Total internal reflection laser tools and methods
First Claim
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1. A total internal reflection high power laser tool, for use in hydrocarbon exploration, hydrocarbon production or the decommissioning of hydrocarbon wells, the tool comprising:
- a. a beam tube, defining a tool axis, the beam tube comprising a laser beam path for transmitting a laser beam within the beam tube and a fluid path for transmitting a fluid;
b. a housing in fluid communication with the beam tube, the housing comprising a single and unitary total internal reflection polyhedron structure comprised of a material transmissive to the laser beam; and
, a passage defined in part by a total internal reflection surface of the total internal reflection polyhedron structure, the passage in fluid communication with the beam tube fluid path and removed from the laser beam path;
c. the laser beam path extending through a first surface of the total internal reflection polyhedron structure and into the material;
d. the laser beam path extending to and from the total internal reflection surface and forming an angle of incidence θ
i on the total internal reflection surface that is greater than a critical angle θ
c for the total internal reflection surface;
whereby the laser beam traveling along the laser beam path is reflected within the total internal reflection structure by total internal reflection from the total internal reflection surface; and
e. the laser beam path extending from the total internal reflection material and exiting the housing along a straight path;
the exiting laser beam path forming an angle of about 90°
or less with the beam tube axis.
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Abstract
There is provided high power laser tools and laser heads that utilize total internal reflection (“TIR”) structures to direct the laser beam along a laser beam path within the TIR structure. The TIR structures may be a TIR prism having its hypotenuse as a TIR surface.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A total internal reflection high power laser tool, for use in hydrocarbon exploration, hydrocarbon production or the decommissioning of hydrocarbon wells, the tool comprising:
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a. a beam tube, defining a tool axis, the beam tube comprising a laser beam path for transmitting a laser beam within the beam tube and a fluid path for transmitting a fluid; b. a housing in fluid communication with the beam tube, the housing comprising a single and unitary total internal reflection polyhedron structure comprised of a material transmissive to the laser beam; and
, a passage defined in part by a total internal reflection surface of the total internal reflection polyhedron structure, the passage in fluid communication with the beam tube fluid path and removed from the laser beam path;c. the laser beam path extending through a first surface of the total internal reflection polyhedron structure and into the material; d. the laser beam path extending to and from the total internal reflection surface and forming an angle of incidence θ
i on the total internal reflection surface that is greater than a critical angle θ
c for the total internal reflection surface;
whereby the laser beam traveling along the laser beam path is reflected within the total internal reflection structure by total internal reflection from the total internal reflection surface; ande. the laser beam path extending from the total internal reflection material and exiting the housing along a straight path;
the exiting laser beam path forming an angle of about 90°
or less with the beam tube axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A total internal reflection high power laser head for use with a high power laser tool, in hydrocarbon exploration, hydrocarbon production or the decommissioning of hydrocarbon wells, the laser head comprising:
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a. the laser head defining a laser head axis;
a total internal reflection structure comprising a first face, a second face and a third face and having an index of refraction n1 for a laser beam having predetermined beam parameters, the total internal reflection structure defining a total internal reflection structure axis;b. a laser beam path along which the laser beam travels, the laser beam path parallel with the laser head axis extending through the first face, to the second face and through the third face;
wherein the total internal reflection structure axis is at least 1°
different than the laser head axis, and wherein the laser beam path through the third face forms an angle with the laser beam path through the first face of from about 87°
to about 93°
;c. the second face comprising a total internal reflection surface; and
,d. a fluid flow passage adjacent to the second face. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of directing a high power laser beam within a laser tool, for use in hydrocarbon exploration, hydrocarbon production or the decommissioning of hydrocarbon wells, the method comprising:
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a. directing a laser beam along a beam path to a first surface of a unitary total internal reflection structure in a laser tool; b. the laser beam traveling along the laser beam path entering the unitary total internal reflection structure through the first surface and traveling along the laser beam path within the total internal reflection structure to a second surface of the total internal reflection structure; c. the laser beam being reflected by total internal reflection from the second surface and traveling along the laser beam path within the total internal reflection structure to a third surface of the total internal reflection structure; d. directing the laser beam along the laser beam path from the laser tool; and
,e. wherein the laser travels along a beam tube, the beam tube comprising a laser beam path for transmitting a laser beam within the beam tube and a fluid path for transmitting a fluid. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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29. A total internal reflection high power laser tool, for use in hydrocarbon exploration, hydrocarbon production or the decommissioning of hydrocarbon wells, the tool comprising:
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a. a beam tube, defining a tool axis, the beam tube comprising a laser beam path for transmitting a laser beam within the beam tube and a fluid path for transmitting a fluid; b. a housing in fluid communication with the beam tube, the housing comprising a single and unitary total internal reflection polyhedron structure comprised of a material transmissive to the laser beam; and
, a passage defined in part by a total internal reflection surface of the total internal reflection polyhedron structure, the passage in fluid communication with the beam tube fluid path and removed from the laser beam path;c. the laser beam path extending through a first surface of the total internal reflection polyhedron structure and into the material; d. the laser beam path extending to and from the total internal reflection surface and forming an angle of incidence θ
i on the total internal reflection surface that is greater than a critical angle θ
c for the total internal reflection surface;
whereby the laser beam traveling along the laser beam path is reflected within the total internal reflection structure by total internal reflection from the total internal reflection surface; and
,e. the laser beam path extending from the total internal reflection material and exiting the housing along a straight path;
the exiting laser beam path forming an angle of about 90°
or greater with the beam tube axis.
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Specification