# US 12,000,282 B1 · Systems and methods for microwave-based drilling employing coiled tubing waveguide

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- Number: US 12,000,282 B1
- Document ID: US12000282B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 18/305,790
- Filed: 2023-04-24
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2023-04-24
- Assignees: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
- Applicants: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
- Inventors: Ashley Bernard Johnson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000282B1

## CPC

- E21B 7/15: of electrically generated heat
- E21B 19/22: Handling reeled pipe or rod units, e.g. flexible drilling pipes {(lifting or hauling appliances using two or more cooperating endless chains B66D3/003)}
- H05B 6/70: Feed lines
- H05B 6/80: Apparatus for specific applications (stoves or ranges F24C7/02)
- H05B 2206/04: Heating using microwaves
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

Microwave-based drilling systems and methods are provided that employ coiled tubing that is deployed from a spool of coiled tubing to guide propagation of microwave radiation into a borehole. The coiled tubing has a surface end disposed at the spool. Microwave radiation generated at the surface is injected into the surface end of the coiled tubing. The microwave radiation propagates inside the coiled tubing and is used to vaporize rock and extend the borehole.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for drilling a borehole into a subsurface formation, comprising:
a spool of coiled tubing, wherein the coiled tubing has a surface end disposed at the spool, and wherein the coil tubing extends from the spool into the borehole;
a microwave generator; and
a coupler for injecting microwave radiation generated by the microwave generator into the surface end of the coiled tubing, wherein the coiled tubing functions to guide propagation of the microwave radiation into the borehole, and wherein the coiled tubing has a continuous inner diameter surface having a diameter greater than two times the characteristic wavelength of the microwave radiation injected into the surface end of the coiled tubing.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
microwave radiation that propagates inside the coiled tubing is used to vaporize rock and extend the borehole into the formation.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
the coupler is further configured to inject a pressurized fluid into the surface end of the coiled tubing.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein:
the pressurized fluid flows through the coiled tubing and acts as a transparent medium for propagation of microwave radiation inside the coiled tubing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein:
the pressurized fluid flows through the coiled tubing and acts as a purge fluid to keep the inside of the coiled tubing free of unwanted matter.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein:
the unwanted matter includes dust or rock particles or other solids as well as moisture or other fluid residue that result from the microwave radiation heating the formation.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein:
the pressurized fluid comprises an inert gas.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein:
the inert gas comprises argon.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
the microwave generator is disposed outside the spool such that the microwave generator does not rotate with the spool; or
the microwave generator is disposed inside the spool such that the microwave generator rotates with the spool.

### Claim 10 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, further comprising:
a waveguide operably coupled between the microwave generator and the coupler; and
an injection manifold having multiple legs that supply the pressurized fluid to the waveguide through corresponding ports in the waveguide.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
the coiled tubing comprises a continuous length of small-diameter steel pipe coiled on the spool and deployed from the spool in a continuous length.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
the coiled tubing has an inner diameter surface that is cleaned and flushed with solvents.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
the coiled tubing is purged with an inert gas when not in use in order to avoid the possibility of surface damage or corrosion.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
the microwave generator comprises a magnetron, gyrotron, or other suitable microwave generator.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
the coupler comprises a swivel coupler.

### Claim 16

A method for drilling a borehole into a subsurface formation, comprising:
deploying coiled tubing from a spool of coiled tubing such that the coiled tubing extends from the spool into the borehole, wherein the coiled tubing has a surface end disposed at the spool;
injecting, via a coupler, microwave radiation generated by a microwave generator into the surface end of the coiled tubing, wherein the coiled tubing functions to guide propagation of the microwave radiation into the borehole, and wherein the coiled tubing has a continuous inner diameter surface having a diameter greater than two times the characteristic wavelength of the microwave radiation injected into the surface end of the coiled tubing; and
using microwave radiation that propagates inside the coiled tubing to vaporize rock and extend the borehole into the formation.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, further comprising:
injecting a pressurized fluid into the surface end of the coiled tubing.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein:
the pressurized fluid flows through the coiled tubing and acts as a transparent medium for the propagation of the microwave radiation inside the coiled tubing.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein:
the pressurized fluid flows through the coiled tubing and acts as a purge fluid to keep the inside of the coiled tubing free of unwanted matter.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein:
the unwanted matter includes dust or rock particles or other solids as well as moisture or other fluid residue that result from the microwave radiation heating the formation.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein:
the pressurized fluid comprises an inert gas.

### Claim 22 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, further comprising:
cleaning and flushing the coiled tubing with solvents.

### Claim 23 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, further comprising:
purging the coiled tubing with an inert gas when not in use in order to avoid the possibility of surface damage or corrosion.

### Claim 24

A system for drilling a borehole into a subsurface formation, comprising:
a spool of coiled tubing, wherein the coiled tubing has a surface end disposed at the spool, and wherein the coil tubing extends from the spool into the borehole;
a microwave generator;
a coupler for injecting microwave radiation generated by the microwave generator into the surface end of the coiled tubing, wherein the coiled tubing functions to guide propagation of the microwave radiation into the borehole, and wherein the coupler is further configured to inject a pressurized fluid into the surface end of the coiled tubing;
a waveguide operably coupled between the microwave generator and the coupler; and
an injection manifold having multiple legs that supply the pressurized fluid to the waveguide through corresponding ports in the waveguide.