Pulsed electric rock drilling apparatus with non-rotating bit and directional control
AssigneeSDG, Inc.
InventorWilliam M. Moeny
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. The electrocrushing drilling process may have, but does not require, rotation of the bit. The electrocrushing drilling process is capable of excavating the hole out beyond the edges of the bit with or without the need of mechanical teeth.
Claims12
A method of backwards excavation comprising:
- locating at least one electrohydraulic projector or at least one electrocrushing electrode set or both an electrohydraulic projector and an electrocrushing electrode set on a back of a bottom hole assembly;
- drilling out backwards;
- and
- diverting electrical pulses from a main forward electrocrushing bit to the back electrohydraulic projector and/or electrocrushing electrode set.
An apparatus to drill out backwards comprising:
- at least one electrohydraulic projector or at least one electrocrushing electrode set or both an electrohydraulic projector and an electrocrushing electrode set located on a back of a bottom hole assembly;
- switches inside said bottom hole assembly diverting electrical pulses from a main forward electrocrushing bit to said back at least one electrohydraulic projector and/or said at least one electrocrushing electrode set;
- and
- mechanical teeth disposed on said back of said bottom hole assembly.
A method of backwards excavation comprising:
- rotating a bottom hole assembly to assist an electrohydraulic or electrocrushing projector or an electrocrushing electrode set in removing substrate from behind a bottom hole assembly;
- pulling out the bottom hole assembly from a hole;
- rotating the bottom hole assembly as it is pulled out;
- fracturing the substrate behind the bottom hole assembly with the projector;
- and
- flushing particles of the substrate up the hole.
An apparatus to drill out backwards comprising:
- at least one electrohydraulic projector or at least one electrocrushing electrode set or both an electrohydraulic projector and an electrocrushing electrode set located on a back of a bottom hole assembly;
- switches inside said bottom hole assembly diverting electrical pulses from a main forward electrocrushing bit to said back at least one electrohydraulic projector and/or said at least one electrocrushing electrode set;
- and
- a controllable valve diverting more flow from said main forward electrocrushing bit to said back at least one electrohydraulic projector and/or said at least one electrocrushing electrode set.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.