Importance

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Abstract

A method of drilling a subterranean well utilizing a downhole drilling apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus has a driven rotary drive shaft and a relatively fixed tubular housing circumjacent the drive shaft, with the housing having an annular upwardly facing bearing surface at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the housing and an annular sealing surface facing downwardly at an angle to the axis and axially spaced above the upwardly facing bearing surface. The method includes the steps of securing the drilling apparatus to the lower end of a string of drill pipes suspended in the well with the longitudinal axis of the housing coincident with the longitudinal axis of the string of drill pipe. Thereafter, the drill bit is secured to the lower end of the drive shaft, and fluid is pumped through the drilling apparatus to rotate the drive shaft and the bit. A rotating bearing and sealing device is positioned and secured relative to the drive shaft remotely within the well and axially between the spaced-apart annular bearing surface and annular sealing surface, with the rotating bearing and sealing device having a lower annular surface bearing upon and in face-to-face contact with the upwardly facing bearing surface and having an upper annular surface biased upwardly against the annular sealing surface in face-to-face contact therewith, whereby the axially spaced-apart pairs of annular surfaces provided a seal between the shaft area within the downhole apparatus and that area radially external of said bearing and sealing surface.

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First Claim