Abstract A ground storage rack preferably installed in a pit has substantially horizontal pipes each initially containing an elongated drill rod. Sequentially each rod is thrust from its storage pipe horizontally into the ground at one end of the pit and as it proceeds outwardly of the pit its direction is controlled so that it bends downwardly until the drill motor on its outer end is drilling approximately vertically. The rear remote end of each storage pipe is capped so that drilling mud pumped into the pipe from a mud pit travels to the remote end of the pipe, thence into the open end of the drill rod enclosed therein and through the rod (and also preceding rods) to the drill motor and bit. Mud is carried back through the annulus of the drill hole to the mud pit. The rig has particular adaptation to offshore oil drilling since offshore platforms will not be used and the danger of contamination from leakage of oil by the normal surface casing beneath such platforms into the ocean floor is eliminated since the surface casing is now on shore.
A method of drilling for deep formations comprising providing a drilling location at the surface which is horizontally remote from the bottom of the hole to be dug, storing at said location a plurality of long drill rods each substantially horizontal, thrusting a first drill rod into the earth slanted only slightly downward from the horizontal, drilling at the remote end of said drill rod a hole which slopes downwardly and then curves to a substantially vertical direction as drilling progresses, and sequentially joining additional drill rods at said drilling location and thrusting each additional drill rod into the hole as drilling progresses.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of drilling for deep formations comprising providing a drilling location at the surface which is horizontally remote from the bottom of the hole to be dug, storing at said location a plurality of long drill rods each substantially horizontal, thrusting a first drill rod into the earth slanted only slightly downward from the horizontal, drilling at the remote end of said drill rod a hole which slopes downwardly and then curves to a substantially vertical direction as drilling progresses, and sequentially joining additional drill rods at said drilling location and thrusting each additional drill rod into the hole as drilling progresses.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 1 which further comprises providing at each drilling location a plurality of pipes in which one section of drill rod is stored and withdrawing each section of drill rod from its pipe as it is joined to the preceding drill rod.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 2 in which each said pipe is sequentially moved into alignment with the upper end of the hole being drilled prior to withdrawing the drill rod from such pipe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method according to claim 2 in which said drill rod is hollow and which further comprises pumping liquid into said pipe and from said pipe into the end of the drill rod in said pipe at the on-shore end of said pipe remote from the drilling end of said drill rod and through said drill rod in said pipe and all preceding drill rods.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method according to claim 4 which further comprises a drill motor on the remote end of the string of said drill rods, said motor of the type actuated by liquid pressure in said drill rod, and which further comprises driving said motor by liquid pumped into said pipe, returning said liquid to said drilling location and re-circulating said liquid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 4 which further comprises closing off said pipe to escape of liquid after the drill rod has been withdrawn from aaid pipe so that said pipe remains substantially full of liquid.