Patent ID: 8746365
Filing Date: 2014-06-10
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A system configured for electro-hydraulic drilling where shock waves produced during drilling are reflected into a rock body, the system comprising: two electrodes disposed at an electro-hydraulic drill head, the two electrodes being configured to (1) facilitate formation of a spark along a spark path spanning the two electrodes and (2) facilitate a pulse of electricity being passed through the spark to form a primary shock wave emanating from the spark path; and a shock wave reflector disposed at the electro-hydraulic drill head, the shock wave reflector being configured to reflect a portion of the primary shock wave that emanated from the spark path such that the reflected shock wave is concentrated to a focal region within the rock body, the reflected shock wave being converted from a compression wave to a tension wave when the reflected shock wave propagates beyond the focal region.