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Title: Method of deep drilling

Patent ·
OSTI ID:865257
 [1]
  1. 4616 Ridgeway, Los Alamos, NM 87544

Deep drilling is facilitated by the following steps practiced separately or in any combination: (1) Periodically and sequentially fracturing zones adjacent the bottom of the bore hole with a thixotropic fastsetting fluid that is accepted into the fracture to overstress the zone, such fracturing and injection being periodic as a function of the progression of the drill. (2) Casing the bore hole with ductile, pre-annealed casing sections, each of which is run down through the previously set casing and swaged in situ to a diameter large enough to allow the next section to run down through it. (3) Drilling the bore hole using a drill string of a low density alloy and a high density drilling mud so that the drill string is partially floated.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
Assignee:
Colgate, Stirling A. (4616 Ridgeway, Los Alamos, NM 87544)
Patent Number(s):
US 4483399
OSTI ID:
865257
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English