Abstract:
Apparatus for drilling holes in a formation utilizing pulsed jets of charge material. A housing encloses means for generating pulsed jets of, for example, liquid charge material. One or more acceleration bores extend out the housing in a conical pattern. One or more longitudinal grooves are included in the housing, and means are provided for impelling spent charge material, formation chips, mud, etc. from the hole and out through the longitudinal grooves. A single acceleration bore can have one or more outlet bores angled therefrom to cause a rotational force in the housing in response to expelling of pulsed jets of charge material out the outlet bores. The housing can be made of a first portion with the acceleration bore therein and a nozzle portion with the outlet bores therein and rotatably coupled to the first portion so that only the nozzle portion rotates in response to expelling of pulsed jets. Smoothing tips can extend from the housing to smooth the hole as the housing rotates.