Projectile drilling system
AssigneeHypersciences, Inc.
InventorMARK C. RUSSELL
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hole in geologic material, such as a wellbore, may be extended by impacting the working face of the hole with high velocity projectiles. A tube may be placed within the hole, and the lower end of the tube may be sealed to prevent ingress of material from the hole into the tube. A projectile may be accelerated through the tube, such as by igniting a combustible gas mixture to impart a force to the projectile. The impact of the projectile may extend the hole. In some cases, accelerated projectiles may be used in conjunction with a drill bit to drill a wellbore or other type of hole.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- providing a first end of a tube within a hole;
- sealing the first end of the tube to isolate an interior of the tube from one or more materials within the hole;
- providing a projectile within the interior of the tube;
- and
- accelerating the projectile toward the first end of the tube, wherein the projectile exits the tube and impacts a surface of the hole.
A system comprising:
- a tube having a first end, a second end, and an interior;
- a seal proximate to the second end, wherein the seal prevents fluid communication between at least a portion of the interior of the tube and a region exterior to the tube;
- a drill bit engaged with the second end, wherein the drill bit includes an orifice;
- a projectile proximate to the first end;
- and
- a propellant material associated with the projectile, wherein the propellant material is configured to provide a force to the projectile to accelerate the projectile toward the first end to pass through the orifice in the drill bit.
A method comprising:
- providing a tube having a first end and a second end into a hole, wherein a drill bit is engaged with the first end, the drill bit having an orifice;
- sealing the tube proximate to the first end to at least partially prevent ingress of material from the hole into the tube;
- providing a projectile and a propellant material proximate to the first end of the tube;
- and
- actuating the propellant material to accelerate the projectile toward the second end of the tube, wherein the projectile passes through the orifice of the drill bit to contact a surface of the hole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.