公开(公告)号：US10822877B2

公开(公告)日：2020-11-03

申请号：US16286481

申请日：2019-02-26

Applicant: HYPERSCIENCES, INC.

Inventor： Mark C. Russell

IPC: E21B7/00 ,  F41A1/04 ,  F41A1/02 ,  E21C37/04 ,  E21D9/10 ,  E21B10/26

Abstract: One or more ram accelerator devices may be used to form one or more holes in geologic or other material. These holes may be used for drilling, tunnel boring, excavation, and so forth. The ram accelerator devices propel projectiles which are accelerated by combustion of one or more combustible gasses in a ram effect to reach velocities exceeding 500 meters per second. An endcap may be deployed within a tube of the ram accelerator device to prevent incursion of formation pressure products such as oil, water, mud, gas, and so forth into a guide tube of the ram accelerator. During operation the projectile penetrates the endcap and at least a portion thereof impact a working face. In some implementations a purge gas may be used to form a ullage between the endcap and the working face.

公开(公告)号：US11719047B2

公开(公告)日：2023-08-08

申请号：US17656133

申请日：2022-03-23

Applicant: HYPERSCIENCES, INC.

Inventor： Mark C. Russell ,  Lance D. Underwood ,  Leon Vanstone ,  Parker Bailey ,  Desiree Elizabeth Bernhard ,  Tristen Cutshall ,  Kaito J. Durkee ,  Kordell Newberg ,  Aaron J. Abeyta

IPC: E21B7/00 ,  E21B17/18 ,  E21B7/16 ,  E21B21/12 ,  E21B23/04

CPC classification number: E21B7/007 ,  E21B7/16 ,  E21B17/18 ,  E21B21/12 ,  E21B23/0413

Abstract: Geologic material in a borehole is weakened by accelerating a projectile into contact with the material. A drill bit is then used to bore through the weakened material. To accelerate the projectile, an endcap is placed in a conduit using a source of gas. The endcap isolates the conduit from the external environment. A projectile is then positioned in the conduit above the endcap. Movable members within the conduit are operated in sequence to enable single endcaps and projectiles to be moved into the conduit. Gas from the conduit is evacuated into an annulus between the conduit and a surrounding conduit, and a propellant material is provided into the conduit. The propellant material applies a force to the projectile to accelerate the projectile into contact with the geologic material. A fluid is circulated down a second annulus outside of the surrounding conduit to contact the drill bit and remove debris.

公开(公告)号：US10590707B2

公开(公告)日：2020-03-17

申请号：US15698549

申请日：2017-09-07

Applicant: HYPERSCIENCES, INC.

Inventor： Mark C. Russell ,  Timothy J. Elder ,  Hossam Elbadawy ,  Jeffrey B. Lasater ,  John Benjamin Hinkey

IPC: E21B7/00 ,  E21B7/16 ,  E21B7/06 ,  E21B44/00 ,  E21B47/00 ,  E21B47/06 ,  E21B4/02

Abstract: A drill string comprises a mechanical drill bit and a ram accelerator with a launch tube proximate to the mechanical drill bit. A projectile accelerated by the ram accelerator exits the mechanical drill bit through an orifice and impacts a geologic formation. The impact weakens a portion of the formation, enabling the drill bit to penetrate the weakened portion more easily. An endcap may be used to prevent outside material from entering the ram accelerator. The projectile may pass through or otherwise displace the endcap during operation. The launch tube may be positioned at an angle relative to the drill bit such that projectiles impact and weaken the formation on a particular side. Contact between the drill bit and the formation may direct the drill bit toward the weakened side, enabling the ram accelerator to be used to steer the drill bit.

公开(公告)号：US11988072B1

公开(公告)日：2024-05-21

申请号：US18172728

申请日：2023-02-22

Applicant: HYPERSCIENCES, INC.

Inventor： Mark C. Russell ,  Lance D. Underwood ,  Tristen Cutshall

IPC: E21B4/14 ,  E21B7/00 ,  E21B7/18 ,  E21B10/38 ,  E21D9/00 ,  E21D9/10 ,  E21D9/12

CPC classification number: E21B4/14 ,  E21B7/005 ,  E21B7/18 ,  E21B10/38 ,  E21D9/003 ,  E21D9/006 ,  E21D9/108 ,  E21D9/128

Abstract: Systems for drilling or tunneling include an assembly for accelerating a projectile through a first conduit into a region of geologic material, which generates debris. The debris may be reduced in size by moving the debris to a crushing device located in a second conduit using a conveying device, such as an auger. The reduced-size debris is then moved toward the surface using fluid movement. A third conduit may be used to provide and remove material from the bottom of the first conduit to control pressure at the end of the conduit to prevent ingress of material into the first conduit. Water jets or other types of devices may be used to cut or deform a perimeter of a region of geologic material before the projectile is accelerated to control the shape of the borehole and the manner in which debris is broken from the geologic material.

公开(公告)号：US11674388B1

公开(公告)日：2023-06-13

申请号：US17169228

申请日：2021-02-05

Applicant: HYPERSCIENCES, INC.

Inventor： Hossam Elbadawy ,  Mark C. Russell ,  Charles T. Russell ,  Timothy John Elder ,  Minh Button

IPC: E21B49/04 ,  G01V1/04 ,  F24T10/13 ,  E21B47/07 ,  E21B41/00 ,  E21B7/16 ,  G01V1/143 ,  E21B47/14 ,  E21B7/04 ,  F24T10/17 ,  G01V1/104 ,  F24T10/00

CPC classification number: E21B47/14 ,  E21B7/04 ,  E21B7/16 ,  E21B41/0085 ,  E21B47/07 ,  E21B49/04 ,  F24T10/13 ,  F24T10/17 ,  G01V1/04 ,  G01V1/104 ,  G01V1/143 ,  F24T2010/53 ,  F24T2201/00 ,  Y02E10/10

Abstract: Boreholes used for generating geothermal energy or other purposes are formed at least in part by accelerating projectiles toward geologic material. Interaction between a projectile and the geologic material may generate debris or other material. The temperature of this generated material may be used to determine the potential for generation of geothermal energy using the borehole. Based on the temperature of the material, a fluid having a different temperature than that of the material is provided into the borehole for generation of power using geothermal energy.

公开(公告)号：US10344534B2

公开(公告)日：2019-07-09

申请号：US15246414

申请日：2016-08-24

Applicant: HYPERSCIENCES, INC.

Inventor： Mark C. Russell

IPC: E21B7/00 ,  F41A1/02 ,  F41A1/04 ,  E21B10/26

Abstract: One or more ram accelerator devices may be used to form one or more holes in geologic or other material. These holes may be used for drilling, tunnel boring, excavation, and so forth. The ram accelerator devices propel projectiles which are accelerated by combustion of one or more combustible gasses in a ram effect to reach velocities exceeding 500 meters per second. An endcap may be deployed within a tube of the ram accelerator device to prevent incursion of formation pressure products such as oil, water, mud, gas, and so forth into a guide tube of the ram accelerator. During operation the projectile penetrates the endcap and at least a portion thereof impacts a working face. A downhole end of the tube may be displaced laterally within the hole to change the direction of the hole.

公开(公告)号：US10180030B2

公开(公告)日：2019-01-15

申请号：US15292011

申请日：2016-10-12

Applicant: HYPERSCIENCES, INC.

Inventor： Mark C. Russell

IPC: E21B7/00 ,  F41A1/04 ,  F41A1/02 ,  E21C37/00

Abstract: One or more ram accelerator devices may be used to form one or more holes in geologic or other material. These holes may be used for drilling, tunnel boring, excavation, and so forth. The ram accelerator devices propel projectiles which are accelerated by combustion of one or more combustible gasses in a ram effect to reach velocities exceeding 500 meters per second.

公开(公告)号：US11976556B2

公开(公告)日：2024-05-07

申请号：US17457007

申请日：2021-11-30

Applicant: HYPERSCIENCES, INC.

Inventor： Mark C. Russell ,  Charles T. Russell

IPC: E21C37/00 ,  E21C39/00 ,  E21D9/00 ,  E21D9/12 ,  E21B4/14 ,  E21B7/18 ,  E21B49/04 ,  E21D9/10

CPC classification number: E21C37/005 ,  E21C39/00 ,  E21D9/003 ,  E21D9/128 ,  E21B4/14 ,  E21B7/18 ,  E21B49/04 ,  E21D9/006 ,  E21D9/108

Abstract: Systems for forming or extending a tunnel or shaft within geologic material may include a ram accelerator assembly for accelerating one or more projectiles into geologic material to weaken a region of the geologic material. The projectile(s) pre-condition the geologic material, such as by forming one or more holes in a central region of the material or to define a perimeter of the region to be displaced. A cutting tool or subsequent projectile impacts may then be used to remove the weakened material. The voids formed by the first projectile(s) cause compressive forces from subsequent impacts or cutting operations to be converted to tension forces that more efficiently break geologic material, which may fall into the voids created by the first projectile(s). The voids created by the projectile impacts may also control the material that is removed and the shape of a resulting section of the tunnel or shaft.

公开(公告)号：US11624235B2

公开(公告)日：2023-04-11

申请号：US17445168

申请日：2021-08-16

Applicant: HYPERSCIENCES, INC.

Inventor： Mark C. Russell ,  Lance D. Underwood ,  Tristen Cutshall

IPC: E21B4/14 ,  E21B10/38 ,  E21B7/18 ,  E21B7/00

Abstract: Systems for drilling or tunneling include an assembly for accelerating a projectile into a region of geologic material. An interaction between the projectile and the geologic material extends a borehole and forms debris. The debris may be reduced in size by moving the debris to a crushing device. The reduced-size debris is then moved toward the surface using fluid movement. Water jets or other types of devices may be used to cut or deform a perimeter of a region of geologic material before the projectile is accelerated to control the shape of the borehole and the manner in which debris is broken from the geologic material.

公开(公告)号：US10697242B2

公开(公告)日：2020-06-30

申请号：US15135452

申请日：2016-04-21

Applicant: HYPERSCIENCES, INC.

Inventor： Mark C. Russell ,  Timothy John Elder ,  Jonathan M. Wolff

IPC: E21B7/00 ,  F41A1/04 ,  F41A1/02 ,  E21B49/04 ,  E21B11/02 ,  E21B7/06 ,  E21B7/28 ,  F42D3/04

Abstract: One or more ram accelerator devices may be used to form one or more holes in geologic or other material. These holes may be used for drilling, tunnel boring, excavation, and so forth. The ram accelerator includes one or more baffles that are downhole. The ram accelerator devices propel projectiles which are accelerated by combustion of one or more combustible gasses in a ram effect to reach velocities exceeding 500 meters per second. An endcap may be deployed within a tube of the ram accelerator device to prevent incursion of formation pressure products such as oil, water, mud, gas, and so forth into a guide tube of the ram accelerator. The endcap may be maintained in place within the hole at least in part by the one or more baffles. During operation the projectile penetrates the endcap and at least a portion thereof impacts a working face.