A ground drilling device comprising a housing, a lengthwise movable drilling head tip arranged in the housing, and a bearing for supporting the drilling head tip in the housing during its lengthwise movement.

The invention relates to a rod section of a ground drilling rod, wherein the rod section is configured at the end side to form at least one plug connection and has at one end (a) a male connector with an outer contour or (b) a female connector with an inner contour, wherein, in cross section, the outer contour or the inner contour has a shape deviating from a circle.

A method for expanding a mature brine well cavern wherein the brine well comprises an existing casing extending from the surface into a cavern, an insoluble deposit at a bottom of the cavern, the method comprising an initial drilling operation including removing existing strings, if any, from the brine well; determining position and depth of the insoluble deposit; determining volume and depth of a salt formation present below the existing brine well; providing an outer drill string casing with sufficient length to penetrate the insoluble deposit and penetrate the salt formation; providing a drillable drill bit at a bottom end of the drill string casing to penetrate the insoluble deposit and salt lying under the insoluble deposit; drilling continuously through the insoluble deposit; and drilling into the salt formation is provided.

A method for expanding a mature brine well cavern wherein the brine well comprises an existing casing extending from the surface into a cavern, an insoluble deposit at a bottom of the cavern, the method comprising an initial drilling operation including removing existing strings, if any, from the brine well; determining position and depth of the insoluble deposit; determining volume and depth of a salt formation present below the existing brine well; providing an outer drill string casing with sufficient length to penetrate the insoluble deposit and penetrate the salt formation; providing a drillable drill bit at a bottom end of the drill string casing to penetrate the insoluble deposit and salt lying under the insoluble deposit; drilling continuously through the insoluble deposit; and drilling into the salt formation is provided.

A self-entry exploitation device and method for marine natural gas hydrates is provided. The exploitation device includes a self-entry structural body (1), a sand control device (2) and a gas-liquid lifting system. The self-entry structural body (1) is a gravity anchor. The sand control device (2) and the gas-liquid lifting system are mounted on the self-entry structural body (1). At least one cavity (21) is formed between the self-entry structural body (1) and the sand control device (2), and the cavity (21) is communicated with at least one channel. The sand control device (2) allows liquid and gas to pass through to enter the cavity (21) and is able to filter out silt. The gas-liquid lifting system includes at least one lifting power device (31) and has an end connected to the cavity (21) and an end extending out through a pipeline. By adoption of the exploitation device, drilling is not needed, the self-entry structural body (1) can enter a natural gas hydrate reservoir or a free gas layer below the natural gas hydrate reservoir, so that depressurizing exploitation can be realized, an exploitation system can be withdrawn, and the exploitation cost of natural gas hydrates can be greatly reduced.

A self-entry exploitation device and method for marine natural gas hydrates is provided. The exploitation device includes a self-entry structural body (1), a sand control device (2) and a gas-liquid lifting system. The self-entry structural body (1) is a gravity anchor. The sand control device (2) and the gas-liquid lifting system are mounted on the self-entry structural body (1). At least one cavity (21) is formed between the self-entry structural body (1) and the sand control device (2), and the cavity (21) is communicated with at least one channel. The sand control device (2) allows liquid and gas to pass through to enter the cavity (21) and is able to filter out silt. The gas-liquid lifting system includes at least one lifting power device (31) and has an end connected to the cavity (21) and an end extending out through a pipeline. By adoption of the exploitation device, drilling is not needed, the self-entry structural body (1) can enter a natural gas hydrate reservoir or a free gas layer below the natural gas hydrate reservoir, so that depressurizing exploitation can be realized, an exploitation system can be withdrawn, and the exploitation cost of natural gas hydrates can be greatly reduced.

A pipe handling device and method for use with a horizontal directional drilling system. The pipe handling device stores sections of drill pipe in individual columns within a magazine. The magazine is constructed so that it can be mounted to a boring machine in a pin-up or pin-down orientation. A plurality of signal elements are attached to the magazine and each extend at least partially within a footprint of each column. The signal elements may move from a first position, indicating the column is full of pipe sections, to a second position, indicating the column is not full of pipe sections. A proximity sensor assembly detects movement of the individual signal elements and signals a processor accordingly. These signals indicate whether or not a given column is full of pipe sections.

A drill assembly that includes one drill and a displacement unit, where the drill is releasably or permanently attached to said displacement unit, such that: —the displacement unit includes a guide unit and a channel unit, where the channel unit includes a guide channel, and said guide unit includes one or more guides adapted to engage with said guide channel, such that said guide channel is a circumferential channel that follows a wave or wave like path; —the drill includes a drill bit and/or a drill flight attached to a central shaft, wherein the drill bit and/or drill flight co-terminate at a first terminal end of the drill; —said first terminal end is the terminal end of the drill that is configured to enter the ground first; and—the central shaft is a thin elongate member that extends between the longitudinally separated terminal ends of the drill.

The present invention relates to a rotating self-drilling device for extraterrestrial objects. One end of a pressure sensor installing barrel is connected with a rear cover; a reed fixing lower cover is installed on the rear cover; one end of a wire outlet post is connected with the reed fixing lower cover, and the other end is provided with a reed fixing upper cover; a plurality of reeds are arranged between the reed fixing upper cover and the reed fixing lower cover; both ends of each of the reeds are respectively connected with the reed fixing upper cover and the reed fixing lower cover; the other end of the pressure sensor installing barrel is connected with one end of a motor installing barrel; the other end of the motor installing barrel is connected with a motor installing barrel front cover; a motor and decelerator is placed in the motor installing barrel; both ends of a transmission shaft are respectively connected with the output end of the motor and decelerator and a ferrule; both ends of a milling head are respectively connected with the ferrule and a drill bit; a propelling spiral tube is sleeved outside the motor installing barrel; both ends are respectively connected with the ferrule and a bearing fixing cover; the bearing fixing cover is rotatably connected with the motor installing barrel; The overall structure of the present invention is light and compact. A drive system has only one motor to realize large penetration depth.

A reversible pipe ramming tool used in horizontal pipe replacement operations. The tool is powered by a pneumatic hose attached to a rear end of the tool. The tool has forward and rearward fluid paths, which can either communicate with one another or stand in isolation. Fluid flow along the forward fluid path, when it is maintained in isolation from the reverse fluid path, causes the tool to move in a forward direction. Fluid flow along the forward fluid path, when it is maintained in communication with the reverse fluid path, causes the tool to move in a rearward direction. The tool is switched between forward and reverse by flowing fluid through a pilot fluid path in fluid communication with a valve. Movement of a shuttle within the valve selectively isolates the forward fluid path from the reverse fluid path.