LASER BEAM DRILL

• US 3,871,485 A
• Filed: 11/02/1973
• Issued: 03/18/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bernard J. Keenan Jr
• Original Assignee: Bernard J. Keenan Jr
• Inventors: Keenan, Bernard J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abbott, Frank L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Favreau, Richard E.
• Application Number:
  US05/412,240
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 175/11,15,16,257 299/14
• US Class Current: 175/16
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/64 characterised by the whole or part thereof being insertable into or removable from the borehole without withdrawing the drilling pipe
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/15 of electrically generated heat

Abstract

A method of drilling for subterranean fluid with a laser beam comprising positioning a laser beam generator in a wellhole electrically connected to an inhole voltage generator actuated by drilling mud or other liquid passing through a laser beam housing connected to the drill string. A reflecting crystal for the laser beam is positioned within the laser beam housing to reflect the beam preferably in elliptical pattern across the formation to be penetrated.

Claims

1. A method for recovering liquid reserves from a subterranean formation through a borehole containing a drill string comprising a. attaching a laser beam housing to the lower most section of the drill string, b. positioning in said laser beam housing a self-contained and removable laser beam drill positioner, c. positioning within said laser beam drill positioner a voltage generator and a laser beam generator electrically connected to and deriving its power from said voltage generator, d. activating said voltage generator by drilling fluid passing through the drill pipe and e. positioning a rotating beam reflecting crystal within the laser beam drill positioner whereby a beam projected from the laser beam generator is reflected across the face of the formation being drilled.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the drilling mud is directed in a rotational flow pattern by vanes positioned upstream of the laser beam housing.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the reflecting crystal rotation is actuated by the flow of drilling fluid.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the reflecting crystal rotation is actuated by the power derived from the voltage generator.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the rotation of the reflecting crystal provides an elliptical path for the laser beam across the face of the formation being drilled.