# US 2014/0054087 A1 · Drill With Remotely Controlled Operating Modes and System and Method for Providing the Same

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2014/0054087 A1
- Document ID: US20140054087A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/974,970
- Filed: 2013-08-23
- Published: 2014-02-27
- Earliest claimed: 2012-08-23
- Assignees: Ramax, LLC
- Applicants: Ramax, LLC
- Inventors: Fun-Den Wang; Horace M. Varner
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140054087A1

## CPC

- E21B 7/06: Deflecting the direction of boreholes
- E21B 7/046: {horizontal drilling (drilling with mechanical conveying means E21B7/003)}
- E21B 7/065: {using oriented fluid jets}
- E21B 7/14: Drilling by use of heat, e.g. flame drilling
- E21B 7/15: of electrically generated heat
- E21B 7/18: Drilling by liquid or gas jets, with or without entrained pellets (E21B7/14 takes precedence)
- E21B 10/00: Drill bits (specially adapted for deflecting the direction of boring {E21B7/064}; with means for collecting substances E21B27/00)
- E21B 17/20: Flexible or articulated drilling pipes {, e.g. flexible or articulated rods, pipes or cables}
- E21B 21/10: Valve arrangements in drilling-fluid circulation systems
- E21B 43/26: by forming crevices or fractures
- Y10T 137/8593: Systems
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The present invention relates to a drilling system with a multi-function drill head used in, among other applications, oil and gas drilling. The system is used to enhance the effective permeability of an oil and/or gas reservoir by drilling or cutting new structures into the reservoir. The system is capable of cutting straight bores, radius bores, or side panels, by water jets alone or in combination with lasers. In various embodiments, a device for remotely controlling the mode of the system by variations in the pressure of a drilling fluid is also provided, allowing an operator to switch between various modes (straight drilling, radius bore drilling, panel cutting, etc.) without withdrawing the drill string from underground.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A valve assembly for controlling operating modes of a drill, comprising:
a housing, comprising:
a bore;
a first end;
a first hole;
a second hole;
a first body groove interconnected to the first hole, wherein the first body groove corresponds to a first operating mode; and
a second body groove interconnected to the second hole, wherein the second body groove corresponds to a second operating mode;
a spool having an axial bore, a first notch, a second notch, a first end, and a second end, wherein the spool is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the first end of the spool receives an operating fluid, and wherein the first position corresponds to a first pressure of the operating fluid and the second position corresponds to a second pressure of the operating fluid;
a spring biased against the second end of the spool and the first end of the housing; and
a detent assembly for locking the spool in the first position and in the second position, wherein the detent comprises a spring biased against a locking pin, wherein the locking pin is biased against the first notch of the spool when the spool is in the first position and the locking pin is biased against the second notch of the spool when the spool is in the second position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises:
a third hole;
a fourth hole;
a third body groove interconnected to the third hole, wherein the third body groove corresponds to a third operating mode; and
a fourth body groove interconnected to the fourth hole, wherein the fourth body groove corresponds to a fourth operating mode.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The valve assembly of claim 2, wherein:
a first operating mode corresponds to the first pressure of the operating fluid, and wherein the first pressure is between about 40 kpsi and about 50 kpsi;
a second operating mode corresponds to the second pressure of the operating fluid, and wherein the second pressure is between about 30 kpsi and about 40 kpsi;
a third operating corresponds to a third pressure of the operating fluid, and wherein the third pressure is between about 20 kpsi and about 30 kpsi; and
a fourth operating mode corresponds to a fourth pressure of the operating fluid, and wherein the fourth pressure is less than about 20 kpsi.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the first hole of the housing is positioned on a downstream surface of the housing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the first hole of the housing is positioned on a lateral surface of the housing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the first hole of the housing is positioned on an upstream face of the housing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the locking pin of the detent assembly is selected from a group comprising a ball, a pin, a sphere, a wheel, and a block.

### Claim 8

A drilling system comprising:
a drill string;
a drilling fluid for drilling into a geological formation, wherein the drilling fluid flows through the drill string;
a drill head interconnected to the drill string, the drill head having at least two operating modes, wherein a first of the at least two operating modes is selected from a group consisting of a straight drilling mode, a radius bore drilling mode, a side panel cutting mode, a propulsion mode, and a non-operational mode, and wherein the drill head comprises a valve assembly, comprising:
a housing comprising:
a bore;
a first end;
a first hole;
a second hole;
a first body groove interconnected to the first hole, wherein the first body groove corresponds to the first operating mode; and
a second body groove interconnected to the second hole, wherein the second body groove corresponds to the second operating mode; and
a spool having an axial bore, a first end, and a second end, wherein the spool is moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein the first end of the spool receives the drilling fluid, and wherein the first position corresponds to a first pressure of the drilling fluid and the second position corresponds to a second pressure of the drilling fluid; and
wherein the first operating mode corresponds to the first pressure of the drilling fluid and a second of the at least two operating modes corresponds to the second pressure of the drilling fluid.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The drilling system of claim 8, further comprising at least one of a laser, a mechanical drill bit, and a fluid jet.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The drilling system of claim 8, wherein the drill head comprises a laser distributor swivel.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The drilling system of claim 8, wherein the drill head comprises:
a drill head body having a leading surface and a circumferential surface;
a swivel head interconnected to the leading surface of the drill head body, wherein the swivel head has a cutting head;
a side panel cutting head positioned on the circumferential surface of the drill head body; and
wherein the swivel head is angularly articulable relative to a longitudinal axis of the drill head body.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The drilling system of claim 8, wherein the drill head body is displaced about fifteen degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the drill head body.

### Claim 13

A method for enhancing a volume of a reservoir, comprising:
providing a drilling system comprising:
a drill string;
a drilling fluid for drilling into a geological formation, wherein the drilling fluid flows through the drill string;
a drill head interconnected to the drill string, wherein the drill head comprises a valve assembly having a housing with a bore, a first end, a first hole, and a second hole, and the valve assembly comprising a spool having an axial bore, a first end, and a second end, wherein the spool is moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein the first end of the spool receives the drilling fluid, and wherein the first position corresponds to a first pressure of the drilling fluid and the second position corresponds to a second pressure of the drilling fluid;
providing a vertical wellbore into the reservoir;
drilling one or more horizontal boreholes extending outwardly from the vertical wellbore using a first drilling mode;
changing the first drilling mode to a second drilling mode via a remote control while the drill head is in the reservoir; and
cutting a plurality of spaces into the reservoir, wherein the plurality of spaces is interconnected to the horizontal borehole.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising cutting curved bores into the reservoir using a third drilling mode.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the remotely switching drilling modes is accomplished by changing a pressure of the drilling fluid.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the first drilling mode utilizes at least one of a laser, a mechanical drill bit, and a fluid jet.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the spaces are shaped as at least one of a panel, a pancake, and a spiral.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the reservoir comprises one or more of oil and gas.