Granted Patent B2

US 12,709,945 · App. 19/048,433 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Inventors: Thomas Lipoma (Hopkinton, NH); Thomas Michael Ikuss, III (Nashua, NH)

Assignee: Dig Energy, Inc.

E21B7/18E21B23/042E21B2200/06

Abstract

Claims (37)

1 . A system for drilling a borehole, the system comprising:

an inner cylinder extending along a first axis;

an outer cylinder circumscribing the inner cylinder and extending along the first axis, wherein

the outer cylinder is concentrically spaced from the inner cylinder defining an annular space therebetween;

a piston having,

a piston shaft extending along the first axis between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder; and

a piston head coupled to the piston shaft, wherein the piston is configured to translate within the annular space;

a driver coupling coupled to the piston shaft;

a driver assembly having a motor, the driver assembly releasably coupled to the driver coupling;

a drill string coupled to the driver assembly, the drill string extending along the first axis and within the inner cylinder, piston, and outer cylinder;

a fluid source in fluid communication with the annular space and the piston head; and

a frame fixed to the outer cylinder, wherein the frame comprises: at least one member extending along the first axis; and a sliding carriage coupled to the at least one member, the sliding carriage configured to translate along the first axis.

2 . The system for drilling a borehole of claim 1 , wherein the drill string is coupled to the sliding carriage.

3 . The system for drilling a borehole of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure feed port and a pressure release valve in fluid communication with the annular space.

4 . The system for drilling a borehole of claim 3 , wherein the pressure feed port extends through the outer cylinder.

5 . The system for drilling a borehole of claim 3 , wherein the pressure release valve extends through the outer cylinder.

6 . The system for drilling a borehole of claim 3 , wherein the pressure feed port is coupled to a fluid source, the fluid source configured to provide fluid to the annular space.

7 . The system for drilling a borehole of claim 6 , wherein the fluid is water.

8 . The system for drilling a borehole of claim 6 , wherein the fluid is air.

9 . The system for drilling a borehole of claim 1 , further comprising a mounting flange circumscribing the outer cylinder, the mounting flange configured to seal the borehole.

10 . The system for drilling a borehole of claim 1 , wherein the driver assembly is threadably coupled to the drill string.

11 . The system for drilling a borehole of claim 1 , wherein the drill string is configured to translate along the first axis and rotate within the inner cylinder.

12 . A method for drilling a borehole, the method comprising:

installing an annular piston pile driver within a borehole having a first depth, wherein the annular piston pile driver comprises:

an inner cylinder;

an outer cylinder circumscribing the inner cylinder forming an annular space therebetween;

a frame fixed to the outer cylinder, wherein the frame comprises: at least one member extending along a first axis; and a sliding carriage coupled to the at least one member, the sliding carriage configured to translate along the first axis;

a piston configured to translate between an upper position and a lower position within the annular space; and

a driver assembly;

installing a first drill string length within the annular piston pile driver, and coupling the driver assembly to the first drill string length;

retracting the piston from a lower position to an upper position, and coupling the piston to the driver assembly;

advancing the piston from the upper position to the lower position, thereby drilling a borehole to a second depth;

disconnecting the piston from the driver assembly and the driver assembly from the first drill string length;

coupling a second drill string length to the first drill string length;

coupling the driver assembly to the second drill string length;

retracting the piston from the lower position to the upper position and coupling the piston to the driver assembly; and

readvancing the piston from the upper position to the lower position, thereby drilling the borehole to a third depth.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (18)