US3231031A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for earth drilling
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Co
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Filing: 1963-06-18
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Granted: 1966-01-25
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Expires: 1983-06-18
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 James M Cleary
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:31
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B7/00; E21B7/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
AN APPARATUS FOR EARTH FORMATION BOREHOLE DRILLING COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL RIGID PRESSURE TIGHT UNRESTRICTED FLOW CONDUIT HAVING AN UPPER AND LOWER END AND BEING LONGER THAN THE LENGTH OF SAID BOREHOLE, SAID UPPER END OF SAID FLOW CONDUIT CONNECTED AT THE EARTH''S SURFACE TO A SOURCE OF LIQUID UNDER PRESSURE, AN EARTH DRILLING MEANS NEAR SAID LOWER END OF SAID FLOW CONDUIT AND ADAPTED TO DRILL A CYLINDRICAL BOREHOLE IN SAID FORMATION SURROUNDING SAID FLOW CONDUIT, A PILOT-LIKE NOZZLE MEMBER EXTENDING BELOW SAID DRILLING MEANS IN COAXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID FLOW CONDUIT AND HAVING AN OUTSIDE DIAMETER SUBSTANTIALLY SMALLER THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID BOREHOLE CUT BY SAID DRILLING MEANS, SAID PILOT-LIKE NOZZLE MEMBER HAVING A CIRCULAR CROSS SECTION, SAID PILOT-LIKE NOZZLE MEMBER BEING A SINGLE CONVERGENT NOZZLE MEMBER AND CENTRALLY LOCATED IN SAID PILOT-LIKE NOZZLE MEMBER AND ADAPTED TO DIRECT AND FOCUS A JET STREAM OF FLUID ISSUING THEREFROM AGAINST THE BOTTOM OF SAID BOREHOLE AHEAD OF SAID PILOT-LIKE NOZZLE MEMBER, SAID CONVERGENT NOZZLE PASSAGE FORMING A SOLITARY OUTLET TO SAID LOWER END OF SAID FLOW CONDUIT, SAID OUTLET BEING LESS THAN ONE-HALF THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER OF THE LOWER END OF SAID PILOT MEMBER, AND THE RATIO OF THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER OF SAID FLOW CONDUIT TO THE DIAMETER OF SAID BOREHOLE BEING AT LEAST 0.9 FOR A DISTANCE OF AT LEAST TWENTY FEET IMMEDIATELY ABOVE SAID PILOTLIKE NOZZLE MEMBER.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
231 words
AN APPARATUS FOR EARTH FORMATION BOREHOLE DRILLING COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL RIGID PRESSURE TIGHT UNRESTRICTED FLOW CONDUIT HAVING AN UPPER AND LOWER END AND BEING LONGER THAN THE LENGTH OF SAID BOREHOLE, SAID UPPER END OF SAID FLOW CONDUIT CONNECTED AT THE EARTH''S SURFACE TO A SOURCE OF LIQUID UNDER PRESSURE, AN EARTH DRILLING MEANS NEAR SAID LOWER END OF SAID FLOW CONDUIT AND ADAPTED TO DRILL A CYLINDRICAL BOREHOLE IN SAID FORMATION SURROUNDING SAID FLOW CONDUIT, A PILOT-LIKE NOZZLE MEMBER EXTENDING BELOW SAID DRILLING MEANS IN COAXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID FLOW CONDUIT AND HAVING AN OUTSIDE DIAMETER SUBSTANTIALLY SMALLER THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID BOREHOLE CUT BY SAID DRILLING MEANS, SAID PILOT-LIKE NOZZLE MEMBER HAVING A CIRCULAR CROSS SECTION, SAID PILOT-LIKE NOZZLE MEMBER BEING A SINGLE CONVERGENT NOZZLE MEMBER AND CENTRALLY LOCATED IN SAID PILOT-LIKE NOZZLE MEMBER AND ADAPTED TO DIRECT AND FOCUS A JET STREAM OF FLUID ISSUING THEREFROM AGAINST THE BOTTOM OF SAID BOREHOLE AHEAD OF SAID PILOT-LIKE NOZZLE MEMBER, SAID CONVERGENT NOZZLE PASSAGE FORMING A SOLITARY OUTLET TO SAID LOWER END OF SAID FLOW CONDUIT, SAID OUTLET BEING LESS THAN ONE-HALF THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER OF THE LOWER END OF SAID PILOT MEMBER, AND THE RATIO OF THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER OF SAID FLOW CONDUIT TO THE DIAMETER OF SAID BOREHOLE BEING AT LEAST 0.9 FOR A DISTANCE OF AT LEAST TWENTY FEET IMMEDIATELY ABOVE SAID PILOTLIKE NOZZLE MEMBER.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
17 words
A METHOD FOR DRILLING AN EARTH BOREHOLE COMPRISING ESTABLISHING A FIRST FLOW PASSAGE FROM THE EARTH''S SURFACE
Claim 4
Independent Claim
17 words
A METHOD FOR DRILLING AN EARTH BOREHOLE COMPRISING ESTABLISHING A FIRST FLOW PASSAGE FROM THE EARTH''S SURFACE
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1969-01-24 | 1969-07-26 | 1970-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1973-01-24 | 1973-07-26 | 1974-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1977-01-24 | 1977-07-26 | 1978-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |