Patent US4077671A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4077671A
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US
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Subterranean drilling and slurry mining method
Assignee: FMC Corp
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Filing: 1977-04-06
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Granted: 1978-03-07
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Expires: 1997-04-06
Abstract
Abstract Method for subterranean slurry drilling and mining of granular ore, such as phosphates, with a combined drilling and mining apparatus. The apparatus for performing the method includes a tool string having a drilling head and mining head that are selectively interchangeable on its upper end for drilling into one or more ore strata to be mined and thereafter to remove ore from the strata as a slurry. The drill string includes a plurality of inner and outer pipe sections connected to a mining nozzle section, to an eductor pump section, and to a drill bit at its lower end. A drilling/mining liquid is directed through the tool string during both the drilling and mining modes of operation. During drilling, liquid is directed through a foot valve into the rotating bit to wash cuttings to the surface externally of the tool. During mining, the tool string is rotated, the foot valve is closed, and a mining nozzle is opened thereby causing liquid jetting from the mining nozzle to reduce the ore to a slurry. The slurry is pumped to the surface by liquid passing upwardly through the eductor pump and through the inner conduit. Without removing the apparatus from the hole, a hydraulic control system is actuated by hydraulic pressure equal to or less than system pressure for shifting the mining nozzle, the eductor nozzle, and the drill bit foot valve between a drilling mode and a mining mode thus enabling several different ore bearing strata to be mined. In a modified form of the apparatus for performing the method of invention a plurality of vertically spaced mining nozzles are provided and each nozzle is aligned with a different ore strata. A hydraulic control system is provided for controlling the hydraulic components between their drilling and mining modes, and for opening and closing the mining nozzles independently of each other. The control system is responsive to pressure equal to or less than the system pressure.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip R. Bunnelle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:59
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B21/00; E21B21/10; E21B21/12; E21B43/00; E21B43/29; E21B7/00; E21B7/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
289 words
A method of drilling a hole into and mining ore from a subterranean deposit of granular ore with apparatus including a multi-section tool string having a drill bit on its lower end; and a mining nozzle, an eductor nozzle and a foot valve, each being movable between a drilling mode and a mining mode of operation comprising the steps of: alternately rotating and holding the outer portion of a multi-section tool string from rotation for screwing the outer portions together while assembling the string section-by-section, rotating and lowering the tool string while drilling a hole into the ore matrix to be mined, directing a substantial quantity of liquid during the drilling mode at system pressure through the foot valve into the hole for washing cuttings to the surface, closing the foot valve and opening the mining nozzle and eductor nozzle during the mining mode for terminating the major quantity of liquid flow into the bottom of the hole, splitting the liquid flow with a portion of the liquid being directed transversely of the tool string through the mining nozzle into the ore matrix to reduce the ore to a slurry and with another portion of the liquid directed upwardly through the eductor nozzle to pump the slurry to the surface, rotating the tool string during mining, and selectively controlling the opening and closing of the nozzles and foot valve while the tool string is in the hole by applying a control pressure equal to the system pressure during drilling for maintaining the mining nozzle and eductor nozzle closed and the foot valve open, and by applying a control pressure less than the system pressure during mining for opening the mining nozzle and eductor nozzle and closing the foot valve.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
289 words
A method of drilling a hole into and mining ore from a subterranean deposit of granular ore with apparatus including a multi-section tool string having a drill bit on its lower end; and a mining nozzle, an eductor nozzle and a foot valve, each being movable between a drilling mode and a mining mode of operation comprising the steps of: alternately rotating and holding the outer portion of a multi-section tool string from rotation for screwing the outer portions together while assembling the string section-by-section, rotating and lowering the tool string while drilling a hole into the ore matrix to be mined, directing a substantial quantity of liquid during the drilling mode at system pressure through the foot valve into the hole for washing cuttings to the surface, closing the foot valve and opening the mining nozzle and eductor nozzle during the mining mode for terminating the major quantity of liquid flow into the bottom of the hole, splitting the liquid flow with a portion of the liquid being directed transversely of the tool string through the mining nozzle into the ore matrix to reduce the ore to a slurry and with another portion of the liquid directed upwardly through the eductor nozzle to pump the slurry to the surface, rotating the tool string during mining, and selectively controlling the opening and closing of the nozzles and foot valve while the tool string is in the hole by applying a control pressure equal to the system pressure during drilling for maintaining the mining nozzle and eductor nozzle closed and the foot valve open, and by applying a control pressure less than the system pressure during mining for opening the mining nozzle and eductor nozzle and closing the foot valve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the control pressure during mining is established by venting to atmospheric pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the control pressure during mining is established by venting to cavity pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein the system pressure during drilling is about 300 psig at the surface and wherein the system pressure during mining is between about 700 to 1000 psig at the surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein a first hydraulic power means shifts the mining nozzle and a second hydraulic power means shifts both the eductor nozzle and the foot valve with the eductor nozzle being closed when the foot valve is open; and wherein the mining nozzle is modulated during mining between the open position and closed position without opening the foot valve by alternately varying the control pressure between a vented pressure and a system pressure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein a second mining nozzle is operated by a hydraulically actuated power means in the tool independent from the power means which actuates said first nozzle and disposed at an elevation different from that of the first mining nozzle, and wherein each of the mining nozzles is shifted from the drilling mode to the mining mode by venting the control pressure to the atmosphere.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 1 and further including the step of moving the tool string vertically during mining to change the elevation at which the liquid passing through the mining nozzle contacts the ore matrix.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
262 words
In a method of drilling a hole into and mining ore from a subterranean deposit of granular ore with apparatus including a multi-section tool string having a drill bit on its lower end; and a mining nozzle and a foot valve intermediate the ends of the tool string with each being movable between a drilling mode and a mining mode of operation comprising the steps of: alternately rotating and holding the outer portion of a multi-section tool string from rotation for screwing the outer portions together while assembling the string section-by-section, rotating and lowering the tool string while drilling a hole into the ore matrix to be mined, directing a substantial quantity of liquid during the drilling mode at system pressure through the foot valve into the hole for washing cuttings to the surface, closing the foot valve and opening the mining nozzle during the mining mode for terminating the major quantity of liquid flow into the bottom of the hole, directing a high pressure stream of liquid transversely of the tool string through the mining nozzle into the ore matrix to reduce the ore to a slurry, rotating the tool string during mining, and selectively controlling the opening and closing of the mining nozzle and foot valve while the tool string is in the hole by applying a control pressure equal to the system pressure during drilling for maintaining the mining nozzle closed and the foot valve open, and by applying a control pressure less than the system pressure during mining for opening the mining nozzle and closing the foot valve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
262 words
In a method of drilling a hole into and mining ore from a subterranean deposit of granular ore with apparatus including a multi-section tool string having a drill bit on its lower end; and a mining nozzle and a foot valve intermediate the ends of the tool string with each being movable between a drilling mode and a mining mode of operation comprising the steps of: alternately rotating and holding the outer portion of a multi-section tool string from rotation for screwing the outer portions together while assembling the string section-by-section, rotating and lowering the tool string while drilling a hole into the ore matrix to be mined, directing a substantial quantity of liquid during the drilling mode at system pressure through the foot valve into the hole for washing cuttings to the surface, closing the foot valve and opening the mining nozzle during the mining mode for terminating the major quantity of liquid flow into the bottom of the hole, directing a high pressure stream of liquid transversely of the tool string through the mining nozzle into the ore matrix to reduce the ore to a slurry, rotating the tool string during mining, and selectively controlling the opening and closing of the mining nozzle and foot valve while the tool string is in the hole by applying a control pressure equal to the system pressure during drilling for maintaining the mining nozzle closed and the foot valve open, and by applying a control pressure less than the system pressure during mining for opening the mining nozzle and closing the foot valve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein the control pressure during mining is established by venting to atmospheric pressure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein the control pressure during mining is established by venting to cavity pressure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein the system pressure during drilling is about 300 psig at the surface and wherein the system pressure during mining is between about 700 to 1000 psig at the surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein the mining nozzle is modulated during mining between the open position and closed position without opening the foot valve by alternately varying the control pressure between a vented pressure and a system pressure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein a second mining nozzle is operated by a hydraulically actuated power means in the tool independent from the power means which actuates said first nozzle and disposed at an elevation different from that of the first mining nozzle, and wherein each of the mining nozzles is shifted from the drilling mode to the mining mode by venting the control pressure to the atmosphere.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
255 words
In a method of drilling a hole into and mining ore reduced to a slurry from a subterranean deposit of granular ore with apparatus including a multi-section tool string having a drill bit on its lower end; and an eductor nozzle and foot valve intermediate the ends of the tool string with each being movable between a drilling mode and a mining mode of operation comprising the steps of: alternately rotating and holding the outer portion of a multi-section tool string from rotation for screwing the outer portions together while assembling the string section-by-section, rotating and lowering the tool string while drilling a hole into the ore matrix to be mined, directing a substantial quantity of liquid during the drilling mode at system pressure through the foot valve into the hole for washing cuttings to the surface, closing the foot valve and opening the eductor nozzle during the mining mode for terminating the major quantity of liquid flow into the bottom of the hole, directing a flow of liquid upwardly through the eductor nozzle to pump the slurry to the surface, rotating the tool string during mining, and selectively controlling the opening and closing of the eductor nozzle and foot valve while the tool string is in the hole by applying a control pressure equal to the system pressure during drilling for maintaining the eductor nozzle closed and the foot valve open, and by applying a control pressure less than the system pressure during mining for opening the eductor nozzle and closing the foot valve.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
255 words
In a method of drilling a hole into and mining ore reduced to a slurry from a subterranean deposit of granular ore with apparatus including a multi-section tool string having a drill bit on its lower end; and an eductor nozzle and foot valve intermediate the ends of the tool string with each being movable between a drilling mode and a mining mode of operation comprising the steps of: alternately rotating and holding the outer portion of a multi-section tool string from rotation for screwing the outer portions together while assembling the string section-by-section, rotating and lowering the tool string while drilling a hole into the ore matrix to be mined, directing a substantial quantity of liquid during the drilling mode at system pressure through the foot valve into the hole for washing cuttings to the surface, closing the foot valve and opening the eductor nozzle during the mining mode for terminating the major quantity of liquid flow into the bottom of the hole, directing a flow of liquid upwardly through the eductor nozzle to pump the slurry to the surface, rotating the tool string during mining, and selectively controlling the opening and closing of the eductor nozzle and foot valve while the tool string is in the hole by applying a control pressure equal to the system pressure during drilling for maintaining the eductor nozzle closed and the foot valve open, and by applying a control pressure less than the system pressure during mining for opening the eductor nozzle and closing the foot valve.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 14 wherein the control pressure during mining is established by venting to atmospheric pressure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 14 wherein the control pressure during mining is established by venting to cavity pressure.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 14 wherein the system pressure during drilling is about 300 psig at the surface and wherein the system pressure during mining is between about 700 to 1000 psig at the 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) | 1981-03-06 | 1981-09-05 | 1982-03-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-03-06 | 1985-09-05 | 1986-03-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-03-06 | 1989-09-05 | 1990-03-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |