Patent EA-004694-B1 (EA)
Title: Flexible hose with thrusters for horizontal well drilling
IPC: E21B7/18
Filed: 2001-04-04
Abstract: 1. A flexible hose assembly for horizontal well drilling comprising a flexible hose, said flexible hose assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being located rearward of said distal end, said flexible hose having a plurality of holes disposed therein with at least one of said holes being disposed at least 5 feet (1.5 m) from said distal end of said flexible hose assembly, each of said holes adapted to direct a jet of pressurized aqueous liquid in a direction such that a centerline drawn through said jet forms an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of said flexible hose rearward from the location of said hole. 2. A flexible hose assembly for horizontal well drilling comprising a flexible hose, said flexible hose assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being located rearward of said distal end, said flexible hose having a plurality of holes disposed so that at least one of them being located rearward from said distal end of said flexible hose assembly, each of said holes adapted to direct a jet of pressurized aqueous liquid in a direction such that a centerline drawn through said jet forms an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of said flexible hose rearward from the location of said hole. 3. A flexible hose assembly for horizontal well drilling comprising a flexible hose and nozzle blaster, said flexible hose assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being located rearward of said distal end, and the nozzle blaster is connected to the flexible hose at its distal end, said flexible hose having a plurality of holes disposed so that at least one of them being located rearward from said distal end of said flexible hose assembly, each of said holes adapted to direct a jet of pressurized aqueous liquid in a direction such that a centerline drawn through said jet forms an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of said flexible hose rearward from the location of said hole. 4. A flexible hose assembly according to any one of claims 1-3, said flexible hose being 400-2000 feet (from 122 to 610 m) in length. 5. A flexible hose assembly according to any one of claims 1-4, each of said holes being about 0.010-0.017 inches (from 0.25 to 0.43 mm) in diameter. 6. A flexible hose assembly according to any one of claims 1-5, said acute angle formed between said centerline and said longitudinal axis being 20 60 degree . 7. A flexible hose assembly according to any one of claims 1-6, each of said couplings having an outer diameter of about 0.25-1.25 inches (from 0.64 to 3.18 cm). 8. A flexible hose assembly according to any one of claims 1-7, said hose comprising flexible hydraulic hose rated to withstand at least 5,000 psi (352 kg/cm<2>). 9. A flexible hose assembly according to any one of claims 1-8, said flexible hose further comprising a plurality of flexible hose sections and at least one thruster coupling, said thruster coupling being joined to adjacent flexible hose sections, each of said holes being disposed in said coupling about the circumference thereof. 10. A method of horizontal well drilling comprising the following steps: a) providing a flexible hose assembly having a flexible hose and a nozzle blaster, so that the flexible hose having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being located rearward of said distal end, the nozzle blaster is connected to the flexible hose at its distal end, said flexible hose having a plurality of holes disposed so that at least one of them being located rearward from the point where the flexible hose is connected to the nozzle blaster; b) lowering said hose assembly to a desired depth in a vertical well, and redirecting said hose assembly along a direction at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said well; c) forcing at least 2,000 psi (141 kg/cm<2>) aqueous liquid through said hose, said nozzle blaster and said holes in said couplings; and d) drilling a bore substantially horizontally into the earth's strata adjacent said vertical well. 11. A method of horizontal well drilling comprising the following steps: a) providing a flexible hose assembly comprising a flexible hose having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being located rearward of said distal end, said flexible hose having a plurality of holes disposed therein with at least one of said holes being disposed rearward of said distal end of said flexible hose, each of said holes adapted to direct a jet of pressurized aqueous liquid in a direction such that a centerline drawn through said jet forms an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of said flexible hose rearward from the location of said hole; b) lowering said flexible hose assembly to a desired depth in a well, and redirecting said flexible hose assembly along a direction at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said well; c) forcing at least 2,000 psi (141 kg/cm<2>) aqueous liquid through said flexible hose and said holes in said flexible hose; and d) drilling a bore into the earth's strata adjacent said well. 12. A method of horizontal well drilling comprising the following steps: a) providing a flexible hose assembly comprising a flexible hose, said flexible hose assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being located rearward of said distal end, said flexible hose having a plurality of holes being disposed therein with at least one of said holes being disposed at least 5 feet (1.5 m) from said distal end of said flexible hose assembly, each of said holes adapted to direct a jet of pressurized aqueous liquid in a direction such that a centerline drawn through said jet forms an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of said flexible hose rearward from the location of said hole; b) lowering said flexible hose assembly to a desired depth in a well, and redirecting said flexible hose assembly along a direction at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said well; c) forcing at least 2,000 psi (141 kg/cm<2>) aqueous liquid through said flexible hose and said holes in said flexible hose; and d) drilling a bore into the earth's strata adjacent said well.