Abstract: A plasma tunnel boring machine including a plurality of plasma torches on the cutting head, and a plurality of nozzles on the cutting head to provide a stream to cool an area while the plasma torches are active, and a tractor providing propulsion to the cutting head, the tractor to move the cutting head to cut a tunnel.

Abstract: A method of removing material from a target is described. The method comprises the steps of providing a tool, the tool having at least one propellant source; pressurising the tool to a pressure higher than the environmental pressure; igniting at least one of the propellant source(s) to form a combustion zone; and directing combustion products generated at the combustion zone along at least one tool flow path. The tool flow path(s) is selectively openable or closable, such that upon exiting the tool flow path(s) the combustion products interact with a target, the interaction causing material to be removed from the target.

Abstract: A spallation drilling apparatus is also disclosed that uses jets of hot fluid for drilling. This is compatible with drilling wells in high temperature zones, such as a lava dome. A simplified pyrolysis reactor for use in a lava dome is also disclosed, in which the dome functions to contain the reaction, and the apparatus to facilitate pyrolysis is far more compact.

Abstract: A carbon negative clean fuel production system includes: a main platform; a heat collection device for capturing heat from a hydrothermal emissions from a hydrothermal vent on a floor of an ocean; a heat driven electric generator; a heat distribution system including a heat absorbing material and a heat transporting pipe; anchor platforms tethered to the main platform; a mineral separator; a seawater filtration unit; a water splitting device; a sand refinery machine; a carbon removal system; and a chemical production system for producing hydrides, halides and silane. Also disclosed is a method for carbon negative clean fuel production, including: capturing heat; producing electric energy; separating minerals; filtering seawater; splitting water; refining sand; removing carbon dioxide; and producing hydrides, halides, and silane.

Abstract: A drill bit nozzle includes a nozzle body, a channel in the nozzle body, and a nozzle outlet arranged at an end of the nozzle body and in communication with the channel. The nozzle outlet is a strip-shaped outlet configured to eject a sheet-like jet flow. Since the nozzle outlet of the drill bit nozzle is a strip-shaped outlet, the nozzle outlet is able to eject a sheet-like jet flow. When the drill bit nozzle is applied to a PDC drill bit, the drill bit nozzle can uniformly eject a drilling fluid onto each cutting tooth, which ensures that the cutting teeth in the drill bit may obtain good cooling and chip removal effects, while avoiding excessive concentration of the jet flow from the drill bit nozzle which may erode the cutting teeth, thereby prolonging the service life of the drill bit.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a system and method for separating a first signal from a second signal of a plurality of constituent signals within a composite signal. The method can include receiving a first portion of the composite signal at a first clock rate and exponentiating it to detect the first signal and the second signal within the composite signal and determine modulation estimates of the first and second signals and at least one symbol rate. The method can also include resampling the first portion based on the modulation estimates at x-times the at least one symbol rate to determine symbol trajectory, modulation type, and offset information between the first signal and the second signal. The method can include determining a synthesized first signal and a synthesized second signal representing the first signal and the second signal within the first period of time at a second clock rate that is a multiple of the first clock rate.

Abstract: A pulsed-electric drilling system includes a bit that extends a borehole by detaching formation material with pulses of electric current from one or more electrodes, and a drillstring that defines at least one path for a fluid flow to the bit to flush detached formation material from the borehole. The system modulates the fluid flow across the one or more electrodes.

Abstract: A method and a device to thermally fragment rock for excavation of vertical and directional boreholes in rock formations, preferentially hard rock, using highly exothermic reactions. Exothermic reactions are initiated directly in the pressurized, aqueous environment of a water-based drilling fluid preferably above the critical pressure of water (221 bar). After reaction onset temperatures within the reaction zone exceed the critical temperature for water (374° C.) providing supercritical conditions, which favor the stabilization of the reaction, e.g. a supercritical hydrothermal flame. Since reactions can be run directly in a water-based drilling fluid, the method proposed here allows high density drilling action as in conventional rotary drilling. A part from the hot reaction zone of the proposed reaction can be brought directly to the rock surface in case of hard polycrystalline rock, where high temperatures are required.

Abstract: A water jet assembly and method of use is provided comprising a tank with cutting fluid, fuel and oxidizer lines, and a tank discharge lines. In operation, the tank is filled with oxidizer; the oxidizer line is closed and cutting fluid is supplied compressing the oxidizer. When the fluid reaches a level, the fluid line is closed and fuel is injected. A spark generator ignites the fuel/oxidizer mixture thereby raising the tank pressure. As the pressure rises, a low pressure valve simultaneously closes at a prescribed level. The vent line and a discharge to a nozzle are opened thereby, forming a gas bubble. When the bubble reaches a desired size and pressure drops below a level, the vent closes, allowing combustion expansion to force fluid through the nozzle to form a cutting jet.

Abstract: The present invention is a self-contained, high-energy liquid rock-boring system that will bore a small-diameter access hole [5] several hundred meters through hard granite and other obstacles within minutes of deployment. It employs a land unit [100] platform subsystem [1000] with an energetic fluid fuel reservoir [1300] and a boring subsystem [3000] having a plurality of pulsejets [3100]. Each pulsejet [3100] repeatedly ignites the energetic fluid [7] causing a plurality of rapidly-expanding gas bubbles [3250] which create and force a plurality liquid slugs [10] ahead of them rapidly out through a nozzle [3260] causing the slugs [10] to impact against materials ahead of the nozzles [3260], boring an access hole [5]. The system also employs an umbilical subsystem [2000] connecting the boring [3000] and the platform subsystems [1000]. The system can be used to rapidly bore an access hole [5] to provide air and resources to trapped miners.

Abstract: A method and device for boring a hole [5] through a material along a desired path includes an umbilical subsystem [2000] connected to a boring subsystem [3000] having a plurality of pulsejets [3100]. These pulsejets [3100] repeatedly receive and ignite a combustible fluid [7] in a combustion chamber [3230] causing a portion of the fluid [7] to be forced out of a nozzle [3260] at high speeds as a fluid slug [10] that impacts materials ahead of the pulsejet [3100]. A controller [3310] controls the amount of fluid provided to each pulsejet [3100], and the firing timing, thereby controlling the intensity in which each slug [10] impacts the material. By modulating the intensity and firing sequence of each of the pulsejets [3100], material ahead of the boring subsystem [3000] is differentially bored thereby allowing steering of the boring subsystem [3000].

Abstract: The present invention is a self-contained, high-energy liquid rock-boring system that will bore a small-diameter access hole [5] several hundred meters through hard granite and other obstacles within minutes of deployment. It employs a land unit [100] platform subsystem [1000] with an energetic fluid fuel reservoir [1300] and a boring subsystem [3000] having a plurality of pulsejets [3100]. Each pulsejet [3100] repeatedly ignites the energetic fluid [7] causing a plurality of rapidly-expanding gas bubbles [3250] which create and force a plurality liquid slugs [10] ahead of them rapidly out through a nozzle [3260] causing the slugs [10] to impact against materials ahead of the nozzles [3260], boring an access hole [5]. The system also employs an umbilical subsystem [2000] connecting the boring [3000] and the platform subsystems [1000]. The system can be used to rapidly bore an access hole [5] to provide air and resources to trapped miners.

Abstract: A lowermost casing segment in a tubular casing string, capped with a cast iron end cap, has an ignitable thermite mixture within the interior of such casing segment which, when ignited, superheats the end cap and the casing segment, to allow the casing segment and the end cap to be lowered completely through a subterranean asphalt formation without allowing the asphalt to enter the interior of the casing segment. The cast iron end cap is then drilled out to allow further drilling through the casing segment into oil and gas formations beneath the asphalt formation. In a first embodiment, the casing segment has a top cap to constrain the thermite mixture. In a second embodiment, the thermite mixture is located within a metal capsule which can be lowered into the casing segment to rest against the bottom end cap, and then be removed by a wireline.

Abstract: The description relates to a process and a device for drilling holes in hard rocks like granite, in which the rock to be drilled is exposed to a flame produced by gaseous hydrogen and fluorine together and the reaction products produced by the flame are taken out of the drilling with the aid of a sucked aqueous liquid. In order to be able to implement the process economically while preventing the formation of toxic and corrosive reaction products, the aqueous liquid used to remove the reaction products formed is a lye, e.g. a sodium hydroxide solution, in which the excess hydrogen fluorine formed during the combustion of hydrogen and fluorine is converted into a non-toxic fluoride, e.g. sodium fluoride, while at the same time the other reaction products are converted into water-soluble silicates, aluminates and alkaline fluorides.

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.

Abstract: An automated burner system for channeling a mineral body consisting of a burner staff carrying a burner at one end, a guide shaft adapted to carry the burner staff for reciprocating motion, a support shaft adapted to mount the guide shaft for oscillating motion, and a carriage adapted to carry said support shaft. A carrying frame is provided to carry the carriage for longitudinal movement. A first drive provides positive reciprocal movement of the burner staff, a second drive provides positive oscillating movement for the guide shaft and the burner staff, and a third drive provides positive longitudinal movement of the carriage along the carrying frame. An electronic control is connected with the first, second and third drives. The electronic control includes a repeating program which controls the burner staff to move a desired distance in each direction of reciprocal movement, the burner staff to oscillate at a prescribed angle and through a prescribed length of oscillation.

Abstract: In a percussion drilling apparatus, an impact block assembly is provided for sequentially driving drill rods into a subterranean formation, the impact block assembly including an impact block member aligned with one or more rows of drill rods and a combustion operated piston is arranged above the impact block assembly for sequentially driving each of the impact members downwardly into engagement with the aligned drill rods.

Abstract: The method and apparatus treat a surface of natural rock or artificial stone-like material to give to this surface an attractive finish. A high temperature jet of plasma and a high speed jet of cooling fluid are projected onto the surface to be treated. The two jets are moved on the surface at a given speed with the jet of cooling fluid following the plasma jet. The speed of movement is selected so that the high temperature plasma jet heats only a thin superficial layer of rock or stone-like material. As the jet of cooling fluid follows the jet of plasma, it suddenly cools the thin superficial layer just heated by the plasma jet to cause a thermal shock which bursts particles of rock or stone-like material at the surface thereof, and blows these particles off the rock surface.

Abstract: An internal burner for producing a subsonic air-fuel flame jet capable of flame finishing granite of similar hard stone has a body forming a closed combustion chamber fed with an essentially stoichiometric flow of compressed air and fuel such that upon ignition and combustion of the reactants, there is produced at pressures in excess of 30 psig hot products of combustion. A first nozzle within the body of relatively small diameter d.sub.1 at the exit end of the combustion chamber expands the products to supersonic velocity. A duct of sufficiently large diameter within the body downstream of the first nozzle and open thereto converts a jet of hot gases to subsonic velocity by shock action prior to discharging the hot gas products of combustion. A second nozzle having a large diameter d.sub.2 in excess of the diameter d.sub.1 of the first nozzle and open to the duct at the end opposite the first nozzle produces a subsonic flame jet to be directed against the rock surface.

Abstract: An automated burner for channelling a mineral body, including, a guide shaft assembly having a guide shaft adapted to receive a burner staff for reciprocal movement. A first drive means is connected to the burner staff and is operative to reciprocally move the staff through a positive stroke in one direction and a gravity urged stroke in the opposite direction. A first control means is associated with the first drive means to reverse the direction of the reciprocal movement upon completion of positive stroke, upon completion of a gravity urged stroke and upon premature cessation of a gravity urged stroke. A second drive means connected to the guide shaft to impart oscillating motion thereto. So that the burner head is moved with a simultaneous reciprocating and oscillating movement through controlled cycles.

Abstract: A hydro-mechanical device for underground drilling for use with a drilling rig comprises a container having a combustion chamber, an ignition system, inlets for introducing a fuel, an oxidizer, a liquid into the combustion chamber, a nozzle for discharging combustion products, a piston slidably mounted in the container and a reamer connected to the piston. The ignition system provides electro-discharges in the fuel, oxidizer, liquid mixture. Each electro-discharge has an explosive nature and produces combustion products having a high pressure. Combustion products are ejected through the circular nozzle surrounding the container to provide a thermal drilling action. The movable piston is pushed downwardly by the products of electro-discharge and causes the reamer to penetrate rocks or a frozen ground to provide a percussion drilling action. By the use of combined effect of thermo-percussion drilling, holes of significant depth can be drilled and rocks or frozen ground of high hardness can be pierced.

Abstract: An autonomous ice penetrator/payload delivery system is provided which, when once launched from its parent vehicle will, upon reaching the surface of the ice automatically right itself to proper orientation with respect to the ice surface for penetration. A modified solid propellant rocket engine is used as the heat source to penetrate the ice rapidly and automatically is ignited upon the ice pentrator/payload containment vessel attaining proper orientation with its longitudinal axis substantially normal to the ice surface. The hot gasses of combustion produced by the modified rocket engine impinge upon the ice thereby melting it. As the ice is melted and penetrated, the penetrator/payload containment vessel will follow the receding ice surface either by gravity, or by motive forces provided by the modified rocket engine, or both.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for penetrating ice. The apparatus comprises: (a) a confined thermochemical reaction chamber having an inlet opening and an outlet opening and containing therein a substantially immobilized first thermochemical reactant, (b) flow means connected to said inlet for delivering an aqueous second thermochemical reactant to said reaction chamber for exothermal reaction with the first reactant, and (c) said outlet opening comprising discharge means for delivering hot thermochemical reaction product including hot aqueous fluid and/or steam into contact with the ice to be melted and penetrated. In an alternative design, the inlet and outlet may be a single opening with a cyclic or oscillating exothermic reaction taking place within the reaction chamber.

Abstract: A burner having a pulsating mode of operation has a combustion chamber for the periodic burning of successive separate charges of combustible fuel continuously supplied from an inlet system. Upstream of the combustion chamber is an ignition chamber having roughened internal walls, an ignition source and an inlet system for fuel and oxygen. During use of the burner, periodic ignition of successive separate charges of combustible gas in the ignition chamber produces fast moving combustion or detonation waves capable of igniting the successive separate charges of combustible fuel in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: Chanelling in rock quarries with reduced noise level is effected by flame drilling side by side holes separated by a web with the web sufficiently thin to allow easy subsequent breakage, preferably where the web is badly heat damaged and cracked through. Water injection acts together with the muffler effect with drilling restricted to individual holes separated by the web to significantly reduce noise levels. The flame drill is preferably additionally provided with a muffler of "folded" design to increase the gas flow path over a short vertical dimension. The muffler may comprise multiple concentric tubes with the inner of the tubes bearing holes for transmitting flow radially of longitudinal flow paths defined by opposed concentric tube walls. A refractory cloth annulus secured to the top of the muffler may be spring held to the stem of the flame drill assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making holes in coal seams in a coal mining system in which hot working gas is employed to impinge on the coal under high pressure and speed in order to disintegrate it and particularly for making inclined or horizontal holes which connect vertical drill holes which lead from the surface to the coal seam and through which the medium for gasifying the coal underground is blown in. The vertical drill holes which lead from the coal seam to the surface are used for blowing out gasification gases which are produced by the operation as well as for delivering the hot working gas. With the method of the invention, a gasification medium of high temperature and pressure is advantageously produced directly at the locations where the disintegrated coal is gasified, the disintegrated coal being formed by a rocket combustion process.

Abstract: A thermal drilling device which operates in a rotary or circumferentially oscillatory motion and which is particularly adapted for drilling geological formations comprises a drill body which has an interior combustion chamber with a bottom having an outlet defining a discharge nozzle. Means are provided for adding fuel components into the combustion chamber and for igniting them to generate hot gaseous products of combustion which are discharged through a nozzle slot arranged at the bottom of the combustion chamber. The nozzle slot extends diametrically of the drilling area at the bottom and slot outline or a plurality of slots arranged symmetrically relative to the longitudinal axis of the drilling body.

Abstract: A flame jet tool for drilling a hole in the ground at great depths is disclosed. The tool comprises a flame jet lance having a drill bit and an associated fuel system. The lance is disposed in a guide sheath such that the lance may be raised and lowered therefrom. The tool may also include means for capturing debris. In operating the flame jet tool of the present invention, the guide sheath is lowered into a preexisting well hole a specific distance. The guide sheath is fixed to the sides of the hole and the flame jet lance is lowered from the guide sheath. At a predetermined point, the drill bit is ignited and caused to rotate thus increasing the depth of the hole. By the use of the flame jet tool of the present invention, holes of significant depth can be increased and materials of extraordinary hardness can be pierced.

Abstract: A thermal drilling device which operates in a rotary or circumferentially oscillatory motion and which is particularly adapted for drilling geological formations comprises a drill body which has an interior combustion chamber with a bottom having an outlet defining a discharge nozzle. Means are provided for adding fuel components into the combustion chamber and for igniting them to generate hot gaseous products of combustion which are discharged through a nozzle slot arranged at the bottom of the combustion chamber. The nozzle slot extends diametrically of the drilling area at the bottom and slot outline or a plurality of slots arranged symmetrically relative to the longitudinal axis of the drilling body. In one embodiment the nozzle slot has a radially extending portion with the circumferential width of the slot increasing in a radial outward direction.

Abstract: A burner in the form of a flame jet drill bit engine for liquid fuels is disclosed. The burner has particular utility in a flame jet drill and comprises an axially elongated body with a combustion chamber disposed therein. At least one flame jet nozzle is disposed through the body adjacent the bottom so as to communicate with the reaction chamber. At least one set of water or other liquid jet nozzles is also disposed on the bottom of the body which produce a pulsating water jet at extremely high velocities. The flame jet nozzle and the water jet nozzles are arranged and configured on the bottom of the body so as to be substantially parallel to the axis of the body. By the use of the combination of flame jets and water jets, a cutting means is produced which can cut through a wide range of amorphous and sedimentary rocks.

Abstract: A flame jet lance having a rotatable drill bit for forming cross holes in the ground is disclosed. The lance has various fuel and oxidizer tanks disposed therein and a fuel feed system coupled to the tanks for pumping the fuel to the rotatable drill bit. An extension member is also disposed in the lance with one end thereof coupled to the feed system and with the rotatable drill bit coupled at the other end thereof. The extension member is movable in the lance such that as the drill bit burns its way through the earth, the extension member moves the bit outward to a position lateral from the lance. In this manner, oil, gas, and the like may travel through the cross hole thus formed into the initial well hole.In operating the flame jet lance of the present invention, the lance is lowered into the preexisting well hole a specific distance. The flame jet drill bit is ignited and extremely hot flames are forced out through a nozzle contained in the drill bit.

Abstract: The apparatus is a rocket with a drill head provided with a group of jet nozzles. One nozzle of this group is the face-forming one, while the plurality of the rows of the rest of the nozzles belong to imaginary circles concentric with the longitudinal axis of the rocket. The spacing of the nozzles in each row equals 4 to 7 critical diameters of the jet nozzle of the respective row, while the spacing of any pair of the adjacent rows of the nozzles in a projection of the drill head upon a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rocket is 4 to 7 times greater than the mean diameter of the nozzles of the said pair of rows of nozzles.