From a gear-reduction turbodrill with a single-stage turbine to a multistage hydro-turbine motor

Initial tests. The first turbodrill capable of operation was developed and built by the engineers M. A. Kapelyushnikov, S. M. Volok, and M. A. Kornev in 1922 and 1923. ^[1] The first prototype was tested by drilling various rock blocks at the surface. The prototype was essentially a single-stage 3 to 4 horsepower turbine with a rotational speed of 1600 1800 rpm. A special hydroturbine reduction gear was used to transfer the rotational effect to a drillbit.

The first tests showed positive results, which enabled manufacturing a small series of turbodrills (8 in. and 11 in. diameter) at the metallurgical plant in Leningrad. In 1925 and 1926, drilling departments of the Azneft production company in Baku began using these turbodrills for drilling wells in the oilfields of the Surakhany region. From 1925 to 1934, the Kapelyushnikov-designed turbodrills that were used to drill nearly 100,000 m in wells with depths of 670 1300 m.

During this period, significant improvements were introduced to the turbodrill design, such as replacement of the reaction turbine with the impulse turbine and replacement of a reducing device with a multistage planetary gear, which was developed by engineer B. G. Lyubimov. The reduction gear and bearings lubricating system design were also improved. Using specially shaped blades for the guide and turbine wheels and improved quality metal and heat treatment of the turbodrill components increased the turbine...