Slimhole drill system
First Claim
1. A system for drilling a slender borehole through geologic formations until the borehole end reaches a selected location, comprising:
- a hollow drill pipe having a lower end extending into the borehole end;
a drill bit attached to said drill pipe lower end;
a plurality of projectiles;
a pulsed generator;
a rail gun having substantially parallel electrodes separated by an electrode gap and engaged with said pulsed generator for accelerating each of said projectiles through said electrode gap and into contact with the geologic formation to form debris as the borehole depth is extended; and
a means for introducing compressed gas into said drill pipe interior for removing debris from the borehole.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for drilling a slender borehole through geologic formations. The system comprises a hollow drill pipe having a drill bit for maintaining gauge of the borehole. A pulsed generator such as a homopolar generator provides the power for operating a downhole rail gun. One or more projectiles are accelerated by the rail gun to impact the geologic formations and to extend the borehole length. A plasma generating material is attached to the projectiles to generate a plasma for accelerating the projectiles, and the projectiles can include a secondary explosive for impacting the geologic formations. A controller controls the operation of the rail gun in cooperation with the drill rate to provide interactive control over the firing rate and energy of projectiles impacting the geologic formations.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for drilling a slender borehole through geologic formations until the borehole end reaches a selected location, comprising:
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a hollow drill pipe having a lower end extending into the borehole end; a drill bit attached to said drill pipe lower end; a plurality of projectiles; a pulsed generator; a rail gun having substantially parallel electrodes separated by an electrode gap and engaged with said pulsed generator for accelerating each of said projectiles through said electrode gap and into contact with the geologic formation to form debris as the borehole depth is extended; and a means for introducing compressed gas into said drill pipe interior for removing debris from the borehole. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for drilling a slender borehole through geologic formations until the borehole end reaches a selected location, comprising:
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a hollow drill pipe having a lower end extending into the borehole end; a drill bit attached to said drill pipe lower end; a plurality of projectiles; a pulsed generator; a rail gun having at least two substantially parallel electrodes separated by an electrode gap and engaged with said pulsed generator for generating a plasma from a plasma generating material and for accelerating each of said projectiles through said electrode gap and into contact with the geologic formation to form debris as the borehole depth is extended; and an air compressor for introducing compressed air into said drill pipe interior for removing debris from the borehole. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification