Continuous drilling of vertical boreholes by thermal processes:

Details Continuous drilling of vertical boreholes by thermal processes: Continuous drilling of vertical boreholes by thermal processes:

1995-05-19

1998-06-30

Dang, Hoang C.

Boring or penetrating the earth

Boring by directly applying heat to fluidize or comminute

Combustion is confined chamber having restricted discharge...

175 15, E21B 714, E21B 715

Patent

active

057719845

ABSTRACT:
Various rock spallation devices and methods reduce the cost of deep hole excavation. A spallation head has rotating, circumferentially spaced jets. The jets may be combustion flame jets or very hot water. In a combustion embodiment, air and water are delivered to the spallation apparatus downhole in a mixture, and are separated. In a low density embodiment, the borehole is essentially empty. In a high density embodiment, more water is included in the mixture of air and water, and the borehole is filled with fluid. Instead of combustion, the kinetic energy of flowing water at the spallation device can be used to power a turbogenerator that generates electric energy to heat the water and spall the rock. The jets may also be aimed and configured to fuse the excavation material, if spallation is not feasible. New lengths of feed and return pipe can be added while spallation continues uninterrupted, either due to well head alternating equipment, or a downhole relative motion device.

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