Apparatus and method for enlarging underground arcuate bore holes
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for enlarging a bore hole extending from one surface location to a terminal exit end at a remote location:
- said apparatus including a pipe extending from said one surface location into said bore hole, means at the surface to impose a thrust on said pipe, a hole opener assembly attached to said pipe at one side of said hole opener, said bore hole extending from said exit end to said hole opener, a swivel connected to said hole opener at the other side thereof, a member extending longitudinally in said bore hole to said exit end and connected to said swivel, and means positioned at the exit end to apply a pull to said member while said hole opener is rotated, means to circulate drilling fluid through said pipe, and means to rotate said hole opener.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hole-opener and a hole-opener apparatus is provided for enlarging a pilot hole of the inverted arcuate type which bypasses an obstacle, the pilot hole having an entrance and terminal end, both ends usually being accessible to surface drilling equipment.
69 Citations
37 Claims
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1. An apparatus for enlarging a bore hole extending from one surface location to a terminal exit end at a remote location:
- said apparatus including a pipe extending from said one surface location into said bore hole, means at the surface to impose a thrust on said pipe, a hole opener assembly attached to said pipe at one side of said hole opener, said bore hole extending from said exit end to said hole opener, a swivel connected to said hole opener at the other side thereof, a member extending longitudinally in said bore hole to said exit end and connected to said swivel, and means positioned at the exit end to apply a pull to said member while said hole opener is rotated, means to circulate drilling fluid through said pipe, and means to rotate said hole opener.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- 15. An apparatus for enlarging a bore hole extending from an entrance end at a surface location in an inverted arcuate type to a terminal exit location at a remote location, which comprises means at the entrance to enter a pipe to which a bore hole opener assembly is attached by a first swivel at one side of said hole opener and from which a member extends longitudinally in said bore hole and connected to said hole opener by a second swivel, and means positioned at the exit end to apply a pull to said last named member, to apply a pull on said hole opener while said hole opener is rotated.
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29. A hole opener comprising a hole opener body a central bore in said body, cutting elements adjacent to the end of said body;
- a swivel body member positioned in said bore, a pipe positioned in said bore, a swivel positioned in said bore between said body and said pipe for rotation with said hole opener body, a pilot nose connected to said body, a swivel connected to said pilot nose.
- View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
- 35. The process of drilling a bore hole from one entry location to another exit location which comprises drilling a pilot hole between said locations by advancing a bit at the end of a drill string from said entry location to said exit location, providing thrusting means at said entry location and pulling means at said exit location, introducing a hole opener mounted on a pipe into said pilot hole at said one of said locations, circulating drilling fluid through said pipe and hole opener, and advancing said hole opener by pulling on said hole opener with said pulling means from said exit location and pushing on said pipe and hole opener with said thrusting means for said entry location while rotating said hole opener.
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37. A process for drilling a bore hole from one entry location to another exit location which comprises drilling a pilot hole between said locations by advancing a bit at the end of a drill pipe from said entry location to said exit location, providing thrusting means at said entry location and pulling means at said exit location, connecting a hole opener to said drill pipe at said entry location at one end of said hole opener and connecting a second pipe to the other end of said hole opener, pulling on said second pipe in said pilot hole with said pulling means to advance said hole opener through said pilot hole, and thrusting on said drill pipe with said thrusting means, and circulating fluid through said pipes and said hole opener and rotating said hole opener relative to said pipe in said pilot hole.
Specification