# US 2019/0040686 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 2019/0040686 A1 - Document ID: US20190040686A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/153,316 - Filed: 2018-10-05 - Published: 2019-02-07 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-23 - Assignees: Ramax, LLC - Applicants: Ramax, LLC - Inventors: Fun-Den Wang; Horace M. Varner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190040686A1 ## CPC - E21B 7/18: Drilling by liquid or gas jets, with or without entrained pellets (E21B7/14 takes precedence) - E21B 7/046: {horizontal drilling (drilling with mechanical conveying means E21B7/003)} - E21B 7/065: {using oriented fluid jets} - E21B 7/15: of electrically generated heat - 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 the well bore. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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 operating mode 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 a second operating mode of the at least two operating modes; 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; wherein the first operating mode corresponds to the first pressure of the drilling fluid and the second operating mode corresponds to the second pressure of the drilling fluid; a drill head body having a leading surface and a circumferential surface; a side panel cutting head positioned on the circumferential surface of the drill head body; and a swivel head interconnected to the leading surface of the drill head body, wherein the swivel head is angularly articulable relative to a longitudinal axis of the drill head body, and wherein the swivel head comprises: a first fluid jet cutter; a second fluid jet cutter; a first laser cutter; and a second laser cutter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drilling system of claim 1, further comprising a side panel cutting head positioned on the circumferential surface of the drill head body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The drilling system 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 4 (depends on 3) The drilling system of claim 3, wherein: the first pressure of the drilling fluid is between about 40 kpsi and about 50 kpsi; the second pressure of the drilling fluid is between about 30 kpsi and about 40 kpsi; the third operating mode corresponds to a third pressure of the drilling fluid, and wherein the third pressure is between about 20 kpsi and about 30 kpsi; and the fourth operating mode corresponds to a fourth pressure of the drilling fluid, and wherein the fourth pressure is less than about 20 kpsi. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The drilling system of claim 1, wherein the first hole of the housing is positioned on a downstream surface of the housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The drilling system of claim 1, wherein the first hole of the housing is positioned on a lateral surface of the housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The drilling system of claim 1, wherein the first hole of the housing is positioned on an upstream face of the housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The drilling system of claim 1, further comprising 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 a first notch of the spool when the spool is in the first position and the locking pin is biased against a second notch of the spool when the spool is in the second position; wherein the locking pin of the detent assembly is selected from a group consisting of a ball, a pin, a sphere, a wheel, and a block. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The drilling system of claim 1, further comprising a percussive fluid jet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The drilling system of claim 1, wherein the drill head comprises a laser distributor swivel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The drilling system of claim 1, wherein the drill head body is displaced about fifteen degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the drill head body. ### Claim 12 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 a first operating mode, a second operating mode, and a third operating mode, wherein the first operating mode 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 first laser cutter with a first laser beam; a second laser cutter with a second laser beam; and 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; wherein the first operating mode corresponds to the first pressure of the drilling fluid, the second operating mode corresponds to the second pressure of the drilling fluid, and the third operating mode corresponds to the first and second laser beams pointing at an impingement point on the geological formation; 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 13 (depends on 12) The drilling system of claim 12, wherein the drill head body is displaced about fifteen degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the drill head body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The drilling system of claim 12, further comprising a fluid jet. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The drilling system of claim 12, further comprising a mechanical drill bit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The drilling system of claim 12, wherein the spool further comprises a first notch and a second notch, wherein the valve assembly further comprises a detent assembly comprising a spring biased against a locking pin, and 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 17 A method for treating a tar sands formation, comprising: providing a well bore extending to an upper section of the tar sands formation, wherein the upper section is located directly below an overburden section; providing an injection well in the well bore, the injection well extending to the tar sands formation; providing a production well in the well bore, the production well extending to the upper section of the tar sands formation; cutting an initial cavity into the upper section of the tar sands formation, wherein the initial cavity is substantially longer and wider than the initial cavity is deep; providing a heater in the initial cavity; providing heated fluid into the initial cavity through the injection at a first pressure; heating the heated fluid in the initial cavity using the heater; mixing the heated fluid with hydrocarbons in the tar sands formation; increasing the size of the initial cavity by extending the cavity deeper down into the tar sands formation, wherein the cavity has an upper section and a lower section; allowing heat from the heaters and heated fluid to transfer to the hydrocarbons in the cavity; allowing the hydrocarbons to rise to the upper section of the cavity; allowing the heated fluid to gravity drain into the lower section of the cavity; extending the heater into the lower section of the cavity such that the heater is in contact with the heated fluid; and producing hydrocarbons from the upper section of the cavity through an opening in the production well. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method for treating a tar sands formation of claim 17, further comprising drilling a horizontal drill hole past the cavity to increase the effect of the heated fluid. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method for treating a tar sands formation of claim 17, wherein the initial cavity is cut into the upper section of the tar sands formation using a percussive water jet. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method for treating a tar sands formation of claim 17, wherein the initial cavity is cut into the upper section of the tar sands formation using a laser.