Method and apparatus for splitting ice masses

• US 4,640,552 A
• Filed: 10/16/1985
• Issued: 02/03/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Inventors: Page, Ronald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Stephen J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Goodwin, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US06/787,706
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 175/6, 175/7, 175/10, 175/17, 175/26, 175/27, 175/65, 175/69, 175/70, 175/71, 175/135, 175/203, 175/215, 175/220, 175/18, 175/351, 175/373, 175/325, 175/340, 299/26, 405/61, 405/52, 405/217
• US Class Current: 299/24
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 15/02 from ice otherwise than according to E02B1/003construction of ships B63B; ice-breakers or amphibious vehicles B63B35/08; protecting hydraulic engineering structures against ice-load E02B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/0021 against ice-loads
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/008 Drilling ice or a formation covered by ice
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 37/12 by injecting into the borehole a liquid, either initially at high pressure or subsequently subjected to high pressure, e.g. by pulses, by explosive cartridges acting on the liquid slitting by jets of water E21C25/60; blasting by explosives F42D

Abstract

A method and apparatus is disclosed for breaking apart large masses of ice wherein a borehole is drilled into a mass of ice, the hole is blocked and pressurized to split the ice mass.

Claims

1. An apparatus for fracturing an ice structure comprising:

an elongated hollow housing having a deployment end and a drilling end;

a drillhead rotatably mounted on said drilling end of said housing;

a pressure means fixed to said drillhead for providing pressurized fluid from said drillhead to the ice structure to drill a borehole by fluid erosion including pressure jets mounted on said drillhead for receiving pressurized fluid;

a conduit means traversing through said housing means for providing pressurized fluid to said pressure jets;

a movement means for advancing said elongated housing into the ice structure to a predetermined location approximately one-third the distance from the bottom of the ice structure;

a packing means on said drilling end of said housing for sealing said housing in a portion of the borehole; and

a force means for providing high pressure gas to said drilling end of said housing in said sealed portion of the borehole.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pressure means includes:

pressure jets mounted on said drillhead for receiving said pressurized fluid.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said pressure means includes:

a conduit means traversing through said housing means for providing pressurized fluid to said pressure jets.

4. A method for fracturing an ice structure comprising the steps of:

drilling a borehole into the ice structure at a location approximately one-third the distance from the bottom of the ice structure wherein an upward traveling fracture and a downward traveling fracture reach the ends of the ice structure simultaneously by providing an elongated housing having a drillhead at one end for receiving pressurized liquid therein;

supplying pressurized liquid to said drillhead;

directing said pressurized liquid into the ice structure;

sealing a predetermined length of said housing including said drillhead in said borehole; and

pressurizing said predetermined length of said housing with compressed gas to fracture the ice structure.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein said drilling step includes:

providing an elongated housing having a drillhead at one end for receiving pressurized gas therein;

supplying pressurized gas to said drillhead;

directing said pressurized gas into the ice structure; and

advancing said elongated housing into the ice structure.