Robert H Potter

US Patent:

8235140, Aug 7, 2012

Filed:

Oct 8, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/575852

Inventors:

Thomas W. Wideman - Milton MA, US
Jared M. Potter - Redwood City CA, US
Donald Dreesen - Los Alamos NM, US
Robert M. Potter - Rio Rancho NM, US

Assignee:

Potter Drilling, Inc. - Redwood City CA

International Classification:

E21B 7/00

US Classification:

175 11, 175 15

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus for spalling a material, for example to thermally drill a wellhole, are provided. Such methods may include directing a fluid having a temperature greater than about 500 C. above the ambient temperature of the material and less than about the temperature of the brittle-ductile transition temperature of the material to a target location on the surface of the material, wherein the fluid produces a heat flux of about 0. 1 to about 50 MW/mat an interface between the fluid and the target location, and thereby creating spalls of the material.

US Patent:

20080093125, Apr 24, 2008

Filed:

Mar 26, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/691445

Inventors:

Jared Potter - San Carlos CA, US
Robert Potter - Rio Rancho NM, US
James Basler - Redwood City CA, US
Thomas Wideman - Milton MA, US

Assignee:

Potter Drilling, LLC - Redwood City CA

International Classification:

E21B 7/18

US Classification:

175067000, 175091000

Abstract:

System and methods for creating shaped, non-circular boreholes in rocks especially for use with geothermal heat pump applications and for increasing wellbore support in applications such as horizontal oil and gas drilling are described. The systems and methods when applied to geothermal heat pumps create an elliptical shaped hole that is optimized for placing heat transfer tubes with a minimum of grout used. The significantly reduced cross-sectional area of the elliptical borehole also increases the overall drilling rate in rock and especially in hard rocks. In horizontal hard-rock drilling, creation of a horizontal non-circular borehole or modification of a circular borehole to a non-circular geometry is used to stabilize the borehole prior to casing insertion, and may also allow the use of lower mud pressures improving drilling rates. The system uses a non-contacting drilling system which in one embodiment uses a supersonic flame jet drilling system with a movable nozzle that swings between pivot points. In a second embodiment the elliptical shaped hole is created by an abrasive fluid or particle bearing-fluid or air jet drill that moves between pivot points. In another embodiment a non-contacting drill can use dual parallel nutating nozzles that create a pair of overlapping circular holes. The non-circular shaped hole is created by either the high temperature flame or water-particle jet or chemically active fluid jet as it removes rock material by erosion, dissolution and or thermal spalling. Modifications of circular boreholes to a generally elliptical shape can also be done using milling or jetting techniques.

US Patent:

20100032207, Feb 11, 2010

Filed:

Jul 6, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/498021

Inventors:

Jared Michael Potter - San Carlos CA, US
Robert Marshall Potter - Rio Rancho NM, US
James Robert Basler - Redwood City CA, US
Thomas Waller Wideman - Milton MA, US

International Classification:

E21B 7/00
E21B 7/28
E21B 7/18
E21B 7/14
E21B 7/04
E21B 47/00

US Classification:

175 11, 175 57, 175 67, 175 64, 175 62, 175 50

Abstract:

System and methods for creating shaped, non-circular boreholes in rocks especially for use with geothermal heat pump applications and for increasing wellbore support in applications such as horizontal oil and gas drilling are described. The systems and methods when applied to geothermal heat pumps create an elliptical shaped hole that is optimized for placing heat transfer tubes with a minimum of grout used. The significantly reduced cross-sectional area of the elliptical borehole also increases the overall drilling rate in rock and especially in hard rocks. In horizontal hard-rock drilling, creation of a horizontal non-circular borehole or modification of a circular borehole to a non-circular geometry is used to stabilize the borehole prior to casing insertion, and may also allow the use of lower mud pressures improving drilling rates. The system uses a non-contacting drilling system which in one embodiment uses a supersonic flame jet drilling system with a movable nozzle that swings between pivot points. In a second embodiment the elliptical shaped hole is created by an abrasive fluid or particle bearing-fluid or air jet drill that moves between pivot points. In another embodiment a non-contacting drill can use dual parallel nutating nozzles that create a pair of overlapping circular holes. The non-circular shaped hole is created by either the high temperature flame or water-particle jet or chemically active fluid jet as it removes rock material by erosion, dissolution and or thermal spalling. Modifications of circular boreholes to a generally elliptical shape can also be done using milling or jetting techniques.

US Patent:

20100089574, Apr 15, 2010

Filed:

Oct 8, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/575857

Inventors:

Thomas W. Wideman - Milton MA, US
Jared M. Potter - Redwood City CA, US
Donald S. Dreesen - Los Alamos NM, US
Robert M. Potter - Rio Rancho NM, US

Assignee:

Potter Drilling, Inc. - Redwood City CA

International Classification:

E21B 43/24
E21B 43/00
E21B 43/267
E21B 43/26

US Classification:

1662721, 166313, 1662802, 1663081

Abstract:

Methods for enhancing existing wells, such as increasing the diameter of an existing well by hydrothermal spallation are provided. Such methods may include providing a housing comprising a reaction chamber and a catalyst element held within the reaction chamber, providing at least one jet nozzle, contacting one or more unreacted fluids or solids with the catalyst element, wherein the unreacted fluid or solid is adapted to react with the catalyst element, thus generating a reacted fluid, and emitting the reacted fluid through the at least one nozzle, wherein the at least one nozzle may be directed to a production zone of an internal wall of the existing well.

US Patent:

20100089576, Apr 15, 2010

Filed:

Oct 8, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/575839

Inventors:

THOMAS W. WIDEMAN - MILTON MA, US
JARED M. POTTER - REDWOOD CITY CA, US
DONALD S. DREESEN - LOS ALAMOS NM, US
ROBERT M. POTTER - RIO RANCHO NM, US

Assignee:

Potter Drilling, Inc. - Redwood City CA

International Classification:

E21B 43/241
E21B 7/14

US Classification:

1662726, 175 15

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus for spalling a geological formation, for example to thermally drill a wellhole, are provided. Such methods may include providing a housing comprising a reaction chamber and a catalyst element held within the reaction chamber, providing at least one jet nozzle, contacting one or more unreacted fluids or solids with the catalyst element, wherein the unreacted fluid or solid is adapted to react over the catalyst element, thus generating a reacted fluid, and emitting the reacted fluid through the at least one nozzle, wherein the at least one nozzle is directed to an excavation site within or on the geological rock formation, thereby creating spalls and/or a reacted rock region.

US Patent:

20100218993, Sep 2, 2010

Filed:

Oct 8, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/575823

Inventors:

Thomas W. Wideman - Milton MA, US
Jared M. Potter - Redwood City CA, US
Donald S. Dreesen - Los Alamos NM, US
Robert M. Potter - Rio Rancho NM, US
Jason Unzelman-Langsdorf - Redwood City CA, US

International Classification:

E21B 7/00

US Classification:

175 17

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus for excavation of a borehole in a geological formation are provided. Such methods may include providing a thermal system capable of providing substantially hot fluid, and comprising at least one jet nozzle, providing a mechanical drilling system comprising a drill bit, directing the substantially hot fluid through the jet nozzle towards the geological formation causing an altered portion of geological formation to form, and removing the altered portion using the drill bit, thereby creating cuttings and producing a borehole in the geological formation.