Electromagnetic drilling apparatus

• US 5,018,590 A
• Filed: 02/08/1990
• Issued: 05/28/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Parker Kinetic Designs Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Parker Kinetic Designs Incorporated
• Inventors: Weldon, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britts, Ramon S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bagnell, David J.
• Application Number:
  US07/477,706
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 175/104, 175/105, 175/293, 175/299, 175/381, 175/419, 175/420
• US Class Current: 175/105
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/38 characterised by conduits or nozzles for drilling fluids
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/58 Chisel-type inserts E21B10/485, E21B10/52 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 4/12 Electrically operated hammers

Abstract

Oil drilling apparatus for drilling deep boreholes. The apparatus includes a high frequency, high voltage, AC generator at the surface of the ground which is connected to an electromagnetic hammer drill bit located at the bottom of the borehole. Electric current is conducted along a special drill string to the electromagnetic hammer drill located at the bottom of the borehole. The drill string is electrically conductive to form a current flow path to the downhole electromagnetic hammer drill, while at the same time, drilling fluid flows along an axial flow path to the vibrating bit located at the bottom of the borehole. The electrically conductive drill pipe, the electromagnetic hamemr drill bit, and the pulse transformer, each form a subcombination of the present invention; and, jointly comprise a new method and apparatus for forming boreholes.

Claims

1. Apparatus for forming a borehole comprising a drill string, an electronic motor connected at the lower end of the string and a drill bit connected at the lower end of said motor, a passageway extends through said motor and drill bit, and an axial passageway extends through said string from which drilling fluid can flow through said motor and to a lower face of said bit;

said drill string includes electric conducting members electrically insulated from one another and forming separate current flow paths for flow of current from the upper end of the string to the motor;

said electric motor includes an eddy current plate and a pulse transformer having induction coils arranged to vibrate said eddy current plate;

said bit has a main body, a plurality of bit blades, means mounting said bit blades respective to said motor to cause said bit blades to vibrate in response to movement of said eddy current plate and thereby penetrate a geological formation;

and means including said electric conducting members connected to energize said motor to thereby vibrate said bit blades.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bit main body has an upper cylindrical marginal end and a central member;

said motor has a main body which has a lower marginal end in the form of a skirt member, means by which said upper cylindrical marginal end of said bit main body is received for rotating within said skirt member;

said blades are affixed to and radiate from said central member, said central member is reciprocatingly received within the lower end of said bit main body.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electric motor has an annular housing, said annular housing has an upper end supported at the end of the string and a lower end;

said bit main body has an upper end journaled to the lower end of the motor annular housing.

4. A motor and bit combination for use in a drilling operation for forming boreholes, said motor having the form of an annular body, said annular body having an upper end opposed to a lower end, said upper end has means by which the motor annular body can be attached in supported relationship respective to a drill string;

said bit has an annular body having a lower end opposed to an upper end, attachment means rotatably attaching said lower end of the motor annular body to said upper end of the bit annular body;

said bit annular body has a cylindrical upper marginal end and vertical slots formed in the lower marginal end thereof;

blades reciprocatingly received in the slots, an axial support member having a lower end and an upper end;

said blades being attached to the lower end of said axial support member, means by which the upper end of said axial support member is captured respective to said bit annular body in a manner to reciprocate vertically respective thereto, and means by which said motor is attached to the upper end of said axial support member for imparting vibratory motion into said blades;

means forming a primary and secondary electrical winding within said motor annular body, means forming a fluid flow passageway through said motor annular body, electrical conductor means by which a source of current can be connected to said primary winding;

means arranged the primary and secondary windings within said motor annular body whereby current flow through the primary winding induces current flow through the secondary winding;

and means including a repulsion coil associated with said secondary winding for vibrating said blades of said bit.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said lower marginal end of the motor annular body is in the form of a skirt member, means by which said upper cylindrical marginal end of said bit annular body is received for rotation within said skirt member;

said blades radiate from said axial support member, said axial support member is reciprocatingly received within the bit annular body.

6. In an apparatus for forming a borehole that includes a drill string having an electric motor and a drill bit connected at the lower end thereof, an axial passageway formed through said string through which drilling fluid can flow through said motor and to a lower face of said bit;

wherein said motor is connected to drive said bit;

the improvement comprising;

said drill string includes electric conducting members electrically insulated from one another and forming separate current flow paths for conducting current from the upper end of the string to the motor;

said electric motor includes an eddy current plate and a pulse transformer having induction coils arranged to reciprocate said eddy current plate;

means mounting said bit respective to said motor to cause at least part of said bit to vibrate in response to movement of said eddy current plate;

said bit has a main body, means attaching said main body to said motor, a plurality of bit blades said means mounting said bit includes mounting the blades for reciprocation respective to said main body, and the last said means is connected to cause said eddy current plate to vibrate said bit blades.

7. The improvement of claim 6, wherein said bit main body has an upper cylindrical marginal end;

said motor has a main body which has a lower marginal end in the form of a skirt member, means by which said upper cylindrical marginal end of said bit is received for rotating within said skirt member;

said blades are affixed to and radiate from a central member, said central member is reciprocatingly received within the lower end of said bit main body.

8. A bit and motor for forming boreholes, said bit having a main body that has an upper opposed to a formation engaging end, and said motor has an upper end opposed to a lower end, means for removably connecting the upper end of the motor at the lower end of a drill string;

means rotatably attaching said upper end of the bit body to said lower end of the motor;

said motor includes an eddy current plate and a pulse transformer having induction coils arranged to vibrate said eddy current plate;

cutter means mounted on said bit and connected to said eddy current plate to cause said cutter means of said bit to vibrate in response to movement of said eddy current plate;

and electric conducting members electrically insulated from one another and forming separate current flow paths for conducting current to the motor;

whereby, when the pulse transformer is energized, the eddy current plate vibrates and whereby imparts vibratory motion into said cutter means of the bit.

9. A motor and drill bit for use downhole in a borehole, said motor has an annular housing attachment means located on the lower end of said housing by which said drill bit can be attached thereto;

attachment means located on the upper end of said housing by which said motor can be connected at the lower end of a drill string;

said bit has a plurality of cutting members mounted for movement therein, a support member for moving said cutting members, and means connecting said support member to be moved by said motor;

means forming a primary and secondary electrical winding within the motor housing, means forming a fluid flow passageway through said housing and bit, electrical conductor means by which a source of current can be connected to said primary winding;

means arranging said primary and secondary windings within said motor housing whereby current flow through the primary winding induces current flow through the secondary winding;

and means including a repulsion coil associated with said secondary winding for moving said support member and thereby vibrating said cutting members of said bit.

10. The motor and drill bit of claim 9, wherein said attachment means on the lower end of said motor housing and the upper end of said bit include means by which the motor and bit are journaled for relative rotation therebetween.