High speed drilling system and methods of using same

Abstract

A method comprises rotating a drill bit of a drilling system at at least 1000 rpm. The drill system can comprise a drill feed, a drill head comprising a motor and coupled to the drill feed, a drill string, comprising at least one drill rod, operatively coupled to the drill head so that the drill head is configured to axially and rotationally drive the drill string, and the drill bit coupled to the bottom end of the drill string.

1 . A method comprising:
 rotating a drill bit of a drilling system at at least 1000 rpm, the drill system comprising:
 a drill feed; 
 a drill head comprising a motor, wherein the drill head is coupled to the drill feed; 
 a drill string, comprising at least one drill rod, operatively coupled to the drill head so that the drill head is configured to axially and rotationally drive the drill string; and 
 the drill bit coupled to the bottom end of the drill string. 
   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein rotating the drill at at least 1000 rpm comprises rotating the drill bit at at least 4000 rpm. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the drill string comprises an open drill string. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the drilling system comprises a gearbox configured to step up a rate of rotation from an output of the motor. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the gearbox is disposed within the drill string adjacent the drill bit. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the gearbox is in communication between the drill string and the drill bit so that rotation of the drill string at a first rate causes rotation of the drill bit at a second rate that is greater than the first rate. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the gearbox is disposed adjacent the output of the motor. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the gearbox is removably attached between the drill string and the drill head. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising rotating the drill bit at a speed below 1000 rpm after a select depth. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the select depth is 10 meters or less. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the drilling system is positioned underground, and wherein the drill bit is advanced within a formation. 
     
     
         19 . A system comprising:
 a drill feed;   a drill head comprising a motor and coupled to the drill feed;   a drill string having a proximal end, wherein the drill string comprises at least one drill rod operatively coupled to the drill head so that the drill head is configured to axially and rotationally drive the drill string; and   a drill bit coupled to the bottom end of the drill string,   wherein the drill head is configured to rotate the drill bit at at least 1000 rpm.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising a gearbox that is configured to step up a rotation rate between the motor and the proximal end of the drill string. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising a gearbox in communication between the drill string and the drill bit, wherein the gearbox is configured to step up a rotation speed from the motor to the drill bit so that rotation of the drill string at a first rate causes rotation of the drill bit at a second rate that is greater than the first rate. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the gearbox is disposed within the drill string adjacent the drill bit. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the gearbox is disposed within the drill string adjacent the drill bit. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the gearbox is disposed adjacent an output of the motor. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the gearbox is removably attached between the drill string and the drill head. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising a drill string slip sub. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the drill bit comprises a first matrix having a first binder hardness and a second matrix having a second binder hardness. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the first matrix is disposed within a first radius from a longitudinal axis of the bit, and the second matrix is disposed outside the first radius from the longitudinal axis of the drill bit. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one drill rod has a varying wall thickness.