Method and apparatus for lateral well drilling utilizing a rotating nozzle

Apparatus adapted for drilling into strata surrounding a well casing through an existing hole in a side of the well casing, comprising:

• a flexible tube adapted for passage through the hole having a first end, an opposite second end, and an internal cavity extending therethrough between the first end and the second end;
• a nozzle adapted for passage through the hole in the side of the well casing on the first end of the flexible tube, the nozzle having at least one aperture therethrough in communication with the internal cavity of the flexible tube;
• structure for supporting the tube in the well casing;
• an element including a tube having one end connected with a source of air or gas under pressure and an opposite end positionable in the well casing at a location adjacent the hole for discharging air or gas under pressure into the well casing for reducing a hydrostatic head in the well casing above the hole;
• structure for rotating at least the nozzle;
• and
• structure for communicating fluid under pressure to the second end of the flexible tube for passage through the tube and discharge through the nozzle during rotation thereof.

A method for penetrating a well casing and surrounding earth strata at a desired elevation within a well, comprising the steps of:

• a) forming a hole through said well casing at the desired elevation;
• b) inserting a flexible tube having a nozzle on an end thereof into said hole;
• c) pumping a fluid into and through the flexible tube and out through the nozzle while rotating said nozzle for drilling an extension of said hole into said earth strata, and then,
• d) injecting acid, a mixture of acid and another substance, or a gas into the extension through the nozzle while a hydrostatic head is maintained in said well casing above said hole for producing a pressurized condition therein.

Apparatus adapted for drilling into strata surrounding a well casing through an existing hole in a side of the well casing, comprising:

• a flexible tube adapted for passage through the hole having a first end, an opposite second end, and an internal cavity extending therethrough between the first end and the second end;
• a nozzle adapted for passage through the hole in the side of the well casing on the first end of the flexible tube, the nozzle having at least one aperture therethrough in communication with the internal cavity of the flexible tube;
• structure for supporting the tube in the well casing;
• structure for rotating at least the nozzle;
• structure for communicating fluid under pressure to the second end of the flexible tube for passage through the tube and discharge through the nozzle during rotation thereof;
• and
• an element operable for reducing a hydrostatic head in the well casing above the hole, including a tube having one end connected with a source of air or gas under pressure and an opposite end positionable in the well casing at a location adjacent the hole for discharging the air or gas under pressure into the well casing at the location.