Fluid drilling system with flexible drill string and retro jets
AssigneesThe University of Queensland, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, BHP Coal Pty. Ltd.
InventorsRobert Trueman, Timothy Gregory Hamilton Meyer, Matthew Stockwell
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Abstract
A self-advancing drilling system comprising a drilling apparatus, the drilling apparatus having at least one leading fluid cutting nozzle, an advancing device on the drilling apparatus to provide forward movement to the drilling apparatus, the drilling system further comprising a drill string formed from recoverable flexible hose and a steering device having at least one jet nozzle.
Claims19
A retractable bore drilling apparatus for forming a bore hole in an underground formation, the apparatus comprising:
- a self-advancing drilling head having at least one high pressure fluid cutting nozzle with an at least partially forwardly directed, fluid cutting orifice configured to expel a fluid cutting jet to increase a length of the bore hole;
- an advancing device provided on the drilling head to provide forward movement of the drilling head from a first position in the bore hole to a second position in the bore hole;
- a retractable, flexible, axially unsupported conduit coupled to the drilling head and coupleable to a source of high-pressure fluid, the conduit being axially moveable through the bore hole as the drilling head moves from the first position to the second position;
- and
- a steering device having at least one jet nozzle configured to direct a jet of fluid, the jet of fluid imparting a biasing force to the apparatus, the biasing force being disposed at a non-zero angle relative to an axis aligned with the length of the bore hole.
A method for forming a bore hole in an underground formation, comprising:
- disposing a self-advancing drilling head in a bore hole;
- providing high-pressure fluid to the drilling head via a retractable, flexible, axially unsupported conduit coupled to the drilling head;
- increasing a length of the bore hole by expelling a fluid cutting jet from an at least partially forwardly directed, fluid cutting orifice of the drilling head;
- advancing the drilling head through the bore hole from a first position to a second position with an advancing device provided on the drilling head;
- and
- steering the drilling head by directing a jet of fluid from at least one jet nozzle positioned at least proximate to the drilling head, the jet of fluid imparting a biasing force to the drilling head, the biasing force being disposed at a non-zero angle relative to an axis aligned with the length of the bore hole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.