Patent ID: 6050352
Filing Date: 2000-04-18
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
A method of cleaning a low angle cutting face of a cutting head attached to one end of a self-contained excavation device, the cutting head having a substantially cylindrical shape with a hollow interior, and the low angle cutting face having a leading cutting edge and a beveled surface for directing excavated material toward the hollow interior of the cutting head during penetration of the cutting head into a surrounding formation to form a borehole, said method comprising the steps of:storing drilling fluid within a compartment of the self-contained excavation device;pressurizing the drilling fluid stored within the compartment;transferring the pressurized drilling fluid to an orifice positioned within the cutting head; anddirecting the drilling fluid from the orifice toward the low angle cutting face as the cutting head penetrates the surrounding formation to clear the excavated formation material from the beveled surface of the low angle cutting face.