Apparatus and system to drill a bore using a laser

Abstract

A system to extend a lateral bore section using laser light comprises a first umbilical connected to a deflection member having a drive gear, a lateral exit port and at least one deployable seal intermediate a proximal end and the lateral exit port, and a second umbilical having an exterior movable by the drive member through a pathway of the deflection member ending at the lateral exit port to controllably advance a drill head connected to a leading end of the second umbilical. Optical fibers of the second umbilical transmit laser light from a surface end to optical elements in the drill head that condition laser light for heating a targeted portion of a bore wall. The first umbilical positions the deflection member within a primary bore section, and the second umbilical is controllably advanced to extend a lateral bore by the drive gear of the deflection member.

Description

STATEMENT OF RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to and depends to International PCT / US2012 / 055768 filed on 17 Sep. 2012, which claims priority to and depends from Hungarian application no. P1100517 filed on 15 Sep. 2011, and Hungarian application no. P1100665 filed on 1 Dec. 2011.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field of Invention[0003]The present invention relates to the drilling of earthen bores to recover fluids residing in subterranean geologic formations. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus and system to extend a bore section into a geologic formation using a laser drilling apparatus.[0004]2. Background of the Related Art[0005]Borehole systems are drilled into the earth's crust to penetrate subsurface geologic formations bearing a formation fluid, such as water, oil or gas, to facilitate the production of the formation fluid to the surface. A bore system may comprise a single bore surrounded by a bore wall or, alternately, a primary bore h...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016]The system and apparatus of the present invention facilitate the unimpeded impingement of laser light on a targeted portion of a bore wall to be extended. The formation materials that make up the bore wall are heated by impingement of laser light emitted from the drill head. Globules of melted formation materials are formed and then swept from the bore wall by continued injection of the laser conductive material, such as clear liquid or gas. Depending on the composition of the formation and fluid residing therein, some components of the formation may vaporize within the bore section, but most solid components will burn, vaporize or melt. Dust, molten formation components, and fragments and bits of formation components, in addition to vaporized remnants of formation fluids, are generated by the use of laser light to extend a bore section. These contaminants can impinge on and adhere to, mar or otherwise tarnish the laser emitting portion of the drill head, resulting in an overall loss of drilling efficiency due to impairment of unobstructed laser light transmission from the drill head to the targeted portion of the bore wall.

[0017]In another embodiment, the present invention provides a drill head to extend a bore section into a subsurface geologic formation. The drill head is connectable to and positioned within a bore using an umbilical. The drill head comprises an optical element to receive laser light from optically transmitting fibers within the umbilical and to emit laser light to impinge on a targeted portion of a bore wall to be extended thereby. The drill head is further connectable to a fluid conduit within the umbilical and comprises a fluid nozzle connected to the fluid conduit to inject a fluid stream directed generally adjacent to a laser emitting portion of the drill head to provide a protective barrier against debris impinging upon the laser emitting portion.

[0018]In another embodiment, the present invention provides a drill head to extend a bore section into a subsurface geologic formation. The drill head is connectable to and positioned within a bore using an umbilical. The drill head comprises an optical element to receive laser light from optically transmitting fibers within the umbilical and to emit laser light to impinge on a targeted portion of a bore wall to be extended thereby. The drill head is further connectable to a leading end of a fluid conduit within the umbilical and comprises a fluid jumper conduit terminating at a fluid nozzle to receive fluid provided to the nozzle from the fluid conduit and through the fluid jumper conduit if the drill head. The fluid nozzle injects a fluid stream immediately anterior to the laser emitting portion of the drill head. The fluid nozzle may dispose the fluid stream to impinge on the laser emitting portion of the drill head or it may dispose the fluid stream to a position immediately adjacent to the laser emitting portion. In one embodiment, a transparent barrier is positioned on the drill head and within a laser light path extending from the laser emitting portion of the drill head. In this embodiment, the fluid stream injected from the fluid nozzle is disposed immediately anterior to and / or to impinge on the transparent barrier to provide an additional protective barrier against debris impinging upon the transparent barrier. Additionally, the fluid stream injected at the fluid nozzle provides a stream of fluid to remove heat from the transparent barrier on the drill head or from the laser emitting portion of the drill head, and the fluid stream may impinge upon and remove debris from the transparent barrier or the laser emitting portion to prevent the debris from adhering to the transparent barrier or the laser emitting portion.

Problems solved by technology

Unwanted accumulation of debris on laser emitting portions of the drill head impairs drilling performance by obstructing efficient transmission of emitted laser light to impinge on the targeted portion of the wall of the bore section to be extended.

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