US4474250A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Measuring while drilling
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-07-16
•
Granted: 1984-10-02
•
Expires: 2002-07-16
Abstract
Abstract A method of measuring lithology, and other underground conditions, while drilling bores into the earth employing the repetitive firing of projectiles to fracture rock and penetrate the earth and detecting the high intensity acoustic signals being produced as the drill progressively penetrates.
Inventors
- 👤 David Dardick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:52
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B47/00; E21B47/12; E21B47/14; E21B47/02; E21B49/00; E21B7/00; E21B7/007; G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/40; G01V1/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of continually measuring conditions of lithology and of drilling during the process of drilling the earth comprising the steps of: firing projectiles into the earth at different depths to both fracture and break rock for drilling and for generating strong sonic signals upon impacting of the projectiles and rock, and continually detecting and analyzing said sonic signals being produced at the different depths to determine the conditions of drilling and of the lithography of the earth at each depth as the drilling progresses.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of continually measuring conditions of lithology and of drilling during the process of drilling the earth comprising the steps of: firing projectiles into the earth at different depths to both fracture and break rock for drilling and for generating strong sonic signals upon impacting of the projectiles and rock, and continually detecting and analyzing said sonic signals being produced at the different depths to determine the conditions of drilling and of the lithography of the earth at each depth as the drilling progresses.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
In the method of claim 1, the additional step of analyzing the waveform of the detected sonic pulses to determine the lithology of the rock.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
In the method of claim 2, detecting the sonic pulses from a downhole location near the firing of the projectiles for analyzing the waveform.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
In the method of claim 1, wherein the drilling process includes the use of pressurized drilling mud, the additional step of detecting and analyzing the waveform of the fired projectiles traveling through the drilling mud by a transducer near the drill to determine the properties of the mud and the degree of gas therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
In the method of claim 1, the step of detecting the sonic signals being performed by a sonic signal detector located at the surface of the earth.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
In the method of claim 1, locating a series sonic signal detectors at spaced apart positions near the earths surface for continually determining by triangulation the location of the drill at each different depth.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
In the method of claim 1, the additional step of transmitting data from downhole locations during the drilling of the earth, comprising the firing of the projectiles in given time patterns corresponding to the data to be transmitted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
In the method of claim 1, the additional step of determining the rate of advance of the drill during the firing of the projectiles to determine the degree of hardness and brittleness of the rock being drilled.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
In the method of claim 1, the additional step of determining the distance advanced by the drill during firing of the projectiles to determine the hardness of the rock being drilled.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
In the method of claim 1, the additional step of combined rotary drilling and firing projectiles into the earth and comparing the rate of advance of the drill without firing with the rate of advance with firing to determine the hardness of the rock being drilled.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2062151A
Cited
US2179832A
Cited
US2452515A
Cited
US3520375A
Cited
US3828867A
Cited
US4026382A
Cited
US3979140A
Cited
US3979724A
Cited
US4038631A
Cited
US4004642A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-10-02 | 1988-04-02 | 1988-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-10-02 | 1992-04-02 | 1992-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-10-02 | 1996-04-02 | 1996-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |