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US 7,530,406 B2Granted
Method of drilling using pulsed electric drilling
AssigneeTetra Corporation
InventorsWilliam M. Moeny, Gilman Hill
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides for pulsed powered drilling apparatuses and methods. A drilling apparatus is provided comprising a bit having one or more sets of electrodes through which a pulsed voltage is passed through a mineral substrate to create a crushing or drilling action.
Claims97
A method for pulsed power drilling and passing a pulsed electrical current through a substrate, the method comprising:
- drilling with a drill bit;
- disposing at least one set of at least two electrodes on the drill bit, defining therebetween at least one electrode gap, orienting electrodes of each set substantially along a face of the drill bit, and passing current through the substrate;
- generating a high-voltage pulse by linking a power generator to the drill bit, and delivering a pulsed current between the electrodes and through the substrate;
- powering the pulsed power generator with an electrical power source;
- sending high-voltage pulses from the high-voltage pulse generator to the drill bit via an electrical conduction conduit;
- and
- insulating with an insulating drilling fluid having a dielectric strength of at least approximately 300 kV/cm (1 μsec).
4 more elements
A method for pulsed power drilling and passing a pulsed electrical current through a substrate, the method comprising:
- drilling with a drill bit;
- disposing at least one set of at least two electrodes on the drill bit, defining therebetween at least one electrode gap, orienting electrodes of each set substantially along a face of the drill bit, and passing current through the substrate;
- generating a high-voltage pulse by linking a power generator to the drill bit, and delivering a pulsed current between the electrodes and through the substrate;
- powering the pulsed power generator with an electrical power source;
- sending high-voltage pulses from the high-voltage pulse generator to the drill bit via an electrical conduction conduit;
- and
- arranging at least one of a first of the electrode sets is arranged on the bit in a configuration that is asymmetric relative to an axis of rotational symmetry of the bit and at least one of a second of the electrode sets on the bit in a configuration that is symmetric relative to an axis of rotational symmetry of the bit.
4 more elements
A method for pulsed power drilling and passing a pulsed electrical current through a substrate, the method comprising:
- drilling with a drill bit;
- disposing at least one set of at least two electrodes on the drill bit, defining therebetween at least one electrode gap, orienting electrodes of each set substantially along a face of the drill bit, and passing current through the substrate;
- generating a high-voltage pulse by linking a power generator to the drill bit, and delivering a pulsed current between the electrodes and through the substrate;
- powering the pulsed power generator with an electrical power source;
- sending high-voltage pulses from the high-voltage pulse generator to the drill bit via an electrical conduction conduit;
- and
- varying or changing both a pulse repetition rate and a pulse energy on at least one asymmetric electrode as a function of azimuthal angle as it rotates to change a direction of drilling.
4 more elements
A method for pulsed power drilling and passing a pulsed electrical current through a substrate, the method comprising:
- drilling with a drill bit;
- disposing at least one set of at least two electrodes on the drill bit, defining therebetween at least one electrode gap, orienting electrodes of each set substantially along a face of the drill bit, and passing current through the substrate;
- generating a high-voltage pulse by linking a power generator to the drill bit, and delivering a pulsed current between the electrodes and through the substrate;
- powering the pulsed power generator with an electrical power source;
- sending high-voltage pulses from the high-voltage pulse generator to the drill bit via an electrical conduction conduit;
- and
- varying or changing both a pulse repetition rate and a pulse energy among separate sets of electrodes to change a direction of drilling.
4 more elements
A method for pulsed power drilling and passing a pulsed electrical current through a substrate, the method comprising:
- drilling with a drill bit;
- disposing at least one set of at least two electrodes on the drill bit, defining therebetween at least one electrode gap, orienting electrodes of each set substantially along a face of the drill bit, and passing current through the substrate;
- generating a high-voltage pulse by linking a power generator to the drill bit, and delivering a pulsed current between the electrodes and through the substrate;
- powering the pulsed power generator with an electrical power source;
- sending high-voltage pulses from the high-voltage pulse generator to the drill bit via an electrical conduction conduit;
- and
- arranging a plurality of drill bits in an array.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.