Laser-Mechanical Drilling Bit With Hollow Rotor Motor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drilling technologies require high weight-on-bit (WOB) to advance boreholes, leading to rapid bit wear and inefficient drilling rates, especially in hard and ultra-hard rock formations.
Innovation Solution
The development of high power laser electric motor assemblies that utilize a high power laser beam to drive a laser-mechanical bit, reducing the need for excessive weight-on-bit by using a downhole electric motor and optics to transmit and focus the laser beam for drilling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional mechanical drilling is used to advance boreholes in hard and ultra-hard rock formations, then drilling can be performed with existing technology, but excessive weight-on-bit is required leading to rapid bit wear and inefficient drilling rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical drilling system with a laser-based drilling system. A high-power laser beam is transmitted through the drill string to ablate rock formations, eliminating the need for mechanical cutting elements that require excessive weight-on-bit. The laser energy directly interacts with the rock to create boreholes, dramatically improving drilling rate while reducing bit wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental drilling mechanism from mechanical force application to optical energy application. By using high-power laser beams with specific wavelengths and intensities, the system achieves rock removal through ablation rather than mechanical cutting, thereby reducing weight-on-bit requirements while increasing drilling efficiency in hard and ultra-hard formations.
2Reliability
If high weight-on-bit is applied to advance boreholes in hard rock, then borehole advancement can be achieved, but bit wear increases rapidly reducing drilling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical cutting elements by using laser ablation for rock removal. The laser beam directly interacts with the rock formation to create boreholes without mechanical contact, thereby eliminating bit wear entirely and extending tool life while maintaining reliable borehole advancement capability in hard and ultra-hard formations.
Solution Approach 2:
The laser drilling system uses the laser beam itself to perform both the drilling function and the rock removal function without requiring separate mechanical cutting elements. The high-power laser energy directly ablates the rock, creating the borehole and removing cuttings through the same energy source, thereby eliminating wear on mechanical components.
3Productivity
If conventional mechanical drilling equipment is used, then drilling operations can be performed, but excessive force is required leading to inefficient energy utilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical energy transmission through the drill string with optical energy transmission via laser. The laser beam delivers energy directly to the rock formation at the bit location, eliminating energy losses associated with mechanical friction, heat generation, and force transmission through long drill strings, thereby dramatically improving energy utilization efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The laser beam acts as an intermediary that transmits energy from the surface laser source directly to the rock formation without requiring mechanical contact or force transmission through the drill string. This optical intermediary enables efficient energy delivery to the drilling location, improving overall energy utilization by eliminating mechanical energy losses.
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
This approach allows for efficient drilling with reduced WOB, minimizing bit wear and increasing drilling rates in hard rock formations while maintaining effective borehole advancement.
Implementation Method 1
a laser beam path extending through the hollow rotor, thus the laser beam from the laser source is transmitted through the hollow rotor to a laser-mechanical bit
Implementation Method 2
an electric motor having a hollow rotor, and a laser-mechanical bit
Data Source
AI summary
A high power laser drilling system utilizing an electric motor laser bottom hole assembly. A high power laser beam travels within the electric motor for performing a laser operation. A system includes a down hole electrical motor having a hollow rotor for conveying a high power laser beam having a wavelength less than 1060 nm through the electrical motor.