Method and device for making a hole in the ground

• US 4,850,440 A
• Filed: 08/10/1987
• Issued: 07/25/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nic H.W. Smet
• Original Assignee: Nic H.W. Smet
• Inventors: Smet, Nic H. W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor, Dennis L.
• Application Number:
  US07/083,191
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 175/73, 175/65, 175/67, 175/424, 175/422 R, 175/203, 405/248, 405/184
• US Class Current: 175/67
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/203 with plural fluid passages
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/22 Handling reeled pipe or rod units, e.g. flexible drilling pipes lifting or hauling appliances using two or more cooperating endless chains B66D3/003
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/12 using drilling pipes with plural fluid passages, e.g. closed circulation systems
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/065 using oriented fluid jets
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/18 Drilling by liquid or gas jets, with or without entrained pellets E21B7/14 takes precedence

Abstract

The head is carried by two flexible continuous drill pipes which surround each other and which are flexible enough to be uncoiled from a reel but which are still rigid enough almost not to get twisted in the ground on themselves or relative to each other during the operation of the head. The head is directed in the ground by means of fluid which is pumped through one of the pipes and wherewith the head is repelled relative to the wall of the already formed portion of the hole. One of the pipes connects to one or more directable spray nozzles on the front end of the head, the other one connects to one or more sidewise-issueing openings wherein preferably a directable spray nozzle is mounted.

Claims

1. A method for making a hole in the ground, according to which a head,- having at least one spray opening which opens outside said head on that end lying forward in the direction of the hole to be made and at least one sidewise-issueing opening, which head is connected to two somewhat flexible continuous drill pipes which are connected to said heads and which are flexible enough to be coiled on a reel and uncoiled therefrom, but which are still rigid enough almost not to get twisted in the ground on themselves or relative to one another during the operation of the head, one of said pipes communicating with said spray opening on the forward end of the head, the other pipe communicating with said sidewise-issueing opening, is driven into the ground notably by pumping fluid under a first high pressure through that pipe which opens on the opening in the forward-lying head end, fluid being at least temporarily pumped under another second pressure through the other pipe, the head being directed in the ground by means of fluid which is pumped through at least one of the pipes and wherewith the head s repelled relative to the wall of the already-formed portion of the hole, until said head has the required direction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein use is made of a head which comprises at least in one spray opening on the front end, a directable spray nozzle and the head is directed by adjusting the direction of said spray nozzle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein use is made of a head which comprises in a spray opening on the front end, a spray nozzle adjustable in itself relative to the head, and said spray nozzle is adjusted in direction by adjusting same in itself relative to that portion of the spray head it is mounted on.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein use is made of a head which comprises at least in one spray opening on its front end a spray nozzle, and which has a rotatable portion whereon said spray nozzle is provided, said spray nozzle being adjustable in direction notably by revolving that portion of the head with said spray nozzle relative to the head remainder.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein use is made of a head which comprises at least two spray openings on the front end, whereby the flow rate of at least one of them is adjustable, and the head is directed by adjusting the flow rate.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein use is made of a head which comprises in at least one sidewise-issueing opening, a directable spray nozzle and the head is directed by adjusting the direction of said spray nozzle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein use is made of a head, which comprises at least two sidewise-issueing openings, whereby the flow rate from one of which at least is adjustable, and the head is directed by adjusting said flow rate.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein use is made of a head which comprises one or a plurality of sidewise-issueing spray openings lying asymmetrically over the circumference, whereby the head proper is rotatable or comprises a part which is rotatable about the axis thereof, in which part said latter spray openings lie, and the head is directed by revolving same or the rotatable part thereof.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the flexible pipes are uncoiled from or coiled on a reel.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the pipes are straightened before feeding same to the hole in the ground.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein use is made of two flexible pipes which surround each other, and thus fluid under one pressure is pumped through the innermost pipe and fluid under the other pressure through the space between the outermost pipe and the innermost pipe.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the fluid with the higher pressure is pumped through the innermost pipe, and the fluid under the lower pressure is pumped through the outermost pipe, around the innermost pipe.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid under the first pressure is being pumped under a pressure higher than 300 kg/cm².

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid under the first pressure is being pumped with a first flow rate which is larger than 10 liters per minute.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid under the first pressure is being pumped with a first flow rate which lies between 100 and 150 liters per minute.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid under the second pressure is being pumped in the corresponding pipe with a pressure of about 200 kg/cm².