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US 2012/0267168 A1Published application
Electric motor for laser-mechanical drilling
AssigneeForo Energy, Inc.
InventorsDaryl L. Grubb, Brian O. Faircloth, Mark S. Zediker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is provided a high power laser drilling system utilizing an electric motor laser bottom hole assembly having the high power laser beam traveling within the electric motor for advancing a borehole. The systems may include a down hole electrical motor having a hollow rotor for conveying a high power laser beam through the motor.
Claims88
A high power laser electric motor assembly comprising:
- a. a first section associated with a second section;
- b. the second section rotationally associated with a third section;
- c. the first section comprising a means for receiving a high power laser beam, a means for collimating the laser beam, and a first fluid cavity;
- d. the second section comprising an inner cavity and a second fluid cavity;
- e. a laser beam path extending through the inner cavity, wherein the laser beam path is in collimated space;
- and,
- f. the third section comprising an optics assembly, and a third fluid cavity;
- g. a first rotary sealing means associating the first and second sections;
- h. a second rotary sealing means associating the second and the third sections;
- i. wherein, the means for collimating the laser beam, the second section inner cavity and the third section optics assembly are in optical communication, and wherein the first fluid cavity, the second fluid cavity and the third fluid cavity are in fluid communication.
7 more elements
The assembly of claim 54, wherein the bent sub has an optical wedge assembly.
An electric motor laser bottom hole assembly drilling system comprising:
- a. a high power laser source, having the capability to provide a laser beam having a power of greater than about 50 kW;
- b. an electrical power source;
- c. a conveyance structure,
- d. an electric motor bottom hole assembly;
- e. the conveyance structure optically associating the laser source and the electric motor bottom hole assembly, and the conveyance structure electrically associating the electrical power source and the electric motor bottom hole assembly;
- f. the electric motor bottom hole assembly comprising:
- an electric motor having a hollow rotor, and a laser-mechanical bit;
- and,
- g. a laser beam path extending through the hollow rotor, whereby the laser beam from the laser source is transmitted through the hollow rotor to a laser-mechanical bit.
6 more elements
An electric motor laser bottom hole assembly drilling system comprising:
- a. a high power laser source, having the capability to provide a laser beam having a power of greater than about 50 kW;
- b. an electrical power source;
- c. a conveyance structure,
- d. an electric motor bottom hole assembly;
- e. the conveyance structure optically associating the laser source and the electric motor bottom hole assembly, and the conveyance structure electrically associating the electrical power source and the electric motor bottom hole assembly;
- f. the electric motor bottom hole assembly comprising:
- a first optical package, a second optical package, an electric motor having a hollow rotor, and a laser-mechanical bit, wherein the first optical package comprises a collimating optic;
- g. a beam path tube partially within the hollow rotor and optically and sealingly associating the first optics package and the second optics package;
- h. the second optical package optically associated with the laser-mechanic bit;
- and,
- i. a laser beam path extending through the beam path tube, whereby the laser beam from the laser source is transmitted through the beam path tube in collimated space to the second optical package and to the laser-mechanical bit.
8 more elements
A system for performing high power laser operations comprising:
- a. a high power laser source;
- b. the high power laser in optical association with a high power laser fiber;
- c. the high power laser fiber in optical communication with a first optical package in an electric motor laser bottom hole assembly;
- d. the first optical package in optical communication with a second optical package and defining a laser beam path between the first and second optical packages;
- and,
- e. the laser beam path being at least partly located within a section of the electric motor where rotation takes place upon operation of the motor.
3 more elements
A method of laser-mechanical directional drilling comprising:
- a. providing an electric motor laser bottom hole assembly system to a borehole at a borehole site, the system comprising an electric motor laser bottom hole assembly and a high power laser source, the electric motor bottom hole assembly comprising a pair of optical wedges;
- b. lowering the laser bottom hole assembly into the borehole;
- c. configuring the optical wedges to define an angled laser beam path;
- d. delivering a high power laser beam having at least about 20 kW to the electrical motor laser bottom hole assembly, wherein the high power laser beam is transmitted through the configured optical wedges;
- e. wherein the angled beam path correlates with a directional drilling path and whereby the borehole is advanced along the directional drilling path.
2 more elements
A method of advancing a borehole comprising:
- providing a system for performing high power laser operations comprising:
- a. a high power laser source;
- b. the high power laser in optical association with a high power laser fiber;
- c. the high power laser fiber in optical communication with a first optical package in an electric motor laser bottom hole assembly;
- d. the first optical package in optical communication with a second optical package and defining a laser beam path between the first and second optical packages;
- and,
- e. the laser beam path being at least partly located within a section of the electric motor where rotation takes place upon operation of the motor;
- lowering the system into a borehole and rotating the electric motor while propagating a laser beam through the electric motor bottom hole assembly to thereby advance the borehole.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.