US3633685A

US3633685A - Deep well drilling apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3633685A
Application number: US17467A
Authority: US
Inventors: Manuel R Piexoto
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-03-09
Filing date: 1970-03-09
Publication date: 1972-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 1989-01-11

Abstract

Apparatus for drilling deep wells in ocean beds or on dry land. The underwater drilling apparatus employs a drill driven by an electric motor which is lowered to the ocean bed by cables including an electric cable paid out by one or more motor-driven winches. One set of cables is employed for lowering the tripod which may be provided with a casing and an electric hammer for driving the casing through the mud forming the ocean bed. The electric drill is lowered into a magnetic field located above the casing provided to the tripod to guide the drill thereto. An electrically actuated clamping device is slidably supported on the drill rod above the drill and engages the casing to prevent the drill motor from rotating with respect to the casing. In one embodiment of the invention the tripod is lowered to the ocean floor by winch supported on a pontoon structure that is submerged a short depth below the ocean surface and the hose to the drill and the electric cable to the drill are paid out by motor-driven winches supported in holds of a suitable ocean-going vessel. Another embodiment of this invention employs a buoy structure which may be towed by an ocean-going vessel and which is adapted to support all of the winches and reels required. This buoy is provided with pontoons which support the superstructure thereof above the water surface.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Manuel R. Piexoto 1 16 Clay Street, Santa Cruz, Calif. 95060 [21] Appl. No. 17,467 [22] Filed Mar. 9, 1970 [45] Patented Jan. 11, 1972 [5 4] DEEP WELL DRILLING APPARATUS 7 Claims, 22 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 175/6, 175/45, 175/98 ['11] 1111.121 E2lb7/l2, EZlc 19/00 [50] Field of Search 175/96, 97, 98, 45, 5, 6, 7; 166/5, .6

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,147,898 7/1915 Seitz 175/98 3,103,976 9/1963 De Vries et a1. 166/.6 3,129,774 4/1964 Armstrong l75/7X 3,204,708 9/1965 Berne 175/6 3,279,547 10/1966 Berne et al 175/6 3,491,842 l/l970 Delacour et al. 175/7 X Primary Examiner-Stephen J. Novosad Assistant Examiner-Richard E. Favreau Attorney-Allen and Chromy ABSTRACT: Apparatus for drilling deep wells in ocean beds or on dry land. The underwater drilling apparatus employs a drill driven by an electric motor which is lowered to the ocean bed by cables including an electric cable paid out by one or more motor-driven winches, One set of cables is employed for lowering the tripod which may be provided with a casing and an electric hammer for driving the casing through the mud forming the ocean bed. The electric drill is lowered into a magnetic field located above the casing provided to the tripod to guide the drill thereto. An electrically actuated clamping device is slidably supported on the drill rod above the drill and engages the casing to prevent the drill motor from rotating with respect to the casing. ln one embodiment of the invention the tripod is lowered to the ocean floor by winch supported on a pontoon structure that is submerged a short depth below the ocean surface and the hose to the drill and the electric cable to the drill are paid out by motor-driven winches supported in holds of a suitable ocean-going vessel. Another embodiment of this invention employs a buoy structure which may be towed by an ocean-going vessel and which is adapted to support all of the winches and reels required. This buoy is provided with pontoons which support the superstructure thereof above the water surface.

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I.NIVE;\ITOR. FIG,|6 MANUEL R. PIEXOTO ATTORNEYS DEEP WELL DRILLING APPARATUS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to deep well-drilling apparatus which may be used for deep well-drilling in the ocean floor or on dry land.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved deep well-drilling apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved deep well drill which is driven by an electric motor and which is provided with a clamping device that is slidable on the drillsupporting member and prevents the body of the drilling mechanism from undesired rotating.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved deep well-drilling apparatus with a tripod that is lowered to the ocean floor at the location where drilling operations are to be carried on, said tripod being lowered to the ocean floor by cables paid out from a partially or wholly submerged buoy structure which is adapted to be towed by an ocean-going vessel to the site of the drilling operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved deep well-drilling apparatus for use in drilling on the bottom of the ocean bed, said apparatus being provided with a tripod which is located on the ocean bed and is provided with a doughnut-shaped electromagnetic winding for setting up a magnetic filed adapted to be used to facilitate guiding the drill into the drill hole.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following specification, claims and drawings, in which, briefly:

FIG. I is a view partially broken away of a side of the oceangoing vessel and buoy structure employed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the electrical connection to the reel carrying the electric cable which is connected to the electric motor driving the drill;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the tripod located on the ocean bed and showing he motor driven drill suspended above the tripod between the cables employed for lowering the tripod to the ocean bed;

FIG. 3a is a view showing the drill being lowered toward the tripod cone using two guide cables encircled by a frangible loop attached to the drill hose;

FIG. 3b is a view similar to FIG. 3a showing the frangible loop ruptured as the drill is guided into the casing;

FIG. 3c is a view similar to FIG. 30 showing the use of only one guide cable which is divided into a pair of divergent cables a predetermined distance above the tripod, the divergent cables functioning to rupture the frangible loop the same as in FIG. 3b, as the drill is lowered;

FIG. 4 is a top view of he tripod shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an electromagnetic clamp slidably supported on the drill rod above the motor driven drill to prevent undesired turning of the drill;

FIG. 5a is a sectional view taken along the line 5a--5a of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is a side view of another buoy embodiment showing the tripod employed on the ocean bed supported in the cavity of the buoy preparatory to lowering the tripod to the ocean bed;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the tripod partially broken away and lowered to the ocean bed;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the resilient plug which is adapted to be positioned in the funnel provided to the top of the tripod;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the electromagnetic coil employed around the funnel of the tripod and showing in broken lines the magnetic field. set up around this coil to facilitate guiding the drill into the casing;

FIG. 10 is atop view of a reel and winch arrangement that may be employed in accordance with this invention for raising and lowering various cables employed;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of an embodiment of this invention in which the drill and clamping device are actuated by compressed air or hydraulic pressure;

FIG. 12 is a side view of an embodiment of this invention employing a hollow drill with a hose connected thereto through which the mud may be pumped to the drill or up to the vessel by the pump provided in the casing of the drill;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the casing showing the drill and clamp positioned therein;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line 14-14 of FIG. 13 and showing the spline shaft and internal spline sleeve to which the clamp is attached so that the drill attached to the shaft may move up or down in the casing while the clap grips the casing;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 14 except that the shaft and sleeve are square to prevent relative rotation;

FIG. 16 is a view partially in section of an electrically driven drill and pump which may be used in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 17 is another section view partially broken away of the drill clamp and pump arrangement of this invention; and

FIG. 18 is a detail view showing the drill pipe in two telescoping sections.

Referring to the drawing in detail there is shown in FIG. 1 a ship 10 which is adapted to be used in conjunction with this invention when deep well drilling in ocean waters is undertaken. The ship 10 is provided with a hold 11 for storing the hose 12 which is paid out of the hold 11 by the winch 13 driven by motor 13a which is connected to the source of current supply 24. This winch, motor and controls therefor are of conven tional construction. The winch is provided with adrum around which the hose is adapted to be looped a plurality of turns. The hose 12 passes over the large pulley 14 that is supported on the stern of the vessel 10 by the arm 15. The hose 12 is suspended from the pulley 14 into the ocean water and passes downward through the central opening in the stabilizing tanks or pontoons 16 which are positioned well below the surface of the ocean. Cables 18 which are guided by members 17 extend downward through the opening in the tank 16 and they are paid out by the motor driven winch 38 of conventional construction to the lower tripod 31 to the ocean bed.

The vessel 10 is provided with another hold 19 for storing the electric cable 21 which is wound on the motor driven reel 20 of conventional construction. Electric cable 21 is paid out simultaneously with hose 12 by driving the reel 20. Cable 21 is guided over the

sheaves

22 and 23 and it is lowered into the ocean water together with the electric drill 47 to which it is connected and which is lowered into the ocean by hose 12.

The source of current supply 24 which may be an electric battery, a motor generator or the like is connected by the cable 25 to the stationary brushes 26 which are supported by the reel support 28 and electrically insulated therefrom. The brushes 26 are supported by the reel support 28 in rubbing contact with the slip-rings 27 which are supported by the reel 20 and insulated therefrom. The inner end of the electric cable 21 is connected to the slip-rings 27. Thus electric current is supplied to the cable 21 from the source 24 through the connections 25, brushes 26 and slip-rings 27. A suitable current controller such as the rheostat 29 may be connected to the conductors 25 to control he current flow through the cable 21.

The bottom ends of the cables 18 are attached to the top of the tripod 31 as shown in FIG. 3. The tripod 31 is lowered into the ocean water by the cables 18 from the bottom of tank 16 after this tank is moved to the desired location by the ship 10. The boom 32 which is pivotally attached to the mast 33 and is guyed to mast 33 by the cable 34 may be used for towing the tank 16.

The tank 16 is provided with a superstructure 36 which supports the winch 38 that is attached to the top of this superstructure. Winch 38 is also motor driven to takeup or payout the cable 18 when the tripod 31 is to be lowered into the depths of the ocean. The tripod 31 may be nonnally supported on the bottom side of the stabilizing tank or pontoons 16 below the guide members 17, and is immersed in the water when the apparatus is moved from one location to another by the vessel 10.

The tripod 31 which is lowered to the ocean bed or floor by the cables 18 is provided with a funnel-shaped top 30. A hollow circular casing 30a is attached to the top portion of this funnel. This hollow casing is provided with an electrical coil 63, such as shown in FIG. 9, the purpose of which will be describe hereinafter. An electric cable 39 through which the electrical coil 63 is suppliedwith electric current is anchored to the casing 30a. The tripod is provided with spikes 31a which are embedded in the ocean bed and a short length of pipe 43. The top of this pipe 43 is attached to the bottom of the funnel-shaped member 30 and if it is necessary to drive a well casing through the mud on the ocean bed then such casing is lowered into the funnel 30 and the pipe 43 and is driven into the mud by suitable air hammer (not shown) lowered to the'top of the casing by an air hose.

The electric drill 47 is lowered to the funnel 30 by the hose 12 and drill tube 120 which are connected by a suitable coupling 12b. The drill head 46 of the electric drill is lowered into the magnetic field set up by current flowing in the coil in the casing 30a which assists in centering the drill head over the funnel 30 so that this head may enter the pipe 43. The drill head 46 forces the spring loaded jaws 42 apart since the opposing ends of these jaws are tapered to permit entry of the drill head therebetween. The clamping device 45 also passes between the jaws 42.

The jaws 42 are provided with electromagnets which are connected to the cable 39 so that these electromagnets may be energized from a source of current supply provided on board the ship 10. Separate conductors are connected to the coil in the casing 30a and to the electromagnets in devices 42 so that these devices may be energized by closing separate switches in a conventional manner. Thus, when the rubber cone 44 is to be positioned in the bottom of the funnel 30 the jaws of device 42 are opened by energizing the electromagnets associated therewith and after the cone 44 is lodged in the bottom of the funnel 30 the jaws of device 42 are closed over the top thereof.

A detail view of the cone 44 is shown in FIG. 8 in which it is designated by reference numeral 74. This cone is provided with veins 74a and 74b which are flexible and are adapted to be deflected by the hose l2 and electric cable 21. However, these veins engage the hose and cable in sealing relation although the hose and cable may side therebetween.

The clamp 45 is constructed as shown in FIGS. and 5a. The clamp is provided with two

magnetic windings

48 and 49 which are supported and held in spaced relation by the web members 51a that are positioned between the wedge segments 51. The wedge segments 51 are pressed against the circular wedge 50 by the spring 52. The circular wedge 50 is slidable on the square drill tube or rod 12a and it is provided with a square hole therethrough fitting on the drill rod 12a. Thus, when the electric coil 49 is energized the circular wedge 50 is drawn upward toward this coil and the wedge segments 51 are retracted from engagement with the inner surface of the casing 43a by the coil spring 52. On the other hand when the coil 48 is energized the circular wedge 50 is drawn downward and causes the wedge segments 51 to move into engagement with the inner surface of the casing 43a. The outside surfaces of the wedge segments 51 are provided with hard abrasive material so that these surfaces engage the inside surface of the casing 43aand provide a gripping action and the drill rod 12a is prevented from rotating with respect to the casing 43a.

In FIGS. 6 and 7 there is shown another embodiment of this invention employing a buoy 53 which is supported by the

pontoons

54 and 55 that are held spaced apart by members 68 so that the space therebetween may accommodate the tripod 61. Structural members 57 are attached to the tops of the pontoons and support the platform 56 above the surface of the ocean. Inclined structural members 85 are attached to the top of the platform 56 and additional

structural members

83 and 84 are supported by the members above the platform. The platform 56 supports the motor-driven reels or

winches

69a, 79 and 80. Winch 69a is provided for paying out or reeling in the electric cable 69 which is provided for the purpose of supplying electric current to the electromagnetic winding 63 and valve-actuating motor 66. Winch 79 pays out or reels in the hose 71 which is attached by the coupling 72 to the drill rod or pipe 73. Hose 71 passes over the guiding sheave 81 which is supported by the structural members 83. The cable 70 are attached to the top of the funnel of the tripod. These cables are tied together to form one cable 70a which passes over the sheave 82 to the winch 80. Sheave 82 is supported by structural members 84. When the cable 70a is paid out by the winch 80 the tripod is lowered to the bottom of the ocean bed as shown in FIG. 7 and the base59 of the tripod rests on the ocean bed so that the spikes 60 provided to the bottom of this base are embedded in the ocean bed and the pipe 64 enters the mud.

Casing 644 may be driven into the mud through pipe 64 if necessary by a suitable air hammer (not shown). The pipe 64 may be closed by a gate valve 65 which is actuated by the electric motor 66 and which may be of the type disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,141,647. Motor 66 is connected by the cable 67 to the cable 69 through which it is supplied with electric current when it is desired to operate the gate valve 65 either to open or close this valve.

The drill 77 is driven either electrically or by a suitable turbine in which case it may be of the type made by the Eastman Oil Well Survey Company of Houston, Tex. A pump 78 is driven either by an electric motor or by a turbine. In cases where the drill and pump are electrically driven they are supplied with electric current over the cable 71a. The pump forces fluid from hose 7] and pipe 73 into the tubular member 73a which is connected to the turbine of the drill 77. The electromagnetic clamp 75 which is of the type shown in FIGS. 5 and 5a is positioned on the member 73a. Clamp 75 is connected by the cable 76 tothe electric cable 71a which is provided with an additional conductor to supply electric current to the clamp 75 when it is desired to energize this clamp and hold the body of drill 77 against rotation. Clamp 75 is slidable on the member 73a so that it does no prevent the drill 77 from working into the rock during the drill operation.

The drill shown in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7 is guided to the tripod by cables such as indicated at 18, which are attached to spaced parts of the tripod. The cables 18 may be separated all the way to the guide 17 shown in FIG. 1 or a single cable 18b may be provided down to the clamp 180 which is at a distance of a few feet above the tripod. A single cable 70a is also provided in the arrangement shown in FIG. 6 and this is divided into the two cables 70 which are attached to the tripod. The arrangement shown in FIG. 3 is similar to that shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b and that shown in FIG. 6 is similar to the one shown in FIG. 30. A frangible loop 18a is attached to the hose 12 as shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b and this loop serves to guide the drill down between cables 18 until the drill is centered over the cone 30 of the tripod. When the drill is located over the cone and entering the casing the spread of the cables 18 causes the loop 18a to rupture as shown in FIG. 3b. A similar rupturing of the loop 18a shown in FIG. 3c takes place a short distance above the tripod when the drill is centered over the tripod cone. In this case a single cable 70a extends down to the clamp 70b where it is connected to two cables 70 which are anchored to spaced parts of the tripod.

In FIGS. 11 and 12 there are shown other embodiments of this invention. The arrangement shown in FIG. 11 is provided with a drill driven by an air turbine supplied thereto through hose 92 from an air compressor (not shown) on the ship 90. The ship is provided with a motor-driven winch 91 for paying out or taking in the hose 92.

Sheaves

93 and 93a are supported on the ship 90 by the mast 93b and boom 93c, respectively, and these sheaves guide the hose 92 through a hole formed in the center of the stabilizing submerged tank 97. The

end of the hose 92 is attached to the top of the pump 98 and the bottom of this pump is attached to the square pipe 99. The pump 98 is provided with a bypass that is controlled by a solenoid operated valve. This bypass is normally open so that compressed air flows through it from hose 92 to pipe 99 when drill 102 is driven by the compressed air. When pump 98 is driven by its electric motor the solenoid'valve is closed by electric current supplied to it and the pump motor over cable 98a and pump 98 is driven to pump the mud accumulated around drill 102 up to the ship 90.

The clamp 100 which is provided with four clamping shoes is of the hydraulic type. This clamp employs four cylinders which are connected by the hose 99 to the pump 98 so that hydraulic pressure is supplied to the cylinders. The four clamping shoes are provided with pistons which are positioned in the cylinders and when hydraulic pressure is supplied to the cylinders and the pistons press the clamping shoes against the inside wall of the casing 101 as shown in FIG. 13. Hose 99a is coiled around the square pipe 99 so that the pump 98 may move downward through the clamping device 100 during the drilling operation at which time the clamping device 100 holds the square pipe 99 and drill 102 against rotation inside of the casing 101. The tripod 96 shown in FIG. 11, which is lowered to the bottom of the ocean by the cables 103 that are attached to the bottom of the stabilizing tank 97, is of sufficiently massive construction and weight to force the bottom spikes thereof into the ocean floor. A less massive tripod may be employed and a suitable tank 104 may be provided thereto filled with ballast if desired to give the tripod additional stability and weight. On the other hand, this tank 104 may be filled with water which may be displaced by air furnished by a pump (not shown) to provide buoyancy when it is desired to lift the tripod.

Drilling mud may be supplied to the drill 96 through the hose 92 and pipe 99 from the ship 90. For this purpose the inner end of the hose 92 on the motor-driven winch 91 is connected to a central pipe 91a which is stationary and which is connected to the pipe 92a through which the mud is supplied to the hose 92.

The hydraulically actuated clamps shown in FIGS. 11 and 13 and designated by reference numeral 100 are provided with a splined sleeve 100a as shown in FIG. 14, if the clamping device is to be used with the round drill tube 99 which has mating splines. If the clamping device is to be used with a square tube such as the tube 99b shown in FIG. 15 then the clamping device is provided with a square sleeve This sleeve is integral with the cylinder block 1000 as shown in FIG. 13. Thus, when the shoes which are attached to he pistons that are positioned in these cylinders are in contact with the inside surface of the casing 101 so that they grip this surface, the round pipe 99 or square pipe 99b, as the case may be, is prevented from rotating with respect to the casing 101 and in this way the pipe 99 or 9912 to which the drill 102 is attached is also prevented from turning with respect to the casing 101.

An embodiment of this invention in which the drill 102 is driven by an electric motor is shown in FIGS. 12 and 16. In this arrangement the drill 102' is provided with an electric motor which is supplied with electric power over the cable 98a and mud is circulated to the drill or pumped from the drill as required through the hose 94. On the other hand a pump 98' may be lowered down together with the drill 102 as shown in FIG. 16 and in this case electric power is supplied to the pump over cable 99e and to the electromagnetic clamp 100' by cable 99a which extends between the clamp and the pump and also to the drill over cable 99b. Electric current to clamp 100' is controlled by electric switches 100a and 1100b which are connected in series with the clamp and cable 99a and which are normally closed. Pipe 99 slides downward in clamp 100 as the drill 102' cuts into the rock and when the pipe and drill have moved down far enough so that the switch 100a engages the bottom of the pump 98' switch 100a is opened and the electromagnetic clamp 100' is deenergized. Switch 100a is provided with a delay device that holds it open a brief interval so that the electromagnets are deenergized long enough to allow the clamp mechanism to slide down almost to the drill 102. Switch a closes and clamp 100' is energized so that the shoes thereof grip the casing 101. The grip of the clamp 100' also may be disengaged from the casing by opening the bottom switch l00b' when the drill 102' is pulled up so that the top of the drill engages the switch l00b' and holds it open.

Where desired the motor-driven reel 91 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 may be in the form shown in FIG. 10 in which the hose 92 is stored on a reel 105, the inner end of the hose 92 is attached to the rotatable coupling 106 that is connected to the stationary pipe 107 through which the mud is supplied to the hose 92. The reel may be of considerable size so that it stores sufficient hose to permit drilling at considerable depths. This reel is supported on the

axles

108 and 109 which are provided with bearings 110 and 111, respectively. The hose 92 is wound several turns around the drum of the payout and takeup winch 112 which is supportedby the axle 113 and bearings 114. The winch 112 is provided with a ring gear 115 that meshes with the pinion 1 16 which is driven by the electric motor 117. The reel 105 is also provided with a driving motor 118 which drives the pinion gear 1 19 that meshes with the reel gear 120. Motor 118 is used to drive the reel 105 when hose 92 is to be taken up on this reel and in that case there is a certain amount of slack in the hose 92 between the reel 105 and the winch 112 since the winch 112 and its driving motor 117 are doing the actual lifting of the hose 92. With this arrangement the hose 92 may be paid out or raised at a uniform rate.

The electrical coil 63 shown in FIG. 9 is provided around the tripod funnels used in the various embodiments of this invention. This coil is connected to a source of alternating current 63b and the electrical indicating instrument 63a by the cable 69a so that an alternating magnetic field indicated by the broken lines is set up around the cone 30. Thus, when the drill head 46 enters this magnetic field it acts as as though an electrical load were placed on the coil 63 and the indicating instrument 63a will be deflected an increased amount. Thus, by watching the indicating meter 63a the operator will see when the drill head 46 is located directly over the cone 30.

The embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 17 is adapted to be used in drilling deep wells on land. This arrangement is provided with a drill 102a which is connected directly to the pump 10217 that pumps the driving fluid into the turbine of the drill 1020 in a conventional manner. The pipe 94a is either of round or square configuration as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, respectively, and it is provided with a clamping device such as the magnetic clamping device shown in FIGS. 5 and 5a or the hydraulic clamping device shown in FIGS. 13 and 16 whereby the drill 102a and pump 102b are prevented from rotating with respect to the casing 101a.

The pipes connecting the drill to the turn and clamp may be made in two or more lengths of telescoping tubes as shown in FIG. 18. The pipe 99' is connected to the drill 102' which corresponds to the drills shown in FIGS. 13 and 16. Pipe 99' is provided with an inside shoulder 99a that engages the outside shoulder 99a" on pipe 99" to prevent these pipes from separating.

Pipes

99 and 99" may be square so that they do not turn with respect to each other and pipe 99" is provided with a clamp 100' which may be either electromagnetic or hydraulic as previously described. Thus after clamp 100' grips the casing 101' the drill is more or less floating in the casing as far as the pip 99" is concerned until the drill has worked down into the rock the full extension of these

telescoping tubes

99 and 99". When the tubes are fully extended the clamp 100 is released as previously described and the clamp 100 and pipe 99" are dropped down a predetermined distance where the clamp is again set to grip the casing so the drilling can again proceed.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that the invention is capable of variation and modification from the form shown so that the scope thereof should be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

lclaim:

1. ln apparatus for deep well drilling, the combination of a drill adapted to cut through various geologic formations, said drill having a body supporting rotary cutters at the bottom thereof and means driving said drill cutters, tripod structure, means lowering said tripod structure to the ocean floor, said tripod structure having a central opening receiving well casing, an elongated member attached to said drill body, means attached to said elongated member lowering said drill and driving means into said casing, clamping means, means slidably supporting said clamping means on said elongated member, said clamping means engaging said casing to prevent rotation of said drill body with respect to said casing.

2. In apparatus for deep well drilling, the combination as recited in claim 1, further comprising hydraulic means actuating said clamping means, a pump attached to the upper end of said elongated member for supplying hydraulic pressure to said drill driving means, and an expandable tubular member connected to said pump and to said hydraulic means supplying hydraulic pressure thereto.

3. In apparatus for deep well drilling, the combination as recited in claim 1, further comprising an electromagnetic coil attached to the top of said tripod, means supplying alternating electric current to said coil for setting up a periodically varying magnetic field around said coil, and indicating means for producing a certain indication when said drill is over said tripod.

5. ln apparatus for deep well drilling, the combination as recited in claim 4, further comprising a buoy structure attached to said platform, said tank means having a central cavity for receiving said tripod, said tripod-lowering means including a cable and a winch supported on said platform, said cable being permanently attached to said tripod and winch so that said tripod serves as an anchor for said buoy and said buoy indicates the location of said tripod.

4. ln apparatus for deep well drilling, the combination as recited in claim 1, further comprising tank means submerged near the surface of the ocean, a platform supported above the surface of the ocean by said tank means and means supporting said tripod lowering means on said platform.

6. ln apparatus for deep well drilling, the combination as recited in claim 4, further characterized in that said drill-driving means comprises an electric motor having an electric current supply cable connected thereto.

7. ln apparatus for deep well drilling, the combination as recited in claim 6, further comprising electromagnetic means actuating said clamping means and current supply cable means connected to said electric motor and to said electromagnetic means.

t i i

Claims

1. In appaRatus for deep well drilling, the combination of a drill adapted to cut through various geologic formations, said drill having a body supporting rotary cutters at the bottom thereof and means driving said drill cutters, tripod structure, means lowering said tripod structure to the ocean floor, said tripod structure having a central opening receiving well casing, an elongated member attached to said drill body, means attached to said elongated member lowering said drill and driving means into said casing, clamping means, means slidably supporting said clamping means on said elongated member, said clamping means engaging said casing to prevent rotation of said drill body with respect to said casing.

4. In apparatus for deep well drilling, the combination as recited in claim 1, further comprising tank means submerged near the surface of the ocean, a platform supported above the surface of the ocean by said tank means and means supporting said tripod lowering means on said platform.

5. In apparatus for deep well drilling, the combination as recited in claim 4, further comprising a buoy structure attached to said platform, said tank means having a central cavity for receiving said tripod, said tripod-lowering means including a cable and a winch supported on said platform, said cable being permanently attached to said tripod and winch so that said tripod serves as an anchor for said buoy and said buoy indicates the location of said tripod.

6. In apparatus for deep well drilling, the combination as recited in claim 4, further characterized in that said drill-driving means comprises an electric motor having an electric current supply cable connected thereto.

7. In apparatus for deep well drilling, the combination as recited in claim 6, further comprising electromagnetic means actuating said clamping means and current supply cable means connected to said electric motor and to said electromagnetic means.