Baker Hughes Corporation

Pdti Holdings, LLC

Other

Eastman Christensen Company

Particle Drilling Technologies, Inc.

Eastman Christensen

Particle Drilling, Inc.

Gordon A Tibbitts

Craig Hodges Cooley

Adrian Vuyk, Sr

Greg Galloway

Redd H Smith

Paul E Pastusek

James B Terry

Ralph M Horton

Evan C Turner

Danny Eugene Scott

Kenneth M Jensen

Wayne Rollins Hansen

Stephen R Jurewicz

Jim B Terry

Lorenzo G Lovato

Nathan James Harder

Jacob T Chow

Thomas Alan Carlson

Steven R Radford

James Leslie Overstreet

Chih C Lin

James Andy Oxford

Mark William Dykstra

Gregory Guy Galloway

L Allen Sinor

Harry Bailey Curlett

Roland Illerhaus

William R Trujillo

James A Norris

Paul O Padgett

Mark L Jones

Samuel R Curlett

Nigel Charles Meany

Terry J Kolterman

Kenneth Colvin

Kenneth Johns

A system for use in excavating a wellbore that includes a drill string and attached drill bit that has nozzles that are in fluid communication with the drill string. The system receives pressurized slurry of fluid and impactor particles and directs the slurry at a subterranean formation from the nozzles to form the wellbore. Discharge streams are formed from the slurry exiting the nozzles, the discharge streams impact and fracture the formation to remove material. The nozzles are oriented so that the streams excavate in the middle and periphery of the borehole bottom. The nozzles can be oriented to form frusto-conical spray patterns when the bit is rotated, wherein the spray patterns can intersect or overlap.

Impactor excavation system having a drill bit discharging in a cross-over pattern

A particle impact drilling system and method are described. In several exemplary embodiments, the system and method may be a part of, and/or used with, an apparatus or system, methods, to excavate a subterranean formation. The system can including, for example, removing near-borehole damage, casing, window milling, fishing, drilling with casing, under reaming, coring, perforating, effective circulatory density management, assisted annular flow, and directional control. Embodiments of associated systems and methods are also included.

Methods of using a particle impact drilling system for removing near-borehole damage, milling objects in a wellbore, under reaming, coring perforating, assisting annular flow, and associated methods

Methods of using a particle impact drilling system for removing near-borehole damage, milling objects in a wellbore, under reaming, coring, perforating, assisting annular flow, and associated methods

A method and system for excavating a subterranean formation including pumping a fluid through a nozzle such that an exit velocity of the fluid is greater than an entrance velocity of the fluid. A plurality of solid material impactors may be circulated with the fluid through the nozzle. A substantial portion by weight of the solid material impactors has a mean diameter of approximately 0.100 inches or less. The substantial portion by weight of solid material impactors exit the nozzle, contact the formation and rebound into a junk slot.

Impact excavation system and method using a drill bit with junk slots

An injection system and method is described. In several exemplary embodiments, the injection system and method may be a part of, and/or used with, a system and method for excavating a subterranean formation. In at least one example, an apparatus is provided that includes a source of impactors comprising at least some ferritic material capable of influence by magnetic fields. An injector is coupled to the source and includes a screw extruder, a screw positioned within a barrel, and at least one magnetic circuit is positioned outside of the barrel.

Apparatus for injecting impactors into a fluid stream using a screw extruder

An excavation system for forming a wellbore through a subterranean formation, the system employing pressurized drilling fluid with impactors mixed therein. The pressurized fluid with impactors is directed to a drill string having a drill bit with nozzles on its lower end. The fluid impactor mixture is discharged from the nozzles and against the formation, wherein the impactors contact, compress, and fracture the formation to excavate through the formation. The system includes an impactor injection system that injects impactors into a stream of pressurized drilling fluid to form the mixture. The injection system operates at substantially the same pressure as the pressurized drilling fluid.

Injection system and method comprising an impactor motive device

A method and system of subterranean excavating that estimates a buoyancy force applied to a downhole excavating system from drilling fluid. The estimated buoyancy force is used to derive a true weight on bit (WOB) at the borehole bottom. The derived realized WOB is compared to a target WOB to obtain a change in WOB. Based on the change in WOB, the excavating system is adjusted so the realized WOB approximates the target WOB. The excavating system adjustment includes applying a compensating force to the string. Compensating forces can be produced by manipulating a block assembly or deploying a thruster device in the string.

Method and system for controlling force in a down-hole drilling operation

A system and method for excavating a subterranean formation, according to which a suspension of liquid and a plurality of impactors is introduced into at least one cavity formed in the body member. The suspension is discharged from a nozzle disposed in the cavity towards the formation so that the impactors remove at least a portion of the formation.

Impact excavation system and method with improved nozzle

A system and method for excavating a wellbore through a subterranean formation that includes a drill string having an inner passage for flowing a suspension of fluid and impactors. The drill string includes a flow control device to block flow in the drill string passage or in the annulus formed between the drill string and the wellbore inner wall from lowing into the bit when flow is reduced or stopped. The flow can take place due to fluid density differences resulting from impactors being in suspension in the fluid. The flow control device includes a selectively openable and closable valve. Valve embodiments include valves having flapper elements, a plurality of cables suspended in an annular configuration, and whisker elements.

Impact excavation system and method with suspension flow control

A method and system for excavating a subterranean formation using a fluid comprising pumping the fluid through at least one nozzle such that a velocity of the fluid when exiting the nozzle is greater than a velocity of the fluid entering the nozzle. A plurality of solid material impactors are introduced into the fluid and circulated with the fluid through the nozzle. A substantial portion by weight of the solid material impactors has a mean diameter of equal to or less than approximately 0.100 inches. The fluid is pumped at a pressure level and a flow rate level sufficient to satisfy an impactor mass-velocity relationship wherein a substantial portion by weight of the solid material impactors has a minimum kinetic energy of approximately 0.075 Ft Lbs when exiting the nozzle. The substantial portion by weight of solid material impactors exit the nozzle and contact the formation.

Impact excavation system and method

A system and method for excavating a subterranean formation, according to which a suspension of liquid and a plurality of impactors are introduced into at least one cavity formed in a body member and are discharging from the cavity so that the impactors remove a portion of the formation. The impactors are separated from at least a portion of the fluid, and are passed to a conduit so that the impactors accumulate in the conduit before being removed from the conduit.

Impact excavation system and method with particle separation

A system and method for excavating a subterranean formation, according to which a suspension of liquid and a plurality of impactors are passed between a drill string to a body member for discharge from the body member to remove at least a portion of the formation. The flow of the suspension between the drill string and the body member is controlled in order to present the impactors from settling near the bottom of the formation.

A drill bit for drilling a well bore using solid material impactors comprising a nozzle and a cavity for accelerating the velocity of the solid material impactors and directing flow of the solid material impactors through the nozzle. The drill bit may also comprise a junk slot for return flow of the drilling fluid and solid material impactors.

Drill bit

Growing community of inventors

Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America

Gordon A Tibbitts