Drill Hole Inner Tube Plug Assembly for Down-Hole Operations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drill hole plugging methods in diamond drilling are time-consuming and cause significant wear on drilling equipment, requiring multiple rod pulls and complex procedures for hole capping, deviation correction, and bypassing impassable zones.
Innovation Solution
A plug assembly with a compressible plunger and radially disposed plug feet, attached by external threads, which can be deployed through an inner tube without removing the core barrel assembly, expanding to lock in place and allowing for efficient plugging and cementing operations, reducing the need for multiple rod pulls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional Van Ruth plug installation method is used, then reliable hole plugging is achieved, but significant time is lost due to multiple rod pulls and equipment reconfiguration
Solution Approach 1:
The plug assembly is nested within the inner core tube, allowing it to be delivered through the existing core barrel assembly without removal. The plug remains compressed within the tube during delivery and only expands after exiting the tube at the desired depth, eliminating the need for rod pulls and shoe installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug is pre-loaded into the inner core tube before drilling commences. This preliminary positioning allows the plug to be delivered to the exact depth required without requiring subsequent rod pulls or equipment reconfiguration, saving significant time while maintaining reliable plugging.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional plug installation requiring rod shoe replacement is used, then plug can be deployed, but excessive wear is caused to drill rods and equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The inner core tube serves multiple functions: it acts as both the delivery mechanism for the plug and the existing drilling equipment component. By utilizing the existing core barrel assembly for plug delivery, the invention eliminates the need for separate rod shoes and their associated installation/removal cycles, reducing wear on drill rods and equipment.
3Device complexity
If plug is delivered through inner core tube without removal, then procedure is simplified, but plug must fit through limited tube diameter
Solution Approach 1:
The plug feet are designed to be dynamically changeable in dimension. During delivery, the plug feet are compressed radially inward to fit through the limited diameter of the inner core tube. After delivery, the plug feet expand radially outward to provide sufficient plugging capability. This dynamic dimensional change resolves the contradiction between fitting through the tube and providing adequate plugging function.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical parameters of the plug, specifically the radial dimension of the plug feet, are changed between delivery and plugging states. The plug feet transition from a compressed state with small radial dimension (for tube passage) to an expanded state with large radial dimension (for effective plugging), enabling the plug to satisfy both constraints.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly reduces the time required for plugging operations from hours to minutes, minimizes equipment wear, and eliminates the need for multiple rod pulling cycles, enhancing efficiency and reducing operational costs and risks.
Implementation Method 1
a torsion spring disposed between each pair of adjacent plug feet
Implementation Method 2
a compressible plunger component attached to the distal end of the body component
Data Source
AI summary
An inner tube plug for plugging a diamond drill hole. The plug assembly comprises a compressible plunger component attached to one end of a body component, plug feet radially disposed around the body component, and a torsion spring disposed between pairs of adjacent plug feet. The inner tube plug is used to perform down-hole orientation correction of a drill bole, zone bypassing, and completion of a drill hole.