INDUSTRIAL DRILLING HOLE SUPPORT TUBE

Abstract

A hole support tube for use in an industrial drilling operation has an elongated body sized, shaped, and adapted to fit within a geological hole. The body has a wall extending from a first end of the body to a second end of the body, the wall having an outer surface and an inner surface with the inner surface defining a hollow interior of the body. The wall is made of a biodegradable material, such as cardboard. In one version, the hole support tube is an electronic hole support tube having a fiber optic cable spirally wound around or within the wall.

Description

PRIORITY

The present application claims the benefit of domestic priority based on United States Provisional Patent Application 63/137,069 filed on Jan. 13, 2021, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The industrial drilling industry, which includes exploration drilling, production drilling, horizontal drilling, uphole drilling, and the like, has used heavy duty steel rods for decades. It is time for a paradigm shift that will lead to new innovations in the industry.

The heavy duty steel rods and non-biodegradable polymer tubes are used across the industry as drill rods and as hole liners or supports. The steel and polymer units are expensive. In addition to material expenses, the steel rods and polymer tubes and their use add handling and logistical expenses to a drilling project. Furthermore, the use of the steel rods and polymer tubes add significant capital cost in the form of the need for powerful drill rigs that have enough energy for pullback. Pullback is the retraction of an entire drill string of steel drill rods from a hole at the end of the drilling cycle.

There are also costs incurred from the time, power, and energy involved in breakout efforts which increase over time from the repeated handling and reuse of these drill rods time and again, with accumulative wear increasing over the operational life of the drill rods, normally until catastrophic failure renders the part unusable. On top of these costs are the limitations created by the components and materials themselves which stifle all but marginal gains in innovation and efficiency in both material extraction and in data extraction.

There is therefore a need for improved hole support tubes in the geological drilling industry. There is a further need for an improved hole support tube that can be used as a hole liner. There is a further need for a hole support tube that can be used as a hole support for a blasthole. There is a further need for a hole support tube that can be used as a hole support for a drilling process. There is further a need for hole liners that are disposable, single-use, biodegradable, and/or less expensive than steel drill rods and polymer tubes. There is a further need for a hole support tube that can be integrated with technology. There is a further need for an improved manufacturing process for a hole support tube.

SUMMARY

The present invention satisfies these needs. In one aspect of the invention, improved hole liners rods for the industrial drilling industry are provided.

In another aspect of the invention, hole liners are provided that are disposable, single-use, biodegradable, and/or less expensive than steel drill rods.

In another aspect of the invention, hole liners for the industrial drilling industry are provided that comprise a biodegradable material.

In another aspect of the invention, hole liners for the industrial drilling industry are provided that comprise a cardboard.

In another aspect of the invention, hole liners for the industrial drilling industry are provided that are comprise a water-proof treated cardboard.

In another aspect of the invention, hole liners for the industrial drilling industry are provided that comprise a fibrous material.

In another aspect of the invention, hole liners for the industrial drilling industry are provided that comprise a cellulose material.

In another aspect of the invention, hole liners for the industrial drilling industry are provided that comprise a polymer cellulose composite material.

In another aspect of the invention, a hole support tube a plurality of hole support tubes can be connected to one another longitudinally.

In another aspect of the invention, one or more hole support tubes are used in a blasting system to support a hole during a blasting operation.

In another aspect of the invention, the thickness of the wall of a hole support tube can be adjusted to alter its physical and structural properties and/or to adjust the properties of the procedure in which the hole support tube 100 is being used.

In another aspect of the invention, a hole support tube is an electronic hole support tube.

In another aspect of the invention, an electronic hole support tube is equipped with or is adapted to be equipped with an electronic component, such as a wire, cable, fiber optics, circuitry, detector, or emitter.

In another aspect of the invention, an electronic hole support tube comprises a detector that detects a condition.

In another aspect of the invention, an electronic hole support tube comprises a camera capable of detecting a video image of the hole.

In another aspect of the invention, an electronic hole support tube comprises a temperature sensor capable of detecting the temperature in the hole and/or of the surrounding earth.

In another aspect of the invention, an electronic hole support tube comprises an acoustic or vibration detector.

In another aspect of the invention, an electronic hole support tube comprises an electronic connector.

In another aspect of the invention, an electronic hole support tube comprises a wire or fiber optic cable.

In another aspect of the invention, an electronic hole support tube comprises a wire or fiber optic cable in the form of a spiral wire around the electronic hole support tube.

In another aspect of the invention, an electronic hole support tube comprises a wire or fiber optic cable in the form of a spiral wire around the electronic hole support tube.

In another aspect of the invention, a drilling system makes use of one or more hole support tubes mentioned above.

In another aspect of the invention, a drilling system makes use of one or more hole support tubes mentioned above, the drilling system comprising a drill that can pass through the interior of a hole support tube, the drill including a motor and a drill bit, the drill bit having a retractable head so that its diameter can reduced so it can be sized to fit within the interior of the hole support tube.

In another aspect of the invention, a manufacturing process produces versions of a hole support tube.

In another aspect of the invention, a hole support tube for use in an industrial drilling operation comprises an elongated body sized, shaped, and adapted to fit within a geological hole, the body having a wall extending from a first end of the body to a second end of the body, the wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a hollow interior of the body, wherein the wall is made of a biodegradable material.

In another aspect of the invention, a hole support tube for use in an industrial drilling operation comprises an elongated body sized, shaped, and adapted to fit within a geological hole, the body having a wall extending from a first end of the body to a second end of the body, the wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a hollow interior of the body, wherein the wall is made of a biodegradable material comprising cardboard.

In another aspect of the invention, a hole support tube for use in an industrial drilling operation comprises an elongated body sized, shaped, and adapted to fit within a geological hole, the body having a wall extending from a first end of the body to a second end of the body, the wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a hollow interior of the body; and an electronic component comprising an electronic cable, wherein the electronic cable is spirally wound around or within the wall.

In another aspect of the invention, a hole support tube for use in an industrial drilling operation comprises an elongated body sized, shaped, and adapted to fit within a geological hole, the body having a wall extending from a first end of the body to a second end of the body, the wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a hollow interior of the body; and an electronic component comprising an electronic cable, wherein the electronic cable is spirally wound around or within the wall, wherein the electronic cable comprises a fiber optic cable.

In another aspect of the invention, a hole support tube for use in an industrial drilling operation comprises an elongated body sized, shaped, and adapted to fit within a geological hole, the body having a wall extending from a first end of the body to a second end of the body, the wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a hollow interior of the body; and an electronic component comprising an electronic cable, wherein the electronic cable is spirally wound around or within the wall, wherein the wall is made of a biodegradable material.

In another aspect of the invention, a method of performing an industrial drilling operation comprises drilling a geological hole; inserting a hole support tube into the geological hole, the hole support tube comprising an elongated body, the body having a wall extending from a first end of the body to a second end of the body, the wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a hollow interior of the body, wherein the wall is made of a biodegradable material; performing a drilling operation; and not removing the hole support tube from the geological hole to biodegrade.

In another aspect of the invention, a method of performing an industrial drilling operation comprises drilling a geological hole; inserting a hole support tube into the geological hole, the hole support tube comprising an elongated body, the body having a wall extending from a first end of the body to a second end of the body, the wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a hollow interior of the body, wherein the wall is made of a biodegradable material; performing a drilling operation; and not removing the hole support tube from the geological hole to biodegrade, wherein the drilling operation comprises one or more of further drilling, filling the hole support tube with explosive, blasting the geological hole with explosive, and electronically monitoring or detecting a condition in the geological hole.

DRAWINGS

These features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings which illustrate exemplary features of the invention. However, it is to be understood that each of the features can be used in the invention in general, not merely in the context of the particular drawings, and the invention includes any combination of these features, where:

FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view of a hole support tube according to a version of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a schematic side view of a hole support tube according to a version of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional side view of a drilling process utilizing a plurality of hole support tubes;

FIG. 3A is a schematic side view of a drill and blasting system of the invention;

FIG. 3B is a schematic side view of another version of a drill and blasting system of the invention;

FIG. 4A is a schematic perspective view of a hole support tube according to another version of the invention;

FIG. 4B is a schematic perspective view of a hole support tube according to another version of the invention;

FIG. 5A is a schematic sectional side view of a drilling system according to a version of the invention;

FIG. 5B is a schematic sectional side view of a drilling system according to another version of the invention;

FIG. 5C is a side and bottom view of a drill bit for use with the drilling system;

FIG. 5D is a side and bottom view of another drill bit for use with the drilling system;

FIG. 5E is a side and bottom view of another drill bit for use with the drilling system;

FIG. 6A is a schematic side view of a drill for use with the drilling system;

FIG. 6B is a schematic side view of the drill of FIG. 6A self-propelling through the interior of a hole;

FIG. 6C is a schematic side view of the drill of FIG. 6A taking a core sample;

FIG. 6D is a schematic side view of the drill of FIG. 6A and the sample self-extracting from the hole;

FIG. 7A is a schematic side view of a hammer action drill for use with the drilling system;

FIG. 7B is a schematic side view of a down-the-hole hammer action drill for use with the drilling system;

FIG. 7C is a schematic side view of a rotary drill for use with the drilling system; and

FIG. 8 illustrates techniques for in-situ deployment of a hole support tube.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to hole support tubes. In particular, the invention relates to hole support tubes that are biodegradable, have embedded technology, and/or are otherwise improved hole support tubes. Although the hole support tubes are illustrated and described in the context of being useful for the geological drilling industry, the present invention can be useful in other instances. Accordingly, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the examples and embodiments described herein.

FIG. 1A shows a hole support tube 100 in accordance with one version of the present invention. The hole support tube 100 has a body 105 having an elongated shape that is sized, shaped, and adapted to fit within a geological hole. The body 105 of the hole support tube 100 in the version of FIG. 1A is at least partially cylindrical in that it has a transverse cross-section having a circular shape. Alternatively, the transverse cross-sectional shape can be round, curved, oval, ovoid, ovate, egg-shaped, square, rectangular, polygonal, or a combination of any of these shapes. The hole support tube 105 has a wall 107 having an outer surface 110 and an inner surface 115. The body 105 and/or the inner surface 115 defines a hollow interior 120. The hole support tube 100 extends from a first end 125, sometimes referred to as a toe, to a second end 130, sometimes referred to as a collar. In one version, the hole support tube 100 is designed to be particularly useful in the geological drilling industry, which includes for example exploration drilling, production drilling, horizontal drilling, uphole drilling, tunneling, microtunneling, and/or the like. By hole support tube it is meant any sleeve type tube or hole liner used in the drilling industry to support holes from collapsing and/or for providing passage to equipment.

In accordance with one version of the invention, the hole support tube 100 can be designed to be single-use. In this version, the hole support tube 100 is at least partially made of a material that is sufficiently inexpensive, disposable, and/or biodegradable to allow the hole support tube 100 to be used a single time. In one version, the hole support tube 100 comprises, comprises predominantly, or consists essentially of a non-metal material. In another version, the hole support tube 100 comprises, comprises predominantly, or consists essentially of a biodegradable material. By biodegradable it is meant a material that can be left in the ground and will degrade within a period of time, such as one week, one month, one year, ten years, and one hundred years. In another version, the hole support tube 100 comprises, comprises predominantly, or consists essentially of a material that is paper-based. In another version, the hole support tube 100 comprises, comprises predominantly, or consists essentially of a material that is cellulose-based, such as material obtained from one or more of wood, cotton, and hemp. In another version, the hole support tube 100 comprises, comprises predominantly, or consists essentially of cardboard. In another version, the hole support tube 100 comprises, comprises predominantly, or consists essentially of cardboard water-proofed with a water-proofing material, such as one or more of a wax, polyethylene, other plastic, corn starch based product, and adhesive foil. In one version, the hole support tube 100 can be structurally rigid where is can support itself without significant deformation, or may be flexible.

In another version, the hole support tube 100 can comprise, comprise predominantly, or consist essentially of a non-biodegradable, light-weight material. For example, in this version, the material can comprise a plastic or polymeric material. In another version, the material can be a polymeric/cellulose composite material. The polymeric hole support tube 100 can be shaped and structured as discussed above. Alternatively, the polymeric hole support tube 100 can be in the form of a flexible bag or pouch which can be deployed by inversion which allows for self placement of the material/product.

In one version, the hole support tube 100 according to this version of the invention is useable as a biodegradable hole liner. In accordance with this version, the hole support tube 100 is sized and configured to be used as a liner for a hole that has been drilled during geological drilling, such as for exploration, production, and/or tunneling. The biodegradable hole liner 100 has a length from the first end 125 to the second end 130 of from about 1 m to about 20 m, more preferably from about 2 m to about 10 m, and most preferably about 3 m. The cylindrical body 105 has an outer diameter or equivalent dimension from about 90 mm to about 5 m, more preferably from about 95 mm to about 3.5 m, and most preferably about 95 mm to about 300 mm, and an inner diameter from about 25 mm to about 5 m, more preferably from about 35 mm to about 500 mm, and most preferably about 40 mm to about 250 mm. The thickness of the wall 107 of the cylindrical body 105 is from about 1 mm to about 400 mm, more preferably from about 1.5 mm to about 150 mm, and most preferably from about 2 mm to about 50 mm. By equivalent dimension herein and throughout it is meant that if the circular cross-section or shape were to be replaced with a non-circular cross-section or shape, the equivalent dimension would be the dimension of the non-circular cross-section or shape that results in an area calculation that is generally the same as the area of the circular cross-section or shape. By way of hypothetical example, a 1 mm diameter cross-section or circular shape would have an area of about 0.8 mm² and a square shaped cross-section or shape would have an equivalent cross-sectional area also of about 0.8 mm² which would mean the length of the sides of the square is about 0.9 mm.

In one version, a plurality of hole support tubes 100 can be connected to one another longitudinally. As can be seen in FIG. 1B, a connection mechanism 140 can be provided on the ends 125, 130 of the hole support tube 100. In the version shown in FIG. 1B, the connection mechanism 140 comprises a threaded portion 145 on the first end 125 that is connectable to a corresponding threaded portion within the second end 130. Alternatively, the connection mechanism can comprise a connection mechanism other than threads, such as bayonet connectors or push connections with flared ends.

A system 200 for employing multiple hole support tubes 100, such as a first hole support tube 205 and a second hole support tube 210, in a drilling operation is shown in FIG. 2. A rigid drill bit 215 having a cutting forward end 220 is attached to a drill rig 225 located at the ground level 230. The drill rig 225 drives the drill bit 215 into the ground to drill a hole in conventional manner. When the hole is drilled to a predetermined depth 235 which is equal to or greater than the length of a hole support tube 100, such as 3 meters, the first hole support tube 205 is inserted into the hole. Drilling continues and when the hole is drilled to a second predetermined depth 240 which is equal to or greater than two times the length of the hole support tube 100, such as 6 meters, the second hole support tube 210 is connected to the hole support tube 100 already in the hole and the two hole support tube 100 are pushed into the hole to line the entire hole from the ground level 220 to the depth 230. This process continues until the hole is drilled to the desired depth, which can be as much as two or more kilometers. The drill bit 205 can be extracted or left in the hole or an autonomous or remotely operated drill can be used as will be described hereinbelow. The hole support tubes 100 in this version together serve as a hole liner that prevents the hole from collapsing. In addition, the hole support tubes 100 can allow for the passage of one or more core samples therethrough and can be able to continuously sample or extract material, as with a tunnel boring machine or a micro tunneling machine. The core can be brought to the surface inside a shuttle that passes through the interior 120 on a wince cable. In this illustrated version, the first hole support tube 205 and the second hole support tube 205 are the same length. However, alternatively, the hole support tubes can be different lengths with the predetermined depths 235, 240 corresponding to the lengths accordingly.

In one version, the hole support tubes 100 used in FIG. 2 are single-use tubes and are preferably biodegradable. The use of the single-use hole support tube 100 in this manner has several advantages over conventional practices where thick, rigid, heavy duty steel hole liners are used to line the hole. For example, steel hole liners must be extracted from the hole after the hole is used. Since the steel rods are not biodegradable, it would be potentially hazardous and irresponsible to leave them in the ground. Furthermore, the steel rods are expensive and are designed to be used multiple times, thus making it economically unfeasible to leave them in the ground. However, extracting the steel drill rods liners is a rigorous and difficult process that requires an expensive and powerful drill rig that can pull back the entire string of steel drill rods. In contrast, by replacing the steel drill rods with the hole support tube 100 of the present invention and making them out of a biodegradable material, the extraction process can be eliminated. In addition, since the single-use hole support tube 100 are intended to be used a single time, the process is safer than when multi-use steel rods are used. The repeated handling and reuse of the steel rods over time leads to an accumulation of wear on the rods. This wear can continue until a catastrophic failure occurs and renders the rod unusable.

Alternatively or additionally, one or more hole support tubes 100 can be used in a blasting system 300 to support a hole during a blasting operation, as illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B. In the blasting process shown in FIG. 3A, a drill rig is used to drill one or more drill holes 305. Depending on the composition of the ground and the intentions of the blast, a plurality of holes 305 may be provided in a set pattern. The one or more holes 305 are a predetermined depth which is at least the approximately equal to or greater than the length of the hole support tubes 100 that will be inserted into the holes 305. For example, in one version, the holes 305 and/or the hole support tubes 100 may be from about 3 to about 15 meters. After the holes 305 are drilled, a hole support tube 100 is inserted into each hole and a filler 310 passes over an open top 315 of a hole support tube 100 which is positioned near ground level 230. The hole support tube 100 may also have preassembled components fitted, such as booters or a detonation chord to facilitate effective blasting, which are secured and protected within the structure of the hole support tube 100. The filler 310 contains explosive material 320, such as anfo or emulsion mixtures. and the filler 310 deposits the explosive material 320 into the hole support tubes 100 in the holes 305. Thereafter, the explosive material 320 can be ignited to blast the ground surrounding the holes 305. In an alternative operation, as shown in FIG. 3B, the hole support tubes 100 can be pre-filled with explosive material 320 before they are inserted into the holes 305 and/or the preassembled components such as boosters or a detonation chord. In this version, the hole support tube 100 may have a closed bottom 325. The closed bottom 325 can optionally also be provided in the FIG. 3A version. The hole support tubes 100 used in the processed of FIGS. 3A and 3B can help prevent the drilled holes 305 from caving in during the drilling and blasting process. Without the support, the holes may fully or partially collapse due to water, vibrations, weak soils, or other causes.

The thickness of the wall 107 of the hole support tube 100 can be adjusted to alter its physical and structural properties and/or to adjust the properties of the procedure in which the hole support tube 100 is being used. For example, in the blasting process of FIGS. 3A and 3B, the thickness of the wall 107 can be adjusted to vary the volume of the explosive material 320 present within the interior 120 of the hole support tube 100. This also varies the thermal insulative properties of the hole support tube 100, increasing the sleep time or the length of time explosive product can safely be left in a drill hole, which is a key productivity driver in mining operations. For example, the wall thickness can range from about 0.5 mm to about 50 mm. Optionally sets of hole support tubes 100 having different wall thicknesses can be provided so that the properties can be easily adjusted. Additionally, the diameter of the hole support tube 100 can be varied to either couple or decouple the explosive product. For example, in a 100 mm blasthole, a hole support tube 100 with a 100 mm outer diameter will couple the charge and create the most amount of fragmentation per that blast. In the same 100 mm diameter blast hole, a 35 mm outer diameter hole support tube 100 filled with explosive product, will create a decoupled charge and reduce blasting impact or damage. Decoupled charges are commonly utilized in perimeter holes to reduce blasting charge impact, and create clean cut profiles along the perimeter, with reduced impact on supporting exposed orebody faces.

Another version of a hole support tube 100 according to the invention is shown in FIG. 4A. In this version, the hole support tube 100 is an electronic hole support tube 400. By electronic hole support tube it is meant that at least a portion of the hole support tube is equipped with or is adapted to be equipped with an electronic component, such as a wire, cable, fiber optics, circuitry, detector, or emitter. For example, as shown in the version of FIG. 4A, an electronic hole support tube 100 has an electronic member 405 at its first end 125. The electronic member 405 can be, for example, an emitter, such as a light emitter, a transmitter, a wireless transmitter/receiver, and/or a detector that is capable of detecting a condition in or near the hole, the ground surrounding the hole, and/or the hole support tube 100. A wire 410 can run the length of the hole support tube 100 so that a signal from the electronic member 405 can be delivered to control or monitor equipment outside the hole or inside the hole support tube 100 and/or so that a signal can be provided to the electronic member 405 and/or a signal can be provided back to a database or control system, either directly connected to the sensor, or via a wireless transmitter. The electronic member 405 and/or the wire 410 can be on or near the outer surface 110 or the inner surface 115 of the hole support tube 100 or may be embedded or partially embedded in the wall 107 of the hole support tube 100. The electronic member 405 can be at the first end 125 of the hole support tube 100, as shown in FIG. 4A, or may be located at an intermediate position along the length of the hole support tube 100.

The wire 410 of the electronic hole support tube 100 may be any suitable wire or cable capable of transmitting an electronic signal to and/or from the electronic member 405 to the second end 135 of the hole support tube 100. In one version, a portion of the wire 410 may extend beyond the second end 135 so that the wire can be connected to a monitor or controller. Optionally, a connection member 415 can be provided at the second end 135 to facilitate connection with a monitor or controller and/or with another wire or cable. In one version, the wire 410 can be in the form of a fiber optic cable. The fiber optic cable can be a single or multi-mode cable as used in the telecommunications industry. In a fiber optic version, the entirety of the length of the fiber optic strand/cable can form the sensor, with data points being available the entire length of the connected cable. In another version, the wire can be replaced by wireless technology that wirelessly communicates a signal to or from the electronic member 405.

In one version, the electronic member 405 of the electronic hole support tube 400 can be a detector that detects a condition. The detected condition can be a condition associated with or of importance to the drilling and/or blasting operation. For example, in one version the electronic member 405 can include a camera capable of detecting a video image of the hole. In another version, the electronic member 405 can include a temperature sensor capable of detecting the temperature in the hole and/or of the surrounding earth. In another version, the electronic member 405 can include an acoustic or vibration detector. Acoustic, vibration and/or light signals can be monitored and used to identify rock composition, hardness, voids, water level, temperature, seismic conditions, and the like. Optionally, the electronic member 405 can include multiple detectors or electronic components. The electronic member 405 can optionally also be able emit light. In another version, the fiber optic cable can form the sensor system along the entirety of its length. In this version, the fiber optic strands/cable themselves are the actual sensor, and are capable of sensing changes in vibration or temperature in the surrounding orebody, as well as in the hole support tube 100 itself. This can be achieved through some of the following methods: distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), distributed temperature sensing (DTS), and/or Fiber Brags grating (FBG). The embedded fiber optic cable is connected to either a wireless transmitter at the top of the hole (the hole collar), or a surface connection fiber optic cable which physically transmits data back to a control location.

In one version, the electronic member 405 can be an electronic connector. For example, the electronic connector can be adapted to receive a connection member 415 from an electronic hole support tube 400 that is inserted in a hole below another electronic hole support tube 400. In this manner, multiple electronic hole support tubes 400 can be positioned with an electronic member 405 that detects a condition being on the lowest electronic hole support tube 400 and with the electronic hole support tubes 400 above it delivering the signal to and/or from the electronic member 405. In another version, a plurality of electronic hole support tubes 400 can each be equipped with an electronic member 405 that detect a condition and/or emits light or the like. In this version, multiple wires can be provided if necessary.

Another version of an electronic hole support tube 400 is shown in FIG. 4B. In this version, the wire 415 or the fiber option cable is in the form of a spiral wound wire 420 or fiber optic cable. This wire or fiber optic helix has several advantages over a straight wire or fiber optic cable. For both the wire and the fiber optic cable, it is much easier to embed a spiral wound helix during a traditionally manufactured cardboard tube, which are manufactured with a spiral wound process on winding machines. This facilitates continuous manufacturing and high volume production. The manufacturing process encompasses 2 aspects. First, the spiral winding embedding of the fiber optic cable during the manufacture of the tube itself (which is spirally wound). This gives a much higher signal strength/definition of data feedback from the fiber optic cable than a comparative straight length would. It also means that the addition of the fiber optic cable is just an additive step during the existing manufacturing process, and can be performed at extremely low cost during the tube manufacture rather than requiring an additional step to embed. It is actually much easier and cheaper to embed the fiber optic in this way rather than the straight cable example, as shown in FIG. 4A. Secondly, the miniaturization and modification of the existing manufacturing process and equipment can be accomplished. Given the quantities used, and the remoteness of most mine sites, the process allows for manufacturing locally, essentially at site, or as close to the site as possible. Alternatively, the manufacturing can be produced in large facilities at scale, and in large batch numbers. A manufacturing module which will fit in a standard shipping container, or small flat bed truck/pick up, will be transportable.

FIG. 5A illustrates a version of a drilling system 500 that makes use of one or more hole support tubes 100, which may or may not include an electronic member 405, incorporated with a drill 505, such as an electric and/or autonomous drill. The drill 505 can pass through the interior 120 of a hole support tube 100 to a drilling position shown in FIG. 5A. The drill 505 includes a motor 510 and a drill bit 515. The drill bit 515 can have a retractable head so that its diameter can reduced so it can be sized to fit within the interior 120 of the hole support tube 100. FIG. 5B shows another version of a drilling system 500 that makes use of one or more hole support tubes 100, which may or may not include an electronic member 405. In the version of FIG. 5B, the drill 505 is made up of a single-use drill bit 520 that is affixed to a support tube 100. In this way, the entire support tube 100 can be used as a drilling rod with the single-use drill bit 520 forming a single use consumable part. FIGS. 5C through 5E show examples of drill bits 515/520 that can be used with the drill 505. FIG. 5C shows tricone bits 525. FIG. 5D shows carbide bits 530. FIG. 5E shows PDC bits 535.

A version of a drill 505 for use with the drilling system 500 is shown in FIG. 6A. In this version, the drill 505 includes a drill bit 515, a telescopic drill section 600, powered drive wheels 605 and/or a clamping mechanism that allow the drill to traverse through the interior 120 of the hole support tube 100, a main rig body 610, an electric motor 615 for this system, a battery 620, an umbilical cord to the battery, and a transmitter/antenna 625 that allows the drill to be controlled, be powered, transmit data, and/or be monitored. Operation of the drill 505 is shown in FIG. 6B through 6D. In FIG. 6B, the drill 505 is shown self-propelling through the interior 120 of the hole support tube 100. In FIG. 6C, the drill 505 is taking a core sample and/or drilling as per standard operation out of the end 125 of a hole support tube 100. In FIG. 6D, the drill 505 and the sample are shown self-extracting from the hole.

FIGS. 7A through 7C show schematics of three different drill configurations of for the drill system 500. FIG. 7A shows a hammer action drill 700. FIG. 7B shows a down-the-hole hammer action drill 705. FIG. 7C shows a rotary drill 710. Any of the configurations can be used with the drill system 500 and the hole support tube 100 of the present invention. The drilling system 500 and hole support tube 100 can also be used in a horizontal manner in a tunnel boring process.

A version of a process for producing and/or installing hole support tubes 100 is shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 8 shows three types of hone support tubes 100 that are in-situ deployable. A first configuration 800 is shown in a fully crimped condition 801 for deployment. When deployed or during deployment, the first configuration uncrimps through the process shown in 802 through 804 until it is in its final and deployed configuration 805 which in the version shown is substantially cylindrical. A second configuration 810 and a third configuration 820 are also shown along with their associated fully crimped conditions 811,821 through the deployment processes 812-814, 822-824 to the final deployed configurations 815,825. The first configuration 800 is a solid tube crimped. This method gives the largest reduction of final tube diameter when it is crimped, approximately 60%. The second configuration 810 is also a solid tube crimped and is less expensive to implement. The third configuration 820 is a slit tube crimped, like a sheet rolled up into a cylinder. When released, the material unfurls to full diameter with a formed edge clamp running the length of the tube which locks into place once uncrimped.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with regard to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible, and alterations, permutations and equivalents of the version shown will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and study of the drawings. For example, the cooperating components may be reversed or provided in additional or fewer number, and all directional limitations, such as up and down and the like, can be switched, reversed, or changed as long as doing so is not prohibited by the language herein with regard to a particular version of the invention. Also, the various features of the versions herein can be combined in various ways to provide additional versions of the present invention. Furthermore, certain terminology has been used for the purposes of descriptive clarity, and not to limit the present invention. Throughout this specification and any claims appended hereto, unless the context makes it clear otherwise, the term “comprise” and its variations such as “comprises” and “comprising” should be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, limitation, or step but not the exclusion of any other elements, limitations, or steps. Throughout this specification and any claims appended hereto, unless the context makes it clear otherwise, the term “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” and their variations such as “consists” should be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, limitation, or step and not the exclusion of any other elements, limitations, or steps or any other non-essential elements, limitations, or steps, respectively. Throughout the specification, any discussed on a combination of elements, limitations, or steps should be understood to include a disclosure of additional elements, limitations, or steps and the disclosure of the exclusion of additional elements, limitations, or steps. All numerical values, unless otherwise made clear in the disclosure or prosecution, include either the exact value or approximations in the vicinity of the stated numerical values, such as for example about +/−ten percent or as would be recognized by a person or ordinary skill in the art in the disclosed context. The same is true for the use of the terms such as about, substantially, and the like. Also, for any numerical ranges given, unless otherwise made clear in the disclosure, during prosecution, or by being explicitly set forth in a claim, the ranges include either the exact range or approximations in the vicinity of the values at one or both of the ends of the range. When multiple ranges are provided, the disclosed ranges are intended to include any combinations of ends of the ranges with one another and including zero and infinity as possible ends of the ranges. Therefore, any appended or later filed claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein and should include all such alterations, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hole support tube for use in an industrial drilling operation, the hole support tube comprising:

an elongated body sized, shaped, and adapted to fit within a geological hole, the body having a wall extending from a first end of the body to a second end of the body, the wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a hollow interior of the body,

wherein the wall is made of a biodegradable material.

2. A hole support tube according to claim 1 wherein the hole support tube is an electronic hole support tube equipped with an electronic component.

3. A hole support tube according to claim 2 wherein the electronic component comprises one or more of a wire, a cable, a fiber optic cable, a circuit, a detector, and an emitter.

4. A hole support tube according to claim 2 wherein the electronic component is a fiber optic cable on or in the wall.

5. A hole support tube according to claim 2 wherein the electronic component is a fiber optic cable spirally wound around or within the wall.

6. A hole support tube according to claim 1 wherein the wall is at least partially cylindrical.

7. A hole support tube according to claim 1 wherein the biodegradable material comprises cellulose.

8. A hole support tube according to claim 1 wherein the biodegradable material comprises cardboard.

9. A hole support tube according to claim 1 wherein a majority of wall is cardboard or cardboard composite material.

10. A hole support tube according to claim 1 wherein the body is sized, shaped, and configured to be used as a liner for a hole that has been drilled during geological exploration, production, or tunneling.

11. A hole support tube according to claim 1 wherein the body has one or more of a length from about 2 meters to about 10 meters, a diameter or equivalent dimension of from about 95 mm to about 3.5 meters, and a wall thickness of from about 2 mm to about 50 mm.

12. A hole support tube for use in an industrial drilling operation, the hole support tube comprising:

an elongated body sized, shaped, and adapted to fit within a geological hole, the body having a wall extending from a first end of the body to a second end of the body, the wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a hollow interior of the body, and

an electronic component comprising an electronic cable, wherein the electronic cable is spirally wound around or within the wall.

13. A hole support tube according to claim 12 wherein the electronic cable comprises a fiber optic cable.

14. A hole support tube according to claim 12 wherein the wall is made of a biodegradable material.

15. A hole support tube according to claim 12 wherein the wall comprises cardboard.

16. A method of performing an industrial drilling operation, the method comprising:

drilling a geological hole;

inserting a hole support tube into the geological hole, the hole support tube comprising an elongated body, the body having a wall extending from a first end of the body to a second end of the body, the wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a hollow interior of the body, wherein the wall is made of a biodegradable material;

performing a drilling operation; and

not removing the hole support tube from the geological hole to biodegrade.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the drilling operation comprises one or more of further drilling, filling the hole support tube with explosive, blasting the geological hole with explosive, and electronically monitoring or detecting a condition in the geological hole.

18. A method according to claim 16 wherein the hole support tube further comprises an electronic component comprising an electronic cable, wherein the electronic cable is spirally wound around or within the wall and wherein the method further comprises transmitting an electronic signal through the electronic cable before, during, or after the drilling operation.