Boring or penetrating the earth inventions 07/07

20070169964 - Control system: A control system for controlling at least one function of an item of construction equipment. The control system includes a pump, a proportional control valve, a directional control valve, a signal source, a switch, and a processor. The proportional control valve is in fluid communication with the pump and the... Agent: Paul S. Weidlich Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C.

20070169965 - Drilling tool with a cutting element that is configured as a plate or head: The invention relates to a drilling tool, especially for percussion drilling, which comprises a cutting element (3) that is configured as a plate (3) or head and that has at least one cutting edge (11) defined by a cutting face (6) and a free face (10). The cutting edge (11)... Agent: Striker Striker & Stenby

20070163806 - Underground boring machine and method for controlling underground boring: A method and system for controlling a horizontal directional drilling machine having a boring tool. A rate of rotation and a rate of thrust are selected by an operator. Controls allow an automatic boring operation mode to be initiated to maintain the selected rate of rotation and thrust without further... Agent: Merchant & Gould PC

20070163805 - System for drilling the ground to obtain circulation of fluid in a plant for the exploitation of geothermal energy: A system for high-depth drilling of the ground aimed at reaching hot rocks for extraction of geothermal energy by means of introduction of a heat-conveying fluid and extraction thereof after adequate heating uses just one borehole containing two coaxial tubes: an internal tube (3, 11, 13), through which the cold... Agent: Merchant & Gould PC

20070163807 - Apparatus for vertically supporting pipes: An apparatus for vertically supporting pipes in oil production rigs. The apparatus includes an outer frame and a centering device. In the area of an inner side of the outer frame, at least one wedge device is provided for clamping the pipe. The outer frame is connected to the centering... Agent: Friedrich Kueffner

20070163808 - Drilling and hole enlargement device: An expandable drilling apparatus is deployed upon a distal end of a drillstring and includes a cutting head and a substantially tubular main body adjacent the cutting head providing a plurality of axial recesses configured to receive arm assemblies configured to translate between a retracted and an extended position. A... Agent: Osha Liang L.L.P.

20070163809 - Drilling and hole enlargement device: An expandable drilling apparatus includes a main body comprising a central bore and at least one axial recess configured to receive an arm assembly operable between a retracted position and an extended position, a biasing member to urge the arm assembly into the retracted position, a drive position configured to... Agent: Osha, Liang LLP / Smith

20070163810 - Flexible directional drilling apparatus and method: A bottom hole assembly to directionally drill a subterranean formation includes a drill bit, a stabilizer assembly located proximate to and behind the drill bit, a drilling assembly comprising a drive mechanism and a directional mechanism, and a flex member. Optionally, the flex member may be located between the drilling... Agent: Osha Liang L.L.P.

20070163811 - Rotary drill bit with nozzles designed to enhance hydraulic performance and drilling fluid efficiency: A rotary drill bit having one or more fluid nozzles is provided. Each nozzle may include interior surfaces designed to optimize hydraulic performance and efficiency of fluid flowing through the nozzle. The interior surfaces cooperate with each other to minimize turbulent fluid flow through the respective nozzle. Each nozzle may... Agent: Baker Botts L.L.P. Patent Department

20070163812 - Bit leg outer surface hardfacing on earth-boring bit: An earth-boring bit has bit legs having hardfacing covering the majority of the outer surface. The hardfacing may have gaps at an area surrounding the ball plug and an area around a fixture dimple. The hardfacing may be multi-layer, with the layers differing in composition. Recesses may be located at... Agent: Bracewell & Giuliani LLP

20070158110 - Rod transfer mechanism synchronizer apparatus and method: A synchronizer device is used for coordinating drill rod transfer mechanisms utilized in connection with transferring the drill rod between a drill rod magazine and the drill string in a horizontal directional drilling rig. The synchronizer device may transfer the movement from a first transfer mechanism to a second transfer... Agent: Merchant & Gould PC

20070158109 - Perforating gun: The present invention provides an apparatus for use in perforating a well having a plurality of explosive charges. Each explosive charge is adapted to generate a perforation tunnel in the formation adjacent to the well. In one embodiment, explosive charges are oriented to create perforation tunnels that converge at a... Agent: Schlumberger Reservoir Completions

20070158111 - Method and apparatus for directional drilling: The present invention is directed at a pullhead/reamer for use in digging a hole in the ground; comprising a first end (22) shaped to receive a mandrel struts, connecting the first end to the second end, the struts defining a set of open flutes (48) therewithin; and a set of... Agent: Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

20070158112 - Rotary fluid-sealing structure using speed-reduction stages: The present invention provides for a rotary fluid-sealing structure for a harsh environment which reduces the PV pressure (×velocity) that a sealing system may be exposed through the use of a rotary speed reducing planetary gear system. The system may have multiple stages with the amount of velocity reduction produced... Agent: Walter A. Hackler, Ph.d. Patent Law Office

20070158113 - Down-the-hole hammer and components for a down-the-hole hammer, and a method of assembling a down-the-hole hammer: A down-the-hole hammer includes a casing and a piston movable in the casing between a lowermost operating position and an uppermost operating position. A recess is provided between the piston and the casing so that the piston and the casing define an intermediate chamber between a top end of the... Agent: Wrb-ip LLP

20070158114 - Seal insert ring for roller cone bits: An earth boring bit has a bit body with a depending bearing pin. An insert ring is mounted on the bearing pin. The insert ring has an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the bearing pin, defining a clearance between the insert ring and the bearing pin to... Agent: James E. Bradley

20070158115 - Methods of manufacturing and repairing rotary drill bits including support elements affixed to the bit body at least partially defining cutter pocket recesses: A rotary drag bit for drilling a subterranean formation includes a plurality of support elements affixed to the bit body, each forming at least a portion of a cutting element pocket. Each of a plurality of cutting elements has a substantially cylindrical body and is at least partially disposed within... Agent: Trask Britt

20070151761 - Automated drill string position survey: A method of surveying drill holes, typically for use in underground mining situations where the holes are bored using a top hammer drill rig (10), utilises a survey tool located adjacent the drill bit (1) which is used to log position readings as the drill string is withdrawn from the... Agent: Miller, Matthias & Hull

20070151762 - Method for determining formation fluid entry into or drilling fluid loss from a borehole using a dynamic annular pressure control system: A method for controlling formation pressure during drilling includes pumping a drilling fluid through a drill string in a borehole, out a drill bit at the end of the drill string into an annular space. The drilling fluid is discharged from the annular space proximate the Earth's surface. At least... Agent: Richard A. Fagin

20070151763 - Drilling system and method: A drilling system for drilling a bore hole into an earth formation, the bore hole having an inside wall. A drill string reaches into the bore hole from a surface, leaving a drilling fluid return passage between the drill string and the bore hole inside wall. A bottom hole assembly... Agent: Shell Oil Company

20070151764 - Tractor with improved valve system: A hydraulically powered tractor includes an elongated body, two gripper assemblies, at least one pair of aft and forward propulsion cylinders and pistons, and a valve system. The valve system comprises an inlet control valve, a two-position propulsion control valve, a two-position gripper control valve, two cycle valves, and two... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20070151765 - Method and apparatus for horizontal drilling and oil recovery: An oil tool forms holes or perforations which extend horizontally away from the borehole and into the formation for recovering additional oil and gas from the formation. The tool provides a downhole tool capable of drilling horizontally into a formation and further capable of operating in a relatively small well... Agent: Robert C. Curfiss

20070151766 - Mechanical and fluid jet horizontal drilling method and apparatus: A device useful for conducting lateral or transverse excavating operations within a wellbore comprising a rotating drill bit with jet nozzles on a flexible arm. The arm can retract within the housing of the device during deployment within the wellbore, and can be extended from within the housing in order... Agent: Gilbreth Roebuck Bynum Derrington Schmidt Walker & Tran LLP

20070151767 - Steering of bent housing mud motor downhole rotation device: A steerable drilling system comprising a drill string carrying a bent housing, the bent housing containing or having associated therewith a drive motor arranged to drive a drive shaft angled to an axis of part of the drill string adjacent the bent housing, and means permitting relative rotation between the... Agent: Schlumberger Oilfield Services

20070151768 - Stabilising band for a roller assembly: The invention relates to a stabilising band for a roller assembly of the type used in the drilling industry. The roller assembly includes a roller pin mounted within a bore of a roller and the stabilising band is configured so as to fit tightly about the roller pin with a... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20070151770 - Drill bits with bearing elements for reducing exposure of cutters: A bearing element for a rotary, earth boring drag bit effectively reduces an exposure of at least one adjacent cutting element by a readily predictable amount, as well as a depth of cut (DOC) of the cutter. The bearing element has a substantially uniform thickness across substantially an entire area... Agent: Trask Britt

20070151769 - Microwave sintering: A carbide composite that includes carbide particles having an average particle size of less than about 100 nanometers and a metallic binder disposed around the carbide particles is disclosed. The carbide composite may also include carbide particles having an average particle size ranging from 3 to 10 microns.... Agent: Osha, Liang LLP / Smith