Methods and apparatus for bitless drilling

Abstract

Apparatus and methods of drilling using a bitless drilling assembly can include a propellant chamber configured to store a liquid propellant for drilling. The bitless drilling assembly can include a burner nozzle connected to the propellant chamber via one or more passages to route the liquid propellant from the propellant chamber to the burner nozzle. The bitless drilling assembly can include an ignitor configured to ignite the liquid propellant as the liquid propellant escapes the burner nozzle. The bitless drilling assembly can include a diverter cage placed in a path of the inside passage to divert one or more propellant capsules from the inside passage to a capsule blade. The capsule blade can be configured to puncture the one or more propellant capsules to allow the propellant to flow into a reservoir and route the propellant to the propellant chamber. The bitless drilling assembly can be controlled automatically during drilling.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for drilling comprising:
 a drilling assembly comprising a burner nozzle proximal a first end of the drilling assembly and an ignitor configured to ignite a liquid fuel as the liquid fuel escapes the burner nozzle, wherein the drilling assembly is located within a tubular, and wherein the tubular comprises a first fluid pathway for the liquid fuel that opens at the first end of the drilling assembly proximal the ignitor, and a second fluid pathway for a drilling fluid that opens at the first end of the drilling assembly, wherein the first and second pathways are separate and the second fluid pathway surrounds the first pathway, and wherein the burner nozzle comprises one or more ports oriented to provide thrust, thereby causing rotation of the drilling assembly during drilling.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular defines one or more passageways to direct the liquid fuel toward the burner nozzle. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular defines one or more passageways with a smaller opening size proximal the burner nozzle, thereby increasing a pressure of the liquid fuel at the burner nozzle. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular defines one or more passageways that have an end proximal the burner nozzle. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid passageway from the first fluid pathway to each of the one or more ports, wherein at least one of the fluid passageways is adapted to receive more of the liquid fuel than another of the fluid passageways. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one of the fluid passageways is greater in size than the another of the fluid passageways. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a control system for monitoring an orientation of the drilling assembly and controlling delivery of liquid fuel to the one or more ports. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid fuel comprises at least one of hydrazine, monomethylhydrazine, unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine, dinitrogen tetroxide. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for drilling comprising:
 a propellant chamber configured to store a liquid fuel for drilling;   a burner nozzle connected to the propellant chamber via one or more passages to route the liquid fuel from the propellant chamber to the burner nozzle;   an ignitor configured to ignite the liquid fuel as the liquid fuel escapes the burner nozzle; and   a bitless drilling tool having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to a propellant feed hose extending through a drillstring.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the burner nozzle comprises one or more ports oriented to provide thrust, thereby causing rotation of the burner nozzle during drilling. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a fluid passageway to each of the one or more ports, wherein at least one of the fluid passageways is adapted to receive more of the liquid fuel than another of the fluid passageways. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a control system for monitoring an orientation of the burner nozzle and controlling delivery of liquid fuel to the one or more ports. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the burner nozzle is encased in a large internal diameter drill pipe to create a path for a drilling fluid that bypasses the burner nozzle and feeds fluid down an inside passage and up an outside passage of the large internal diameter drill pipe. 
     
     
         14 . A system for bitless drilling, the system comprising:
 a fuel chamber adapted to store a liquid fuel for drilling;   means for providing the liquid fuel to the fuel chamber;   a burner nozzle in fluid communication with the fuel chamber; and   an igniter proximal one end of the burner nozzle, wherein the igniter is adapted to ignite the fuel as it leaves the burner nozzle.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the means for providing fuel to the fuel chamber comprises a tube coupled at one end to the fuel chamber or a fluid pathway coupled to the fuel chamber, wherein the tube extends through a drill string located in a wellbore to a surface connection. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the means for providing fuel to the fuel chamber comprises a sub having a first end and a second end, with the first end adapted to be connected to an end of a first pipe and the second end adapted to be connected to the end of a second pipe, wherein a first tube is located in the first pipe and a second tube is located within the second pipe, and wherein the first tube and the second tube extend at least partially into the sub, wherein each of the first tube and the second tube are adapted to provide fluid communication with an interior chamber in the sub, and wherein the interior chamber in the sub is sealed against a flow of a drilling fluid thereinto from the first pipe and the second pipe. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the burner nozzle comprises one or more ports oriented to provide thrust, thereby causing rotation of the burner nozzle during drilling. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a fluid passageway to each of the one or more ports, wherein at least one of the fluid passageways is adapted to receive more of the liquid fuel than another of the fluid passageways. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a control system for monitoring an orientation of the burner nozzle and controlling delivery of liquid fuel to the one or more ports. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the liquid fuel comprises at least one of hydrazine, monomethylhydrazine, unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine, dinitrogen tetroxide.