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Title: Method and apparatus for drilling horizontal holes in geological structures from a vertical bore

Abstract

This invention is directed to a method and apparatus for drilling horizontal holes in geological strata from a vertical position. The geological structures intended to be penetrated in this fashion are coal seams, as for in situ gasification or methane drainage, or in oil-bearing strata for increasing the flow rate from a pre-existing well. Other possible uses for this device might be for use in the leaching of uranium ore from underground deposits or for introducing horizontal channels for water and steam injections.

Inventors:
 [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Rolla, MO
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
864146
Patent Number(s):
4317492
Assignee:
Curators of University of Missouri (Columbia, MO)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E21 - EARTH DRILLING E21B - EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING
DOE Contract Number:  
AC04-76
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
method; apparatus; drilling; horizontal; holes; geological; structures; vertical; bore; directed; strata; position; intended; penetrated; fashion; coal; seams; situ; gasification; methane; drainage; oil-bearing; increasing; flow; rate; pre-existing; device; leaching; uranium; underground; deposits; introducing; channels; water; steam; injections; steam injection; coal seam; situ gasification; flow rate; vertical position; coal seams; horizontal channel; vertical bore; geological structures; horizontal holes; situ gas; drilling horizontal; /175/

Citation Formats

Summers, David A, Barker, Clark R, and Keith, H Dean. Method and apparatus for drilling horizontal holes in geological structures from a vertical bore. United States: N. p., 1982. Web.
Summers, David A, Barker, Clark R, & Keith, H Dean. Method and apparatus for drilling horizontal holes in geological structures from a vertical bore. United States.
Summers, David A, Barker, Clark R, and Keith, H Dean. Fri . "Method and apparatus for drilling horizontal holes in geological structures from a vertical bore". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/864146.
@article{osti_864146,
title = {Method and apparatus for drilling horizontal holes in geological structures from a vertical bore},
author = {Summers, David A and Barker, Clark R and Keith, H Dean},
abstractNote = {This invention is directed to a method and apparatus for drilling horizontal holes in geological strata from a vertical position. The geological structures intended to be penetrated in this fashion are coal seams, as for in situ gasification or methane drainage, or in oil-bearing strata for increasing the flow rate from a pre-existing well. Other possible uses for this device might be for use in the leaching of uranium ore from underground deposits or for introducing horizontal channels for water and steam injections.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1982},
month = {1}
}