# US 5,701,963 A · Continuous injection of an inert gas through a drill rig for drilling into potentially hazardous areas

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- Number: US 5,701,963 A
- Document ID: US5701963A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/594,967
- Filed: 1996-01-31
- Granted: 1997-12-30
- Earliest claimed: 1996-01-31
- Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
- Inventors: Steve H. McCormick; William R. Pigott
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5701963A

## CPC

- E21B 7/005: {with helical conveying means (E21B7/201 takes precedence; augers E21B10/44; drilling rods or pipes with helical structure E21B17/22)}
- E21B 3/04: Rotary tables
- E21B 10/44: Bits with helical conveying portion, e.g. screw type bits; Augers with leading portion or with detachable parts (E21B10/42 takes precedence)
- E21B 10/60: characterised by conduits or nozzles for drilling fluids (for roller bits E21B10/18; for percussion drill bits E21B10/38)
- E21B 21/16: using gaseous fluids (E21B21/14 takes precedence)
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

A drill rig for drilling in potentially hazardous areas includes a drill having conventional features such as a frame, a gear motor, gear box, and a drive. A hollow rotating shaft projects through the drive and frame. An auger, connected to the shaft is provided with a multiplicity of holes. An inert gas is supplied to the hollow shaft and directed from the rotating shaft to the holes in the auger. The inert gas flows down the hollow shaft, and then down the hollow auger and out through the holes in the bottom of the auger into the potentially hazardous area.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A drill rig for drilling in potentially hazardous areas comprising:
a drill rig frame on which a gear motor, gear box, and drive are mounted, a hollow, rotating shaft having an upper end and a lower end, the shaft projecting through the drive and frame; an auger at the lower end of the rotating shaft, the auger having a multiplicity of holes; and, means for supplying and directing an inert gas to the holes in the auger so that inert gas is supplied to the area in which the auger is drilling, thereby preventing a spark from igniting any hazardous gases present in the area.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The drill rig of claim 1 in which the means for supplying and directing the inert gas includes a first supply at the upper end of the rotating shaft for supplying gas to the hollow shaft, and a second supply located at the lower end of the shaft for directing the inert gas from the rotating shaft to the holes in the auger.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The drill rig of claim 2 in which the second supply includes means for providing a quick disconnect between the hollow shaft and the auger.