The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 25, 2008
Filed:
Mar. 07, 2003
Michael John Betts, Rijswijk, NL;
Josef Guillaume Christoffel Coenen, Rijswijk, NL;
Pieter Karel Anton Kapteijn, Rijswijk, NL;
Peter Oosterling, Rijswijk, NL;
Paul Dirk Schilte, Rijswijk, NL;
Pleun Marinus Van Der Sman, Rijswijk, NL;
Gustaaf Louis Van Wechem, Reeuwijk, NL;
Michael John Betts, Rijswijk, NL;
Josef Guillaume Christoffel Coenen, Rijswijk, NL;
Pieter Karel Anton Kapteijn, Rijswijk, NL;
Peter Oosterling, Rijswijk, NL;
Paul Dirk Schilte, Rijswijk, NL;
Pleun Marinus Van Der Sman, Rijswijk, NL;
Gustaaf Louis Van Wechem, Reeuwijk, NL;
Shell Oil Company, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A steerable soil penetration system having a steerable penetration head, which compacts and does not cut away the surrounding soil and which is connected to an elongate flexible tubing such that the orientation of the penetration head can be varied relative to the tubing. The elongate tubing and/or a downhole hammer or tractor pushes the penetration head through the subsurface formation. Preferably the tubing is surrounded by a narrow annulus so that buckling of the tubing is inhibited and the tubing protects the pierced hole against caving in. Optionally the tubing is circumferentially expanded after completion of the piercing process thereby increasing the width of the pierced hole and providing a permanent hole lining.