the distal end of the valve body. 
     
     
         23 . A method comprising:
 positioning a drill string within a borehole, the drill string having a distal end, wherein the drill string comprises:
 at least one drill rod defining an interior bore, 
 a drill bit at the distal end of the drill string, and 
 a core barrel head assembly of any of claims  17 - 22 , wherein the core barrel head assembly has a distal end and is disposed within the interior bore of the at least one drill rod, and 
 a core barrel tube attached to the distal end of the core barrel head assembly; and 
   receiving a core sample in the core barrel tube until the elongate tube body compresses to a length in which the valve body is in the second position.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 retracting the drill string until the elongate tube body expands to a third length that is greater than the neutral length.   
     
     
         25 . A core barrel head assembly comprising:
 a valve body having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the valve body defines an interior cavity having an interior surface; and   an electronics compartment having an outer surface, wherein the electronics compartment is disposed within the interior cavity of the valve body,   wherein the electronics compartment is attached to the valve body so that the interior surface of the interior cavity of the valve body and the outer surface of the electronics department define a fluid passage, and   wherein the valve body, the electronics compartment, or a combination of at least one interior surface of the valve body and at least one exterior surface of the electronics compartment defines at least one opening for providing fluid communication between the fluid passage and the distal end of the valve body.   
     
     
         26 . The core barrel head assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the electronics compartment houses at least one of a battery or an electronic orientation instrument. 
     
     
         27 . The core barrel head assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the fluid passage defined by the interior surface of the interior cavity of the valve body and the outer surface of the electronics department is an annular cavity. 
     
     
         28 . The core barrel head assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the electronics compartment defines the at least one opening for providing fluid communication between the fluid passage and the distal end of the valve body. 
     
     
         29 . The core barrel head assembly of  claim 28 , wherein a portion of the outer surface of the electronics compartment define at least one male thread along a threaded length, wherein the inner surface of the valve body defines at least one corresponding female thread, wherein the electronics compartment threadedly couples to the valve body via the at least one male thread and the at least one corresponding female thread, wherein the at least one opening extends through the electronics compartment along the threaded length. 
     
     
         30 . The core barrel head assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one opening comprises a plurality of openings separated by respective radially extending webs. 
     
     
         31 . The core barrel head assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the valve body defines the at least one opening for providing fluid communication between the fluid passage and the distal end of the valve body. 
     
     
         32 . The core barrel head assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the combination of at least one interior surface of the valve body and at least one exterior surface of the electronics compartment defines the at least one opening for providing fluid communication between the fluid passage and the distal end of the valve body. 
     
     
         33 . The core barrel head assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the core barrel head assembly comprises a single thrust bearing. 
     
     
         34 . The core barrel head assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the core barrel head assembly does not comprise a grease port.