US 11,719,047 B2 · Projectile drilling system

Abstract

Geologic material in a borehole is weakened by accelerating a projectile into contact with the material. A drill bit is then used to bore through the weakened material. To accelerate the projectile, an endcap is placed in a conduit using a source of gas. The endcap isolates the conduit from the external environment. A projectile is then positioned in the conduit above the endcap. Movable members within the conduit are operated in sequence to enable single endcaps and projectiles to be moved into the conduit. Gas from the conduit is evacuated into an annulus between the conduit and a surrounding conduit, and a propellant material is provided into the conduit. The propellant material applies a force to the projectile to accelerate the projectile into contact with the geologic material. A fluid is circulated down a second annulus outside of the surrounding conduit to contact the drill bit and remove debris.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

a first conduit having:
a first end oriented toward geologic material;
and a second end;
a source of gas connected to the second end of the first conduit;
a second conduit positioned around the first conduit, wherein a first annulus is between the first conduit and the second conduit;
a first valve that is movable to separate an interior of the first conduit from the first annulus to enable a gas to flow from the interior to the first annulus;
a first endcap positionable between the interior and the geologic material, wherein the first endcap is configured to separate the interior from an environment external to the first conduit;
a first projectile positionable within the interior, wherein the first projectile is configured for acceleration toward the first end to contact a portion of the geologic material;
and
a third conduit associated with a source of material, wherein a material from the source of material is provided from the source of material toward the geologic material.

7 more elements

A system comprising:

a first conduit having:
a first end oriented toward geologic material;
and a second end;
a first member positioned between a first portion of the first conduit and a second portion of the first conduit, wherein the first member is movable between:
a first position that at least partially obstructs an interior of the first conduit;
and a second position;
a second member positioned between the first member and the second portion of the first conduit, wherein the second member is movable between:
a third position that at least partially obstructs the interior of the first conduit;
and a fourth position;
a first endcap positionable within the interior of the first conduit, wherein the first endcap is movable from the first portion of the first conduit to the second portion by moving the first endcap past the first member when the second member is in the third position, and by moving the first endcap past the second member in the fourth position when the first member is in the first position;
a first projectile positionable within the interior, wherein the first projectile is movable from the first portion of the first conduit to the second portion by moving the first projectile past the first member when the second member is in the third position, and by moving the first projectile past the second member in the fourth position when the first member is in the first position;
a source of gas in communication with the first conduit;
one or more first valves positioned between the first portion of the first conduit and the second portion of the first conduit, wherein the one or more first valves are movable to prevent passage of a gas from the source of gas toward the second portion of the first conduit;
and
an opening in the first conduit for movement of the gas out of the first conduit.

12 more elements

A method comprising:

moving an endcap from a first end of a first conduit toward a second end of the first conduit, wherein the second end is oriented toward geologic material, and wherein movement of the endcap toward the second end is limited by a first member within the first conduit that is between the first end and the second end;
moving a projectile from the first end of the first conduit toward the second end, wherein movement of the projectile toward the second end is limited by the endcap;
moving the first member away from an interior of the first conduit;
moving the endcap past the first member, wherein movement of the endcap toward the second end is limited by a second member that is between the first member and the second end;
moving the first member toward the interior, wherein movement of the projectile toward the second end is limited by the first member;
moving the second member away from the interior;
moving the endcap past the second member to a first position within the first conduit, wherein the endcap separates the interior of the first conduit from an environment external to the first conduit;
moving the first member away from the interior and moving the second member toward the interior;
moving the projectile past the first member, wherein movement of the projectile toward the second end is limited by the second member;
moving the second member away from the interior;
moving the projectile past the second member to a second position within the first conduit, wherein the endcap is between the projectile and the second end;
providing a first gas between the first end of the first conduit and the geologic material, wherein the first gas displaces a material between the first end and the geologic material;
providing a propellant material into the first conduit;
and
accelerating the projectile toward the second end using a force applied by the propellant material, wherein the projectile contacts a portion of the geologic material.

12 more elements

A system comprising:

a first conduit having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is oriented toward geologic material;
a first member positioned between a first portion of the first conduit and a second portion of the first conduit, wherein the first member is movable between:
a first position that at least partially obstructs an interior of the first conduit;
and a second position;
a second member positioned between the first member and the second portion of the first conduit, wherein the second member is movable between:
a third position that at least partially obstructs the interior of the first conduit;
and a fourth position;
a first endcap positionable within the interior of the first conduit, wherein the first endcap is movable from the first portion of the first conduit to the second portion by moving the first endcap past the first member when the first member is in the second position, and by moving the first endcap past the second member when the second member is in the fourth position;
and
a first projectile positionable within the interior, wherein the first projectile is movable from the first portion of the first conduit to the second portion by moving the first projectile past the first member when the first member is in the second position, and by moving the first projectile past the second member when the second member is in the fourth position;
wherein:
the second portion of the first conduit comprises:
a first inner diameter;
and a seat having a second inner diameter greater than the first inner diameter;
and
the first endcap comprises one or more features for engagement with the first conduit.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Projectile drilling system

Life of this patent

Projectile drilling system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28