Boring or penetrating the earth – Boring by directly applying heat to fluidize or comminute – Combustion is confined chamber having restricted discharge...
Patent
1997-06-27
1999-10-12
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 17, E21B 714
Patent
active
059643030
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a process for establishing drilling holes in hard rock, as for instance granite, by exposing the rock to be drilled to a flame formed by bringing together hydrogen gas and fluorine gas and sucking off the reaction products formed by the flame by means of an aqueous liquid from the already established drilling hole. The invention also relates to a device for implementing this process.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A chemical process is already known (see German patent no. 21 53 954) according to which rock can be chemically cut or its surface can be chemically processed. According to this process hydrogen and fluorine are supplied to a burner of the type of a Daniel cock. The developing hydrogen fluoride has a temperature of about 4000.degree. C. and splits up the present silicon-oxygen linkage and aluminum-oxygen linkage of the rock so that a clean cut is developed. However, this process to convert all the components of rock into gaseous fluorides and H.sub.2 O vapor with hydrogen fluoride has nothing to do with a process according to which solid reaction products are blown away, as is the case, for instance, processing rock with an oxygen lance.
Furthermore, it is mentioned in the above-cited patent that the developing hydrogen fluoride is toxic and is blown into the atmosphere according to the principle of a vacuum cleaner. Moreover, the possibility is mentioned to use the hydrogen fluoride flame under water which, however, has the result of the formation of very toxic hydrofluoric acid.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to provide a process for establishing drilling holes, especially for prospecting for and/or exploitation of crude oil, which can be implemented with relatively low cost in a very simple manner with the avoidance of toxic and/or corrosive reaction products.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention this object is attained in that the aqueous liquid serving for the removal of the formed reaction products is a lye, preferably sodium hydroxide solution (soda lye), in which the excess hydrogen fluoride formed during the combustion of hydrogen and fluorine is converted into a nontoxic fluoride, such as sodium fluoride, while simultaneously the other gaseous reaction products are converted into water-soluble silicates, aluminates and alkaline fluorides.
In preferred embodiments of the inventive process the concentrated salt solution sucked off from the drilling hole is collected and that the fluorides are precipitated from this salt solution as calcium fluoride through the addition of calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide, and that the fluorine gas is recovered through a fluorine recirculation by the use of electrical energy. The supply of fresh lye to the drilling hole and the sucking-off of the salt solution is controlled in response to the output signals by pH probes provided in the supply range and at the sucking location.
Emanating from German patent no. 21 53 954, the gist of the present invention resides in the provision of a lye, preferably of a sodium hydroxide solution (soda lye), in the region of the flame formed by bringing together the hydrogen gas and the fluorine gas. In this lye the very toxic gases generated by the conversion with hydrogen fluoride are chemically bound. These gases are primarily the fluorides of silicon, aluminum and potassium. Other metallic ions present in the rock of the earth, as for instance sodium, magnesium, iron, calcium etc., are also converted to fluorides. By the effect of hot hydrogen fluoride, carbonates which may be present are also decomposed into gaseous components. All the formed fluorides and the excess hydrogen fluoride as well as carbon dioxide which is possibly formed are converted in this manner to a concentrated salt solution by the lye introduced down into the lower region of the drilling hole. The supply of fresh lye can be controlled by the use of pH probes in such a manner that the pumped-off salt solution has always a constant c
REFERENCES:
patent: 2882016 (1959-04-01), Aitchison et al.
patent: 3093197 (1963-06-01), Freeman, Jr. et al.
patent: 4099584 (1978-07-01), Frankle et al.
Oil and Gas Journal, vol. 54, No. 14, Aug. 8, 1955, p. 67.
Journal of Petroleum Technology, Apr. 1960, pp. 61 to 74, XP000614501.
McGhee; "New Down-Hole Tool"; Oil and Gas Journal; vol. 54, No. 14, p. 67; Aug., 1955.
Ledgerwood, Jr.; "Efforts to Develop Improved Oilwell Drilling Methods"; Journal of Petroleum Technology; vol. 219; Apr. 1960; pp. 61-74.
Dang Hoang C.
Dubno Herbert
Kunkel Klaus
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