US Patent 11859453 Apparatus for mounting on a tubular structure

An apparatus for mounting on a tubular structure, such as a casing or drill string having a longitudinal axis, that may reduce friction of the tubular structure in a horizontal or deviated well comprises a tubular segment for mounting over the casing or drill string such that the apparatus is freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis. The apparatus also includes a plurality of ridges on an outer face of the tubular segment, the ridges being at an angle to an axial direction of the tubular segment to cause the apparatus to rotate responsive to movement of the apparatus against a wall of a wellbore as the apparatus traverses the wellbore. The raised ridges have a non-uniform height from the outer face of the tubular segment.