Method and system for advancement of a borehole using a high power laser
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A spool assembly for rotatably coupling high power laser transmission cables for use in advancing boreholes, comprising:
- a. a base;
b. a spool, the spool supported by the base through a load bearing bearing;
c. hollow tubing having a first end and a second end;
d. the hollow tubing comprising a means for transmitting a high power laser beam;
e. the spool comprising an axle around which the coiled tubing is wound, the axle supported by the load bearing bearing;
f. a first non-rotating optical connector for optically connecting a laser beam source to the axle;
g. a rotatable optical connector optically associated with the first optical connector;
whereby a laser beam is capable of being transmitted from the first optical connector to the rotatable optical connector; and
,h. a rotating optical connector optically associated with the rotatable optical connector;
optically associated with the transmitting means; and
, mechanically associated with the axle;
i. whereby the spool is capable of transmitting a laser beam from the first optical connector through the rotatable optical connector and into the transmitting means during winding and unwinding of the tubing on the spool while maintaining sufficient power to advance a borehole.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided a system, apparatus and methods for the laser drilling of a borehole in the earth. There is further provided with in the systems a means for delivering high power laser energy down a deep borehole, while maintaining the high power to advance such boreholes deep into the earth and at highly efficient advancement rates, a laser bottom hole assembly, and fluid directing techniques and assemblies for removing the displaced material from the borehole.
536 Citations
54 Claims
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1. A spool assembly for rotatably coupling high power laser transmission cables for use in advancing boreholes, comprising:
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a. a base; b. a spool, the spool supported by the base through a load bearing bearing; c. hollow tubing having a first end and a second end; d. the hollow tubing comprising a means for transmitting a high power laser beam; e. the spool comprising an axle around which the coiled tubing is wound, the axle supported by the load bearing bearing; f. a first non-rotating optical connector for optically connecting a laser beam source to the axle; g. a rotatable optical connector optically associated with the first optical connector;
whereby a laser beam is capable of being transmitted from the first optical connector to the rotatable optical connector; and
,h. a rotating optical connector optically associated with the rotatable optical connector;
optically associated with the transmitting means; and
, mechanically associated with the axle;i. whereby the spool is capable of transmitting a laser beam from the first optical connector through the rotatable optical connector and into the transmitting means during winding and unwinding of the tubing on the spool while maintaining sufficient power to advance a borehole. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A spool assembly for rotatably coupling high power laser transmission cables for use in advancing boreholes, comprising:
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a. a base; b. a spool, the spool supported by the base through a load bearing bearing; c. a means for providing laser energy; d. coiled tubing having a first end and a second end; e. the coiled tubing comprising a means for transmitting a high power laser beam; f. the spool comprising an axle around which the coiled tubing is wound, the axle supported by the load bearing bearing; g. a first non-rotating optical connector for optically connecting a laser beam from the means for providing laser energy to the axle; h. a rotatable optical connector optically associated with the first optical connector;
whereby a laser beam is capable of being transmitted from the first optical connector to the rotatable optical connector; and
,i. a rotating optical connector optically associated with the rotatable optical connector, optically associated with the transmitting means and associated with the axle; j. whereby the spool is capable of transmitting a laser beam from the first optical connector through the rotatable optical connector and into the transmitting means during winding and unwinding of the tubing on the spool while maintaining sufficient power to advance a borehole. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A spool assembly for rotatably coupling high power laser transmission cables for use in advancing boreholes, comprising:
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a. a base; b. a spool, the spool supported by the base through a load bearing bearing; c. hollow tubing having a first end and a second end; d. the hollow tubing comprising a means for transmitting a high power laser beam; e. the spool comprising an axle around which the coiled tubing is wound, the axle supported by the load bearing bearing; f. a first non-rotating optical connector for optically connecting a laser beam source to the axle; g. a rotatable optical connector optically associated with the first optical connector;
whereby a laser beam is capable of being transmitted from the first optical connector to the rotatable optical connector; and
,h. a rotational transition optical assembly, the optical assembly comprising; i. a non-rotating adapter for receiving the non-rotating connector; ii. a first lens adjacent the non-rotating adapter, the first lens characterizing a Fourier Transform plane; iii. a rotatable adapter for receiving the rotatable connector; and
, iv. the rotatable adapter substantially in the Fourier Transform plane;i. whereby the spool is capable of transmitting a laser beam from the first optical connector through the rotatable optical connector and into the transmitting means during winding and unwinding of the tubing on the spool while maintaining sufficient power to advance a borehole. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A spool assembly for rotatably coupling high power laser transmission cables for use in advancing boreholes, comprising:
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a. a base; b. a spool, the spool supported by the base through a load bearing bearing; c. hollow tubing having a first end and a second end; d. the hollow tubing comprising a means for transmitting a high power laser beam; e. the spool comprising an axle around which the coiled tubing is wound, the axle supported by the load bearing bearing; f. a first non-rotating optical connector for optically connecting a laser beam source to the axle; g. a rotatable optical connector optically associated with the first optical connector;
whereby a laser beam is capable of being transmitted from the first optical connector to the rotatable optical connector; and
,h. a rotational transition optical assembly, the optical assembly comprising; i. a non-rotating adapter for receiving the non-rotating connector; ii. a launch lens adjacent the non-rotating adapter, the launch lens characterizing a Fourier Transform plane; iii. a rotatable adapter for receiving the rotatable connector; and
,iv. the rotatable connector as received by the rotatable adapter optically associated with the Fourier Transform plane; i. whereby the spool is capable of transmitting a laser beam from the first optical connector through the rotatable optical connector and into the transmitting means during winding and unwinding of the tubing on the spool while maintaining sufficient power to advance a borehole. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification