Drilling or cleaning device and method for using it

Abstract

Drilling or cleaning device (1) with at least one high-pressure nozzle (135) which is designed for material removal, and with at least one propulsion nozzle (2) which is designed to move the drilling or cleaning device (1) in a feed direction, characterized in that the drilling or cleaning device (1) further has at least one return nozzle (3) which is designed to move the drilling or cleaning device (1) counter to the feed direction.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a drilling or cleaning device with at least one high-pressure nozzle configured for material removal, and with at least one propulsion nozzle configured to move the drilling or cleaning device in a feed direction. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for pipe cleaning or for creating a bore, in which a fluid jet is generated by means of a drilling or cleaning device with at least one high-pressure nozzle, which causes material removal, and thus the drilling or cleaning device is moved in a feed direction with at least one propulsion nozzle.

[0002] US Pat. No. 6,109,370 A discloses a drill bit equipped with one or more fluid jets that are activated during part of the drill bit's rotational movement. A processor connected to borehole sensors is programmed with parameters that define the desired path of the borehole. The sensors determine the actual spatial location of the drill bit and provide the corresponding information to the processor. The processor compares the actual drilling path with the desired path, and if a correction is necessary, a switching module allows a pressurized drilling fluid to be switched sequentially to selected nozzles during the rotation of the drill bit, thereby eroding the formation in the direction of the desired path.

[0003] From Ahmed H. Kamel: "Radial Jet Drilling: A Technical Review." Society of Petroleum Engineers, SPE Middle East Oil & Gas Show and Conference, Manama, Bahrain, March 6-9, 2017, drilling rigs or pipeline cleaning rigs are known that utilize the flow energy of a fluid accelerated to high speed to remove soil, rock, or contaminants. In addition to the main jet used for removal, these known rigs also utilize a plurality of downforce jets from opposing propulsion nozzles to move the drilling or cleaning rig along the pipeline to be cleaned or along the borehole to be drilled. The cuttings created during the drilling of the borehole or the contaminants loosened from a pipeline can be flushed out and removed by the fluid jet.

[0004] These known devices and methods have the disadvantage that the advance rate is determined by the pressure or volume of fluid escaping from the propulsion nozzles. There is no control or regulation. If the advance rate is greater than the drilling progress, the drilling process is disrupted and further drilling of the borehole using the high-pressure nozzle is no longer possible. Above-ground monitoring of the drilling process is difficult or even impossible. Due to this lack of control, the development of geothermal reservoirs in hard rock has not been possible to date with known drilling rigs. Even in completely blocked pipelines, the cleaning power of the fluid jet escaping from the high-pressure nozzle can decrease if the cleaning rig hits an obstacle.

[0005] Based on the prior art, the object of the invention is to provide a drilling or cleaning device and a method for using it which is more reliable and thus offers expanded application possibilities.

[0006] The object is achieved according to the invention by a device according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 8. Advantageous developments of the invention can be found in the subclaims.

[0007] According to one aspect, the present invention relates to a drilling or cleaning device. A drilling or cleaning device according to the present invention can be configured to drill a borehole in soil, soft or hard rock. A cleaning device can be provided to remove dirt or blockages from a pipeline. For the sake of simplicity, the following refers only to a drilling device. This includes a cleaning device, in particular for pipelines, unless explicitly excluded.

[0008] The drilling rig according to the present invention comprises a housing. The housing is configured and intended to be moved along the bore to be drilled or along the pipeline to be cleaned. At least one high-pressure nozzle is located on the front side of the drilling rig's housing, facing in the direction of movement. During operation of the drilling rig, a fluid is supplied to the high-pressure nozzle, which exits from the high-pressure nozzle under high pressure and / or high speed. The fluid is configured and intended to cause material removal. The material removal can achieve the cleaning of a pipeline or drilling progress in a bore to be drilled. The material removed in this way can be carried out of the borehole or the pipeline by the fluid.

[0009] In some embodiments of the invention, the drilling rig may have a plurality of high-pressure nozzles. In some embodiments of the invention, the high-pressure nozzle may rotate, thus causing material removal at different locations. The fluid jet may exit the high-pressure nozzle at an angle of approximately 0° to approximately 20°, or approximately 10° to approximately 30°, from approximately 0° to approximately 35° to the longitudinal extension of the housing or to the feed direction.

[0010] Water, for example, can be used as the fluid for operating the high-pressure nozzle. This water emerges from the high-pressure nozzle at a pressure of approximately 200 bar to approximately 2000 bar, or from approximately 300 bar to approximately 1000 bar, or from approximately 150 bar to approximately 400 bar. Depending on the diameter of the borehole to be drilled, the jet emerging from the high-pressure nozzle can have a diameter of approximately 2 mm to approximately 10 mm. When drilling into soil or soft rock, the diameter can also be larger, for example, between approximately 5 mm and approximately 30 mm or between approximately 10 mm and approximately 45 mm.

[0011] At the end of the housing opposite the high-pressure nozzle is at least one propulsion nozzle. During operation of the drilling rig, a fluid jet also emerges from the propulsion nozzle, which is designed to move the drilling rig in a feed direction. In some embodiments of the invention, multiple propulsion nozzles may be present for this purpose. For example, the number of propulsion nozzles may be between approximately 2 and approximately 10, or between approximately 4 and approximately 8. The propulsion nozzles may emerge at an angle of between approximately 0° and approximately 45° or between 10° and approximately 30° to the longitudinal extent of the housing or the direction of movement of the drilling rig, and in this way also center the housing of the drilling rig in the borehole to be drilled.

[0012] The propulsion nozzles on the one hand and the high-pressure nozzles on the other hand can be operated with the same fluid, whereby the ratio of the quantity emerging from the high-pressure nozzle on the one hand and the propulsion nozzles on the other hand and / or the ratio of the pressures of the fluid can be adjusted by the geometry or the cross-section of the lines arranged in the housing.

[0013] According to the invention, it is now proposed that the drilling or cleaning device further comprise at least one reverse thrust nozzle configured to move the drilling or cleaning device counter to the feed direction. For this purpose, the reverse thrust nozzle can be arranged in the housing such that it ejects a fluid jet at an angle of approximately 10° to approximately 45° to the longitudinal direction, with the fluid jet from the reverse thrust nozzle counteracting the feed direction present during normal drilling progress. If the feed direction is greater than the drilling progress, so that the high-pressure nozzle hits the end of the borehole or a blockage in a pipeline, drilling progress comes to a halt.However, unlike the prior art, the housing of the drilling rig according to the invention can be briefly moved counter to the feed direction by activating the reverse thrust nozzles, thus restoring the distance required for effective drilling progress, and restarting material removal by the fluid escaping from the high-pressure nozzle. In this way, even boreholes in hard rock can be reliably drilled by periodically slowing the effective feed rate by activating the reverse thrust nozzles until the borehole has been drilled far enough to allow the housing of the drilling rig to pass reliably.

[0014] In some embodiments of the invention, a control valve may be provided to control the thruster nozzles and optionally temporarily shut off the thruster nozzles. In some embodiments of the invention, the control valve may be an automatically acting control valve that activates the thruster nozzles without any surface control when the high-pressure nozzle hits the end of the borehole.

[0015] In some embodiments of the invention, the drilling or cleaning device can include a first housing part in which the propulsion nozzle and the return nozzle are arranged. Furthermore, the drilling or cleaning device includes a third housing part in which the high-pressure nozzle is arranged, wherein the first and third housing parts are displaceable relative to one another along their longitudinal extent. This displaceability enables the control of at least one control valve, so that the alternating activation of the propulsion nozzle and the return nozzle is automatically regulated depending on the drilling progress, without the need for surface monitoring.

[0016] In some embodiments of the invention, the first housing part of the drilling or cleaning device can have a bore, wherein the propulsion nozzle is connected to this bore by means of a first channel. The return nozzle can also be connected to the bore by means of a second channel. Finally, the third housing part has a first longitudinal section which engages in the bore of the first housing part, wherein in a first position of the third housing part the first channel is open and the second channel is closed. In a second position of the third housing part the first channel is closed and the second channel is open. This enables the realization of a control valve with only one moving part, which releases either the propulsion nozzle or the return nozzle depending on the drilling progress. This enables reliable operation underground without frequent checks delaying drilling work.

[0017] In some embodiments of the invention, the housing of the drilling or cleaning device can have a cylindrical basic shape. The basic shape can have a round or polygonal cross-section. The drilling or cleaning device can have a greater length than its diameter. In some embodiments, the diameter can be between approximately 20 mm and approximately 120 mm, or between approximately 30 mm and approximately 90 mm, or between approximately 30 mm and approximately 80 mm. The length can be between approximately 50 mm and approximately 200 mm, or between approximately 60 mm and approximately 150 mm, or between approximately 60 mm and approximately 110 mm.

[0018] In some embodiments of the invention, the drilling or cleaning device can have a connection for a fluid supply on its rear side opposite the high-pressure nozzle, which can be formed, for example, by a hose or a pipe. This allows the fluid required for drilling progress to be supplied.

[0019] In some embodiments of the invention, the drilling or cleaning device can have a through-bore in both the first housing part and the third housing part, through which the fluid is guided from the rear of the housing to the at least one high-pressure nozzle located at the front. The above-described first and second channels can branch off from this through-bore, so that a portion of the fluid can be supplied to the propulsion nozzle or the return nozzle, respectively.

[0020] In some embodiments of the invention, at least one control bore can be present in the first longitudinal section of the third housing part, which, in the second position of the third housing part, is aligned with the beginning of the second channel. The fluid can thus flow from the inlet into the housing of the drilling or cleaning device into the hollow first longitudinal section of the third housing part and from there on to the high-pressure nozzle. The control bore in the first longitudinal section can be laid through the wall of the bore of the first housing part as long as the return nozzles are closed. By pushing the third longitudinal section into the bore of the first longitudinal section, the control bores, in the second position of the third housing part, are aligned with the opening of the second channel, so that the fluid can flow from there to the return nozzle.

[0021] In some embodiments of the invention, the drilling or cleaning device may further include a second housing part, which is attached to the first housing part and forms a guide for the third housing part. This prevents the third housing part from tilting, thus enabling reliable control of the thrust nozzles.

[0022] In some embodiments of the invention, a conical or frustoconical contact surface can be formed on the inside of the second housing part, and the third housing part can have a complementarily shaped contact surface on its outside. This reliably defines the first operating position, since the second housing part forms a stop for the third housing part.

[0023] In some embodiments of the invention, the fluid jet can be cavitated and / or pulsated. This allows for increased material removal by the fluid jet exiting the high-pressure nozzle, thus increasing the drilling progress.

[0024] The invention will be explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment and figures. Fig. 1 a drilling or cleaning device in the view. Fig. Figure 2 shows the drilling or cleaning device in section in a first operating state. Fig. Figure 3 shows the drilling or cleaning device in section in a second operating state.

[0025] As can be seen from the figures, the drilling or cleaning device 1 in the illustrated embodiment has a three-part housing. The first housing part 11 contains the propulsion nozzles 2 and the return nozzles 3. A high-pressure nozzle 135 is located at the tip of the drilling tool in the third housing part 13. The first housing part 11 has a bore 113 into which a first longitudinal section 131 of the third housing part 13 engages. The first longitudinal section 131 of the third housing part 13 forms a sliding fit in the bore 113 of the first housing part 11, so that the third housing part 13 is displaceable along the longitudinal extent of the housing.

[0026] The third housing part 13 is at least partially surrounded by a second housing part 12, which is fastened by a first longitudinal section 121 to a second longitudinal section 112 of the first housing part 11. This connection can be designed as a sliding fit, so that the second housing part 12 is essentially permanently connected to the first housing part 11. Alternatively or additionally, a soldered, adhesive, or welded connection, or a screw connection, can also be implemented at this point.

[0027] Furthermore, a conical or frustoconical contact surface is formed on the inside of the second housing part in a second longitudinal section. The third housing part 13 has a complementarily shaped contact surface on its outside in its second longitudinal section. As a result, the third housing part 13 is essentially permanently connected to the first housing part 11 despite its mobility.

[0028] At the end opposite the high-pressure nozzle 135, i.e., in the first longitudinal section 111 of the first housing part 11, there is a line connection 115. This allows a fluid, such as water, to be supplied to the drilling or cleaning device 1 via a pipe or hose. The fluid may also contain particles that cause abrasive material removal and thereby increase the drilling progress.

[0029] A flow channel extends from the line connection 115 and opens into the bore 113 of the first housing part 11. The third housing part 13 also has a flow channel, which begins in the first longitudinal section 131 of the third housing part 13 and extends to the high-pressure nozzle 135. A plurality of control bores 31 are located in this flow channel. The control bores 31 connect the flow channel of the third housing part 13 to the outside of the first longitudinal section 131.

[0030] In a Fig. In the first operating state shown in Figure 2, the fluid, which can be provided by a high-pressure pump (not shown) at a pressure between approximately 100 bar and approximately 1000 bar, passes from the line connection 115 to the high-pressure nozzle 135, where it removes material at the end of a borehole to be drilled. Part of the fluid passes from the borehole 113 through first channels 25 to the propulsion nozzles 2, where it exits as a drive jet 5. This propels the drilling rig forward within the borehole in a feed direction, so that a borehole of increasing length can be drilled. The second channels 35, which open into the return nozzles 3, are laid through the wall of the first longitudinal section 131 of the third housing part 13.

[0031] If the feed rate is greater than the material removal, the high-pressure nozzle 135 runs towards the end of the borehole to be drilled. Fig. 3, the third housing part 13 is thereby displaced in the direction of the line connection 115, i.e. a relative movement is triggered between the first and the third housing part 11 and 13. As a result, the first longitudinal section 131 of the third housing part 13 slides backwards in the bore 113 of the first housing part 11, i.e. in the direction of the line connection 115. This movement results in the housing wall of the first longitudinal section 131 of the third housing part 13 blocking the first channels 25 and the drive jet 5 can no longer emerge from the propulsion nozzles 2. At the same time, the control bores 31 come into line with the beginning of the second channels 35, so that the drive jet 5 emerges from the return nozzles 3. This triggers a movement opposite to the feed direction of the drilling tool 1, which movement lasts until the high-pressure nozzle 135 is free again.At this moment, the third housing part 13 is forced back into the position shown by the pressure of the fluid. Fig. 2. This closes the reverse thrust nozzles 3 and opens the forward thrust nozzles 2, allowing the drilling tool to resume normal drilling operation. This switching between forward thrust and reverse motion can then be repeated several times until the fluid jet from the high-pressure nozzle 135 has removed the preceding rock, allowing the borehole to be drilled further.

[0032] In some embodiments of the invention, the third housing part 13 can form an optional contact surface 133 at the transition between the first longitudinal section 131 and the second longitudinal section 132, which in the Fig.3, rests against the front side of the first housing part 11. This allows for reliable positioning of the control bores 31 in front of the second channels 35, so that the thrust nozzles 3 can be reliably activated when encountering an obstacle.

[0033] Of course, the invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. The above description is therefore not to be considered restrictive, but rather illustrative. The following claims are to be understood in such a way that a stated feature is present in at least one embodiment of the invention. This does not exclude the presence of further features. Where the claims and the above description define "first" and "second" embodiments, this designation serves to distinguish between two similar embodiments without establishing a priority.

Claims

[1] Drilling or cleaning device (1) with at least one high-pressure nozzle (135) which is designed for material removal, and with at least one propulsion nozzle (2) which is designed to move the drilling or cleaning device (1) in a feed direction, characterized by that the drilling or cleaning device (1) further comprises at least one return nozzle (3) which is designed to move the drilling or cleaning device (1) counter to the feed direction. [2] Drilling or cleaning device according to claim 1, comprising a first housing part (11) in which the propulsion nozzle (2) and the return nozzle (3) are arranged and a third housing part (13) in which the high-pressure nozzle (135) is arranged, wherein the first and third housing parts (11, 13) are displaceable relative to one another along their longitudinal extent. [3] Drilling or cleaning device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by , that the first housing part (11) has a bore (113) and the propulsion nozzle (2) is connected to the bore (113) by means of a first channel (25) and the return nozzle (3) is connected to the bore (113) by means of a second channel (35) and wherein the third housing part (13) has a first longitudinal section (131) which engages in the bore (113) of the first housing part (11), wherein in a first position of the third housing part (13) the first channel (25) is open and the second channel (35) is closed and in a second position of the third housing part (13) the first channel (25) is closed and the second channel (35) is open. [4] Drilling or cleaning device according to claim 3, characterized by that in the first longitudinal section (131) of the third housing part (13) there is at least one control bore (31) which, in the second position of the third housing part (13), is in register with the second channel (35). [5] Drilling or cleaning device according to one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a second housing part (12) which is fastened to the first housing part (11) and which forms a guide for the third housing part (13). [6] Drilling or cleaning device according to claim 5, characterized by that a conical or frustroconical contact surface is formed on the inside of the second housing part (12) and the third housing part (13) has a complementarily shaped contact surface on its outside. [7] Drilling or cleaning device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that a plurality of propulsion nozzles (2) and / or a plurality of thrust nozzles (3) are present, which are arranged along the circumference. [8] Method for pipe cleaning or for producing a bore, in which a fluid jet is generated by means of a drilling or cleaning device (1) with at least one high-pressure nozzle (135), which causes a material removal, and wherein the drilling or cleaning device (1) is moved in a feed direction with at least one propulsion nozzle (2), characterized by that the drilling or cleaning device (1) is moved with at least one return nozzle (3) against the feed direction when it encounters an obstacle. [9] Method according to claim 8, characterized by that the propulsion nozzle (2) is closed and the return nozzle (3) is opened when the drilling or cleaning device (1) encounters an obstacle. [10] Method according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized bythat the drilling or cleaning device (1) contains a first housing part (11) in which the propulsion nozzle (2) and the return nozzle (3) are arranged and a third housing part (13) in which the high-pressure nozzle (135) is arranged, wherein the first and third housing parts (11, 13) are displaced relative to one another along their longitudinal extent when the drilling or cleaning device (1) encounters an obstacle. [11] Method according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized by that the fluid jet contains or consists of water. [12] Method according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized by that the fluid jet rotates and / or cavitates and / or pulsates.

Images