Electric motor for laser-mechanical drilling

• US 9,784,037 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2015
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Foro Energy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Foro Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Grubb, Daryl L., Faircloth, Brian O., Zediker, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): GAY, JENNIFER HAWKINS
• Application Number:
  US14/746,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20160186497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/30 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/50 Inorganic material, e.g. metals, not provided for in B23K2103/02 – B23K2103/26
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0093 combined with mechanical machining or metal-working covered by other subclasses than B23K combined welding or cutting procedures or apparatus B23K28/02
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0648 comprising lenses
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/10 using a fixed support , i.e. involving moving the laser beam
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/1464 Supply to, or discharge from, nozzles of media, e.g. gas, powder, wire
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/38 by boring or cutting
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/001 Self-propelling systems or apparatus, e.g. for moving tools within the horizontal portion of a borehole
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 4/04 Electric drives E21B4/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/14 Drilling by use of heat, e.g. flame drilling
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/15 of electrically generated heat

Abstract

A high power laser drilling system utilizing an electric motor laser bottom hole assembly. A high power laser beam travels within the electric motor for performing a laser operation. A system includes a down hole electrical motor having a hollow rotor for conveying a high power laser beam having a wavelength less than 1060 nm through the electrical motor.

Claims

1. A method of performing a laser operation, the method comprising:

a. locating an electric laser tool assembly at a work area for perform a laser operation in the work area;

b. the electric laser tool assembly having;

an electric motor;

a first section attached with a second section;

the second section rotationally attached with a third section;

a collimator;

a first fluid cavity;

the second section comprising an inner optical cavity and a second fluid cavity;

the third section comprising an optics assembly, and a third fluid cavity;

a first rotary seal sealing the first and second sections;

a second rotary seal sealing the second and the third sections;

c. transmitting a high power laser beam along a laser beam path extending through the inner optical cavity of the second section, wherein the laser beam is collimated;

d. transmitting a high power laser beam along a laser beam path within the electric laser tool assembly, the laser beam path extending through the collimator, the first section, the inner optical cavity of the second section and the optics assembly of the third section;

whereby a collimated laser beam is transmitted through the optical cavity;

e. transmitting a fluid through the first fluid cavity, the second fluid cavity and the third fluid cavity;

f. delivering the laser beam and the fluid from the electric laser tool assembly to the work area;

g. rotating at least one of the sections; and

,

h. performing a laser operation in the work area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the laser beam has a wavelength of at least 445 nm to 2100 nm.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the laser beam has a wavelength of 445 nm to 1060 nm.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the laser beam is provided by a semiconductor lasers.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the laser operation is drilling a borehole.

6. A method of for performing a laser operation on a work surface, the method comprising:

a. locating an electric laser tool assembly at a work area adjacent a work surface for perform a laser operation in the work area;

b. the electric laser tool assembly having;

an electric motor;

a first section attached with a second section;

the second section rotationally attached with a third section;

a collimator;

a first fluid cavity;

the second section comprising an inner optical cavity and a second fluid cavity;

the third section comprising an optics assembly, and a third fluid cavity;

a first rotary seal sealing the first and second sections;

a second rotary seal sealing the second and the third sections;

c. transmitting a high power laser beam along a laser beam path extending through the inner optical cavity of the second section, wherein the laser beam is collimated;

d. transmitting a high power laser beam along a laser beam path within the electric laser tool assembly, the laser beam path extending through the collimator, the first section, the inner optical cavity of the second section and the optics assembly of the third section;

whereby a collimated laser beam is transmitted through the optical cavity;

e. transmitting a fluid through the first fluid cavity, the second fluid cavity and the third fluid cavity;

f. delivering the laser beam and the fluid from the electric laser tool assembly to the work area;

g. rotating at least one of the sections; and

,

h. performing a laser operation on the work surface.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the laser beam has a wavelength of 445 nm to 1060 nm.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the laser beam is provided by a semiconductor lasers.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the work surface is a tubular located in a borehole.

10. A method of performing a laser operation, the method comprising:

a. providing an electric laser tool assembly system to a work area at a borehole site, the system comprising an electric laser tool assembly assembly and a high power laser source, the electric laser tool assembly comprising a pair of optical wedges;

b. locating the electric laser tool assembly in the work area;

c. configuring the optical wedges to define an angled laser beam path;

d. transmitting a high power laser beam through the electrical laser tool assembly, whereby the high power laser beam exits a first optical wedge of the configured optical wedges, transmits along the angled laser beam path in a collimated space, enters a second optical wedge of the configured optical wedges, and exits the second optical wedge; and

,

e. delivering the laser beam to the work area for performing a laser operation in the work area.