# US 2014/0190746 A1 · Unmanned Unattended Mineral Exploration Drilling and Sample Return System

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- Number: US 2014/0190746 A1
- Document ID: US20140190746A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/734,885
- Filed: 2013-01-04
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-04
- Inventors: Rand Barton Carawan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190746A1

## CPC

- E21B 25/00: Apparatus for obtaining or removing undisturbed cores, e.g. core barrels or core extractors (core bits E21B10/02)
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

The invention is a system and methods for conducting automated, unmanned and unattended drilling operations. The system comprises an unmanned and unattended landing and launch vehicle capable of navigating to a location and reversibly coupled to an automated drilling platform. The automated drilling platform can autonomously conduct drilling operations, such as, collecting core samples. Automated drilling operations may comprise deploying a core drilling rigid mast that autonomously feeds pipe sections onto the rigid mast proportional to depths drilled, then extracting the pipe sections containing core samples sequentially from the mast head, securing the core samples in the launch and landing vehicle, retracting the mast head from the bore line and securing it in the launch and landing vehicle. Once drilling is complete, the automated drilling platform may be de-coupled from the landing and launch vehicle before re-launching the vehicle and returning the samples to an accessible terrain or location.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-6. (canceled)

### Claim 7

A system for conducting unmanned and unattended drilling operations comprising:
An unmanned and unattended launch and landing vehicle capable of navigating to a predetermined location; and
An automated drilling platform capable of conducting automated drilling operations, the automated drilling platform detachably coupled to the launch and landing vehicle.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 where the drilling operations further comprise collecting core samples.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 where the automated drilling platform further comprises a rigid mast, a mast head coupled to the rigid mast, and a bit coupled to the mast head.

### Claim 10 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3 where the rigid mast is further comprised of pipe sections capable of collecting core samples during drilling.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 where the landing and launch vehicle is a rocket further comprising a circumferential aspect.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 where the landing and launch vehicle further comprises storage capable of holding collected core samples

### Claim 13 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5 wherein the storage is a rack around the circumferential aspect of the rocket.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 where system further comprises a dirigible coupled to the launch and landing vehicle, the dirigible capable of lifting the launch and landing vehicle, while the vehicle is loaded with core samples and carrying the vehicle to an accessible location.

### Claim 15

A method of drilling comprising the steps of deploying an unmanned and unattended launch vehicle capable of navigating to a predetermined location, allowing the launch vehicle to land at the predetermined location, and allowing the unmanned and unattended vehicle to conduct drilling operations.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of allowing the unmanned and unattended vehicle to correct its orientation to land on a substantially flat surface substantially parallel to the base of the unmanned and unattended vehicle.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the step of conducting drilling operations further comprises the steps of, deploying an automated drilling platform which is in turn capable of deploying a drilling mast head further comprising a bit, at a desired angle relative to the flat surface.

### Claim 18 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the step of conducting drilling operations further comprises the step of sequentially and automatically adding and connecting pipe sections to a rigid mast thereby extending the length of the rigid mast to allow deeper drilling.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 wherein the step of conducting drilling operations further comprises the step of automatically and sequentially retracting the pipe sections, now containing core samples, and coupling them to the landing and launch vehicle.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of launching the unmanned and unattended landing and launch vehicle from the predetermined location and transporting it to an accessible location.

### Claim 21 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of decoupling the automated drilling platform from the unmanned and unattended vehicle in order to reduce launch weight and improve fuel economy.