DEVICE FOR NON-ENTRY MINING
A bore hole tool 10 for removing minerals from the earth. The tool has a case 11 having a nose 12. The case contains a drilling sub-system A, a mining sub-system B, and a pumping sub-system C. The drilling sub-system ablates material in front of the nose providing a space into which the tool can be advanced. The mining sub-system breaks down mineral resources and creates a slurry around the tool. The pumping sub-system pumps the slurry created by the mining sub-system away from the case. A method of removing minerals involves providing a bore hole tool 10, ablating material in front of the nose 12 of the case to provide a space into which the tool can be advanced, breaking down mineral resources and creating a slurry around the tool, and pumping the slurry created by the mining sub-system away from the case.
The invention relates to mining equipment and more particularly to a multi-purpose bore hole tool that is capable of drilling, mining and pumping.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONNon-entry mining is a method of removing minerals from the earth using a device that is remotely operated from the surface. Non-entry mining is particularly useful in the recovering of mineral resources that cannot be mined using conventional methods, for example, a coal seam that is too deep for open cut mining and too thin for underground mining.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the invention to provide a bore hole tool having a drilling sub-system, a mining sub-system and a pumping sub-system.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a bore hole tool for removing minerals from the earth, the tool comprising:
a case having a nose, the case containing:
- a drilling sub-system for ablating material in front of the nose of the case providing a space into which the tool can be advanced;
- a mining sub-system for breaking down mineral resources and creating a slurry around the tool; and
- a pumping sub-system for pumping the slurry created by the mining sub-system away from the case.
In an embodiment, the drilling sub-system is adapted to ablate material around the nose of the casing.
In an embodiment, the nose is substantially conical.
In an embodiment, the case comprises a substantially longitudinal component in which the drilling sub-system is located near the nose of the case, and the pumping sub-system and the mining sub-system are located behind the drilling sub-system towards a tail of the case.
In an embodiment, the case is connectable to a drill string. The case and drill string are preferably flexible so as to bend through an approximately 50 m radius.
In an embodiment, the tool further comprises a flexible joint interposed between the case and the drill string.
In an embodiment, the drilling sub-system comprises one or more drilling jet nozzles. In an embodiment, the one or more drilling jet nozzles comprises a centrally located and forward facing drilling jet nozzle. The one or more drilling jet nozzles may further comprise an array of drilling jet nozzles located behind the centrally located and forward facing drilling jet nozzle. The array of drilling jet nozzles are preferably positioned in a circular array. The nozzles in the circular array are preferably subdivided into sub-arrays.
In an embodiment, the one or more drilling jet nozzles each comprises a central opening for water surrounded by an annular air sub-nozzle.
In an embodiment, the nose comprises a plurality of openings adapted to cooperate with the high pressure nozzles associated with the drilling sub-system.
In an embodiment, the mining sub-system comprises a plurality of radially directed jet nozzles.
In an embodiment, each jet nozzle comprises a central opening for water surrounded by an annular air sub-nozzle.
In an embodiment, the case comprises an array of radial openings adapted to cooperate with the radially directed jet nozzles.
In an embodiment, the pumping sub-system comprises a laterally directed throat for receiving the slurry. The throat is preferably adapted to cooperate with an adjacent slurry inlet formed in the case. The throat is preferably adapted to supply a venturi, the venturi comprising a low pressure zone and a slurry pumping jet with a nozzle located within the throat and directed toward the low pressure zone. In an embodiment, the pumping system comprises a pair of laterally directed throats, each throat having an associated venturi. In an embodiment, the tool further comprises one or more guide jets for propelling and/or manoeuvring the tool.
In an embodiment, the case comprises one or more guide jet openings adapted to cooperate with the one or more guide jets.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a bore hole tool for removing minerals from the earth, the tool comprising:
- a case having a nose, the case containing:
- a drilling sub-system for ablating material in front of and around the nose of the case providing a space into which the tool can be advanced, the drilling sub-system comprising a centrally located and forward facing drilling jet nozzle and an array of drilling jet nozzles located behind the centrally located and forward facing drilling jet nozzle;
- a mining sub-system for breaking down mineral resources and creating a slurry around the tool, the mining sub-system comprising a plurality of radially directed jet nozzles; and
- a pumping sub-system for pumping the slurry created by the mining sub-system towards the earth's surface.
In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of removing minerals from the earth, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a bore hole tool as described in relation to the first aspect;
- (b) ablating material in front of the nose of the case to provide a space into which the tool can be advanced;
- (c) breaking down mineral resources and creating a slurry around the tool; and
- (d) pumping the slurry created by the mining sub-system away from the case.
In an embodiment, step (b) further comprises ablating material around the nose of the case.
In an embodiment, the method further comprises providing a drill string and step (d) comprises pumping the slurry created by the mining sub-system towards the earth's surface using the drill string.
In an embodiment, the bore hole tool comprises one or more drilling jet nozzles and step (b) comprises using the one or more drilling jet nozzles to ablate material in front of and around the nose of the case. The one or more drilling jet nozzles may comprise a central nozzle, and the method comprises activating the central nozzle continuously during step (b). The drilling sub-system may further comprise an array of drilling jet nozzles located behind the central nozzle, the array of drilling jet nozzles being subdivided into sub-arrays, and the method comprises activating the sub-arrays in sequence, one sub-array at a time to produce a circular jetting action during step (b).
In an embodiment, the the tool comprises a plurality of radially directed jet nozzles, the nozzles directing water outwardly from the tool to carry out step (c).
In an embodiment, the pumping sub-system comprises a laterally directed throat and a venturi, the venturi having a low pressure zone and a slurry pumping jet with a nozzle located within the throat and directed toward the low pressure zone, and step (d) comprises directing fluid towards the low pressure zone with the nozzle, thereby drawing slurry through the throat.
In an embodiment, step (d) comprises pumping the slurry created by the mining sub-system towards the earth's surface.
In an embodiment, the tool comprises one or more guides jets and the method further comprises activating the one or more guide jets for changing the direction of the tool.
In an embodiment, the method further comprises using the one or more guide jets to guide slurry into the slurry inlets.
In an embodiment, the method further comprises inserting the tool into the earth through a pre-drilled bore.
In an embodiment, the method further comprises the step of deactivating the drilling sub-system.
In an embodiment, the method further comprises the step of retracting the tool towards the surface of the earth.
In an embodiment, the method further comprises repeating steps (b) to (d).
The invention consists in the foregoing and also envisages constructions of which the following gives examples only.
In order that the invention be better understood, the present invention will now be described by way of example only and reference is now made to the following drawing figures in which:
As shown in
The case has a pair of lateral openings 14 that serve as slurry inlets. The case also has a circumferential array of radial openings 15 that cooperate with the mining sub-system. In preferred embodiments, the slurry inlets 14 are spaced less than 180 degrees apart and are located between the drilling array 13 and the mining array 15. With respect to the orientation depicted in
Utilisation of the drilling sub-system (A) results in an excavation of material in front of and around the nose cone. This excavation caused by the nozzles 31, 32 provide a space into which the tool 10 can be advanced. The drilling sub-system A also includes a pair of guide jets 37. The guide jets are selectively and individually activated for the purpose of changing the direction of the tool. The case 11 contains a pair of openings 17 that allow the guide jets 37 to discharge through the case 11. The guide jets are selectively activated, one at a time or in unison with a pair of electronic valves 38 that operate similarly to but are controlled separately from the mining jets 31, 32.
As shown in
The slurry pumping sub-system (C) in
The operation of the tool 10 is suggested by the schematic illustration of
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but many. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.
Similarly it should be appreciated that in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited.
Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention.
While the present invention has been disclosed with reference to particular details of construction, these should be understood as having been provided by way of example and not as limitations to the scope or spirit of the invention.
The term ‘comprising’ as used in this specification and claims means ‘consisting at least in part of”. When interpreting statements in this specification and claims which include the term ‘comprising’, other features besides the features prefaced by this term in each statement can also be present. Related terms such as ‘comprise’ and ‘comprised’ are to be interpreted in a similar manner.
As used herein the term “(s)” following a noun means the plural and/or singular form of that noun.
As used herein the term “and/or” means “and” or “or”, or where the context allows both.
Claims
1. A bore hole tool for removing minerals from the earth, the tool comprising:
- a case having a nose, the case containing:
- a drilling sub-system for ablating material in front of the nose of the case providing a space into which the tool can be advanced;
- a mining sub-system for breaking down mineral resources and creating a slurry around the tool; and
- a pumping sub-system for pumping the slurry created by the mining sub-system away from the case.
2. A bore hole tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the case comprises a substantially longitudinal component in which the drilling sub-system is located near the nose of the case, and the pumping sub-system and the mining sub-system are located behind the drilling sub-system towards a tail of the case.
3. A bore hole tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the case is connectable to a drill string.
4. A bore hole tool as claimed in claim 3, wherein the case and drill string are flexible so as to bend through an approximately 50 m radius.
5. A bore hole tool as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a flexible joint interposed between the case and the drill string.
6. A bore hole tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drilling sub-system comprises one or more drilling jet nozzles.
7. A bore hole tool as claimed in claim 6, wherein the one or more drilling jet nozzles comprises a centrally located and forward facing drilling jet nozzle.
8. A bore hole tool as claimed in claim 7, wherein the one or more drilling jet nozzles further comprises an array of drilling jet nozzles located behind the centrally located and forward facing drilling jet nozzle.
9. A bore hole tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mining sub-system comprises a plurality of radially directed jet nozzles.
10. A bore hole tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pumping sub-system comprises a laterally directed throat for receiving the slurry, the throat being adapted to cooperate with an adjacent slurry inlet formed in the case, the throat being further adapted to supply a venturi, the venturi comprising a low pressure zone and a slurry pumping jet with a nozzle located within the throat and directed toward the low pressure zone.
11. A bore hole tool as claimed in claim 1, further comprising one or more guide jets for propelling and/or manoeuvring the tool.
12. A bore hole tool for removing minerals from the earth, the tool comprising:
- a case having a nose, the case containing:
- a drilling sub-system for ablating material in front of and around the nose of the case providing a space into which the tool can be advanced, the drilling sub-system comprising a centrally located and forward facing drilling jet nozzle and an array of drilling jet nozzles located behind the centrally located and forward facing drilling jet nozzle;
- a mining sub-system for breaking down mineral resources and creating a slurry around the tool, the mining sub-system comprising a plurality of radially directed jet nozzles; and
- a pumping sub-system for pumping the slurry created by the mining sub-system towards the earth's surface.
13. A method of removing minerals from the earth, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a bore hole tool as claimed in claim 1;
- (b) ablating material in front of the nose of the case to provide a space into which the tool can be advanced;
- (c) breaking down mineral resources and creating a slurry around the tool; and
- (d) pumping the slurry created by the mining sub-system away from the case.
14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the bore hole tool comprises one or more drilling jet nozzles and step (b) comprises using the one or more drilling jet nozzles to ablate material in front of and around the nose of the case.
15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the one or more drilling jet nozzles comprise a central nozzle, and the method comprises activating the central nozzle continuously during step (b).
16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the drilling sub-system further comprises an array of drilling jet nozzles located behind the central nozzle, the array of drilling jet nozzles being subdivided into sub-arrays, and wherein the method comprises activating the sub-arrays in sequence, one sub-array at a time to produce a circular jetting action during step (b).
17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the tool comprises a plurality of radially directed jet nozzles, the nozzles directing water outwardly from the tool to carry out step (c).
18. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the pumping sub-system comprises a laterally directed throat and a venturi, the venturi having a low pressure zone and a slurry pumping jet with a nozzle located within the throat and directed toward the low pressure zone, and wherein step (d) comprises directing fluid towards the low pressure zone with the nozzle, thereby drawing slurry through the throat.
19. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the tool comprises one or more guides jets and the method further comprises activating the one or more guide jets for changing the direction of the tool.
20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the method further comprises using the one or more guide jets to guide slurry into the slurry inlets.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 10, 2013
Publication Date: Apr 10, 2014
Inventors: Colin RANDALL (New Lambton Heights), Nicholas DEVLIN (Newcastle)
Application Number: 14/050,738
International Classification: E21B 43/29 (20060101);