One piece reamer for use in boring operations of gas and oil mining

Abstract

The present invention extends to a single piece reamer having multiple sets of blades. Each set of blades can be positioned at opposite ends of the reamer. In some embodiments, each blade can be positioned on the reamer to have a leftward orientation. Also, in some embodiments, each blade can have a rounded radial edge such that the radius of the blade with respect to the reamer is greater at the middle than at the edges.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A reamer comprising:
 a single cylindrical shape having a first outer diameter; and   a plurality of sets of blades positioned on opposite ends of the single cylindrical shape.   
     
     
         2 . The reamer of  claim 1 , wherein each blade in the set of blades has a leftward orientation with respect to a vertical axis of the single cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         3 . The reamer of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sets of blades comprises two sets of blades. 
     
     
         4 . The reamer of  claim 1 , wherein each set of blades includes four blades. 
     
     
         5 . The reamer of  claim 1 , wherein each blade in the set of blades has a tapered external radius such that cutters in the middle of the blade have a greater ream diameter than cutters at the edges of the blade. 
     
     
         6 . The reamer of  claim 1 , wherein each blade in the set of blades includes six cutters. 
     
     
         7 . The reamer of  claim 6 , wherein each cutter is a PDC cutter. 
     
     
         8 . The reamer of  claim 1 , wherein the single cylindrical shape comprises a metal tube. 
     
     
         9 . The reamer of  claim 1 , wherein the single cylindrical shape has a length of at least six feet. 
     
     
         10 . The reamer of  claim 1 , wherein each set of blades is positioned on opposite sides of the single cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         11 . The reamer of  claim 1 , wherein the ream diameter of the reamer is greater than six inches. 
     
     
         12 . A reamer for use in boring operations in oil and gas mining, the reamer comprising:
 a single tube of metal; and   two sets of blades formed at opposite ends of the single tube, the sets of blades being formed on opposite sides of the single tube.   
     
     
         13 . The reamer of  claim 12 , wherein each blade in the set of blades has a tapered external radius such that the ream diameter at the middle of the blade is greater than the ream diameter at the edge of the blades. 
     
     
         14 . The reamer of  claim 12 , wherein each set of blades is arranged in a leftward spiraling configuration such that, when the reamer is positioned vertically, the top of each blade is positioned to the left of the bottom of the blade. 
     
     
         15 . The reamer of  claim 14 , wherein the reamer is configured to rotate to the right such that, when rotated while positioned vertically in a borehole, the bottom of each blade reaches a horizontal position in the borehole prior to the top of the blade reaching the horizontal position. 
     
     
         16 . The reamer of  claim 12 , wherein the length of the single tube of metal is at least six feet. 
     
     
         17 . The reamer of  claim 13 , wherein the ream diameter at the middle of the blade is greater than six inches. 
     
     
         18 . The reamer of  claim 12 , wherein the reamer is structured to bore horizontally. 
     
     
         19 . The reamer of  claim 12 , wherein the reamer is structured to allow the bore hole to change from vertical to horizontal effectively accommodating bore holes that change their angle of boring from vertical to any angle relative to vertical.