EP0993540B1 - Device and method for creating ramifications in a bore hole - Google Patents

Description

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a drilling device and a Process for the production of borehole branches in Soft ground.

When laying power cables in the road area large main lines or network lines created from which during the simultaneous construction of House connection lines Branch lines with less Branch the diameter.

State of the art

Digging the streets for laying House connection lines or the creation of Branch pits in the street area lead to busy streets significant traffic congestion and especially in high quality road surfaces to statically disadvantageous Intervention through subsequent settlement phenomena or but by the ingress of moisture in the Transitional area between the original and the repaired Road surface with the risk that frost will break out. In addition, the House connections in the area of water distribution, Natural gas distribution as well as for the laying of power lines or telecommunications lines each independently be carried out, causing damage to the roads how to further increase traffic congestion.

In the field of petroleum drilling technology, the development arose the North Sea and the use of expensive drilling platforms the compulsion drill multiple holes from one of the drilling platforms. This so-called multilateral drilling therefore became fixed Term in the offshore sector. During the first multilateral drilling still neighboring, but each own Using entry holes, techniques emerged using a single entry hole from which from several deflected holes. In the so-called Whipstock technology are those of the Entry hole deflected, lateral, horizontal Deflections used to hydrocarbon deposits to drive horizontally.

The use of the Whipstock technique is being used an orientable, high-precision whipstock and one Drilling system with screw motor and at least two Articulation points or screw motors made of titanium without Joint points and stabilizers carried out in the drill pipe. A solid borehole wall must be in the area of the junction be present, which may need to be cemented and often also by inserting a branch fitting is stabilized.

The methods known in the prior art Borehole branching has so far only been found on a large scale Oil production, oil gas or natural gas production and either in Rock or in the area of pre-concrete branch points. Therefore, the known techniques are not for creating Borehole branches in the area of power lines in the Road area applicable because there is loose rock here.

Presentation of the invention

The invention is therefore based on the object Device and a method for producing Develop borehole branches that are in loose rock are feasible.

The object of the invention is achieved with a drilling device the features of claim 1 and a method for Production of borehole branches with the characteristics of Claim 8 solved.

The invention is based on the idea of being full course-controlled pilot drilling head with an attached Form drill pipe so that it has an opening on the circumference and has a deflecting part inside the pilot drill head. Furthermore, there are outlet openings for one on the pilot drilling head stiffening drilling suspension provided. Inside the The drill pipe of the pilot drill head is an internal drill head in Movable in the longitudinal direction and through the deflection part from the web of the pilot drill head can be deflected. By bringing one out sliding and stiffening drilling suspension from the Outlet openings in the pilot drilling head will be the pilot drilling surrounding loose rock locally solidified to the Stabilize branch point.

Through the use of a fully course-controlled jacking of the pilot drill head, the pilot hole can be the desired one Follow the route of the main supply lines and the Internal boring head after deflection from the path of the Pilot drilling head the holes for the house connection lines create.

Preferred embodiments are defined by the remaining claims characterized.

According to a preferred embodiment, the internal drilling head fully progressive. This has the advantage that at the desired installation path is created for complex route routing can be or when laying house connection lines to buildings that are at a greater distance from the Netzleitungstrasse lie, a precise drilling of the Connection lines is possible.

The opening in the pilot drill head is preferably through a slidable, e.g. rotatable cover element lockable. By providing such a cover element prevents the pilot boring head from advancing Rock enters the opening and is wedged in it or possibly during the subsequent extraction a stiffening drilling suspension from the Drill head nozzles and penetrate into the pilot drill head a strongly solidified structure inside the pilot drill head can form.

According to a preferred embodiment, the deflecting part is in the Pilot boring head and the opening assigned to the deflection part targeted and rotatable in the longitudinal axis of the pilot drill head. This has the advantage that any direction of the branching Bore made relative to the longitudinal axis of the pilot drill head can be.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention there are additional side nozzles on the circumference of the Drill head, the side nozzles can be activated remotely are. This has the advantage that the stiffening Drilling suspension targeted into the surrounding of the pilot hole Loose rock can be mined and the exit of Drilling suspension only takes place when the Pilot drilling head in the area of a planned branch point located. Another advantage is that the Drill head nozzles emerging at the front end of the drill head Liquid can be specifically selected so that the surrounding structure is loosened and therefore a quick one Propulsion of the pilot drill head is permitted while the stiffening drilling suspension only with regard to the desired consolidation of loose rock is selected and only if necessary from the side nozzles on the circumference of the Drill head emerges.

The deflecting part preferably has an inclined surface with a trough-shaped design. Providing one Inclined surface, which is also in the form of a ramp can be curved, allows the convenient distraction of the Inner drill head as well as inner drill pipe from the path of the existing pilot drill head. The additional provision of Rinnen offers the internal drilling head, as well as the Inner drill pipe after a branch of the Internal drilling head, a lateral guide.

According to a preferred embodiment, the inner drill head several articulation points that have a narrow drilling radius enable.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention The internal boring head can process up to one Advance the target area and a secondary line on the boom of the Attach the internal drill head, whereupon the rods into the Withdrawn near the pilot hole. This Process step is advantageous in that not only the necessary to create connecting lines Holes are created, but the withdrawal of the Linkage of the internal drilling head used at the same time will pull in the desired secondary line.

Preferably, the method additionally comprises the step of Pulling a main line into the pilot hole and the Manufacture of pipe branches through the sections Drilling out the main line and connecting the secondary line with the main line. These additional process steps allow the complete laying of both the main line in the Netzleitungstrasse as well as the branch Service lines. By the main line in each Area of the secondary lines arranged near the main line is drilled out, the main line and the in Area of a borehole combine suitable measures.

The secondary line is preferably connected to the Main pipe by fitting a pipe socket over the Branch line and the tight fitting of the pipe branch on the secondary line and on the main line.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method, a Pipe robot used to manufacture the pipe branches. This pipe robot can position the branch lines (physically) capture the main line in the area of Drill out branch lines section by section and the Branch lines in a suitable manner with the Connect main lines, the one mentioned above Slip on pipe sockets over the branch lines to Use can come. If the preferred method of Sliding a pipe socket over a branch line to Applies, there is a possibility that the Pipe socket as well as the secondary and main line through a local heating are welded together and finally those parts of the pipe socket that are in the Protrude main line, removed from the pipe robot, e.g. be milled off.

According to a preferred embodiment, a drawn part is made Metal at the front end of the feed direction Branch lines attached and the position of the branch lines by locating the drawn part using a metal detector detected. This is a very simple way on the one hand using the branch lines to facilitate a drawn part made of metal and that in Drawn part arranged in close proximity to the main line then use the exact position of the Detect secondary lines to enable automated connection to enable the secondary line with the main line.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

eine schematische Ansicht eines möglichen Verlaufs der Pilotbohrung sowie von drei beispielhaften Abzweigbohrungen ist;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Ansicht eines Bohrkopfes in teilweisem Aufbruch mit einem abzweigenden Innenbohrkopf darstellt;

Fig. 3

eine schematische Ansicht eines Rohrroboters in einer Hauptleitung ist, die das Verbinden von Nebenleitungen mit der Hauptleitung verdeutlicht; und

Fig. 4a bis 4c

die Abfolge des Verbindens einer Hauptleitung mit einer Nebenleitung darstellen.

The invention is described below purely by way of example with reference to the attached figures, in which:

Fig. 1

is a schematic view of a possible course of the pilot hole and three exemplary branch holes;

Fig. 2

is a schematic view of a drill head in partial section with a branching inner drill head;

Fig. 3

is a schematic view of a pipe robot in a main line, which illustrates the connection of secondary lines with the main line; and

4a to 4c

represent the sequence of connecting a main line to a secondary line.

In the following Figures 1 to 4c are the same Components labeled with the same reference numbers.

In Fig. 1 is the possible course of a pilot hole as well of branch holes shown schematically. In a Pilot bore 12 is one described in more detail below Pilot drill head 14, which is designed to be directionally controllable and thus a fully course-controlled Netzleitungstrasse 16 can create. The pilot bore 12 is from the surface through a small inlet opening (not shown) in executed the soil, with a drill carriage device for Application can come in the context of Flowtex technology is known to the specialist circles. Alternatively, the pilot hole 12 of course also created from a starting pit become. During the advance of the drill head 14 along the planned Netzleitungstrasse 16 can be the exact one Position of the pilot drill head 14 using a Locating device can be detected from the surface. The The position of the drill head can also be changed from the drill head Drill rods are transferred to the drilling rig. In the field of Laying power lines in the street area must at the same time house connection lines are created by the opening of branch holes 18 from the Netzleitungstrasse 16 can be created. such House connection lines can include water pipes, power lines or be natural gas distribution lines, priority however, they are telecommunication lines.

The branch bores 18 lead to the desired customers 20 or other distribution devices that are dependent on the course of the Netzleitungstrasse 16 are removed and thus by the Branch holes 18 reached from the pilot hole 12 become. Since it is in the laying of power lines in Road area usually around an area with loose rock 22 is involved in the production of the borehole branches 24 local solidification areas 26 formed to the Solidify soil structure in the area of the junction.

As in particular from the course of the branch bore 18a can be seen, the branch holes below Use a fully flow-controlled drilling process executed so that on the one hand special needs regarding the course of the branch holes are taken into account can and on the other hand in the context of locating a Internal drilling head a possibly required Direction correction can be made and the Inner drilling head can be fed precisely to the customer 20.

The pilot bore 12 preferably ends in a target pit, from which after the completion of the pilot drilling and the creation the branch bores 18 a main line (not shown) while retracting the pilot drill head into the Pilot hole 12 is drawn. In the same way, after branch holes 18 each pickup 20th have reached, also during the "reverse gear" of the Linkage of the internal drilling head secondary lines (not shown) in the branch holes 18 to immediate Proximity to the pilot bore 12 are drawn. How later is explained in detail, can be in the context of a concluding sequence of operations Secondary lines with the main line also pulled in connect tightly.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a pilot drill head with a branching internal drilling head. The pilot boring head 14 allows the creation of fully course-controlled holes and has for this purpose a control surface 28, which by a Rotation of the pilot drill head 14 about its longitudinal axis 54 a Deflection of the pilot drill head 14 allowed, being narrow Allow curve radii to be achieved. On the headboard 30 of the Pilot drill head 14 are located to the front and / or also to the front rear-facing drill head nozzles 32, from which one or more Cutting jets 34 emerge under high pressure in order to to loosen surrounding rock and to advance the drill head enable.

In addition, there are outlet openings 36 for one on the drill head 14 stiffening drilling suspension provided. The Outlet openings 36 are located on the lateral surface of the essential cylindrical pilot drill head and are preferably designed as nozzles to inject stiffening drilling suspensions in the pilot hole 12 surrounding area 26 (see Fig. 1). The Outlet openings or outlet nozzles 36 can be remotely controlled, i.e. activated by the operating personnel are, so that the stiffening drilling suspension only in immediate area of the branches from the Pilot boring head 14 is promoted. The opening and closing of the Outlet openings can be controlled, for example, by remote control actuatable solenoid valves take place; alternatively, the Opening folder also through a jerky pulse Drilling suspension to be transmitted.

In the pilot drill head 14, which is connected to the Drill pipe 40 of the pilot drill head is connected there is an opening 42 from which an internal drilling head 44 emerges can. The inner drill head 44 and the associated drill pipe have a smaller outer diameter than that Inner diameter of the pilot drill head 14 as well Inner diameter of the drill string 40 so that the Inner drill head 44 and the drill pipe 46 attached to it the inner drill head through the drill pipe 40 and the Pilot drill head 14 can pass through. The internal drill head 44 has hinge points 48, so that this in the area of later described deflection in a narrow radius of the curve from the Can branch off the longitudinal axis of the pilot drill head 14.

Below the opening 42 there is a deflecting part 50 which has an inclined surface 52, which is either in FIG. 2 represented view can represent a straight line, i.e. the Inclination of the inclined surface 52 to the longitudinal axis 54 of the Pilot drill head 14 is constant, or even one can have a curved course. By providing one groove-like inclination of the inclined surface 52 of the deflection part 50 inside (not shown), can also be a side Management of the inner drill head 44 and the drill string 46 of the Internal drilling head can be reached. The opening 42 as well are arranged below the opening baffle 50 preferably rotatable about the longitudinal axis 54 of the pilot drill head, so that any branch direction in the full 360 degree range around the longitudinal axis 54 of the pilot drill head can be achieved.

Preferably, the opening 42 is through a suitable one Cover element, such as a window, closed, whereby the window can be moved into Longitudinal direction of the drill head, or by turning it around the longitudinal axis 54 of the pilot drill head in an open position can be moved so that the inner drill head 44 from the Pilot drill head 14 can emerge. The window serves the Penetration of rock during the advance of the Pilot drill head 14, but also the penetration of the stiffening acting drilling suspension into the interior of the pilot drill head prevent.

The inner drill head 44 is also suitable for a full create course-controlled branch hole and has a Control surface 56 and drill head nozzles 58 at the head of the Inner drilling head through which the cutting jets 60 emerge can.

The following are the steps in the manufacture of Borehole branches in loose rock are explained.

After the pilot hole has been fully driven by the course will be in the area of a planned branch Feed of the pilot drill head stopped and the Hole section of the pilot hole solidified. this happens either by pumping out a stiffening one Drilling suspension from the drill head nozzles, or through that Conveying the stiffening drilling suspension out of the additional switchable side nozzles in the drill head area. For example, stiffening agents can be: not swellable clays, binders based on cement or lime, ground oil shale, waxes, resins or chemical Injectables with a strengthening or adhesive effect.

The opening 42 is subsequently exposed in the pilot boring head, by placing one possibly above the opening Exit window is moved to an open position. The Opening 42 as well as the deflector 50 are in the desired direction arranged by this around the longitudinal axis 54 of the pilot drill head can be rotated.

Then an internal drilling head 44 is connected Inner drill pipe 46 into the existing pilot drill pipe 40 drove in and the inner drill head to the deflecting part 50 advanced. Through the targeted steering of the internal drilling head 44 against the inclined surface 52 of the deflecting part 50 Inner drill head 44 deflected and braced against Borehole wall directed. Then the directed Drilling the inner drill head 44 into the solidified one Borehole wall. After penetrating the solidified Loose rock is the further feed of the Inner drilling head in loose rock, which the branch hole 18th surrounds.

If the pilot drill head has the planned branch line, i.e. the Branch bore 18 covered up to the house connection point 20 has at the target point thus reached Product pipelines, preferably made of polyethylene or Polypropylene, coupled to the internal drill head and then the inner drill pipe 46 with the attached Product tube withdrawn up to main drill string 40. The Attachment of the product pipe to the internal drilling head can be done by the Provide suitable drawn parts happen that on the in Feed direction are attached to the front end of the product tube and coupling the product pipe to the internal drilling head allow. If the drawn part of the product pipe, i.e. the branch line to be pulled in, in close proximity to the Pilot hole 12 has reached, the product tube is released and the inner drill head again from the drill pipe 40 of the Pilot drill head withdrawn so that this up to the can advance to the next planned branch point. The inner drill head is then inserted into the drill pipe of the Pilot drill head withdrawn, the pilot drill head to the next Branch point opened and the propulsion there again stopped. The above are then repeated Work steps up to another product tube with the drawing head been drawn in close proximity to pilot hole 12 is.

If everyone planned in the area of a main route Branches are made and a product pipe is inserted into each one has been drawn in, the pilot boring head 14 is up to its Target point, i.e. to a target pit, proceed and on Pilot drill head 14 or drill pipe 40 of Pilot drilling device also a product pipeline retracted while the drill string 40 the Pilot drilling device towards the starting point of the Pilot hole is withdrawn.

If the main and secondary lines each in the pilot hole and branch holes are drawn in, the Main lines and secondary lines connected to each other become. This can, as shown in Fig. 3, by the Using a pipe robot performed in the main line become.

In Fig. 3, the drawn main line 62 and the Branch lines 64 each shown, with the Main line 62 facing end of the secondary lines 64 each there is a pulling part 66 made of metal. Inside the Main pipe 62 is a pipe robot 68 that with an inspection head 70, which is the detection allowed by metal and thus specify the exact position can, on which the respective pulling part 66 adjoins the Main line 62 is located. In an independent Method step or connected to the pipe robot 68 there is a milling robot 72, which has a milling head 74 is provided and in the area of the drawn parts 66 the main line made of polyethylene or polypropylene with an opening, which represents the future integration point.

Then, as in the sequence of FIGS. 4a to 4c is shown, the metal drawing part 66 with the attached connected secondary line 64 drawn into the main line 62 and then a flexible connector 76 Polyethylene or polypropylene via branch line 64 imposed. The connector 76 is preferably with provided inside heating wire coils, which are also under Use of a suitable pipe robot, for example one Handling robot that can be heated by applying power, so that the main line is welded to the secondary line.

There is also the option of replacing the Extruding plastic compound of shape, that when cooling / curing a completely connecting, gap-free transition piece is created.

Subsequently, as shown in Fig. 4c, the Main protruding part, which from secondary line 64, Connector 76 and pulling part 66 is separated and the metallic components by means of a magnet or a collector device collected. In conclusion, that will Main pipe thoroughly cleaned inside.

The advantage of the device according to the invention and the Method for producing borehole branches in that on the one hand the pilot drill head and the Inner drilling head each producing fully flow-controlled Allow drilling and also the process in the range of Loose rock is possible by this in the area of planned consolidation points is specifically consolidated. Finally, the procedure allows main and branch lines and connecting the main and Branch lines with each other, so that a completely trenchless Laying of power lines in the street area at simultaneous construction of house connection lines by driving up from branch holes from the Netzleitungstrasse is possible.

Claims (14)

1. Drilling device for producing branches of boreholes in unconsolidated material comprising:

   a fully course-controlled pilot boring head (14) with a drill string (40) attached thereto, wherein
   the pilot boring head (14) has an opening (42) on its circumference, a diverting part (50) on the inside of the pilot boring head (14) and exit openings (34, 36) for a drill suspension with reinforcing action and an inner boring head (44), which is movable in the longitudinal direction of the pilot boring head (14) and can be diverted by the diverting part (50) and through the opening (42) out of the path (54) of the pilot boring head (14).
2. Drilling device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the inner boring head (44) is fully course-controlled.
3. Drilling device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the opening (42) in the pilot boring head (14) can be closed by a displaceable covering element.
4. Drilling device according to one or more of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the diverting part (50) and the opening (42) assigned to the diverting part are specifically rotatable about the longitudinal axis (54) of the pilot boring head (14).
5. Drilling device according to one or more of Claims 1 to 4, further comprising:

   additional side nozzles (36) on the circumference of the pilot boring head (14), wherein

   the side nozzles (36) can be activated by remote control.
6. Drilling device according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the diverting part (50) has an oblique face (52) with a groove-shaped configuration.
7. Drilling device according to one of Claims 2 to 6, characterised in that the pilot boring head (14) and the inner boring head (44) have in each case an obliquely running control face (28, 56) and boring head nozzles (30, 58) for drill suspension under high pressure.
8. Method of producing borehole branches in unconsolidated material comprising the steps:

   (a) constructing a pilot bore by the fully coursecontrolled propulsion of a drill string with pilot boring head into the region of a branch of a borehole to be produced;

   (b) bringing drill suspension with reinforcing action out of the pilot boring head;

   (c) moving forward an inner boring head on the inside of the drill string of the pilot boring head;

   (d) moving the inner boring head on to a diverting part in the pilot boring head; and

   (e) constructing a branching-off bore by moving forward the inner boring head through an opening in the pilot boring head.
9. Method according to Claim 8, further comprising before step (d):

   aligning the diverting part into the desired direction of the bore to be branched off relative to the longitudinal axis of the pilot boring head.
10. Method according to Claim 8 and/or 9, further comprising the steps:

    (f) moving forward the inner boring head up to a target region and attaching a subsidiary line to the rod of the inner boring head or the boring head; and

    (g) pulling back the rod of the inner boring head and pulling in the subsidiary line until it is close to the pilot bore.
11. Method according to Claim 10, additionally comprising the step:

    (h) pulling a main line into the pilot bore; and

    (i) producing pipe branches by opening the main line section by section and connecting the subsidiary line to the main line.
12. Method according to Claim 11, characterised in that connecting the subsidiary line to the main line is carried out by overlapping or on-site extruding of a pipe socket over the subsidiary line and close attaching of the pipe socket to the subsidiary line and to the main line.
13. Method according to one or more of Claims 11 to 13, comprising the step:

    introducing a pipe robot for producing the pipe branches.
14. Method according to one or more of Claims 10 to 13, further comprising:

    attaching a pulling part made of metal to the front end, in the pulling-in direction, of the subsidiary line and detecting the position of the subsidiary line by locating the pulling part by means of a metal detector.

Images