Method for laser drilling subterranean earth formations
Abstract
Laser drilling of subterranean earth formations is efficiently accomplished by directing a collimated laser beam into a bore hole in registry with the earth formation and transversely directing the laser beam into the earth formation with a suitable reflector. In accordance with the present invention, the bore hole is highly pressurized with a gas so that as the laser beam penetrates the earth formation the high pressure gas forces the fluids resulting from the drilling operation into fissures and pores surrounding the laser-drilled bore so as to inhibit deleterious occlusion of the laser beam. Also, the laser beam may be dynamically programmed with some time dependent wave form, e.g., pulsed, to thermally shock the earth formation for forming or enlarging fluid-receiving fissures in the bore.
- Inventors:
-
- Morgantown, WV
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- MERC/ERDA
- OSTI Identifier:
- 862629
- Patent Number(s):
- 3977478
- Assignee:
- Unites States of America as represented by United States Energy (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E21 - EARTH DRILLING E21B - EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- method; laser; drilling; subterranean; earth; formations; efficiently; accomplished; directing; collimated; beam; bore; registry; formation; transversely; suitable; reflector; accordance; highly; pressurized; gas; penetrates; pressure; forces; fluids; resulting; operation; fissures; pores; surrounding; laser-drilled; inhibit; deleterious; occlusion; dynamically; programmed; time; dependent; wave; form; pulsed; thermally; shock; forming; enlarging; fluid-receiving; time dependent; collimated laser; wave form; earth formations; earth formation; pressure gas; laser beam; subterranean earth; drilling operation; laser drilling; fluids resulting; efficiently accomplished; /175/166/219/
Citation Formats
Shuck, Lowell Z. Method for laser drilling subterranean earth formations. United States: N. p., 1976.
Web.
Shuck, Lowell Z. Method for laser drilling subterranean earth formations. United States.
Shuck, Lowell Z. Tue .
"Method for laser drilling subterranean earth formations". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/862629.
@article{osti_862629,
title = {Method for laser drilling subterranean earth formations},
author = {Shuck, Lowell Z},
abstractNote = {Laser drilling of subterranean earth formations is efficiently accomplished by directing a collimated laser beam into a bore hole in registry with the earth formation and transversely directing the laser beam into the earth formation with a suitable reflector. In accordance with the present invention, the bore hole is highly pressurized with a gas so that as the laser beam penetrates the earth formation the high pressure gas forces the fluids resulting from the drilling operation into fissures and pores surrounding the laser-drilled bore so as to inhibit deleterious occlusion of the laser beam. Also, the laser beam may be dynamically programmed with some time dependent wave form, e.g., pulsed, to thermally shock the earth formation for forming or enlarging fluid-receiving fissures in the bore.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Aug 31 00:00:00 EDT 1976},
month = {Tue Aug 31 00:00:00 EDT 1976}
}