Electro-hydraulic drilling with shock wave reflection

摘要

Shock waves produced during electro-hydraulic drilling can be reflected into a rock body where the reflected shock waves are converted from compression waves to tension waves, which are more efficient at breaking down the rock body. A system configured for electro-hydraulic drilling where shock waves produced during drilling are reflected into the rock body includes two electrodes and a shock wave reflector disposed at an electro-hydraulic drill head. The two electrodes are configured to (1) facilitate formation of a spark along a spark path spanning the two electrodes and (2) facilitate a pulse of electricity being passed through the spark to form a primary shock wave emanating from the spark path. The shock wave reflector is configured to reflect a portion of the primary shock wave such that the reflected shock wave is concentrated to a focal region within the rock body.

主权项

1. A system configured for electro-hydraulic drilling where shock waves produced during drilling are reflected into a rock body, the system comprising:
two electrodes disposed at an electro-hydraulic drill head, the two electrodes being configured to (1) facilitate formation of a spark along a spark path spanning the two electrodes and (2) facilitate a pulse of electricity being passed through the spark to form a primary shock wave emanating from the spark path; and a shock wave reflector disposed at the electro-hydraulic drill head, the shock wave reflector being configured to reflect a portion of the primary shock wave that emanated from the spark path such that the reflected shock wave is concentrated to a focal region within the rock body, the reflected shock wave being converted from a compression wave to a tension wave when the reflected shock wave propagates beyond the focal region.