# US 9,371,693 B2 · Drill with remotely controlled operating modes and system and method for providing the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,371,693 B2 - Document ID: US9371693B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/423,200 - Filed: 2013-08-23 - Published: 2015-08-27 - Granted: 2016-06-21 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-23 - Assignees: Ramax, LLC - Applicants: Ramax, LLC - Inventors: Fun-Den Wang; Horace M. Varner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9371693B2 ## CPC - E21B 7/06: Deflecting the direction of boreholes - E21B 7/046: {horizontal drilling (drilling with mechanical conveying means E21B7/003)} - E21B 7/065: {using oriented fluid jets} - E21B 7/14: Drilling by use of heat, e.g. flame drilling - E21B 7/15: of electrically generated heat - E21B 7/18: Drilling by liquid or gas jets, with or without entrained pellets (E21B7/14 takes precedence) - E21B 10/00: Drill bits (specially adapted for deflecting the direction of boring {E21B7/064}; with means for collecting substances E21B27/00) - E21B 17/20: Flexible or articulated drilling pipes {, e.g. flexible or articulated rods, pipes or cables} - E21B 21/10: Valve arrangements in drilling-fluid circulation systems - E21B 43/26: by forming crevices or fractures - Y10T 137/8593: Systems - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The present invention relates to a drilling system with a multi-function drill head used in, among other applications, oil and gas drilling. The system is used to enhance the effective permeability of an oil and/or gas reservoir by drilling or cutting new structures into the reservoir. The system is capable of cutting straight bores, radius bores, or side panels, by water jets alone or in combination with lasers. In various embodiments, a device for remotely controlling the mode of the system by variations in the pressure of a drilling fluid is also provided, allowing an operator to switch between various modes (straight drilling, radius bore drilling, panel cutting, etc.) without withdrawing the drill string from underground. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drilling system comprising: a drill string; a drilling fluid for drilling into a geological formation, wherein the drilling fluid flows through the drill string; a drill head interconnected to the drill string, the drill head having a first operating mode and a second operating mode, wherein the first operating mode is selected from a group consisting of a straight drilling mode, a radius bore drilling mode, a side panel cutting mode, a propulsion mode, and a non-operational mode, and wherein the drill head comprises: a laser; a laser distributor swivel; and a valve assembly comprising: a housing comprising: a bore; a first end; a first hole; a second hole; a first body groove interconnected to the first hole, wherein the first body groove corresponds to the first operating mode; and a second body groove interconnected to the second hole, wherein the second body groove corresponds to the second operating mode; and a spool having an axial bore, a first end, and a second end, wherein the spool is moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein the first end of the spool receives the drilling fluid, and wherein the first position corresponds to a first pressure of the drilling fluid and the second position corresponds to a second pressure of the drilling fluid; wherein the first operating mode corresponds to the first pressure of the drilling fluid and the second operating mode corresponds to the second pressure of the drilling fluid; a drill head body having a leading surface and a circumferential surface; a swivel head interconnected to the leading surface of the drill head body, wherein the swivel head has a cutting head; a side panel cutting head positioned on the circumferential surface of the drill head body; and wherein the swivel head is angularly articulable relative to a longitudinal axis of the drill head body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drilling system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a mechanical drill bit and a fluid jet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The drilling system of claim 1, wherein the drill head body is displaced about fifteen degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the drill head body. ### Claim 4 A drilling system comprising: a drill string; a drilling fluid for drilling into a geological formation, wherein the drilling fluid flows through the drill string; a drill head interconnected to the drill string, the drill head having a first operating mode and a second operating mode, wherein the first operating mode is selected from a group consisting of a straight drilling mode, a radius bore drilling mode, a side panel cutting mode, a propulsion mode, and a non-operational mode, and wherein the drill head comprises: a drill head body having a leading surface, a circumferential surface, and a longitudinal axis; a swivel head interconnected to the leading surface of the drill head body, wherein the swivel head has a cutting head, and wherein the swivel head is angularly articulable relative to the longitudinal axis of the drill head body; a side panel cutting head positioned on the circumferential surface of the drill head body; and a valve assembly comprising: a housing comprising: a bore; a first end; a first hole; a second hole; a first body groove interconnected to the first hole, wherein the first body groove corresponds to the first operating mode; and a second body groove interconnected to the second hole, wherein the second body groove corresponds to the second operating mode; and a spool having an axial bore, a first end, and a second end, wherein the spool is moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein the first end of the spool receives the drilling fluid, and wherein the first position corresponds to a first pressure of the drilling fluid and the second position corresponds to a second pressure of the drilling fluid; and wherein the first operating mode corresponds to the first pressure of the drilling fluid and the second operating mode corresponds to the second pressure of the drilling fluid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The drilling system of claim 4, further comprising a fluid jet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The drilling system of claim 4, further comprising a mechanical drill bit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The drilling system of claim 4, further comprising a laser. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The drilling system of claim 7, wherein the drill head comprises a laser distributor swivel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The drilling system of claim 4, wherein the spool further comprises a first notch and a second notch, wherein the valve assembly further comprises a detent assembly comprising a spring biased against a locking pin, and wherein the locking pin is biased against the first notch of the spool when the spool is in the first position and the locking pin is biased against the second notch of the spool when the spool is in the second position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The drilling system of claim 4, wherein the housing of the valve assembly further comprises: a third hole; a fourth hole; a third body groove interconnected to the third hole, wherein the third body groove corresponds to a third operating mode; and a fourth body groove interconnected to the fourth hole, wherein the fourth body groove corresponds to a fourth operating mode. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The drilling system of claim 10, wherein: the first pressure is between about 40 kpsi and about 50 kpsi; the second pressure is between about 30 kpsi and about 40 kpsi; the third operating mode corresponds to a third pressure of the drilling fluid, and wherein the third pressure is between about 20 kpsi and about 30 kpsi; and the fourth operating mode corresponds to a fourth pressure of the drilling fluid, and wherein the fourth pressure is less than about 20 kpsi. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) The drilling system of claim 4, wherein the first pressure is between about 40 kpsi and about 50 kpsi, and wherein the second pressure is between about 30 kpsi and about 40 kpsi. ### Claim 13 (depends on 4) The drilling system of claim 4, wherein the first hole of the housing of the valve assembly is positioned on a downstream surface of the housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 4) The drilling system of claim 4, wherein the first hole of the housing of the valve assembly is positioned on a lateral surface of the housing.