Injection System And Method

Abstract

An injection system and method is described. In several exemplary embodiments, the injection system and method may be a part of, and/or used with, a system and method for excavating a subterranean formation.

1 . A method of injecting an impactor and fluid slurry into a high pressure drilling fluid stream, the method comprising:
 pressurizing the impactor and fluid slurry in a concrete pump to a set pressure value, wherein the set pressure value is approximately the drilling fluid stream pressure value and wherein the set pressure exceeds ambient pressure;   discharging the pressurized impactor and fluid slurry from the concrete pump to a slurry discharge line;   maintaining the pressure in the slurry discharge line substantially at the set pressure; and   injecting the pressurized impactor and fluid slurry into the slurry discharge line to the high pressure drilling fluid stream to thereby form a drilling fluid stream having impactors.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , the concrete pump having a first and a second cylinder each having an inlet, a first and second piston reciprocatingly disposed in the first and second cylinder respectively, a mixing feed chamber in selective communication with each inlet, the mixing feed chamber at substantially ambient pressure, wherein each inlet is selectively in fluid communication with the slurry discharge line. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the concrete pump further comprises a first transfer tube in selective communication between the first inlet and the first cylinder inlet and the discharge circuit and a second transfer tube in selective communication between the second inlet and the second cylinder inlet and the slurry discharge line, the method further comprising synchronizing the communication between the inlet on the first cylinder and the first transfer tube when the first piston is in a discharge stroke, thereby isolating the slurry discharge line from the mixing feed chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising synchronizing the communication between the inlet on the second cylinder and the second transfer tube when the second piston is in a discharge stroke, thereby isolating the slurry discharge line from the mixing feed chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the concrete pump further comprises a transfer tube having an entrance selectively disposed in communication between the inlet on the first cylinder and the slurry discharge line when the first piston is in a discharge stroke and in communication between the inlet on the second cylinder and the discharge line when the second piston is in a discharge stroke, the transfer tube further having a shroud circumscribing the transfer tube entrance, the shroud blocking each respective inlet from the mixing feed chamber as the transfer tube is disposed into communication with the respective inlet thereby isolating the slurry discharge line from the mixing feed chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising allowing flow in the slurry discharge line in a single direction from the concrete pump discharge to the high pressure drilling fluid stream. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the method of allowing flow in a single direction comprises inserting a one way valve in the slurry discharge line. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising directing the drilling fluid stream having impactors to a drilling string, discharging the drilling fluid stream having impactors from the drilling string, and boring through the earth. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the slurry discharge line pressure is maintained from about 1500 pounds per square inch to about 2500 pounds per square inch. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the slurry discharge pressure line is maintained from about 2500 pounds per square inch to about 6000 pounds per square inch. 
     
     
         11 . A fluid system for subterranean excavating comprising:
 a pressurized drilling fluid line having high pressure drilling fluid therein;   a slurry discharge line having a first end and a second end, the slurry discharge line connected on its first end to the drilling fluid line;   a concrete pump comprising a cylinder having an opening, a piston reciprocatingly disposed in the cylinder, a mixing feed chamber having a fluid and impactor slurry therein, the mixing feed chamber in selective fluid communication with the cylinder through the opening as the piston is reciprocating away from the opening, a transfer tube moveable into selective registration between the cylinder opening and the slurry discharge line second end as the piston is reciprocating towards the opening, and a pressure isolation member sealingly disposed between the mixing feed chamber and the opening as the transfer tube is moving into selective registration with the opening, thereby isolating the slurry discharge line from the mixing feed chamber.   
     
     
         12 . The fluid system of  claim 11 , wherein the concrete pump further comprises a second cylinder having an opening and a second piston reciprocatingly disposed therein, wherein the transfer tube is selectively registerable between the second cylinder opening and the slurry discharge line as the second piston reciprocatingly moves towards the opening. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid system of  claim 11 , wherein the concrete pump further comprises a second cylinder having an opening and a second piston reciprocatingly disposed therein and a second transfer tube, wherein the second transfer tube is selectively registerable between the second cylinder opening and the slurry discharge line as the second piston reciprocatingly moves towards the opening. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid system of  claim 13 , wherein the transfer tube laterally moves in and out of registration with the opening along a first line, and the second transfer tube laterally moves in and out of registration with the second opening along a second line. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid system of  claim 13 , wherein the transfer tube laterally moves in and out of registration with the opening along a first orbital path, and the second transfer tube laterally moves in and out of registration with the second opening along a second orbital path. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid system of  claim 11 , wherein the slurry discharge line is maintained at a set pressure suitable to inject the impactor and fluid slurry into the high pressure drilling fluid stream. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid system of  claim 11 , wherein the slurry discharge line is maintained at a pressure of about 1500 pounds per square inch to about 2500 pounds per square inch. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid system of  claim 11 , wherein the slurry discharge line is maintained at a pressure of about 2500 pounds per square inch to about 6000 pounds per square inch. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid system of  claim 11 , further comprising a seal provided on an end of the transfer tube, the seal comprising, a seal body, a bevel radially extending from the seal body past transfer tube outer periphery, and a resilient member between the seal body and the transfer tube. 
     
     
         20 . The fluid system of  claim 11 , further comprising a seal provided on an end of the transfer tube, the seal comprising, a seal body, and a lubricant injection line communicating through the seal body. 
     
     
         21 . The fluid system of  claim 11 , further comprising a chamfered profile extending coaxially away from a portion of the piston outer periphery and on the end of the piston proximate to the opening. 
     
     
         22 . A method of earth boring comprising:
 pressurizing an impactor and fluid slurry in a concrete pump to a set pressure that exceeds ambient pressure;   discharging the pressurized impactor and fluid slurry from the concrete pump to a discharge circuit;   maintaining the pressure in the discharge circuit at substantially the set pressure;   directing the pressurized impactor and fluid slurry from the discharge circuit to a drill string; and   
       discharging the impactor and fluid slurry from the drill string and boring through the earth. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , the concrete pump having a first and a second cylinder each having an inlet, a first and second piston reciprocatingly disposed in the first and second cylinder respectively, a mixing feed chamber communicatable with each inlet, the mixing feed chamber at substantially ambient pressure, wherein each inlet is selectively in fluid communication with the discharge circuit. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the concrete pump further comprises a first transfer tube in selective communication between the first inlet and the first cylinder inlet and the discharge circuit and a second transfer tube in selective communication between the second inlet and the second cylinder inlet and the discharge circuit, the method further comprising synchronizing the communication between the inlet on the first cylinder and the first transfer tube when the first piston is in a discharge stroke, thereby isolating the discharge circuit from the mixing feed chamber. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising synchronizing the communication between the inlet on the second cylinder and the second transfer tube when the second piston is in a discharge stroke, thereby isolating the discharge circuit from the mixing feed chamber. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the concrete pump further comprises a transfer tube having an entrance selectively disposed in communication between the inlet on the first cylinder and the discharge circuit when the first piston is in a discharge stroke and in communication between the inlet on the second cylinder and the discharge circuit when the second piston is in a discharge stroke, the transfer tube further having a shroud circumscribing the entrance, the shroud blocking each inlet from the mixing feed chamber as the transfer tube is disposed into communication with the inlet thereby isolating the discharge circuit from the mixing feed chamber. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the discharge circuit comprises a line having fluid pressurized by a second pressure source and a slurry line communicating the pressurized impactor and fluid slurry to the line, the method further comprising allowing flow in the slurry line in a single direction from the first pressure source discharge to the line. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the method of allowing flow in a single direction comprises inserting a one way valve in the slurry line.