Coiled Drill Tube Integrating Fluid Conduit and Power Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current directional drilling methods for installing pipelines and cables are time-consuming and labor-intensive, requiring frequent assembly and disassembly of drill pipes, which hinders operational efficiency and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A coiled drill tube system that integrates a drill tube with a fluid conduit and power or communication lines, allowing continuous fluid flow and power delivery, along with push rods and sensors for navigation, reducing the need for frequent pipe connections and enabling remote operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional drill pipes are used requiring frequent assembly and disassembly, then the drilling operation can be performed, but operational efficiency decreases and labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs coiled tubing that can be continuously fed into the ground without interruption, eliminating the need to stop drilling for pipe assembly and disassembly. The tubing is supplied from a spool in a continuous manner, maintaining uninterrupted drilling operation and significantly improving productivity while reducing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses flexible coiled tubing instead of rigid drill pipes. The tubing can be coiled on a spool and fed continuously through the ground, allowing it to bend and flex as it is pushed into the earth. This flexibility enables continuous operation without the assembly/disassembly requirements of rigid pipe sections.
2Productivity
If coiled drill tube with integrated components is used, then operational efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional components into a single integrated coiled drill tube system. The drill tube incorporates internal channels for fluid conveyance, power delivery, and communication, merging what would traditionally be separate systems into one unified structure. This integration simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining high operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The coiled drill tube serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the drilling medium, fluid conduit, power transmission line, and communication channel. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed and simplifies the overall system while improving operational efficiency through continuous operation.
3Measurement precision
If push rods and sensors are integrated in the drill tube, then navigation precision improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places push rods and sensors inside the hollow structure of the coiled drill tube. The push rods are positioned within the tube's internal volume, and sensors are integrated into the tube wall or positioned within the fluid channel. This nesting arrangement provides precise navigation control while utilizing the existing tube structure, thereby limiting the increase in manufacturing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A drill coil includes a drill tube, a fluid conduit, a power or communication line, and at least one of a communication wire or a power line. The drill tube defines a longitudinal axis and includes a tubular wall forming a drill tube lumen along the longitudinal axis. The tubular wall defines at least one utility lumen along the longitudinal axis. The power or communication line is disposed in the at least one utility lumen. The fluid conduit is housed in the drill tube lumen and extends along the longitudinal axis and configured to convey a fluid therethrough. The at least one of the communication wire or the power line is housed in the drill tube lumen adjacent the fluid conduit.