Directional drilling apparatus

• US 6,179,068 B1
• Filed: 11/08/1999
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Flexidrill Limited
• Original Assignee: Flexidrill Limited
• Inventors: West, Gregory Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SLITERIS, JOSELYNN Y
• Application Number:
  US09/435,994
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 175/61, 175/62, 175/73, 175/122, 175/162, 175/19, 173/157, 173/154, 173/27, 173/185, 173/184, 173/28, 173/42, 173/190, 173/44, 173/7, 173/152, 299/31
• US Class Current: 175/62
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/086 with a fluid-actuated cylinder E21B19/084, E21B19/087, E21B19/09 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/02 Drilling rigs characterised by means for land transport with their own drive, e.g. skid mounting or wheel mounting
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/04 Directional drilling

Abstract

A directional drilling apparatus can be used in confined spaces or utilized in locations close to obstacles such as fences, houses, buildings, etc. A drill head is pushed forward or advanced. The drill head is of a design which provides a large amount of forward thrust for the size of the actuating unit and the drilling apparatus. The drilling apparatus is articulated from a source of power such as a prime mover and thus can be used in confined spaces.

Claims

1. Directional drilling apparatus comprising:

a directional drill head;

an extendable drill;

means to rotate said extendable drill and drill head;

means to advance said extendable drill and drill head such that said drill moves in a direction of said directional drill head;

said means to advance and rotate said drill and drill head are a unit and are capable of being articulated from a source of power and being swivelled through at least 280°

.

2. Directional drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said unit is less than 3.5 meters long.

3. Directional drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said source of power is an excavator.

4. Directional drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said directional drilling apparatus is powered solely by said source of power.

5. Directional drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said directional drilling apparatus is powered by power transferred by hydraulic means.

6. Directional drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein stabilising means are provided which, under control of an operator, can be actuated to bear against a solid surface to stabilize the drilling apparatus.

7. Drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein actuating means are provided to enable sideways cant of the drilling apparatus to be adjusted by an operator.

8. Directional drilling apparatus comprising:

an extendable drill having a directional drill head at a distal end;

means to rotate said extendable drill and directional drill head;

means to advance said extendable drill and directional drill head such that said extendable drill moves in a direction of said directional drill head;

said means to advance and rotate said drill and directional drill head are a unit capable of being articulated from a source of power such that said unit can be articulated relative to said source of power through at least 280°

when articulated from said source of power.

9. Directional drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said unit is adjustable in size by removing a part of said unit.

10. Directional drilling apparatus as claimed claim 8 wherein said unit is less than 3.5 meters long.

11. Directional drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said source of power is an excavator.

12. A method of directional drilling comprising

providing as a unit, means to rotate and advance a directional drill head,

providing a source of power to said unit, and

articulating said unit relative to said source of power by at least 280°

.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said unit is adjustable in size by removing a part of said unit.

14. Directional drilling apparatus comprising:

a directional drill head;

an extendable drill;

means to rotate said extendable drill and drill head;

means to advance said extendable drill and drill head such that said drill moves in a direction of said directional drill head;

said means to advance and rotate said drill and drill head are a unit and are capable of being articulated from a source of power, and

stabilising means provided which, under control of an operator, can be actuated to bear against a solid surface to stabilise the drilling apparatus.

15. Directional drilling apparatus comprising:

a directional drill head;

an extendable drill;

means to rotate said extendable drill and drill head;

means to advance said extendable drill and drill head such that said drill moves in a direction of said directional drill head;

said means to advance and rotate said drill and directional drill head are a unit and are capable of being articulated from a source of power, and

actuating means provided to enable sideways cant of the drilling apparatus to be adjusted by an operator.

16. Directional drilling apparatus comprising

a drill head, a direction of advancement of which can be controlled by a user;

an extendable drill;

means to rotate and advance said extendable drill and drill head, said means capable of advancing said drill and drill head without rotation such that the direction of advancement of said directional drill head can be controlled;

said directional drilling apparatus being held and powered from a remote location, said means to advance and rotate said extendable drill and said directional drill head being a unit, said unit being adjustable in size by removing a part of said unit.

17. Directional drilling apparatus comprising:

an extendable drill;

a directional drill head located at a distal end of said extendable drill;

means to rotate said extendable drill and directional drill head;

means to advance said extendable drill and directional drill head such that said drill moves in the direction of said directional drill head;

said means to advance and rotate said drill and directional drill head are a unit capable of being articulated from a source of power such that said unit can be articulated relative to said source of power when articulated from said source of power; and

said unit being adjustable in size by removing a part of said unit.

18. A method of directional drilling comprising

providing as a unit, means to rotate and advance a directional drill head,

providing a source of power to said unit,

articulating said unit relative to said source of power, and

adjusting said unit in size by removing a part of said unit.