Apparatus for directional drilling

An apparatus for use in directional drilling comprising:

• a drill stem for transmitting power to said apparatus;
• a barrel attached to said drill stem having a front end and a rear end wherein said front end has a first hole and said rear end has a second hole centered at a longitudinal axis of said barrel and wherein said drill stem passes through said first hole and said second hole;
• and
• a plurality of cutters attached to an outside surface of said barrel for providing a cutting surface for said apparatus wherein said cutters protrude over said front end of said barrel.

A method for directional drilling comprising the following steps:

• drilling an enlarged hole in a forward direction using a hole opener;
• and
• moving said hole opener in a reverse direction opposite said forward direction to displace debris left in said enlarged hole,
• wherein said hole opener comprises:
• a drill stem for transmitting power to said hole opener;
• a barrel attached to said drill stem having a front end and a rear end wherein said front end has a first hole and said rear end has a second hole centered at a longitudinal axis of said barrel and wherein said drill stem passes through said first hole and said second hole;
• a plurality of cone cutters attached to said barrel for providing a cutting surface for said apparatus wherein said cone cutters protrude over said front end of said barrel, and wherein said hole opener is tapered inward from a front edge of said plurality of cone cutters to said rear end of said barrel for reducing friction during said step of moving said hole opener.

An apparatus for use in directional drilling comprising:

• a drill stem for transmitting power to said apparatus;
• a barrel attached to said drill stem having a front end and a rear end wherein said front end has a first hole and said rear end has a second hole centered at a longitudinal axis of said barrel and wherein said drill stem passes through said first hole and said second hole;
• a plurality of cone cutters attached to said barrel for providing a cutting surface for said apparatus wherein said cone cutters protrude over said front end of said barrel;
• and
• a plurality of pockets attached to said barrel for removably attaching said plurality of cone cutters to said barrel.

An apparatus for use in directional drilling comprising:

• a drill stem for transmitting power to said apparatus;
• a barrel attached to said drill stem having a front end and a rear end wherein said front end has a first hole and said rear end has a second hole centered at a longitudinal axis of said barrel and wherein said drill stem passes through said first hole and said second hole and wherein said front end and said rear end have at least one material port for allowing the passage of material through said apparatus and wherein said material port in said front end is large enough to allow one of said plurality of cone cutters to pass through said front end during operation of said apparatus and said material port in said rear end is small enough to prevent said one of said plurality of cone cutters from passing through said rear end;
• and
• a plurality of cone cutters attached to said barrel for providing a cutting surface for said apparatus wherein said cone cutters protrude over said front end of said barrel.

An apparatus for use in directional drilling comprising:

• a drill stem for transmitting power to said apparatus;
• a barrel attached to said drill stem having a front end and a rear end wherein said front end has a first hole and said rear end has a second hole centered at a longitudinal axis of said barrel and wherein said drill stem passes through said first hole and said second hole;
• a plurality of cone cutters attached to said barrel for providing a cutting surface for said apparatus wherein said cone cutters protrude over said front end of said barrel;
• and
• a fluid communicator for dispersing a drilling fluid along a front side of said barrel.