The present invention provides a tunnel boring apparatus (10) for a tunnel boring machine (1), comprising a rotatable drill head (12) having a boring face; a plurality of drill elements (14) mounted to the boring face; wherein the plurality of drill elements include a plurality of water hammers (14a).
E21D 9/10 - Making by using boring or cutting machines
E21D 9/11 - Making by using boring or cutting machines with a rotary drilling-head cutting simultaneously the whole cross-section, i.e. full-face machines
A multi-fluid drilling system 10 drilling is disclosed for drilling a hole or well 11. The system 10 is coupled to a dual wall drill string 12. The drill string 12 is configured to enable separate flow of a first fluid 14 and a second fluid 16. The system 10 has a hammer 22 and a downhole motor 24. Both the hammer 22 and the motor 24 are supported by and are coupled to the drill string 12. The motor 24 is uphole of the hammer 22. The hammer 22 is arranged so that when supported by the drill string 12 the first fluid 14 when flowing through the drill string 12 is able to flow to and power the hammer 22. As the motor 24 is disposed between the hammer 22 and the drill string 12 the first fluid 14 is also able to flow through the motor 24. To this end the motor 24 has a channel 25 to enable the first fluid to flow from the drill sting 12 to the hammer 22. The channel 25 acts as a part of a flow path or conduit for the first fluid 14.
E21B 6/04 - Separate drives for percussion and rotation
E21B 21/12 - Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor using drilling pipes with plural fluid passages, e.g. closed circulation systems
A dual circulation fluid hammer drilling system (10) has a fluid hammer (12) which is coupled to a drill string (14). The system (10) utilizes a first fluid (16) and a second fluid (18). The first fluid (16) is delivered through the drill string (14) to drive or otherwise power the fluid hammer (12). The second fluid (18) is also delivered through the drill string (14) but in isolation of the first fluid (16) so they do not mix within the drill string (14). The second fluid (18) passes through a hammer bit (38) of the hammer drill (12) and is directed to flow out from a bit face (20). Thus when the system (10) is in use the second fluid (18) will flow across the bit face (20). The first fluid (16) also exits the drilling system (10) at the hammer drill (12). However the first fluid (16) exits upstream or up-hole of the bit face (20).
E21B 10/38 - Percussion drill bits characterised by conduits or nozzles for drilling fluids
E21B 7/24 - Drilling using vibrating or oscillating means, e.g. out-of-balance masses
E21B 21/12 - Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor using drilling pipes with plural fluid passages, e.g. closed circulation systems
A well casing system (10) for installation in a well (12) is drilled into the ground (14) comprises a number of separate lengths of well casing (Cn). Each length of well casing (Cn) comprises a single continuous length of rigid composite material pipe or tube.
A multi-fluid drilling system (10) drilling is disclosed for drilling a hole or well (11). The system (10) is coupled to a dual wall drill string (12). The drill string (12) is configured to enable separate flow of a first fluid (14) and a second fluid (16). The system (10) has a hammer (22) and a downhole motor (24). Both the hammer (22) and the motor (24) are supported by and are coupled to the drill string (12). The motor (24) is uphole of the hammer (22). The hammer (22) is arranged so that when supported by the drill string (12) the first fluid (14) when flowing through the drill string (12) is able to flow to and power the hammer (22). As the motor (24) is disposed between the hammer (22) and the drill string (2) the first fluid (14) is also able to flow through the motor (24). To this end the motor (24) has a channel (25) to enable the first fluid to flow from the drill sting (12) to the hammer (22). The channel (25) acts as a part of a flow path or conduit for the first fluid (14).
A dual circulation fluid hammer drilling system (10) has a fluid hammer (12) which is coupled to a drill string (14). The system (10) utilises a first fluid (16) and a second fluid (18). The first fluid (16) is delivered through the drill string (14) to drive or otherwise power the fluid hammer (12). The second fluid (18) is also delivered through the drill string (14) but in isolation of the first fluid (16) so they do not mix within the drill string (14). The second fluid (18) passes through a hammer bit (38) of the hammer drill (12) and is directed to flow out from a bit face (20). Thus when the system (10) is in use the second fluid (18) will flow across the bit face (20). The first fluid (16) also exits the drilling system (10) at the hammer drill (12). However the first fluid (16) exits upstream or up-hole of the bit face (20).
E21B 21/12 - Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor using drilling pipes with plural fluid passages, e.g. closed circulation systems
A ground drill system 10 has a drill string 14 which forms first and second mutually isolated fluid paths 16 and 18 respectively. The drill string 14 has an up hole end 20 coupled to a dual circulation rotation head 22 and a down hole end 24 which is coupled to a drilling tool 12. The drilling tool 12 is operated by the flow of fluid delivered through the first flow path 16. A second fluid outlet 26 is provided intermediate the up hole end 20 and the drilling tool 12. The outlet 26 is in fluid communication with the second fluid flow path 18 and located a constant or fixed distance from the drilling toll 12. The second fluid outlet 26 discharges a flushing fluid flowing through the flushing flow path 18 into a hole being drilled by the drilling system 10. The rotation head 22 provides torque to the drill string 14 and thus the drilling tool 12.
E21B 21/12 - Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor using drilling pipes with plural fluid passages, e.g. closed circulation systems
E21B 7/18 - Drilling by liquid or gas jets, with or without entrained pellets
E21B 17/18 - Pipes provided with plural fluid passages
E21B 19/08 - Apparatus for feeding the rods or cablesApparatus for increasing or decreasing the pressure on the drilling toolApparatus for counterbalancing the weight of the rods
E21B 19/084 - Apparatus for feeding the rods or cablesApparatus for increasing or decreasing the pressure on the drilling toolApparatus for counterbalancing the weight of the rods with flexible drawing means, e.g. cables
E21B 19/086 - Apparatus for feeding the rods or cablesApparatus for increasing or decreasing the pressure on the drilling toolApparatus for counterbalancing the weight of the rods with a fluid-actuated cylinder
A ground drill system (10) has a drill string 14 which forms first and second mutually isolated fluid paths (16 and 18) respectively. The drill string (14) has an up hole end (20) coupled to a dual circulation rotation head (22) and a down hole end (24) which is coupled to a drilling tool (12). The drilling tool (12) is operated by the flow of fluid delivered through the first flow path (16). A second fluid outlet (26) is provided intermediate the up hole end (20) and the drilling tool (12). The outlet (26) is in fluid communication with the second fluid flow path (18) and located a constant or fixed distance from the drilling toll (2). The second fluid outlet (26) discharges a flushing fluid flowing through the flushing flow path (18) into a hole being drilled by the drilling system (10). The rotation head (22) provides torque to the drill string (14) and thus the drilling tool (12).
E21B 21/12 - Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor using drilling pipes with plural fluid passages, e.g. closed circulation systems
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