Pulsed electric rock drilling apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A pulsed power drilling apparatus for passing a pulsed electrical current through a substrate, the apparatus comprising:
- a drill bit;
at least one set of at least two electrodes disposed on said drill bit defining therebetween at least one electrode gap, said electrodes of each said set oriented substantially along a face of said drill bit to pass current through the substrate;
a high-voltage pulsed power generator linked to said drill bit, delivering a pulsed current between said electrodes and through the substrate;
an electrical power source powering said pulsed power generator;
an electrical conduction conduit sending high-voltage pulses from said high-voltage pulse generator to said drill bit; and
an insulating drilling fluid having a dielectric strength of at least 300 kV/cm (1 μ
sec).
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Abstract
The present invention provides for pulsed powered drilling apparatuses and methods. A drilling apparatus is provided comprising a bit having one or more sets of electrodes through which a pulsed voltage is passed through a mineral substrate to create a crushing or drilling action.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A pulsed power drilling apparatus for passing a pulsed electrical current through a substrate, the apparatus comprising:
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a drill bit; at least one set of at least two electrodes disposed on said drill bit defining therebetween at least one electrode gap, said electrodes of each said set oriented substantially along a face of said drill bit to pass current through the substrate; a high-voltage pulsed power generator linked to said drill bit, delivering a pulsed current between said electrodes and through the substrate; an electrical power source powering said pulsed power generator; an electrical conduction conduit sending high-voltage pulses from said high-voltage pulse generator to said drill bit; and an insulating drilling fluid having a dielectric strength of at least 300 kV/cm (1 μ
sec). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A pulsed power drilling apparatus for passing a pulsed electrical current through a substrate, the apparatus comprising:
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a drill bit; at least one set of at least two electrodes disposed on said drill bit defining therebetween at least one electrode gap, said electrodes of each said set oriented substantially along a face of said drill bit to pass current through the substrate; a high-voltage pulsed power generator linked to said drill bit, delivering a pulsed current between said electrodes and through the substrate; an electrical power source powering said pulsed power generator; and an electrical conduction conduit sending high-voltage pulses from said high-voltage pulse generator to said drill bit, wherein at least one of a first of said electrode sets is arranged on said bit in a configuration that is asymmetric relative to an axis of rotational symmetry of said bit and at least one of a second of said electrode sets is arranged on said bit in a configuration that is symmetric relative to an axis of rotational symmetry of said bit. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A pulsed power drilling apparatus for passing a pulsed electrical current through a substrate, the apparatus comprising:
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a drill bit; at least one set of at least two electrodes disposed on said drill bit defining therebetween at least one electrode gap, said electrodes of each said set oriented substantially along a face of said drill bit to pass current through the substrate; a high-voltage pulsed power generator linked to said drill bit, delivering a pulsed current between said electrodes and through the substrate; an electrical power source powering said pulsed power generator; an electrical conduction conduit sending high-voltage pulses from said high-voltage pulse generator to said drill bit; and a control system that varies or changes either or both a pulse repetition rate and a pulse energy on at least one asymmetric electrode as a function of azimuthal angle as it rotates to change a direction of drilling. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A pulsed power drilling apparatus for passing a pulsed electrical current through a substrate, the apparatus comprising:
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a drill bit; at least one set of at least two electrodes disposed on said drill bit defining therebetween at least one electrode gap, said electrodes of each said set oriented substantially along a face of said drill bit to pass current through the substrate; a high-voltage pulsed power generator linked to said drill bit, delivering a pulsed current between said electrodes and through the substrate; an electrical power source powering said pulsed power generator; an electrical conduction conduit sending high-voltage pulses from said high-voltage pulse generator to said drill bit; and a control system that varies or changes either or both a pulse repetition rate and a pulse energy among separate sets of electrodes to change a direction of drilling. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A pulsed power drilling apparatus for passing a pulsed electrical current through a substrate, the apparatus comprising:
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a drill bit; at least one set of at least two electrodes disposed on said drill bit defining therebetween at least one electrode gap, said electrodes of each said set oriented substantially along a face of said drill bit to pass current through the substrate; a high-voltage pulsed power generator linked to said drill bit, delivering a pulsed current between said electrodes and through the substrate; an electrical power source powering said pulsed power generator; an electrical conduction conduit sending high-voltage pulses from said high-voltage pulse generator to said drill bit; and a plurality of electrode sets arranged in an array. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45)
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Specification