System and method for installing production casings

摘要

A system and method for emplacing a relatively large casing under and spanning an obstacle such as a river is disclosed. The casing is emplaced along the arcuate path of a previously bored and placed existing pilot string running beneath the obstacle between positions near ground level on opposite sides of the obstacle. A seal is provided between the outer surface of the leading portion of the casing and the reamed pilot hole so that the drilling mud containing the entrained cuttings flows into the leading end of the advancing casing. In one preferred embodiment a washover pipe circumscribing the pilot string serves the dual function of rotating a case-leading reamer and driving a positive displacement pump-typically of the moineau variety-to evacuate drilling fluid and entrained cuttings. This evacuation can occur through the drill string. The production casing in this embodiment can be used to communicate a high lubricity fluid to the advancing and non-rotating production casing to ease the pressure required to crowd the production casing in the path of the reamer. Drilling mud flowing into the leading end of the casing is impelled, typically by an auger, toward the trailing end of the casing to remove the drilling mud from the reamed pilot hole and prevent the cuttings from settling in an annulus circumscribing the casing.