US 7,124,841 B2 · Crustal core sampler and method of coring crustal core sample using the same

Abstract

Disclosed herein are a crustal core sampler, by which a crustal core sample can be cored in a state coated with a flow-able coating material free of any contamination, and a method of coring a core sample using this crustal core sampler. The crustal core sampler comprises a drilling mechanism and a barrel, wherein the barrel is equipped with a flow-able coating material-ejecting mechanism, and a columnar crustal core portion is coated with a flow-able coating material. Alternatively, the crustal core sampler is constructed by a drill pipe and an inner barrel, wherein the inner barrel is equipped with an inner barrel body, a core elevator, a channel-forming member for forming a flow-able coating material-running channel and flow-able coating material-ejecting openings, and a columnar crustal core portion is coated with a flow-able coating material.

Drawings

Claims13

Dependent claims

A crustal core sampler for coring crustal core sample by drilling crust using a fluid for drilling work, said crustal core sampler comprising:

a cylindrical drill pipe comprising at a lower end thereof a drill bit having at least one ejection opening for electing the fluid for drilling work;
and
an inner barrel arranged in the drill pipe;
wherein the inner barrel comprises:
a cylindrical inner barrel body, which has an opening for inserting a columnar crustal core portion at a lower end thereof and which receives a columnar crustal core portion formed by drilling as a crustal core sample in an interior thereof;
a core elevator arranged in an internal space of the inner barrel body so as to be movable in an axial direction thereof;
and
a flow-able coating material-ejecting mechanism including a channel-forming member for forming a flow-able coating material-running channel with an outer peripheral surface of the inner barrel body, and flow-able coating material-ejecting openings for ejecting a flow-able coating material from the flow-able coating a material-running channel inwardly in a radial direction of the inner barrel body at a position in close vicinity of the lower end of the inner barrel body;
wherein the inner barrel is arranged such that the opening for inserting the columnar crustal core portion is positioned above the ejection opening of the drill bit for the fluid for drilling work;
wherein the columnar crustal core portion formed by the drilling is coated with the flowable coating material ejected from the flow-able coating material-ejecting openings while being positioned in the interior of the inner barrel body while being relatively raised in the internal space of the inner barrel body;
wherein the core elevator comprises:
a core elevator body having a central through-hole;
and
an opening and closing valve body, arranged in the central through-hole of the core elevator body, for controlling a linked state between a space in the central through-hole and the flow-able coating material-ejecting openings by moving in a vertical direction;
and
wherein a temporary linked state is achieved between the space in the central through-hole of the core elevator body and the flowable coating material-ejecting openings at a beginning of upward movement of the core elevator body within the inner barrel body.

13 more elements

A method comprising using a crustal core sampler for coring a crustal core sample by drilling crust using a fluid for drilling work, so as to core the crustal core sample in a state coated with a flow-able coating material;

wherein the crustal core sampler comprises:
a cylindrical drill pipe comprising at a lower end thereof a drill bit having at least one ejection opening for ejecting the fluid for drilling work;
and
an inner barrel arranged in the drill pipe;
wherein the inner barrel comprises:
a cylindrical inner barrel body, which has an opening for inserting a columnar crustal core portion at a lower end thereof and which receives a columnar crustal core portion formed by drilling as a crustal core sample in an interior thereof;
a core elevator arranged in an internal space of the inner barrel body so as to be movable in an axial direction thereof;
and
a flow-able coating material-ejecting mechanism including a channel-forming member for forming a flow-able coating material-running channel with an outer peripheral surface of the inner barrel body, and flow-able coating material-ejecting openings for ejecting a flow-able coating material from the flow-able coating material-running channel inwardly in a radial direction of the inner barrel body at a position in close vicinity of the lower end of the inner barrel body;
wherein the inner barrel is arranged such that the opening for inserting the columnar crustal core portion is positioned above the ejection opening of the drill bit for the fluid for drilling work;
wherein the columnar crustal core portion formed by the drilling is coated with the flow-able coating material ejected from the flow-able coating material-ejecting openings while being positioned in the interior of the inner barrel body while being relatively raised in the internal space of the inner barrel body;
wherein the core elevator comprises:
a core elevator body having a central through-hole;
and
an opening and closing valve body, arranged in the central through hole of the core elevator body, for controlling a linked state between a space in the central through-hole and the flow-able coating material-ejecting openings by moving in a vertical direction;
and
wherein a temporary linked state is achieved between the space in the central through-hole of the core elevator body and the flow-able coating material-ejecting openings at a beginning of upward movement of the core elevator body within the inner barrel body.

14 more elements

wherein the crustal core sampler comprises:
a cylindrical drill pipe comprising at a lower end thereof a drill bit having at least one ejection opening for ejecting the fluid for drilling work;
and
an inner barrel arranged in the drill pipe;
wherein the inner barrel comprises:
a cylindrical inner barrel body, which has an opening for inserting a columnar crustal core portion at a lower end thereof and which receives a columnar crustal core portion formed by drilling as a crustal core sample in an interior thereof;
a core elevator arranged in an internal space of the inner barrel body so as to be movable in an axial direction thereof;
and
a flow-able coating material-ejecting mechanism including a channel-forming member for forming a flow-able coating material-running channel with an outer peripheral surface of the inner barrel body, and flow-able coating material-ejecting openings for electing a flow-able coating material from the flow-able coating material-running channel inwardly in a radial direction of the inner barrel body at a position in close vicinity of the lower end of the inner barrel body;
wherein the inner barrel is arranged such that the opening for inserting the columnar crustal core portion is positioned above the ejection opening of the drill bit for the fluid for drilling work;
wherein the columnar crustal core portion formed by the drilling is coated with the flow-able coating material ejected from the flow-able coating material-ejecting openings while being positioned in the interior of the inner barrel body while being relatively raised in the internal space of the inner barrel body;
wherein the running channel-forming member comprises a cylindrical member, such that the flow-able coating material-running channel formed with the outer peripheral surface of the inner barrel body is cylindrical;
wherein the core elevator comprises:
a core elevator body having a central through hole;
and
an opening and closing valve body, arranged in the central through-hole of the core elevator body, for controlling a linked state between a space in the central through-hole and the flow-able coating material-ejecting openings by moving in a vertical direction;
and
wherein a temporary linked state is achieved between the space in the central through-hole of the core elevator body and the flow-able coating material-ejecting openings at a beginning of upward movement of the core elevator body within the inner barrel body.

15 more elements

wherein the crustal core sampler comprises:
a cylindrical drill pipe comprising at a lower end thereof a drill bit having at least one ejection opening for ejecting the fluid for drilling work;
and
an inner barrel arranged in the drill pipe;
wherein the inner barrel comprises:
a cylindrical inner barrel body, which has an opening for inserting a columnar crustal core portion at a lower end thereof and which receives a columnar crustal core portion formed by drilling as a crustal core sample in an internal thereof;
a core elevator arranged in an internal space of the inner barrel body so as to be movable in an axial direction thereof;
and
a flow-able coating material-ejecting mechanism including a channel-forming member for forming a flow-able coating material-running channel with an outer peripheral surface of the inner barrel body, and flow-able coating material-ejecting openings for ejecting a flow-able coating material from the flow-able coating material-running channel inwardly in a radial direction of the inner barrel body at a position in close vicinity of the lower end of the inner barrel body;
wherein the inner barrel is arranged such that the opening for inserting the columnar crustal core portion is positioned above the ejection opening of the drill bit for the fluid for drilling work;
wherein the columnar crustal core portion formed by the drilling is coated with the flow-able coating material ejected from the flow-able coating material-ejecting openings while being positioned in the interior of the inner barrel body while being relatively raised in the internal solace of the inner barrel body;
wherein the core elevator comprises:
a core elevator body having a central through-hole;
and
an opening and closing valve body, arranged in the central through-hole of the core elevator body, for controlling a linked state between a space in the central through-hole and the flow-able coating material-ejecting openings by moving in a vertical direction;
wherein a temporary linked state is achieved between the space in the central through-hole of the core elevator body and the flow-able coating material-ejecting openings at a beginning of upward movement of the core elevator body within the inner barrel body;
wherein the opening and closing valve body comprises a columnar valve body part and a tubular rod part which extends so as to protrude downward from the core elevator body through the central through-hole thereof and which has an opening at a lower end thereof;
and
wherein a temporary linked state is achieved between the flow-able coating material-ejecting openings and the opening at the lower end of the rod part via the space within the central through-hole in the core elevator body at the beginning of upward movement of the core elevator body within the inner barrel body.

16 more elements

wherein the crustal core sampler comprises:
a cylindrical drill pipe comprising at a lower end thereof a drill bit having at least one ejection opening for ejecting the fluid for drilling work;
and
an inner barrel arranged in the drill pipe;
wherein the inner barrel comprises:
a cylindrical inner barrel body, which has an opening for inserting a columnar crustal core portion at a lower end thereof and which receives a columnar crustal core portion formed by drilling as a crustal core sample in an interior thereof;
a core elevator arranged in an internal space of the inner barrel body so as to be movable in an axial direction thereof;
and
a flowable coating material-ejecting mechanism including a channel-forming member for forming a flow-able coating material-running channel with an outer peripheral surface of the inner barrel body, and flow-able coating material-ejecting openings for ejecting a flow-able coating material from the flow-able coating material-running channel inwardly in a radial direction at the inner barrel body at a position in close vicinity of the lower end of the inner barrel body;
wherein the inner barrel is arranged such that the opening for inserting the columnar crustal core portion is positioned above the ejection opening of the drill bit for the fluid for drilling work;
wherein the columnar crustal core portion formed by the drilling is coated with the flow-able coating material ejected from the flow-able coating material-ejecting openings while being positioned in the interior of the inner barrel body while being relatively raised in the internal space of the inner barrel body;
wherein the running channel-forming member comprises a cylindrical member, such that the flow-able coating material-running channel formed with the outer peripheral surface of the inner barrel body is cylindrical;
wherein the core elevator comprises:
a core elevator body having a central through-hole;
and
an opening and closing valve body, arranged in the central through-hole of the core elevator body, for controlling a linked state between a space in the central through-hole and the flow-able coating material-ejecting openings by moving in a vertical direction;
wherein a temporary linked state is achieved between the space in the central through-hole of the core elevator body and the flow-able coating material-ejecting openings at a beginning of upward movement of the core elevator body within the inner barrel body;
wherein the opening and closing valve body comprises a columnar valve body part and a tubular rod part which extends so as to protrude downward from the core elevator body through the central through-hole thereof and which has an opening at a lower end thereof;
and
wherein a temporary linked state is achieved between the flow-able coating material-ejecting openings and the opening at the lower end of the rod part via the space within the central movement of the core elevator body within the inner barrel body.

17 more elements

wherein the crustal core sampler comprises:
a cylindrical drill pipe comprising at a lower end thereof a drill bit having at least one ejection opening for ejecting the fluid for drilling work;
and
an inner barrel arranged in the drill pipe;
wherein the inner barrel comprises:
a cylindrical inner barrel body, which has an opening for inserting a columnar crustal core portion at a lower end thereof and which receives a columnar crustal core portion formed by drilling as a crustal core sample in an interior thereof;
a core elevator arranged in an internal space of the inner barrel body so as to be movable in an axial direction thereof;
and
a flow-able coating material-ejecting mechanism including a channel-forming member for forming a flow-able coating material-running channel with an outer peripheral surface of the inner barrel body, and flow-able coating material-ejecting openings for ejecting a flow-able coating material from the flow-able coating material-running channel inwardly in a radial direction of the inner barrel body at a position in close vicinity of the lower end of the inner barrel body;
wherein the inner barrel is arranged such that the opening for inserting the columnar core portion is positioned above the ejection opening of the drill bit for the fluid for drilling work;
wherein the columnar crustal core portion formed by the drilling is coated with the flow-able coating material ejected from the flow-able coating material-ejecting openings while being positioned in the interior of the inner barrel body while being relatively raised in the internal space of the inner barrel body;
wherein the core elevator comprises:
a core elevator body having a central through-hole;
and
an opening and closing valve body, arranged in the central through-hole of the core elevator body, for controlling a linked state between a space in the central through-hole and the flow-able coating material-ejecting openings by moving in a vertical direction;
wherein a temporary linked state is achieved between the space in the central through-hole of the core elevator body and the flow-able coating material-ejecting openings at a beginning of upward movement of the core elevator body within the inner barrel body;
wherein the opening and closing valve body comprises a columnar valve body part and a tubular rod part which extends so as to protrude downward from the core elevator body through the central through-hole thereof and which has an opening at a lower end thereof;
wherein a temporary linked state is achieved between the flow-able coating material-ejecting openings and the opening at the lower end of the rod part via the space within the central through-hole in the core elevator body at the beginning of upward movement of the core elevator body within the inner barrel body;
and
wherein a working disk having a diameter greater than an outer diameter of the rod part is arranged at the lower end of the rod part, and a contact member protruding downward from a bottom surface of the working disk is provided on the bottom surface of the working disk.

17 more elements

wherein the crustal core sampler comprises:
a cylindrical drill pipe comprising at a lower end thereof a drill bit having at least one ejection opening for ejecting the fluid for drilling work;
and
an inner barrel arranged in the drill pipe;
wherein the inner barrel comprises:
a cylindrical inner barrel body, which has an opening for inserting a columnar crustal core portion at a lower end thereof and which receives a columnar crustal core portion formed by drilling as a crustal core sample in an interior thereof;
a core elevator arranged in an internal space of the inner barrel body so as to be movable in an axial direction thereof;
and
a flow-able coating material-ejecting mechanism including a channel-forming member for forming a flow-able coating material-running channel with an outer peripheral surface of the inner barrel body, and flow-able coating material-ejecting openings for ejecting a flow-able coating material from the flow-able coating material-running channel inwardly in a radial direction of the inner barrel body at a position in close vicinity of the lower end of the inner barrel body;
wherein the inner barrel is arranged such that the opening for inserting the columnar crustal core portion is positioned above the ejection opening of the drill bit for the fluid for drilling work;
wherein the columnar crustal core portion formed by the drilling is coated with the flow-able coating material ejected from the flow-able coating material-ejecting openings while being positioned in the interior of the inner barrel body while being relatively raised in the internal space of the inner barrel body;
wherein the running channel-forming member comprises a cylindrical member, such that the flow-able coating material-running channel formed with the outer peripheral surface of the inner barrel body is cylindrical;
wherein the core elevator comprises:
a core elevator body having a central through-hole;
and
an opening and closing valve body, arranged in the central through-hole of the core elevator body, for controlling a linked state between a space in the central through-hole and the flow-able coating material-ejecting openings by moving in a vertical direction;
wherein a temporary linked state is achieved between the space in the central through-hole of the core elevator body and the flow-able coating material-ejecting openings at a beginning of upward movement of the core elevator body within the inner barrel body;
wherein the opening and closing valve body comprises a columnar valve body part and a tubular rod part which extends so as to protrude downward from the core elevator body through the central through-hole thereof and which has an opening at a lower end thereof;
wherein a temporary linked state is achieved between the flow-able coating material-ejecting openings and the opening at the lower end of the rod part via the space within the central through-hole in the core elevator body at the beginning of upward movement of the core elevator body within the inner barrel body;
and
wherein a working disk having a diameter greater than an outer diameter of the rod part is arranged at the lower end of the rod part, and a contact member protruding downward from a bottom surface of the working disk is provided on the bottom surface of the working disk.

18 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description9,777 words

Summary3,957 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to a crustal core sampler for coring crustal core samples used for various researches, for example, biological researches on subsurface microorganisms or the like in a crustal core, and chemical, physical and geological researches, and a method of coring a crustal core sample using this crustal core sampler.

#2. Description of the Background Art

Brief description of the drawings16 figures

#The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 illustrates a case where a submarine crust is drilled by means of a drill ship in accordance with the riser drilling method;

#FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view illustrating details of compositional units making up a riser pipe together with a section of a main pipe, taken along its axis, in a state that a drill pipe has been inserted therein;

Detailed description5,323 words

#The crustal core samplers according to the present invention will hereinafter be described in detail. The crustal core samplers according to the present invention are particularly suitably used in, for example, the riser drilling method carried out in the above-described mode.

#FIGS. 3 to 5 are sectional views illustrating the states of an outer barrel, in which a crustal core sampler according to the present invention has been arranged, and a drill bit in drilling operation, with a section taken along the axis of the barrel. FIG. 3 illustrates a state right before drilling of the crust is started, FIG. 4 a state right after the drilling of the crust is started, and FIG. 5 a state that the drilling of the crust has been advanced to some extent. FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating, on an enlarged scale, the construction of the crustal core sampler. FIGS. 7 to 9 are sectional views illustrating, on an enlarged scale, the crustal core sampler in various operation states respectively shown in FIGS. 3 to 5.

#The crustal core sampler according to the present invention comprises a cylindrical outer barrel 23 making up a drill pipe 21 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) and equipped with a drill bit 30 at its lower end, and an inner barrel 40 arranged within the outer barrel 23. The drill bit 30 is provided with working fluid-ejecting openings 301 at its lower end.

Facts

Application

10/837,294Filed 30 Apr 2004

Priority

JP 2003-17416919 Jun 2003

Published

US 2004/0256151 A123 Dec 2004

Granted

24 Oct 2006

Term ended

12 Oct 2024

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 165 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification3 codes

E21B 25/18
Apparatus for obtaining or removing undisturbed cores, e.g. core barrels or core extractors: the core receiver being specially adapted for…
E21B 25/08
Apparatus for obtaining or removing undisturbed cores, e.g. core barrels or core extractors: coating, freezing, consolidating cores ; Recovering…
E21B
Earth or rock drilling

Timeline

19 Jun 2003Priority claimedJP 2003-174169
30 Apr 2004Application filedUS 10/837,294
30 Apr 2004Assigned to Independent Administrative Institute, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, N L C Co., Ltd.assignment of assignor's interest
23 Dec 2004PublishedUS 2004/0256151 A1
24 Oct 2006GrantedUS 7,124,841 B2
12 Oct 2024Term endedEstimated, includes 165 days of adjustment

Crustal core sampler and method of coring crustal core sample using the same

Life of this patent

Crustal core sampler and method of coring crustal core sample using the same

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims13

Description9,777 words

Drawings

Classification3 codes

Life of this patent

Description9,777 words