(under the class definition) Process or apparatus comprising a step or means (1) for changing the temperature of a drilling fluid or (2) positively changing the temperature of all or a portion of a bore or boring equipment within the bore.
(1) Note. The mere step or means of circulating drilling fluid through the bore as a heat absorbing or transmitting medium is excluded even though the fluid may be compressed and expanded (e.g., exhaust from a down the hole motor).
(2) Note. Heat produced incidental to the normal boring operation of a boring means (e.g., bit friction or motor heat) is excluded.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
1, for seismic shock generation which may include heating.
2+, for boring by below ground explosion.
11+, for boring by directly applying heat to fluidize or comminute and which may include cooling. 65+, and the search there noted for processes or apparatus for drilling with fluid which may heat or cool a bore. (See (1) Note above).
92+, for heating the bore incidental to the operation of a below ground drive motor.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
166, Wells,
302, and the subclasses there noted for well processes including heating and/or cooling, and subclasses 57+ for well heating or refrigerating apparatus.
219, Electric Heating,
277+, for electric oil well heaters.
299, Mining or In Situ Disintegration of Hard Material,
3+, for recovering valuable material by converting solid material to fluid in situ, and including melting material by
heat or heated fluid.
405, Hydraulic and Earth Engineering,
56, for a method or apparatus for heating or cooling the walls of an earthen cavity in which is sorted a fluid material; and subclasses 130+ for heating or cooling of an earth formation in general.
