Drill pipe, and system and method for laying a pipeline

Abstract

A drill pipe for use during the creation of a borehole in a ground along a predetermined drill line, for the near-surface laying of underground cables or electric underground cables in the ground. The borehole is created by means of a drilling device that has a drilling tool for loosening the ground when the drill pipes are advanced, each end of the drill pipe having at least one connection section for detachably connecting it to a further element of a drill string in a tensile resistant manner; the drill pipe has at least one element for producing a tensile-resistant connection to a corresponding element of an advance device for advancing the drill pipe into and/or retracting it from the borehole; and an outer wall of the drill pipe is made in one piece. Also described is a device for moving at least one drill pipe into or out of a borehole

Claims

1. A drill pipe for the near-surface laying of cables or lines, wherein the borehole is gradually created by a drilling device comprising a drilling tool for loosening the ground when the drill pipes are advanced, the drill pipe comprising: at each of its ends at least one connection section for detachably connecting the drill pipe to a further element of a drill string in a tensile-resistant manner; at least one element for producing a tensile-resistant connection to a corresponding element of an advancing device for at least one of advancing the drill pipe into or retracting it from the borehole; an outer wall of the drill pipe made in one piece; at least one conduit section arranged in one of the outer wall or in the inner space of the drill pipe at the outer wall and extending in parallel along the outer wall wherein the at least one conduit section has at each of its ends a connection element for producing a connection between conduit sections of interconnected drill pipes or elements of the drill string; a first connection section at one end and a corresponding second connection section at the opposite wherein: the connection by the respective connection sections of the drill pipe to another element of the drill string is by one of a positive-locking or non-positive-locking connection; the first connection section and the second corresponding connection section form a tensile-resistant plug-in sleeve connection; and one connection section has a pointed end and the other connection section is a corresponding sleeve, each of them having at least one corresponding indentation in the opposite surface, which form a groove in the assembled state in which at least one shearing element can be inserted to produce the tensile-resistant supporting connection.

2. A drill pipe for the near-surface laying of cables or lines, wherein the borehole is gradually created by a drilling device comprising a drilling tool for loosening the ground when the drill pipes are advanced, the drill pipe comprising: at each of its ends at least one connection section for detachably connecting the drill pipe to a further element of a drill string in a tensile-resistant manner; at least one element for producing a tensile-resistant connection to a corresponding element of an advancing device for at least one of advancing the drill pipe into or retracting it from the borehole; an outer wall of the drill pipe made in one piece; at least one conduit section arranged in one of the outer wall or in the inner space of the drill pipe at the outer wall and extending in parallel along the outer wall wherein the at least one conduit section has at each of its ends a connection element for producing a connection between conduit sections of interconnected drill pipes or elements of the drill string; a first connection section at one end and a corresponding second connection section at the opposite wherein: the connection by the respective connection sections of the drill pipe to another element of the drill string is by one of a positive-locking or non-positive-locking connection; and the first connection section and the second corresponding connection section in the mounted state form a flange connection, having one of connection elements or boreholes for the placement of a bolt connection;

3. The drill pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the element for producing a tensile-resistant connection with the corresponding element of the advancing device is an indentation in the outer wall of the drill pipe.

4. The drill pipe as claimed in claim 3, wherein the indentation can be provided with a covering.

5. The drill pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the element for producing a tensile-resistant connection with the corresponding element of the advancing device is an element of a tensile-resistant plug-in sleeve connection.

6. The drill pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drill pipe has essentially the same diameter as the drilling device.

7. The drill pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the near-surface laying is at a depth of at least one of less than 10 m, or 2 to 6 m.

8. The drill pipe as claimed in claim 2, wherein the element for producing a tensile-resistant connection with the corresponding element of the advancing device is an indentation in the outer wall of the drill pipe.

9. The drill pipe as claimed in claim 8, wherein the indentation can be provided with a covering.

10. The drill pipe as claimed in claim 2, wherein the element for producing a tensile-resistant connection with the corresponding element of the advancing device section in the mounted state form a flange connection, having one of connection elements or boreholes for the placement of a bolt connection.

11. The drill pipe as claimed in claim 2, wherein the drill pipe has essentially the same diameter as the drilling device.

12. The drill pipe as claimed in claim 2, wherein the near-surface laying is at a depth of at least one of less than 10 m, or 2 to 6 m.

Description

[0045] The invention shall be explained more closely below with the aid of an exemplary embodiment in connection with a drawing. There are shown:

[0046] FIGS. 1A,1B side views of a first embodiment of a drill pipe according to the invention,

[0047] FIG. 2A a first connection section of the drill pipe according to the invention,

[0048] FIG. 2B a second connection section of the drill pipe according to the invention,

[0049] FIG. 2C the connection section of FIG. 2A without covering,

[0050] FIG. 2D a side view of FIG. 2C,

[0051] FIG. 3A the connection section of two interconnected drill pipes according to the invention,

[0052] FIG. 3B a side view of FIG. 3A,

[0053] FIG. 4A a spatial view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention for moving a drill pipe in a first position,

[0054] FIG. 4B a spatial view of the device according to the invention for moving a drill pipe in a second position,

[0055] FIG. 5A a spatial view similar to FIG. 4A with the first embodiment of the drill pipe according to the invention,

[0056] FIG. 5B a spatial view similar to FIG. 4B with the first embodiment of the drill pipe according to the invention

[0057] FIG. 5C a top view of FIG. 5A,

[0058] FIG. 5D a top view of FIG. 5B,

[0059] FIG. 6A a side view of a first transmission element according to the invention of the first embodiment of the device according to the invention with engaging elements in a first position,

[0060] FIG. 6B a similar view to FIG. 6A with engaging elements according to the invention in a second position,

[0061] FIG. 7 a schematic representation of a first system according to the invention in spatial view after finishing the drilling process,

[0062] FIG. 8 a schematic representation in spatial view at the start of the pulling in of the conduit, and

[0063] FIG. 9 a cross sectional view of a second embodiment according to the invention of two interconnected drill pipes according to the invention in a second embodiment.

[0064] FIG. 10 a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the system according to the invention in side view,

[0065] FIG. 11 a top view of FIG. 10,

[0066] FIG. 12 a spatial view of FIG. 10,

[0067] FIGS. 13 to 19 a schematic representation of an embodiment of a mounting device according to the invention with the individual mounting steps,

[0068] FIG. 20 a spatial schematic representation of a third embodiment of a drill pipe according to the invention,

[0069] FIG. 21 a spatial schematic representation of two connected drill pipes for this,

[0070] FIG. 22 a side view of FIG. 21, and

[0071] FIG. 23 a spatial schematic representation of a shell element.

[0072] FIGS. 1A, 1B show in side view a first embodiment of a drill pipe 10 according to the invention. The drill pipe 10 has at its first end a first connection section 11 and at its opposite second end a second connection section 12, wherein the first connection section 11 corresponds to the second connection section 12 inasmuch as these may be joined together or inserted into one another. The first connection section 11 and the second connection section 12 are provided such that they form a flange connection in a first embodiment of the invention, wherein the first connection section 11 has a support section 13, in which boreholes 14 are provided. Behind the support section 13 is provided an indentation 15 in the outer wall 16 of the drill pipe 10. (See FIG. 2A to 2D). Corresponding to the boreholes 14, recesses 17 are provided in the indentation 15. Furthermore, boreholes 18 are provided in the support section 13, being designed such that centering pins 19, provided on the second connection section 12, can engage in them.

[0073] The second connection section 12 likewise has a support element 20, on which either bolts 21 are firmly arranged, or in which boreholes 31 are provided, containing a thread in which loose bolts 21 are screwed into the recesses 17 through the boreholes 14 into the threaded boreholes 31 in the support section 20.

[0074] The indentation 15 may be closed with a covering 22. The covering 22 is fastened in the indentation 15 for example by means of screws. The covering serves to prevent any objects from gathering in the indentation 15 or in the recesses 17 while the drill pipe 10 is moving in the borehole.

[0075] Inside the drill pipe 10 are firmly arranged several conduits. These include a delivery line 23 for taking away loosened soil or drill cuttings in connection with drill flushing/drilling/bentonite suspension, a pressing line 24, with which for example a bentonite suspension is introduced to penetrate as a lubricating agent between drill pipes and borehole wall, a driving line 25, with which for example driving fluid is transported to the drilling device in order to drive a jet pump optionally present there (not shown), a feed line 26 with which for example a bentonite suspension is transported to the drill head, with which the drill cuttings or the loosened dirt is then transported out from the borehole and the working face in front of the drilling tool is supported, and a channel 27, in which are provided for example high-pressure lines for the spray system of the cutting tools or power lines for the power supply for the drilling device.

[0076] The conduits are connected by a plug-in sleeve system, wherein the first connection section 11 here has pointed ends 28, being provided with seals, while the second connection section 12 has sleeves 29, in which the pointed ends 28 of the conduits 23-26 and possibly 27 engage. This is evident for example from FIG. 3B.

[0077] FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B show a first drill pipe 10, which is connected to a second drill pipe 10 by a flange connection 30. The first connection section 11 of the first drill pipe 10 is connected to the second connection section 12 of the drill pipe 10. The support section 13 and the support section 20 are in contact with each other. The bolts 21 are screwed in through the boreholes 14 into the threaded boreholes 31. For this, the bolts 21 are inserted into the recesses 17 and inserted into the boreholes 14 of the support section 13 of the first connection section 11.

[0078] For the connecting of the first connection section 11 to the second connection section 12, the drill pipes 10, 10 are arranged relative to each other such that the centering pins 19 can be inserted into the corresponding boreholes 18. In this case, the pointed ends 28 of the conduits 23-27 should also correspond with the sleeves 29 of the conduits 23-26 and 27. After this, the drill pipes 10, 10 are shoved against each other, so that the pointed ends 28 lock in the sleeve 29. Then the bolts 21 are introduced into the recesses 17 and shoved into the boreholes 14. The bolts 21 are then screwed into the threaded boreholes 31 of the support section 20 of the second connection section 12.

[0079] The loosening of the drill pipe 11 from the drill pipe 10 is then done by unscrewing the bolts 21 from the threaded boreholes 31 and removing the bolts 21 from the recesses 17. After this, the drill pipe 10 may be removed from the drill string, the pointed ends 28 of the conduits 23-26 and 27 being separated from the sleeves 29 of the conduits 23-26 and 27.

[0080] FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B show a spatial view of a device 40 according to the invention for the moving of at least one drill pipe into a borehole or retracting it from this, especially during the near-surface creation of a borehole in a ground 100 from a starting point 101 to a target point 102 and/or when introducing a pipeline, underground line or underground cable 105 into the ground 101 from a starting point 101 to a target point 102 or vice versa. This shall be called a press frame 40 in the following. The press frame 40 comprises a base 41, having a framelike superstructure. On the base 41 are provided rails 42, on which guide elements 43 are provided, which can travel on the rails 42. On the guide elements 43 is arranged the transmission element 44.

[0081] Directly or operatively connected to the base 41 is an abutment 45 arranged on the abutment 45. In this way, two actuators 46, designed here as a double-stroke cylinder 47, are connected. One double-stroke cylinder 47 has two hydraulic cylinders 48, which are joined together by a plate 49. The cylinders 48 in the present instance are designed as telescopic cylinders. The plate 49 is likewise connected to a guide element 43, so that the plate 49 can thereby travel on the rails 42 and is guided. The double-stroke cylinders 47 are designed so that in the fully extended state they can move the transmission element 44 substantially as far as the front end of the base 41 on the opposite side of the abutment 45.

[0082] On the base 41 are provided end bearings 50, on which a drill pipe 10 or some other element of the drill string can be set down. The end bearings 50 are vertically oriented when a drill pipe 10 is to be placed thereon. During the movement of the transmission element 44 in relation to the base 41, the supports 50 are folded down horizontally. (See FIG. 4B).

[0083] FIG. 5A to FIG. 5D show a drill pipe 10, pointing with its second connection section 12 in the direction of the borehole. A starting seal (not shown) could also be provided here at the end of the base 41 facing toward the borehole. The first connection section 11 or its indentation 15 enters into positive-locking connection with an engaging element 53 of the transmission element 44 in that the engaging element 53 engages with the indentation in order to enable a movement of the drill pipe 10.

[0084] The transmission element 44 comprises a connection plate 51, with which the double cylinders 47 engage. The transmission element 44 has an opening 52, into which the drill pipe 10 is introduced. Furthermore, a positive-locking element is provided, which in the present instance has two engaging elements 53. The engaging elements 53 are respectively connected to a hydraulic cylinder 54, which are horizontally oriented. The engaging elements 53 are horizontally movable in relation to the transmission element 44. The movement here occurs preferably by the hydraulic cylinder 54. The engaging elements 53 can be moved from an open position (FIG. 6A) to a closed engagement position (FIG. 6B). In the engagement position shown here, the engaging elements 53 engage in the indentations 15 of the drill pipe 10 and thereby produce a positive-locking connection between the drill pipe 10 and the press frame 40. Through the actuators 46, the transmission element 44 can be moved along the rails 42 toward the borehole or away from it. Thanks to the positive-locking connection of the engaging elements 53 with the indentation 15, both compressive and tensile forces may be applied, so that the drill pipe 10 can be moved out from the borehole or into it. Alternatively, the engaging elements 53 may also consist of multiple elements, which are moved spatially, or in the case of two engaging elements 53 a vertical movement is also possible as an alternative.

[0085] On the back side of the transmission element 44 there are provided connections 55 for the conduits 23-26 and 27, acting as quick connectors with the conduits 23-26 and 27. In regard to the channel 27 it may be necessary to manually introduce hoses or lines into a new drill pipe being connected before the connection is made and to connect them to the hoses or lines of the previous drill pipe 10 in the channel 27. It is also possible to have as few connections as possible by making these lines or hoses longer than one drill pipe 10.

[0086] FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of the system according to the invention in a spatial representation. A starting ditch 101 here is provided in the ground 100, from which a borehole (not shown) is produced to a target ditch 102. In the starting ditch 101 there is provided a press frame 40. The distance between a starting ditch 101 and a target ditch 102 can be up to 1500 m or more. In FIG. 7 one can see how a drilling device 103 has arrived in the target ditch 102. The drilling device 103 is then released from the drill string and removed from the target ditch 102. On the first drill pipe 10 of the drill string is arranged an adapter 104, which is connected to a protective pipe 105 being laid or, if that is not needed, directly to the underground line or the underground cable. In the starting ditch in this embodiment the press frame 40 has been turned around so that the abutment 45 is located at the starting point of the borehole (not shown) and is braced here. Alternatively, it is also possible for the press frame 40 to be designed so that the necessary forces are provided both in the extension direction of the hydraulic cylinder 48 and in the retraction direction of the hydraulic cylinder 48 so that the press frame does not have to be rotated.

[0087] When creating the borehole, individual drill pipes 10 or also several already interconnected drill pipes are connected to the drill string and shoved into the ground 100 by the press frame 40. The removal of the drill pipes 10 is done in that they are pulled out from the borehole by the press frame 40. Once a drill pipe 10 has been pulled out completely, it is separated and removed from the drill string, for example as described above. Alternatively, several drill pipes connected to form a drill string section may be dismounted. During the pulling out of the drill pipes, the protective pipe 105 or the underground line or the underground cable is introduced at the same time directly into the borehole in the ground 100.

[0088] Alternatively to the flange connection 30, a tensile-resistant plug-in sleeve connection 32 for the connecting of two drill pipes 10, 10 in a second embodiment is shown in FIG. 9. The tensile-resistant plug-in sleeve connection 32 has a pointed end 33 and a sleeve 34. These are shown connected in FIG. 9. The pointed end 33 has a connection surface 35 and the sleeve 34 has a connection surface 36. In the connection surface 35 there is provided at least one indentation 37 and in the connection surface 36 there is likewise provided at least one corresponding indentation 38. If the pointed end 33 is shoved into the sleeve 34, the connection surfaces 35, 36 come into contact and the indentations 37, 38 form a groove 39. A shearing element 60 is inserted into the groove 39 to make the tensile-resistant connection. Alternatively, several grooves 39 and shearing elements 60 could be provided. In addition, it is possible if required to provide at least one seal 61 between the connection surfaces 35, 36. Firmly arranged conduits/channels 23-27 may likewise be provided accordingly inside the drill pipes 10, 10 with tensile-resistant plug-in sleeve connection 32.

[0089] Depending on which connection section 11, 12 is supposed to be connected to the transmission element 44, one alternative embodiment proposes in regard to the press frame 40 that either a pointed end 33 or a sleeve 34 is provided as the transmission element 44 or its engaging element 53 to make a tensile-resistant plug-in sleeve connection 32.

[0090] FIGS. 10 to 12 show a schematic representation of another embodiment of the system according to the invention in a side view. A starting ditch 101 has been provided in the ground 100, from which a borehole 102 is produced in the microtunneling method from a starting point to a target point (not shown). In the starting ditch is provided a scaffolding 104, optionally acting as an expansion of the starting ditch 101 and in which the components of the system according to the invention are provided.

[0091] In the starting ditch 101 there is arranged an advancing unit 103, such as a pipe thruster or a press frame 40, with which a drill string 110 is pressed or shoved into the borehole 102. At the front end 105 of the drill string 110 there is provided a drilling device 106, with which the borehole 102 is created. The drilling device 106 is supplied via supply lines 108 with power and drill suspension for carrying away the loosened drill cuttings. The supply lines 108 are provided outside the starting ditch 101, for example on a drum (not shown), and are unwound from the drum, bundled together (position 109) and introduced into the borehole as the borehole makes progress.

[0092] The drill string here consists of drill pipes 10 in a third embodiment, which are represented in FIGS. 20 to 23.

[0093] The drill pipe 10 shown here as an example consists of 2 shell elements 11, 12, which are preferably identical in design here. It is of course possible to use more than two shell elements 11, 12, if this should prove to be advantageous.

[0094] At its front end 13 and at its rear end 14 the drill pipe 10 has a connection flange 15. For this, indentations 17 are made in a wall 16 of the shell element 11, 12. Corresponding to the indentations 17, boreholes 18 are provided, into which connection bolts 20 may be inserted. These are screwed together with nuts 19. In this way, a non-positive locking connection is produced between the individual drill pipes 10. In an indentation 21 provided in the flange 15 in the area of the boreholes 18 a seal (not shown) may be introduced. Alternatively, the connection of the drill pipes 10 may be positive-locking via engaging elements (not shown). An integral bonded connection is also possible, however then an easy releasing of the drill pipes from each other after the removal is not easily possible.

[0095] Furthermore, an indentation 22 is provided in the wall 16, acting as a point of application of the forces for advancing or pulling back the drill string 110 via the advancing unit 103.

[0096] Furthermore, indentations 23 are provided in the wall 16, being bounded on one side by a web 24. Boreholes 25 are provided in the indentations 23 and the web 24. This likewise involves a flange-like connection possibility for the shell elements 11, 12, which are arranged one on the other. Bolts 26 can likewise be installed here, and are screwed together with nuts 27. In this way, an axial connecting of the shell elements 11, 12 occurs along a connection line 28. Furthermore, an indentation 29 is provided in the web 24, in which likewise a seal (not shown) may be inserted.

[0097] In order to make possible a better positioning of the drill pipes 10 relative to each other and that of the shell elements 11, 12 relative to each other, boreholes 30 and positioning pins 31 are arranged at or on the web 24 or the front or rear end 13, 14 of the drill pipe 10, which engage with each other when correctly positioned.

[0098] In order to accomplish a better stability of the drill string 110, the drill pipes 10 are respectively arranged for example with a 90 degree offset from each other, as is shown in FIG. 21, 22.

[0099] The assembling of the drill pipes 10 and the following connection of the drill pipes 10 to each other to form the drill string 110 takes place in a mounting device 400. This comprises, as shown in FIGS. 13 to 19, a stand 410 in which a feed area 430 and a mounting area 420 are provided. The supply lines 108 run through the mounting area 420.

[0100] The feed area 430 comprises an outer area 440 and an inner area 450. In the outer area 440, as is shown here as an example, a drill pipe 10 which is composed of two shell elements 11, 12 assembled but not yet locked in place is arranged on a carriage 460, which can travel on guide elements 470 from the outer area 440 to the inner area. This position is represented in FIG. 13.

[0101] The mounting device 400 here comprises for example two manipulating elements 500, 510. The upper manipulating element 500 and the lower manipulating element 510 are each arranged on the frame 410 and able to travel vertically. The upper manipulating element 500 has gripping elements 520, which grasp the upper shell element 12. The lower manipulating element 510 comprises a support 530, on which the lower shell element 11 is placed.

[0102] In FIG. 14, the upper manipulating element 500 has been lowered onto the upper shell element 12 and the grippers 520 are in engagement. At the same time, the lower manipulating element 510 has been raised so that the drill pipe 10 emerges from the carriage 460, so that the latter can travel back to the outer area 440. Next, the upper manipulating element 500 together with the upper shell element 12 are raised and the lower manipulating element 510 is lowered (FIG. 15). After this, the two manipulating elements 500, 510 travel from the feed area 430 to the mounting area 420 and are moved so that the shell elements 11, 12 are again sitting on one another. (FIG. 16). The shell elements 11, 12 of the drill pipe 10 are locked in place and then joined together. The drill pipe 10 is then rotated if necessary, moved toward the borehole 102 against the drill string 110 and connected to the latter. All components of the device 400 then release the drill pipe 10, and the drill string 110 is pressed by the advancing unit 103 into the borehole 102.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference symbols 10, 10, 10 Drill pipe 11 First connection section 11 Shell element 12 Second connection section 12 Shell element 13 Support section 13 Front end 14 Borehole 14 Rear end 15 Indentation 15 Connection flange 16 Outer wall 16 Wall 17 Recess 17 Indentation 18, 18 Borehole 19 Centering pin 19 Nut 20 Support section 20 Connection bolt 21 Bolt 21 Indentation 22 Covering 22 Indentation 23 Delivery line 23 Indentation 24 Pressing line 24 Web 25 Driving line 25 Borehole 26 Feed line 26 Bolt 27 Channel 27 Nut 28 Pointed end 28 Connection line 29 Sleeve 29 Indentation 30 Flange connection 30 Borehole 31 Threaded borehole 31 Positioning pins 32 Tensile-resistant plug-in sleeve connection 33 Pointed end 34 Sleeve 35 Connection surface 36 Connection surface 37 Indentation 38 Indentation 39 Groove 40 Device/press frame 41 Base 42 Rail 43 Guide element 44 Transmission element 45 Abutment 46 Actuator 47 Double-stroke cylinder 48 Cylinder 49 Plate 50 End bearing 51 Connection plate 52 Opening 53 Engaging element 54 Hydraulic cylinder 55 Connection 60 Shearing element 100, 100 Ground 101, 101 Starting ditch 102 Target ditch 102 Boring/borehole 103 Drilling device 103 Advancing unit 104 Adapter 104 Scaffolding 105 Protective pipe/underground cable/underground line 105 Front end 106 Drilling device 108 Supply lines 109 Position 110 Drill string 400 Mounting device 410 Stand/frame 420 Mounting area 430 Feed area 440 Outer area 450 Inner area