US 5,181,578 AGranted

Wellbore mineral jetting tool

OwnerO. Wayne Lawlerinventor

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Abstract

A wellbore jetting tool has a novel packer assembly which enables the tool to be raised, lowered and rotated while operating, a nozzle which automatically raises to extend radially from the tool, and a flow system for returning slurry in an inner tube of cross section. The packer assembly is hydraulically actuated, and traps fluid to provide lubrication, which enables raising, lowering and rotation during operation while substantially maintaining the necessary sealing. The nozzle is raised by a torque generated by vanes disposed within the nozzle head reacting to fluid flow, and also by thrust from the cutting jet. The nozzle discharges this jet at an angle, thus biasing the nozzle appropriately. A breakaway feature allows abandonment of the nozzle if it jams when it is extended, ensuring that the pipestring may always be retrieved. The return of slurry through its own conduit reduces chances of a particle lodging in the slurry return line.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A wellbore jetting tool mining comminuting and collecting tool for use with, and installed at the lower end of, a drilling pipestring having a longitudinal axis, the pipestring being inserted into a predrilled and cased vertical hole, said comminuting and collecting tool comprising an inner and an outer tube wherein pressurized fluid flows from a source above ground through the pipestring into one of said inner and outer tubes, and a slurry created by discharge of said pressurized fluid is collected and conducted above ground in the other of said inner and outer tubes,

said comminuting and collecting tool further comprising a cutting jet nozzle means extensible from said comminuting and collecting tool at an angle whereby a jet of pressurized fluid discharged axially from said jet nozzle means is directed against surrounding mineral deposits at said angle from said vertical hole, and
pressure from said jet lifts said slurry and also supports a roof of a chamber defined in a geological formation by hydraulic comminution and collection, and
said tool assumes dimensions sufficiently small to fit into the cased hole by retraction of said jet nozzle upon cessation of flow of pressurized fluid.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.