IP Library Granted Patent US 8,261,856
Granted Patent B1
US 8,261,856 · App. 13/524,631 · Granted Sep 11, 2012

Methods and systems for drilling boreholes

Assignee: Flanders Electric, Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,261,856
App. No.
13/524,631
Granted
Sep 11, 2012
Kind
B1
Abstract

A computer-readable medium including program instructions for collaring a borehole. When the program instructions are executed by one or more processors of a computer system operatively associated with a drill rig, the program instructions cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of performing a first phase collaring operation from a surface start to a point at which a drill bit reaches a dynamically determined collaring depth or a maximum collaring depth, and performing a second phase collaring operation to form a hole collar. The second phase collaring operation includes the steps of retracting the drill bit until the drill bit is above the surface, and activating a water injection system during the retracting of the drill bit.

Claims (24)

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, the computer-readable medium including program instructions for collaring a borehole that, when executed by one or more processors of a computer system operatively associated with a drill rig, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

performing a first phase collaring operation from a surface start to a point at which a drill bit reaches a dynamically determined collaring depth or a maximum collaring depth; and

performing a second phase collaring operation to form a hole collar, the second phase collaring operation comprising:

retracting the drill bit until the drill bit is above the surface;

activating a water injection system during the retracting of the drill bit; and deactivating the water injection system when the drill bit is above the surface.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the dynamically determined collaring depth comprises a depth determined when a drill penetration rate falls below a predetermined drill penetration rate.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , further comprising re-lowering the drill bit into the hole collar to the dynamically determined collaring depth or the maximum collaring depth, and confirming that competent ground is present at the bottom of the hole collar.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , further comprising lifting the drill bit above the surface and spinning the drill bit prior to beginning the first phase collaring operation.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, the computer-readable medium including program instructions for collaring a borehole that, when executed by one or more processors of a computer system operatively associated with a drill rig, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

performing a first phase collaring operation from a surface start to a point at which a drill bit reaches a dynamically determined collaring depth or a maximum collaring depth; and

performing a second phase collaring operation to form a hole collar, the second phase collaring operation comprising:

retracting the drill bit until the drill bit is above the surface;

activating a water injection system during the retracting of the drill bit;

deactivating the water injection system when the drill bit is above the surface;

activating an air injection system when the drill bit is above the surface;

deactivating the air injection system before re-lowering the drill bit into the hole collar; and

re-lowering the drill bit into the hole collar to the dynamically determined collaring depth or the maximum collaring depth, and confirming that competent ground is present at the bottom of the hole collar.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 5 , wherein the dynamically determined collaring depth comprises a depth determined when a drill penetration rate falls below a predetermined drill penetration rate.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, the computer-readable medium including program instructions for collaring a borehole that, when executed by one or more processors of a computer system operatively associated with a drill rig, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

performing a first phase collaring operation from a surface start to a point at which a drill bit reaches a dynamically determined collaring depth or a maximum collaring depth; and

performing a second phase collaring operation to form a hole collar, the second phase collaring operation comprising:

retracting the drill bit until the drill bit is above the surface;

activating a water injection system during the retracting of the drill bit; and

activating an air injection system when the drill bit is above the surface.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2025
From: REGIONS BANK
To: FLANDERS ELECTRIC MOTOR SERVICE, LLC
Reel/Frame 072695/0356 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2025
From: REGIONS BANK
To: FLANDERS ELECTRIC MOTOR SERVICE, LLC
Reel/Frame 072701/0276 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2025
From: FLANDERS ELECTRIC MOTOR SERVICE, LLC
To: GREAT ROCK CAPITAL PARTNERS MANAGEMENT, LLC
Reel/Frame 072073/0724 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 15, 2024
From: FLANDERS ELECTRIC MOTOR SERVICE, LLC
To: REGIONS BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 066469/0198 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2021
From: FLANDERS ELECTRIC MOTOR SERVICE, INC.
To: FLANDERS ELECTRIC MOTOR SERVICE, LLC
Reel/Frame 056077/0307 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 8, 2021
From: FLANDERS ELECTRIC MOTOR SERVICE, LLC
To: REGIONS BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 055520/0136 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 17, 2021
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: FLANDERS ELECTRIC MOTOR SERVICE, INC.
Reel/Frame 055301/0290 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 22, 2014
From: FLANDERS ELECTRIC MOTOR SERVICE, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 034572/0346 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2013
From: FLANDERS ELECTRIC, LTD.
To: FLANDERS ELECTRIC MOTOR SERVICE, INC.
Reel/Frame 029676/0258 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 18, 2012
From: STACY, EDWARD CURTIS, II; GARCIA, ANTONIO
To: FLANDERS ELECTRIC, LTD.
Reel/Frame 028394/0540 →
Continuity (2)
Division 12940577 · Nov 5, 2010
Continuation In Part 12616399 · Nov 11, 2009