AT525280A4 - Process for controlling a horizontal drilling rig - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for controlling the advance of a drill rod (4) guided on a drilling ramp (3) of a horizontal drilling rig in a direction of advance (R) using a control station (2) of the horizontal drilling rig, the drill rod (4) being guided in the direction of advance (R) by a control station ( 2) optically visible field of view (S) of the drilling ramp (3). It is proposed that an adhesive marking agent (10) is applied to the drill pipe (4) in relation to a reference plane by means of a marking device (9) upstream of the viewing area (S) in the advance direction (R) and based on the positioning of successive markings (12) an ACTUAL rotational movement of the drill pipe (4) about its longitudinal axis is determined relative to the reference plane and compared with a SET rotational movement of the drill pipe (4). With the help of the invention, a more precise control of the propulsion in horizontal drilling rigs is made possible.

Description

The invention relates to a horizontal drilling rig comprising an undercarriage, a drilling ramp mounted on the undercarriage for guiding a drill string in a direction of advance, an operator's station mounted on the undercarriage, and a drive unit mounted on the undercarriage for driving the drill rod

Drill rods in the advance direction and for a

Rotational movement of the drill pipe about its longitudinal axis, according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a method for controlling the propulsion of a drill pipe guided on a drilling ramp of a horizontal drilling rig in a direction of advance using a control station of the horizontal drilling rig, with a drive unit for the propulsion being controlled from the control station of the drill string in the advance direction and for a rotational movement of the drill string about its longitudinal axis

is, according to the preamble of claim 5.

Horizontal boreholes are mainly used in civil engineering when obstacles such as roads or railway lines have to be crossed when laying pipelines. In these cases, horizontal drilling is easier and less expensive than cutting the road or railway line and digging trenches. Even in densely built-up areas

for this reason horizontal drilling is used.

In the case of horizontal drilling, a drill head is usually driven into the ground at the tip of a drill rod which has rod sections which are connected to one another. A mobile horizontal drilling rig is provided for this purpose, which is positioned at the desired starting point of the bore and has a drilling ramp for guiding the drill rods in a forward direction. The inclination of the drilling ramp can usually be adjusted, and designs that can be raised and lowered are also known. One possibility is to start with a descending section of the borehole, which changes into a largely horizontal section and reaches its target point after a horizontal course or an ascending section. Another possibility

is to provide an excavation pit in which the mobile

horizontal drill channel can be started.

A drive unit of the horizontal drilling rig ensures that the drill pipe is advanced in the direction of advance along the longitudinal axis of the drill pipe. The ones used

Drill rods usually consist of individual, interconnected

connected rod sections of about 2-5 m in length, which - according to the course of the drilling - are gradually removed from a depot arranged on the drilling ramp, attached to the drilling ramp at the rear end of the advanced drill rod and connected to it. Depending on the design, rotating or percussive elements are arranged on the drill head, which remove the material to form the drill channel. A bentonite drilling fluid can be pumped through the drill string to the drill bit where it emerges and flushes out cut material through an annulus formed around the drill string in the wellbore. In addition to flushing out, the bentonite drilling fluid can also help to stabilize the drilling channel and

Cooling of the drill head and serve as a lubricant.

In order to change the direction of the drill channel, the drill head can be flattened at the side or slightly bent. By twisting the drill string about its longitudinal axis, the angular position of the lateral flattening or the kink of the drill head can be adjusted in order to be able to control the direction of advance in this way. When the drill head is driven forward with the drill rod rotating, a straight-ahead drilling is possible. If the rotation of the drill rods is suspended, a deviation from the straight alignment can be achieved by the lateral flattening or kinked design of the drill head, in that the drill head can be rotated with the help of a rotary movement of the drill rods, for example by an angle of rotation in the range of +/- 5° to +/- 20° around the rotational position of the drill head pointing in the desired direction (so-called "oscillating"). In addition to the pushing propulsion, an optional impact mechanism can be used, in particular

to counteract poor soil conditions.

drill head used separated from the drill pipe and through the

Expanding crown replaced. Then the drill pipe with the expander bit can be pulled back through the borehole from the horizontal drilling rig, with the expander bit following the course of the pilot hole and expanding its diameter. In the borehole that has been expanded in this way, further

As a result, pipelines, cables and the like are drawn in.

During the drilling process, in particular when creating a pilot hole, a probe is used in the area of the drill head to locate the drill head and/or to measure state variables such as temperature, pressure and the like. The signals from the probe can be transmitted by cable or wirelessly for locating and/or with regard to the state variables. As already mentioned, the angular position of the drill head sometimes has to be slightly changed manually during tunneling in the form of several consecutive adjusting movements ("pendulum"). However, the angular position of the drill head is sometimes changed by the tunneling itself in the case of locally difficult ground conditions and must be corrected by the operator. The exact angular position of the drill head and its changes due to the advance are often not sufficiently comprehensible for the operator, even with the help of the probe, so that unwanted deviations from the desired drilling line occur. Precise adherence to a planned drilling line is particularly important in densely built-up areas, where numerous pipes, ducts, cables, telecommunications lines and the like run underground.

decisive.

It is thus the aim of the invention to have more precise control

to enable the propulsion of horizontal drilling rigs.

This object is achieved by an apparatus having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of claim

5 reached. Claim 1 relates to a

Drive unit for the propulsion of the drill pipe in the

Direction of advance and for a rotary movement of the drill pipe about its longitudinal axis. According to the invention, it is proposed that a viewing area of the drilling ramp crossed by the drill rods in the advance direction and optically visible from the operator's stand is provided, as well as an area upstream of the viewing area in the advance direction

Marking device for one in relation to one

Reference level specified application of an adhesive marking agent is arranged on the drill pipe in the drilling ramp, the marking device from the operator's station can be operated. The operator positioned at the operator's station can thus monitor the advanced drill rods on the drilling ramp through visual contact. By merely visually inspecting the drill pipe, however, it would hardly be possible to compare an ACTUAL rotary movement of the drill pipe about its longitudinal axis to achieve a change in direction of the drilling process with a TARGET rotary movement of the drill pipe determined by a control device according to a desired drilling line and to make any corrections to the control . Therefore, according to the invention, a marking device upstream of the viewing area is proposed, which can be operated from the operator's stand and with which an adhesive marking agent can be applied to the drill string. According to the invention, the application takes place in relation to a predetermined reference plane. A rotary movement of the drill pipe about its longitudinal axis by an angle x after the marking has been applied is thus visible in the field of view by a marking rotated by an angle γ in relation to this reference plane. If the observed angle of rotation by the angle α does not correspond to the desired TARGET rotational movement, the operator can quickly correct the control. In this way, changes of direction in the course of the advance can be made

can be made more precisely, especially in "pendulum mode".

Level.

Furthermore, according to the invention, an adhesive marking means is proposed for the marking means, since the individual rod sections should be reusable and an adhesive marking means is not abrasion-resistant. It is thus rubbed off after leaving the field of view in the course of the advance in the borehole, so that in the course of a bore applied marking agent the renewed application of the marking agent on the same drill pipe in the course of a

later drilling does not interfere.

The visual monitoring of the drill pipe in the field of vision can be carried out either through direct visual contact with an operator positioned at the control station. Alternatively, it is also proposed that the field of vision be set up by means of optical cameras, which are connected to display devices at the operator's stand. The reference plane mentioned above could also be displayed on such a display device in order to determine the

To facilitate twist angle of the mark.

The marking means can be a sprayable medium, for example, with the marking device being designed as a spraying device for the sprayable medium directed onto the drill string. Spraying has the advantage that the marking device can be arranged at a distance from the drill pipe and the marking means can be precisely controlled in the form of time, for example via a remote control

Sprays can be delivered.

In order to be able to increase the distance from the drill pipe in the case of a spray device and to enable the marking agent to be applied to the drill pipe in strips, for example, it is also proposed that

the spray device to a stationary relative to the chassis

a precise definition of the reference plane.

In a corresponding manner, according to the invention, a method for controlling the propulsion of a on a

Drilling ramp of a horizontal drilling rig in one direction of advance

guided drill string proposed using a control panel of the horizontal drilling rig, from the control panel a drive unit for the propulsion of the drill string in the direction of advance and for a rotational movement of the drill string about its longitudinal axis is controllable. According to the invention, it is provided that the drill pipe is guided in the direction of advance through a viewing area of the drilling ramp that is optically visible from the operator's station, and by means of a marking device upstream of the field of view in the advance direction, an adhesive marking agent is applied to the drill pipe in a manner defined in relation to a reference plane, with the application being carried out of the adhesive marking means during the advance of the drill pipe occurs periodically and in the form of markings on the drill pipe, and based on the positioning of successive markings relative to the reference plane, an ACTUAL rotational movement of the drill pipe about its longitudinal axis is determined and compared with a TARGET rotational movement of the drill pipe, and if the ACTUAL rotary movement deviates from the TARGET rotary movement, a correction of the

control is carried out.

The adhesive marking agent can be applied, for example, in the form of a strip-shaped marking oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drill string. Of course, other geometric shapes of the marking are also conceivable, for example in the form of arrows and the like. The only decisive factor is that the marking is an angular position of the drill pipe about its longitudinal axis relative to the

Reference plane can be clearly seen in the field of view.

The periodic application of the adhesive marking agent could be carried out manually by the operator, for example using a remote control. As a rule, the marking device will not be required during a horizontal advance of the drill string. In this operating mode

desired rotary position of the drill head replaced. For this

Operating mode is the use of the invention

Thought marking device, and the operator can operate it manually from the operator's station. Alternatively, however, provision can also be made for the periodic application of the adhesive marking agent to be carried out automatically, depending on the propulsion of the drill string, by means of a control device on the operator station. In the case of a faster advance of the drill string, successive markings are thus automatically set more rapidly than in the case of a slower advance. In this case, the marking device is coupled to the controller of the horizontal drilling rig, which recognizes the operating mode

and actuates the marking device accordingly.

In a further development of the method according to the invention, it can also be provided that the positioning of successive markings is recognized with the aid of a detector and the comparison of the ACTUAL rotary movement of the drill string about its longitudinal axis with a TARGET rotary movement of the drill string and the correction of the control in the event of a deviation from the ACTUAL -Rotational movement from the TARGET rotational movement is carried out automatically by means of a control device of the operating stand. The implementation of the method according to the invention would therefore no longer require manual intervention by the operator,

but run automatically.

The invention will be explained in more detail below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment with the aid of the enclosed figures

explained. It shows the

1 shows a schematic representation that is not true to scale

a horizontal drilling rig according to the invention,

schematic representation, and Fig. 3a-d different versions of the markings.

First, reference is made to FIG. 1, the one on

desired starting point of the hole positioned horizontal drilling system with a chassis 1, a control panel 2 and a drilling ramp 3 for guiding the drill string 4 shows. The drilling ramp 3 can generally be adjusted in its inclination, and versions that can be raised and lowered are also known. In Fig. 1, the bore begins with a descending section of the borehole 5, which gradually turns into a largely horizontal section

transforms.

A drive unit 6 of the horizontal drilling rig ensures that the drill pipe 4 is driven forward in the direction of advance R along the longitudinal axis of the drill pipe 4. The drill pipe 4 used in this case usually consists of individual, interconnected pipe sections of around 2-5m in length which - according to the course of drilling - gradually taken from a depot 7 arranged on the drilling ramp 3, on the drilling ramp 3 to the rear end of the advanced

Drill pipe 4 are recognized and connected to this.

A drill head 8 is arranged at the tip of the drill string 4 and, depending on the design, is provided with rotating or percussive elements which remove the material to form the drill channel 5 . The drill head 8 is slightly bent in the embodiment of FIG. By twisting the drill string 4 about its longitudinal axis, the angular position of the kink of the drill head 8 can be adjusted in order to be able to control the direction of advance in this way. When the drill head 8 is advanced with the drill rod 4 rotating, a straight-ahead drilling is possible. If the rotation of the drill string 4 is suspended, the kinked design of the drill head 8 can result in a deviation from the straight-ahead alignment

the drill head 8 with the help of a rotary movement of the drill pipe 4

its longitudinal axis is through the drive unit 6 of

Horizontal drilling rig produced. The previously based on Fig. 1

features explained are well known.

In order to enable a more precise control of the advance, a viewing area S of the drilling ramp 3 is provided within the scope of the present invention, which is crossed by the drill rod 4 in the advance direction R and can be viewed optically from the operating stand 2, which is indicated in Fig. 1 by means of the dashed lines. In addition, a marking device 9 is arranged on the drilling ramp 3 upstream of the viewing area S in the advance direction R, which can be operated from the operator's stand 2 . The operator positioned at the control station 2 can thus monitor the advanced drill pipe 4 on the drilling ramp 3 through visual contact and activate the marking device 9 if necessary. When the marking device 9 is activated, an adhesive marking agent 10 is applied to the drill rod 4 . In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-3, the marking means 10 is a sprayable medium and the marking device 9 is designed as a spraying device for the sprayable medium directed onto the drill string 4. Spraying on has the advantage that the marking device 9 can be arranged at a distance from the drill rod 4 and the marking agent 10 can be released in the form of spray bursts that can be precisely controlled in terms of time, for example via a remote control. The use of an adhesive marking agent 10 has the advantage that it is rubbed off after leaving the viewing area S in the course of the advance in the drill channel 5, so that marking agent 10 applied in the course of drilling makes it possible to apply the marking agent 10 again to the same drill rod 4 in the course of a later drilling does not bother. The single ones

Rod sections are therefore reusable.

10719

As can be seen from FIG. 2, the spraying device is aimed at a template 11 which is stationary relative to the chassis. In this way, the distance from the drill pipe 4 can be increased and, for example, the marking agent 10 can be applied to the drill pipe 4 in the form of a strip.

In addition to strip-shaped markings 12 according to Fig. 2 and Fig.

3a are of course also other forms of markings 12

conceivable, approximately cross-shaped markings 12 (Fig. 3b),

arrow-shaped markings 12 (Fig. 3c) or dot-dash markings 12 (Fig. 3d). The template 11 is designed accordingly and provides a precise definition of a reference plane for the job

Marks 12 for sure.

The markings 12 are applied in relation to a predetermined reference plane. A rotary movement of the drill pipe 4 about its longitudinal axis by an angle «x after the application of the marking 12 is thus visible in the field of view S by a marking 12 rotated by an angle x in relation to this reference plane, with the application of the adhesive marking agent 10 during the Propulsion of the drill string 4 takes place periodically and depending on the speed of propulsion. Based on the positioning of consecutive markings 12 relative to the reference plane, an ACTUAL rotational movement of the drill string 4 about its longitudinal axis can be determined and compared with a TARGET rotational movement of the drill string 4 . If the angle of rotation observed by the angle @ does not correspond to the desired TARGET rotational movement, the operator can quickly correct the control. In this way, changes of direction in the course of the advance can be made

can be made more precisely, especially in "pendulum mode".

The visual monitoring of the drill pipe 4 in the viewing area S and the actuation of the marking device 9 are carried out according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 by direct visual contact

performed manually by an operator positioned at the control station 2. Alternatively, however, it would also be possible for the viewing area S to be set up using optical cameras

are connected to the display devices of control station 2. On

The reference plane mentioned above could also be superimposed on such a display device in order to facilitate the determination of the angle of rotation of the markings 12 . Furthermore, it would be conceivable that the detection of

Positioning of consecutive marks 12 using

of a detector and the comparison of the actual rotary movement

of the drill rod 4 about its longitudinal axis with a TARGET rotational movement of the drill rod 4 and the correction of the control in the event of a deviation of the ACTUAL rotational movement from the TARGET rotational movement is carried out automatically by means of a control device of the operator station 2 . The marking device 9 could also be coupled to the control of the horizontal drilling rig, which actuates the marking device 9 depending on the speed of the advance. With a faster advance of the drill string 4 consecutive markings 12 are thus automatically set more quickly than with a slower advance. Carrying out the method according to the invention would therefore no longer require manual intervention by the operator, but

run automatically.

With the help of the invention, a more precise control of the

Allows propulsion in horizontal drilling rigs.

Claims (8)

Patent Claims: 1. Horizontal drilling rig comprising a chassis (1), on the chassis (1) mounted drilling ramp (3) for guiding a Drill pipe (4) in a direction of advance (R), one the operating stand (2) mounted on the chassis (1) and a drive unit (6) mounted on the chassis (1) for driving the drill rod (4) in the direction of advance (R) and for rotating the drill rod (4) about its longitudinal axis, characterized in that one of the drill rods (4) in the direction of advance (R) crossed and from the control station (2) optically visible viewing area (S) of Drilling ramp (3) is provided, as well as the field of view (S) a marking device (9) upstream in the direction of advance (R) for applying an adhesive marking agent (10) to the drill rod (4) in the area of the drilling ramp (3) in a manner defined in relation to a reference plane, the marking device (9) can be operated from the control stand (2). is. 2. Horizontal drilling rig according to claim 1, characterized in that the field of view (S) is set up by means of optical cameras with display devices of the control station (2) are connected, 3. Horizontal drilling rig according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the marking means (10) is a sprayable medium and the marking device (9) is a spraying device for the sprayable medium directed onto the drill string (4). is executed. 4. Horizontal drilling rig according to claim 3, characterized characterized in that the spray device on a relative the stationary template is directed towards the chassis. 5. Method for controlling the advance of a drill pipe (4) guided on a drilling ramp (3) of a horizontal drilling rig in a forward direction (R) using a control station (2) of the horizontal drilling rig, with a drive unit (6) for the control station (2) being Driving the drill pipe (4) in the direction of advance (R) and can be controlled for a rotational movement of the drill pipe (4) about its longitudinal axis, characterized in that the drill pipe (4) is guided in the advance direction (R) through a viewing area (S) of the drill ramp (3) which can be viewed optically from the operator's station (2), and by means of a marking device (9) upstream of the viewing area (S) in the advance direction (R), an adhesive marking agent (10) is applied to the drill rod (4) in a manner defined in relation to a reference plane, the adhesive marking agent (10) being applied during of the advance of the drill pipe (4) takes place periodically and in the form of markings (12) on the drill pipe (4), and based on the positioning of consecutive markings (12) relative to the reference plane, an ACTUAL rotational movement of the drill pipe (4) about its longitudinal axis is determined and with a TARGET rotational movement of the drill pipe (4) is compared, and a correction if the ACTUAL rotational movement deviates from the TARGET rotational movement door the control is carried out. 6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the application of the adhesive marking agent (10) is oriented in the form of a parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drill rod (4). strip-shaped marking (12) takes place. 7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the periodic application of the adhesive marking agent (10) depending on the advance of the drill string (4) by means of a control device of the Control stand (2) is carried out automatically. 8. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the detection of the positioning of successive markings (12) is carried out using a detector and the comparison of the ACTUAL rotational movement of the drill pipe (4) about its longitudinal axis with a TARGET Rotational movement of the drill pipe (4) and the correction of Control in the event of a deviation of the ACTUAL rotational movement from the TARGET rotational movement by means of a control device of the Control stand (2) is carried out automatically.