Patent ID: 7416032
Filing Date: 2008-08-26
Classification: B02C,B23H,E21B,E21C,H01B

Abstract:
1. A pulsed power drilling apparatus for passing a pulsed electrical current through a substrate, the apparatus comprising: a drill bit; at least one set of at least two electrodes disposed on said drill bit defining therebetween at least one electrode gap, said electrodes of each said set oriented substantially along a face of said drill bit to pass current through the substrate; a high-voltage pulsed power generator linked to said drill bit, delivering a pulsed current between said electrodes and through the substrate; an electrical power source powering said pulsed power generator; an electrical conduction conduit sending high-voltage pulses from said high-voltage pulse generator to said drill bit; and an insulating drilling fluid having a dielectric strength of at least 300 kV/cm (1 μsec).