Abstract: A fusion drilling process and device for the placement of dimensionally accurate borings, particularly those of large diameter, in rock, in which the waste melt is pressed into the surrounding rock, which is cracked due to the effect of temperature and pressure, and in which a borehole lining is produced by solidifying melting during boring, with a melt containing metal supplied through pipeline elements as a boring medium to the base of the borehole to be removed through melting. For this purpose a melt made of magnetic metal is preferably used.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for extending the depth of a subterranean borehole that uses heated aqueous fluid to dissolve rock of the subterranean formation. The heated aqueous fluid comprises water and hydroxides of Group I elements of The Periodic Table of Elements and mixtures thereof. The drilling system comprises means for delivering aqueous fluid and heating the aqueous fluid prior to contacting rock of a subsurface formation.

Abstract: There is provided a fluid circulating apparatus for a drill that requires only a small amount of coolant, as a suspension is collected and reused. The apparatus 1 for use with a drill 2 comprises a suspension collecting means 3 that collects a suspension derived from the coolant mixed with chippings S through cutting and drilling operations, a suspension filtering means that filters off the chippings included in the suspension, thereby making the suspension back into the coolant to be stored in a reservoir 4a, and a coolant supplying means that supplies the coolant obtained by the suspension filtering means and stored in the reservoir to the bit. The suspension collecting means includes a vacuum pump used to collect the suspension from a water-receiving pad so provided as to surround a point to be drilled by changing a pressure in the reservoir to subatmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A method for retarding temperature loss of fluid being produced in a well employs a fluid of low thermal conductivity in the tubing annulus. The tubing annulus extends between the production casing and the production tubing. It extends from a packer at the lower end of the tubing annulus to a wellhead. The fluid in one case is low density gas created by a partial vacuum. A vacuum is drawn on the tubing annulus to reduce the air density, which in turn reduces the amount of heat that convection currents can carry. In another example, the tubing annulus fluid is viscous hydrocarbon liquid. The hydrocarbon liquid also has a low thermal conductivity. Heat is supplied to the fluids being produced through the tubing annulus by a heater cable that extends into the well.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for cooling a component inside a tool includes a container and a plurality of heat sinks positioned in the container. The components are positioned in the container with the heat sinks for maintaining a reduced temperature inside the container. Further, an insulating layer and a reflective layer surround the heat sinks and components to reduce heat transfer. Alternatively, the container can have a hollow wall that encloses the space in which a heat sink material (such as an eutectic material) is disposed. The components to be protected are located in the container. The eutectic material includes a composition having tin and zinc. The insulating layer includes a container that stores a vacuum layer, such as a dewar flask.

Abstract: A pressure and temperature core sampler comprises a tool for recovering cores specifically enabling the evaluation of methane hydrate resources. Because methane hydrate tends to decompose under conditions of pressure decrease and/or temperature increase as the samples are retrieved to the surfaces a coring tool in accordance with the present invention provides a self-contained system for retrieving core samples at or near in situ pressure while cooling the core sample. The coring tool is preferably a wire line retrievable device that provides for nearly continuous coring during the drilling operation.

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: A dual walled pipe string structure defines an annular cavity between the walls into which hard granules may be packed to oppose wall collapse when inserted to high pressure well depths. Segments of pipe thus constructed will reduce the heat transfer across the pipe string allowing for the conveyance of drilling mud from a surface cooler to a downhole tool. The rate of cooled drilling mud transfer to the tool may be controlled to match the heat transfer rates and the heat generated at the tool. To further oppose wall pressures inert gas at opposing pressure may be introduced into the interstices between the granules.

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 insulation jacket and method are provided for a tubing carried perforating gun for a subterranean well. A tubular housing is secured at one end to a tubular conduit with a firing head disposed interiorly within the housing. A perforating gun is activated by the firing head and carried by the housing. A tubular heat shield is concentrically disposed around the exterior of the housing and is sealingly secured relative to an end of the housing. An annular area is defined between the interior of the heat shield and the exterior of the housing with a fluid passageway extending from the interior of the housing through the annular area and communicating with the exterior of the heat shield. The heat shield configuration may also be utilized to provide an annular wash area for washing particulate matter away from the perforating gun as it is being introduced into the well.

Abstract: A thermal jacket shield for a drilling motor which permits drilling operations in high temperature wells without failure of the motor. The thermal shield includes a multiple passageway casing to shroud the motor and through which is circulated drilling fluid used to operate the drilling motor. The motor is positioned within concentric inner and outer shells which form a fluid annulus through which the fluid is circulated. An intermediate housing sub connected to the lower end of the drilling motor includes a nozzle through which a controlled quantity of drilling fluid is passed into the annulus formed by the inner and outer annular shells. Outlet ports in the outer shell allow the drilling fluid to flow to the exterior of the tool. As a result, cooling fluid is continuously passed through the jacket shield to maintain the operating temperature of the motor at an acceptable temperature.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for agitating and heating a sub-surface volume of soil to liberate volatile compositions therefrom which are transmitted through a special flow passage created through the soil to the soil surface where they are analysed to determine the presence or absence of selected contaminants. A low pressure sink is provided to ensure proper flow of volatiles rapidly to the surface and to prevent contamination of adjacent soil blocks or cylinders during treatment.

Abstract: A device for extracting an undisturbed sample of soil to be tested from a subsurface location uses a cutter to remove unwanted soil from above the undisturbed sample. The device is particularly intended for extraction of soil from contaminated areas without loss of contaminants which are volatile at ambient temperatures. The device also is capable of chilling or freezing the sample in situ before extraction and testing. A method of using the device to take samples whenever volatile contaminants are sensed is also disclosed.

Abstract: A spark discharge focused drill provided with one pulse forming line or a number of pulse forming lines. The pulse forming line is connected to an array of electrodes which would form a spark array. One of the electrodes of each of the array is connected to the high voltage side of the pulse forming line and the other electrodes are at ground potential. When discharged in a liquid, these electrodes produce intense focused shock waves that can pulverize or fracture rock. By delaying the firing of each group of electrodes, the drill can be steered within the earth. Power can be fed to the pulse forming line either downhole or from the surface area. A high voltage source, such as a Marx generator, is suitable for pulse charging the lines.

Abstract: Tunnels are constructed by freezing soil and removing frozen soil between starting and end shafts of the tunnels. Tunnels are driven in an uncomplicated manner in rapidly changing soils without auxiliary construction means. A hole is bored in or near the planned axis of the intended tunnel between starting and end shafts. A soil freezing work pipe is inserted into the hole. The pipe is cooled by a cooling agent. The soil freezing work pipe continues to be cooled until an ice and frozen soil mass has formed around the work pipe, which frozen mass has a diameter which is larger than that of the planned tunnel. Frozen soil is subsequently excavated, leaving a frozen soil lining, which is immediately supported by a primary support lining or a permanent lining.

Abstract: An apparatus for drilling vertical temperature measuring holes in the top brick of coke ovens includes a guide support vertically fixedly mounted on a horizontal frame on the top surface of a coke oven proper, and a guide pipe shaft connected at its upper end to a rotary drill, having a freely replaceable drilling bit attached to its lower end and including therein a cooling gaseous body passage is vertically movably mounted on the guide support in parallel thereto. In drilling operation, a first core bit with square chips is attached to the lower end of the guide pipe shaft and the top brick is first drilled to a depth of at least five times of diameter of the hole to be drilled while jetting a cooling gaseous body and cooling the core bit.

Abstract: A caliper seal assembly is adapted to seal two relatively moving parts in a drilling tool or drill bit or other device where a sealing relationship must be maintained under relatively large relative position and tolerance changes between the two movable parts, under relatively rapid pressure variations and surges, and under relatively high temperature conditions. The caliper seal includes a pair of flexible flank members having contact pads formed thereon and between which sealing surfaces of a flange-like projection extend. The caliper seal is particularly advantageous for sealing bearing assemblies between a cutter wheel and the body of a rotary drill bit. A heat pipe assembly can be incorporated within the flange-like projection to remove excess heat generated by the frictional contact of the contact pads on the flange sealing surfaces. The flange projection can also be formed with an interior fluid conducting conduit to remove excess heat.

Abstract: A drill string working tool is provided that may be releasably engaged to and removed from a drill string member. The tool, such as a cylindrical stabilizer body, is positioned around a cylindrical drill string member, the inner diameter of the stabilizer body being greater than the outer diameter of the drill string member, so as to provide an annular cavity between the stabilizer body and the drill string member. A heating element disposed within a protective outer sheath is mounted axially along the inner surface of the stabilizer body. For installation, a low melting point solid material such as zinc or a zinc alloy is poured in to substantially fill the annular cavity. The stabilizer compression preloads the zinc onto the drill string member, and thus the stabilizer body is non-rotatably attached to the drill string member. For removal, the low melting point fill material is removed from the annular cavity by remelting with the interior heating element and pouring out the fill material.

Abstract: When drilling through hydrate-containing strata, instead of increasing the density of the drilling mud to reduce or prevent melting of the hydrates, the density of the mud is maintained at a level sufficiently low to promote melting of the hydrates. The gas generated by the melting hydrates rises to the surface with the drilling mud which is diverted by a rotating diverter at the wellhead to a degasser where the gas is separated from the mud, and the mud is returned to the mud tanks for re-use. If the drill string is to be removed temporarily, the mud density is increased to stop hydrate melting.

Abstract: An earth boring bit has a friction or journal bearing with features that allow cooling fluid to be circulated near the bearing. The bit is of the type having rotatable cutters carried by depending bearing pins. A bushing is stationarily mounted on the bearing pin, with the bushing's inner surface in contact with the outer surface of the bearing pin. One of the surfaces has a plurality of grooves that extend at least partially around the bearing pin. Passages are formed in the bearing pin and bit for circulating cooling fluid through the grooves. The cutter is mounted on the bushing in rotating and sliding contact to form a journal bearing.

Abstract: A down hole shut-in device effects a stoppage of effluent from a blown-out oil well by freezing a plug of the effluent within the well. The down hole shut-in device is installed within a conventional tubing string or casing string and includes a tubular member having a structural outer wall and a relatively thin, heat-exchanging inner wall. During normal operations, a substantially non-compressible fluid is maintained within the volume bounded by the outer and inner walls for transmitting pressure exerted upon the thin inner wall to the structural outer wall. During a blow-out or other loss of well control, the substantially non-compressible fluid is replaced by a refrigerated fluid for removing heat from the effluent flowing within the tubular member. A series of flow deflectors are mounted to the inner wall and are normally flush therewith.

Abstract: A method and apparatus suitable for stabilizing hydrocarbon cores are given. Such stabilized cores have not previously been obtainable for laboratory study, and such study is believed to be required before the hydrate reserves can become a utilizable resource. The apparatus can be built using commercially available parts and is very simple and safe to operate.

Abstract: A flow stream of drilling gas in a gaseous drilling fluid circulation drilling system is separated from that drilling gas supplied to the drill string, and the flow stream is reduced in temperature prior to supplying the flow stream to a drilling tool component to be cooled. A heat exchanger is employed to remove heat from the flow stream, and a second separate flow stream of drilling gas is directed over the heat exchanger to remove the heat. The temperature of the second cooling stream is reduced by thermodynamic effects. Various drilling tool components may be cooled, including bearing means operative between two relatively movable parts, a seal assembly operative to seal lubricant between two relatively moving parts, and cutter elements of a drag-type drill bit. The seal assembly includes a flange-like projection member and a fluid conducting conduit in thermal transferring relationship with the projection member.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a transportable cooling system for cooling drilling mud in the course of drilling for geothermal sources or deep well drilling. The cooling system includes a mud carrying radiator provided with a water sprinkler assembly and fan for cooling the exterior thereof. Both the water sprinklers and the fans are controllable in their rate in response to a signal combining the well outlet temperature. In this manner cooling demands of a well bore can be anticipated, allowing for deep well drilling.

Abstract: A drill fluid powered hydraulic system used for driving a shaft connected to a drill bit is disclosed. The apparatus includes a hydraulic fluid powered motor actuated and controlled by hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic fluid is supplied to the hydraulic fluid powered motor through an intermediate drive system actuated by drill fluid. The intermediate drive system is provided with two rotary valves and two double sided accumulators. One of the rotary valves routes the hydraulic fluid to and from the accumulators and respectively from and to the hydraulic fluid powered motor. The other valve routes the drill fluid to the accumulators from the drill fluid supply and from the accumulators to the drill bit. The rotary valves are indexed by a gear system and Geneva drive connected to the motor or drill shaft. A heat exchanger is provided to cool the hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: An unsealed rotary drill of the type comprising a bearing shaft, a roller rotatably mounted on the shaft, cutting inserts carried by the roller, bearing for rotatably supporting the roller on the shaft, and a flushing channel terminating at an end surface of the bearing shaft for conducting cooling air to the bearing. The bearing includes an axial bearing comprising an insert plate formed of sintered hard metal alloy, and a supporting plate formed of a material which is less hard and less wear resistant than the metal alloy. The supporting plate contains a solid lubricant. The supporting plate and the insert plate present opposed bearing surfaces. The insert plate is mounted in the end surface of the bearing shaft such that a rear surface of the insert plate is acted upon by cooling air from the flushing channel.

Abstract: Process for drilling a hole in the earth's crust in which the bottom of the drill hole is frozen in front of or near the drill bit by a cold driling liquid in which liquid particles that have been frozen to solid parts or have been solidified have been taken up whether or not by addition. In this way the bottom of the drill hole is always so hard -- also upon drilling in soft or plastic formations, such as clays, -- that use can be made of diamond drill bits or other drill bits normally used for hard formations, in order that the number of times a drill bit is to be replaced can be strongly reduced. The purpose of adding ice is to make it possible for a sufficient amount of frigories per unit of time to be introduced into the drill hole, so that at greater depths the temperatures at the drill bit are decreased to such a degree that here, too, use can be made of drill bits for hard formations here described.

Abstract: This invention concerns the production of very deep boreholes. A rotary drilling tool is suspended at one end of a very long line of supporting elements such as a cable. During at least the entire duration of the drilling operation, the borehole is filled at least partly with at least one substance which remains in a liquid state and has a density greater than the mean density of the drilled ground strata. Thus any infiltrations in the borehole and the drilling debris move naturally upwards to the free surface of the liquid substance filling the borehole.

Abstract: A drilling assembly which is particularly adapted for drilling in regions of the earth having permafrost, comprising a relativey large earth auger including at least one helical flight which is welded to a long central tube. The upper end of the auger has a shape such that torque may be readily applied to the auger for rotating the same. Interiorly of the upper end of the tube is a means for mounting a downhole percussion hammer, such that the percussion hammer may be suspended for operation within the tube. Preferably, a substantially solid drill bit having a generally frustoconical (pointed) shape is used in conjunction with the percussion hammer. Also, a means for advantageously providing for admitting more compressed air to the bottom of the hole than would normally be admissible by relying on air supplied to the percussion hammer alone.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for a rotary drilling tool for a continuous mining machine includes inner and outer races having respective annular bearing surfaces and an annular channel formed between the races for water lubrication and cooling of roller bearing members positioned within the channel. A pump supplies pressurized flow through the channel sufficient to lubricate the bearing and to prevent feedback of rock particles. A transfer passageway drains the water from the bearing assembly and feeds it to the tool to cool the cutter teeth and to allay the fine respirable dust which is potential health hazard to the mine workers. The rollers of the bearing each include an annular notch to form a portion of the flow channel. The notches occupy approximately fifteen percent of the cross-sectional area. Elastic ring support for the outer race absorbs a major portion of the drilling stress from the tool. Rotary water seals and wipers beside the bearings form a rotary water-tight joint.

Abstract: An invention relating to a rock drill bit assembly primarily adapted for earth boring operations, and more particularly to a rock drill bit assembly having therewithin a temperature-controlled, sealed environ being adapted for the bearing means and the lubricant disposed between the relatively rotatable parts thereof.The rock drill bit assembly includes a rock drill main body having a journal thereon with an internally confined heat exchange means therein which is selectively controlled by a remotely located control system, at least one cone which is relatively rotatably supported from the journal facial surface, a peripheral seal adapted for fully enclosing the clearance space defined between the relatively rotatable opposing facial surfaces of the journal and the cone, and bearing means and lubricant positioned in the enclosed clearance space and adapted for reducing rotational friction between the opposing facial surfaces thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rotary rock bit with a heat pipe for conducting heat from the bit's bearings. The rotary rock bit includes a bit body with a connection for connecting the bit body to a rotary drill string. At least one arm extends from the bit body and a rotatable cutter is mounted on said arm. Bearing means are located between the rotatable cutter and the arm for promoting rotation of the cutter. A heat pipe is positioned in the bit body and the heat pipe extends into the arm. The heat pipe includes an evaporator section located near the bearings and a condenser section located near the external surface of the bit.

Abstract: In a method of drilling a bore-hole, the bore-hole is protected against caving in as the drilling proceeds by the simultaneous moulding of a tubing on the bore-hole wall immediately above the drill tool. Preferably a sleeve is first moulded onto the bore-hole wall and the tubing is moulded onto the sleeve.

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.