TW202010923A - Vacuum assisted aerated drilling system - Google Patents

Abstract

The vacuum assisted aerated drilling system and method use air compressors to create a jet vacuum to accelerate the drilling fluid circulation along the well casings or drilling pipes. The jet vacuum is applied to accelerate the sucking up and circulation of the drilling fluids with cuttings that are conventionally sucked up or circulated by pumps or air compressors. In this way the invention accelerates the drilling speed.

Description

Vacuum assisted pneumatic drilling system

The invention discloses a vacuum assisted pneumatic drilling, especially a vacuum assisted pneumatic drilling system.

For traditional deep well drilling, drilling fluid is pumped down the well bore through the outside of the drilling pipe or pipeline. The fluid then circulates up to the surface along the borehole annulus or drill pipe (called reverse circulation).

The main functions of conventional drilling fluids or muds are to provide static pressure to prevent formation fluids from entering the wellbore, to keep the drill bit cool and clean during drilling and to remove drill cuttings, and to protect the borehole when drilling is suspended while the borehole assembly is being withdrawn from the wellbore. In conventional drilling, it is necessary to choose drilling mud for specific tasks to avoid formation damage and limit corrosion. Pneumatic drilling is widely used in geothermal drilling, especially in reservoirs controlled mainly by fractures. If the drilling pressure generated by the drilling mud is higher than the fracture, it will cause circulation loss and may pollute the aquifer and block the geothermal reservoir.

A key aspect of deep well drilling technology is how to keep the drilling fluid in the wellbore circulating fast enough to form a fluid or air curtain in the wellbore annulus. This prevents fluids or contaminants from moving into the well from the formation and vice versa. Pumps and boosters under the surface or under the borehole are used to generate drilling fluid circulation.

Inflatable drilling technology has already published related patents as early as sixty years ago. U.S. Patent No. 2,818,230 published on December 31, 1957 by EE Davis discloses this method, which includes the steps of flowing drilling mud containing finely divided solids into the well, establishing a fluid column for the borehole with a static pressure above the formation, and Compressed air is injected into the drilling fluid from the surface, so that the resulting aerated drilling fluid circulates in the well of the slurry leakage formation. R.A. Bobo's US Patent No. 2,828,107, published on March 25, 1958, discloses an improved method and equipment for rotary drilling of aerated drilling fluid, which reduces the time required from aerated drilling to non-aerated drilling. Boudreaux et al., U.S. Patent No. 2,852,091 published in September 1958, discloses a device for separating gas from drilling fluids containing solids, liquids, and gases. U.S. Patent No. 2,880,965 published by RABobo in April 1959 discloses a method for aerated drilling to increase or reduce the overflow or self-unloading of aerated drilling mud when connecting drill rods during drilling, and when the non-aerated drilling fluid becomes The method of reducing the pressure drop near the drill bit during pneumatic drilling. Baur George W. et al., U.S. Patent No. 2,920,872A, published on January 12, 1961, discloses a rotary drilling method in which the flushing fluid is an aerated medium that is pumped down through the drill string; from there it passes through the drill bit The rinsing fluid in the fluid will form a channel upwards in the annular space surrounding the drill rod to remove drill cuttings from the borehole while drilling. JKWelchon's US Patent No. 2,984,309 published on May 16, 1961 discloses a turbine engine powered by hydraulic horsepower in drilling fluid and located near the drill bit to improve drilling efficiency; the method involves The discharged fluid mud is aerated. RABobo's US Patent No. 2,995,515 published on August 8, 1961 discloses a drilling method using improved aerated drilling fluid, and uses aerated drilling fluid to improve rotary drilling. The method includes adding a small amount of material to the drilling fluid or collecting Agent to promote the adhesion of foam or air bubbles to the cuttings formed during drilling. Murphy Jr. Robert P., U.S. Patent No. 2,999,551A, published on September 12, 1961, discloses the use of aerated drilling fluids in rotary drilling of oil, gas, and water wells. Eckel John E., U.S. Patent No. 3,149,684A, published on September 22, 1964, discloses an improved method of rotary drilling, in which gas rather than liquid is used as a circulating medium for carrying particles of exfoliated soil to the surface; it It is further involved and also improves the productivity of completions. Harvey E. Mallory, U.S. Patent No. 3,150,085 published on September 22, 1964, discloses a drilling method using water-oil mixed latex drilling fluid. Darley Henry CH, U.S. Patent No. 3,259,189A, published on July 5, 1966, discloses an aerated drilling method to prevent shale collapse; more specifically, the invention relates to preventing shale from collapsing into a borehole during drilling with an aerated circulating fluid Medium; this method proves to be particularly effective in protecting the water problems encountered by shale during aerated drilling operations. U.S. Patent No. 3,269,468A, issued by Brown Jack L. et al. on August 30, 1966, uses foaming agents to remove underground liquids such as hydrocarbon storage bodies from wells; the invention relates to providing improved foaming agents , Used to remove fluids that invade the formation from the boreholes of oil or gas wells using pneumatic drilling. U.S. Patent No. 3,297,098, issued by Standley H. Elman et al. on January 10, 1967, discloses a method of performing aerated drilling in drilling, and more specifically discloses improvements by incorporating chemical additives into an aerated drilling fluid Inflatable drilling methods, the resulting foam can more effectively remove cuttings from the well and lubricate the drilling tools. Parker Harry W., U.S. Patent No. 3,334,691A, published on August 8, 1967, discloses a device for preventing fluid from entering a wellbore. It relates to a device for preventing fluid intrusion from the borehole through the formation during drilling. On the other hand, it also relates to a device for quickly and effectively sealing the well wall during drilling to prevent fluid from entering the well bore. US Patent No. 3,664,444A, published by Henson William P. on May 23, 1972, discloses an air drilling method that uses shunt control and incorporates an adjacent coupling for connecting augers. Van Huisen Allen T. US Patent No. 3,899,033A published on August 12, 1975 discloses a drilling system that relies on the weight and reciprocating motion of the drill rod to provide actuation and rotation of the drill bit; The upper pneumatic power source is driven by raising the suspended drill rod by means of stretching work and releasing the column to convert the movement of the rod into fluid power in the pneumatic power source; the compressed fluid enters the pneumatic chamber and engages the side of the drill hole at the drill bit And the bottom causes the drill to rotate. James Whitehurst Young's US Patent No. 3,958,651, published on May 25, 1976, discloses a large-diameter rotary drill bit that uses jet vacuum to remove drill cuttings inside the drill bit. US Patent No. 4,088,583 issued to Delbert E. Pyle et al. on May 9, 1978 discloses an improved foam drilling fluid composition and its method for drilling high-temperature underground reservoirs. US Patent No. 6,530,772 issued by Frederick Browne Gregg on March 11, 2003 discloses a system for manufacturing an aerated concrete block with at least one drilling channel. None of the above disclosures involve jet vacuum assistance along the borehole or surface to accelerate drilling fluid circulation.

The patents related to newer pneumatic drilling are described below. Ray Finchum's US Patent Publication No. 20050263326A1, published on December 1, 2005, discloses a surge device that provides a vent for exhausting pressure from an aerated drilling and provides The surge line in the jet guide line (Blooie Line) provides a connector; the surge device has a hollow, wear-resistant, tapered chamber, and the two surge lines and the drain line enter the buffer device. US Patent No. 7,055,627 (application number 10/713,708) published by Peter Fontana and Roger Fincher et al. on June 6, 2006 discloses a drilling fluid system that supplies drilling fluid between the drill pipe and the borehole wall In the annular space (supply line), the drilling fluid is discharged at the drill bit and returned to the wellhead by the bottom drill rod (return line); the fluid circulation device, such as a turbine or centrifugal pump, runs in the return line to provide The main power is used to circulate the drilling fluid through the fluid circuit formed by the supply line and the return line; another option is that the second fluid circulation device can cooperate with the fluid circulation device to enhance the drilling fluid circulation, and/or another near the drill bit A fluid circulation device can provide local flow control or suction pressure to clean the drill bit. Ray A. Finchum’s US Patent No. 7,073,612 B2, published on July 11, 2006, discloses a surge device that provides a vent for exhausting pressure from air drilling and provides the injection line Surge wire connector. US Patent No. 7,237,623 B2, issued by Don Hannegan on July 3, 2007, discloses a method for drilling a seafloor from a floating structure using a rotatable tube, the tube including a sealed shell having a connection to the ocean The rotatable seal above the part. U.S. Patent No. 20070129257A1, published by David Kippie et al. on June 7, 2007, discloses a hydrocarbon drilling fluid system including a hydrocarbon fluid and a foaming composition, wherein the foaming composition includes a polymer and a glue Coagulants and their cross-linking agents, optional blowing agents, or mixtures or combinations thereof. Various applications of the drilling fluid system downhole are also disclosed. US Patent No. 7,503,409 B2, published by Brian David Brookover on March 17, 2009, discloses a drilling machine in which the air compressor and one or more hydraulic pumps are driven by the same engine, and the compressor's intake throttle valve is Electronic control with proportional integral differentiation minimizes compressor unloading, allows the engine to run more efficiently, the hydraulic system provides more consistent power for the drilling function, and targets the volume and pressure of the compressed air to the drilling conditions encountered optimize. Bernardus Johannes Henricus Van Den Brekel, U.S. Patent Publication No. 20110272139A1, published on November 10, 2011, discloses a drilling system including a casing in a borehole that extends through the lower end of the borehole inside the casing The portion and the drilling fluid extend into the casing, which has an inner surface that is prone to wear during frictional drilling due to frictional contact with the outer surface of the drill pipe. The system further includes a device for reducing wear on the inner surface of the casing. The device includes a hardened layer on the inner surface of the casing, a friction-reducing layer on the outer surface of the drill pipe, and a lubricant contained in the drilling fluid. U.S. Patent No. 8,347,983 published on January 8, 2013 by Hoyer et al. discloses a method of extreme drilling with fluids, which includes the following steps: casing in the well bore, and a part of the casing with pipe boots; Measuring the casing shoe pressure; measuring the formation fracture pressure in the formation; positioning the rotation control device with the casing; and drilling under the smaller fluid pressure of the casing shoe pressure or formation fracture pressure. None of the above disclosures involve jet vacuum assistance along the borehole or surface to accelerate drilling fluid circulation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a jet vacuum method that generates jet vacuum on the head of a wellbore with at least one air compressor to accelerate the circulation of drilling fluid from pumps and boosters alone.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a jet vacuum method in which compressed air passes through a channel to a certain depth in a wellbore and then rotates at 180 degrees to jet air upward to accelerate the circulation of drilling fluid from pumps and boosters.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method of separating drill cuttings from drilling fluid, in which drilling fluid flows through a curved or straight pipe, where the distance between the collector and the ejector is different, and is used to collect drill cuttings of different sizes.

To achieve these objectives, the present invention provides a vacuum-assisted pneumatic drilling system, which includes a set of pipes, a pump or an air compressor, and at least one air compressor for generating a jet vacuum. The casing is used to protect the wellbore. The pump or air compressor is used to inject drilling fluid or air into the drill pipe and extract it from the drill bit near the bottom of the wellbore, and circulate through the casing around the wellbore or at the same time with the gas hammer or water hammer at the bottom of the wellbore To the wellhead at the surface. The at least one air compressor is used to generate a jet vacuum effect at the drill bit, or to generate a jet vacuum in a fixed casing or in a follow-up casing, to suck out drilling fluid and cuttings blown from a surface pump to a downhole drill bit or bit .

During implementation, the aforementioned vacuum assisted pneumatic drilling system further includes a circulation outlet pipe, and the at least one air compressor includes a first air compressor. The circulation outlet piping is placed horizontally or inclined upward at the top of the wellbore. The first air compressor is used to inject air into the circulation outlet pipe to produce an injection vacuum effect, while sucking the drilling fluid out of the drill bit, and at the same time, the drill cuttings produced by the DTH Hammer or drill bit Inhale the circulation outlet pipe.

During implementation, the aforementioned vacuum-assisted pneumatic drilling system further includes a separator. The separator is used for receiving the sucked drilling fluid together with drilling cuttings and separating the drilling cuttings from the drilling fluid. In one embodiment, the aforementioned vacuum assisted pneumatic drilling system further includes a curved, helical or straight separation tube, wherein the drilling fluid is drawn into the separation together with the cuttings through the curved, helical or straight separation tube Device.

During implementation, the aforementioned vacuum assisted pneumatic drilling system further includes a plurality of separators. The aforementioned multiple separators are used to receive the sucked drilling fluid together with the cuttings and separate the cuttings from the drilling fluid. In addition, the aforementioned multiple separators are disposed at different distances from the first air compressor to collect the drill cuttings according to weight and particle size.

In implementation, the at least one air compressor includes a first air compressor for generating a jet vacuum effect on the ground; and a second air compressor for pushing high-pressure air into a channel, the channel Follow the casing along one of the casing or the wellbore, first extend downward, and then flip up 180 degrees to produce a jet vacuum effect, and suck the drilling fluid out of the drill bit. Drill cuttings.

During implementation, the aforementioned vacuum assisted pneumatic drilling system with the second air compressor further includes a separator. The separator is used for receiving the sucked drilling fluid together with drilling cuttings and separating the drilling cuttings from the drilling fluid. In this embodiment, the aforementioned vacuum assisted pneumatic drilling system further includes a curved, helical or straight separation tube, wherein the drilling fluid is sucked into the separator together with the cuttings through the curved, helical or straight separation tube .

In implementation, the aforementioned vacuum assisted pneumatic drilling system with the second air compressor further includes a plurality of separators. The aforementioned multiple separators are used to receive the sucked drilling fluid together with the cuttings and separate the cuttings from the drilling fluid. In addition, the aforementioned multiple separators are disposed at different distances from the first air compressor to collect the drill cuttings according to weight and particle size.

In practice, the circulation system of drilling fluid or air is reversed. The pump or air compressor is used to inject drilling fluid or air into the periphery of the drill pipe and to extract drill cuttings or grinding core from the drill bit near the bottom of the wellbore. And the jet vacuum system is also generated in the drill pipe.

1‧‧‧Air compressor

2‧‧‧Pump

3. 14‧‧‧ Drilling fluid

4, 20, 21‧‧‧ Separator

5, 6‧‧‧ valve

7‧‧‧Solid collector

8‧‧‧Drilling fluid container

9‧‧‧ Return tube

10‧‧‧wellbore

11‧‧‧Drill pipe

12‧‧‧Bottom of well

13‧‧‧Drill

15‧‧‧Second Air Compressor

16, 18‧‧‧Jet vacuum

17‧‧‧The first air compressor

19‧‧‧ returned drilling fluid

22‧‧‧Water injector

23‧‧‧ water inlet

24‧‧‧Underground air injection inlet

25‧‧‧Surface air injection

26, 27‧‧‧ water tank

28‧‧‧Water outlet

29‧‧‧Water level before injection

30‧‧‧Water level after injection

31‧‧‧Scale

32‧‧‧Outlet

33‧‧‧High-pressure air channel

34‧‧‧Inner tube

35‧‧‧Outer tube

36‧‧‧ Separating tube

37‧‧‧Casing

Figure 1 shows the general structural configuration of pneumatic drilling.

Figure 2 shows a fluid circulation system with jet vacuum.

Figure 3 shows a drilling fluid separator using jet vacuum at the surface.

Figure 4 shows the configuration of a small-scale laboratory structure, showing that the use of jet vacuum accelerates fluid circulation.

The present invention relates to a vacuum-assisted pneumatic drilling system, which includes a follow-up casing 37, one or several downward-flowing pumps 2/air compressor 1, and at least one air compressor 17 that generates a jet vacuum 18. Casing 37 is used to protect the wellbore. The pump 2/air compressor 2 is used to pump drilling fluid into the drill pipe 11 and blow it out of the bottom hole hammer or bit 13 near the bottom of the wellbore. The at least one air compressor 17 is used to generate a jet vacuum effect 18, whereby the drilling fluid 14 drawn from the drill hammer or bit 13 near the bottom of the wellbore is sucked from the top of the wellbore. The jet vacuum 18 effect not only helps reduce the need for compressor power, but also accelerates the circulation rate of the drilling fluid 14. The present invention uses a downhole gas hammer or water hammer drill bit of the heel pipe, uses the pump or/and air compressor at the wellhead to drive the gas hammer or water hammer drill bit, and brings the drill cuttings upward from the drill pipe and the heel pipe, and Attach the jet vacuum to the middle of the heel tube and the wellhead, increase the circulation of drilling gas or liquid, and bring the cuttings to the surface.

Please refer to FIG. 1, which shows the general structural configuration of the pneumatic drill hole. Drilling fluid 3 is pumped by the pump 2 into a drill rod 11 and then circulated back to the surface together with the cuttings produced by the drill bit 13 from the bottom 12 of the wellbore. The drilling fluid is pulled into the drilling together with the cuttings. A separator 4 passes through a return pipe 9 to separate the cuttings from the drilling fluid. When the drilling fluid is sucked into the drilling fluid container 8, the drill cuttings are sucked into the solid collector 7. According to the characteristics of formation penetration, air is injected into the fluid channel by the air compressor 1 and mixed with the drilling fluid 3 to generate aerated fluids with different specific gravities to generate different borehole 10 pressures. Valves 5, 6 are used to control the flow of air and fluid, respectively. High-speed circulation and application are required to prevent the loss of circulation and the collapse of the wellbore, thereby retaining the possible storage layer.

Please refer to FIG. 2, which shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The vacuum assisted pneumatic drilling system includes a pump 2, an air compressor 1, and a first and a second air compressor 15, 17. The pump 2 is used to pump the drilling fluid 3 into a drill pipe 11. The air compressor 1 is used to inject air into the fluid channel in which the drilling fluid 3 flows. The valves 5, 6 are used to control the flow of air and fluid, respectively. The first air compressor 17 is used to inject air into a circulation outlet pipe 32 which is placed horizontally or slightly inclined upward. The jet creates another jet vacuum 18 effect for drawing the returned drilling fluid 19 into the nozzle. The second air compressor 15 is used to push a high-pressure air channel 33 that first extends downward along the casing and then folds back 180 degrees to produce the effect of a jet vacuum 16 that sucks the drilling fluid upward.

In another embodiment, the vacuum-assisted pneumatic drilling system further includes at least one separator and at least one separation tube. The at least one separator is used to receive the sucked drilling fluid together with drilling cuttings and separate the drilling cuttings from the drilling fluid. The aforementioned separation tube has a curved, spiral or straight shape. By means of the jet vacuum generated by the first air compressor 17 and/or the second air compressor 15, the drilling fluid and drill cuttings will be sucked into the separator together through the curved, spiral or straight separation tube .

FIG. 3 shows another preferred embodiment according to the present invention, wherein the vacuum-assisted pneumatic drilling system includes two separators 20, 21 and two separation tubes 36. FIG. The first air compressor 17 generates an injection vacuum 18. The returned drilling fluid is sprayed into the curved, helical or straight pipe 36 on the surface, and the separators 20 and 21 are located at different distances from the sprayer to collect the drill according to the weight and particle size of the cuttings Shavings.

Figure 4 shows the experimental configuration used to demonstrate the acceleration of fluid circulation by jetting vacuum. The water flow rate measures the water tank 27 by a scale 31 provided at the water outlet 28. The water quantity of the injection water tank 26 (marked with the pre-injection water level 29 and the post-injection water level 30) is adjusted by the water injector 22 to keep the water level 29 in a fixed position so that the pressure of the inner pipe 34 and the outer pipe is balanced. Experiments show that the air injection volume from the downhole air injection port 24 and the surface air injection port 25 is directly proportional to the flow rate of the water outlet.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art can make many modifications and changes from the teachings disclosed above. Therefore, it should be understood that any modifications and changes consistent with the spirit of the present invention should be considered to fall within the scope of the present application.

1‧‧‧Air compressor

2‧‧‧Pump

3. 14‧‧‧ Drilling fluid

4‧‧‧separator

5, 6‧‧‧ valve

7‧‧‧Solid collector

8‧‧‧Drilling fluid container

9‧‧‧ Return tube

10‧‧‧wellbore

11‧‧‧Drill pipe

12‧‧‧Bottom of well

13‧‧‧Drill

Claims (10)

A vacuum-assisted pneumatic drilling system includes: a set of tubes for protecting a well bore; a pump or an air compressor for injecting drilling fluid or air into a drill rod and drawing it out of a drill bit near the bottom of the well bore; and at least An air compressor is used to generate a jet vacuum effect to suck the drilling fluid pumped from the drill bit near the bottom of the wellbore from the middle of the wellbore or the head. The vacuum-assisted pneumatic drilling system as described in item 1 of the patent application scope further includes a circulation outlet pipe, wherein the circulation outlet pipe is placed horizontally or inclined upward at the top of the wellbore; the at least one air compressor includes A first air compressor is used to inject air into the circulation outlet pipe to produce an injection vacuum effect, and to suck drilling fluid out of the drill bit, and at the same time bring the cuttings generated by the drill head into the circulation outlet pipe. The vacuum-assisted pneumatic drilling system as described in item 2 of the patent application scope further includes a separator for separating the cuttings from the drilling fluid. The vacuum-assisted pneumatic drilling system as described in item 3 of the patent application scope further includes a curved, spiral or straight separation tube, wherein the drilling fluid and drilling cuttings pass through the curved, spiral or straight separation tube And be separated. The vacuum-assisted pneumatic drilling system described in item 2 of the patent application scope further includes a plurality of separators, wherein the plurality of separators are used to receive the drill cuttings and the sucked drilling fluid, and The drill cuttings are separated from the drilling fluid; the plurality of separators are respectively disposed at different distances from the first air compressor, so as to collect the drill cuttings according to weight and particle size. The vacuum-assisted pneumatic drilling system as described in item 1 of the patent application, wherein the at least one air compressor includes a second air compressor for pushing high-pressure air into a channel, the channel is along The casing or one of the well holes follows the casing, first extends downward, and then turns back 180 degrees to produce a jet vacuum effect, and the drilling fluid and cuttings are sucked up from the drill bit. The vacuum assisted pneumatic drilling system as described in item 6 of the patent application scope further includes a separator, wherein the separator is used to suck up the sucked drilling fluid together with the drill cuttings and remove the Drill cuttings are separated from the drilling fluid. The vacuum-assisted pneumatic drilling system as described in item 7 of the patent application scope further includes a curved, spiral or straight separation tube, wherein the drilling fluid and drilling cuttings pass through the curved, spiral or straight separation tube Was sucked into the separator. The vacuum-assisted pneumatic drilling system described in item 6 of the patent application scope further includes a plurality of separators, wherein the plurality of separators are used to receive the drill cuttings and the sucked drilling fluid and remove the drill cuttings Separated from the drilling fluid; the plurality of separators are located at different distances from the second air compressor to collect the drill cuttings according to weight and particle size. The vacuum-assisted pneumatic drilling system as described in item 1 of the patent scope, in which the circulation of drilling fluid or air is reversed, the pump or air compressor is more used to inject drilling fluid or air into the periphery of the drill pipe and from the well Drill cuttings or grinding cores are extracted from the drill bit near the bottom of the hole, and the jet vacuum is more generated in the drill rod.

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