Apparatus and Method for Lateral Well Drilling Utilizing a Nozzle Assembly with Gauge Ring and/or Centralizer

Abstract

An apparatus and method for cutting horizontally into an earthen formation including a nozzle assembly having a gauge ring mechanism and/or a centralizer mechanism that allows the nozzle assembly to remain along a consistent axis of travel during cutting. Embodiments can provide horizontal jetting into the earth's strata from both cased and uncased wells utilizing a rotating, swirling, pulsing or cavitating nozzles which can keep a relatively cuttings free downhole environment.

1 . An apparatus for cutting into an earthen formation, comprising:
 a nozzle assembly;   a flexible tubing connected to the nozzle assembly;   a means to position the nozzle assembly into earthen strata in a substantially horizontal direction;   wherein the nozzle assembly is connected to one end of the flexible tubing and the opposing end of the flexible tubing is coupled to a pumping unit capable of pumping gas, fluid, or a combination thereof through the flexible tubing; and   wherein the nozzle assembly comprises a gauge ring mechanism having a forward exterior surface, a side exterior surface, and a back-facing edge; and   wherein the gauge ring mechanism comprises a larger maximum diameter than any non-compressible portion of the nozzle body and is also larger than any non-compressible fittings or connections that attach the nozzle assembly to the flexible tubing.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle assembly comprises a nozzle body connected to the flexible tubing and a nozzle head connected to a hollow shaft, wherein the hollow shaft is positioned inside the nozzle body resulting in the flexible tubing being in open fluid communication with the nozzle head. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the nozzle head comprises at least one orifice. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one orifice is arranged asymmetrically on the nozzle head. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the nozzle head comprises at least two orifices that are arranged asymmetrically and at least one orifice has a different size than another orifice on the nozzle head. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the nozzle head is self rotatable under operating conditions due to an asymmetrical thrust caused by at least one of the group consisting of the arrangement, the size, and the angle and combinations thereof of the at least one orifice when fluids, gases, or combinations thereof exit the at least one orifice. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the nozzle head comprises a hood that surrounds the circumference of the nozzle head. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the hood is perforated. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gauge ring mechanism further comprises a chamfer connecting the forward exterior surface of the gauge ring with the side exterior surface of the gauge ring. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gauge ring mechanism extends longitudinally along the exterior of the nozzle body at or near full gauge. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gauge ring mechanism further comprises a chamfer connecting its back-facing edge to the side exterior surface of the gauge ring. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle assembly comprises a centralizer mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the centralizer mechanism is adapted to allow for the passage of cuttings, fluids, gases or some combination thereof from the frontal nozzle head area toward the hose or semi-rigid tubing and back to the wellbore. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the centralizer mechanism comprises slots, grooves or holes or a combination thereof 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for cutting into an earthen formation, comprising:
 a nozzle assembly;   a flexible tubing connected to the nozzle assembly;   a means to position the nozzle assembly into earthen strata in a substantially horizontal direction;   wherein the nozzle assembly is connected to one end of the flexible tubing and the opposing end of the flexible tubing is coupled to a pumping unit capable of pumping gas, fluid, or a combination thereof through the flexible tubing; and   wherein the nozzle assembly further comprises a centralizer mechanism.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the centralizer comprises at least  2  pins projecting outward on the outer surface and along the longitudinal axis of the nozzle assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the nozzle assembly comprises a gauge ring mechanism positioned near the front of the nozzle assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the centralizer mechanism comprises a second gauge ring located toward the anterior end of the nozzle assembly. 
     
     
         19 . A method for penetrating earth strata surrounding a wellbore comprising:
 inserting a downhole tool comprising: a nozzle assembly having a nozzle head, a gauge ring mechanism; a flexible tubing connected to the nozzle assembly; a means to position the nozzle assembly into earthen strata in a substantially horizontal direction; and wherein the nozzle assembly is connected to one end of the flexible tubing and the opposing end of the flexible tubing is coupled to a pumping unit capable of pumping gas, fluid, or a combination thereof through the flexible tubing to exit the nozzle head and jet into the earthen strata;   guiding the downhole tool toward the earthen strata in a substantially horizontal direction so that the nozzle faces at least a portion of earth strata surrounding the wellbore;   ejecting gas, foam, fluid, or a combination thereof from the rotatable nozzle head into the earth strata; and   jetting a lateral borehole into the earth strata;   wherein during the jetting the nozzle assembly substantially remains along the same axis of travel as that which is initially cut by the nozzle.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises the step of removing cuttings from the wellbore. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the downhole tool further comprises a centralizer mechanism. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising a second tubing string other than the flexible tubing, the second tubing capable of circulating gases, foams, fluids, or a combination thereof within a wellbore to remove cuttings and/or debris from the wellbore, wherein said circulation can be performed during one or more of: prior to jetting the lateral borehole; periodically during jetting the lateral borehole;
 continuously while creating the lateral borehole; or subsequent to jetting the lateral borehole into the earth strata.   
     
     
         22 . A method for penetrating earth strata surrounding a wellbore comprising:
 inserting a downhole tool comprising: a nozzle assembly having a nozzle head, a centralizer mechanism; a flexible tubing connected to the nozzle assembly; a means to position the nozzle assembly into earthen strata in a substantially horizontal direction; and wherein the nozzle assembly is connected to one end of the flexible tubing and the opposing end of the flexible tubing is coupled to a pumping unit capable of pumping gas, fluid, or a combination thereof through the flexible tubing to exit the nozzle head and jet into the earthen strata;   guiding the downhole tool toward the earthen strata in a substantially horizontal direction so that the nozzle faces at least a portion of earth strata surrounding the wellbore;   ejecting gas, fluid, or a combination thereof from the rotatable nozzle head into the earth strata; and   jetting a lateral borehole into the earth strata;   wherein during the jetting the nozzle assembly substantially remains along the same axis of travel as that which is initially cut by the nozzle.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the downhole tool further comprises a gauge ring mechanism. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising a second tubing string other than the flexible tubing, the second tubing capable of circulating gases, foams, fluids, or a combination thereof within a wellbore to remove cuttings and/or debris from the wellbore, wherein said circulation can be performed during one or more of: prior to jetting the lateral borehole; periodically during jetting the lateral borehole; continuously while creating the lateral borehole; or subsequent to jetting the lateral borehole into the earth strata.