Enhanced Performance of Robotic Drilling Tools using High Frequency Vibration

Drilling for oil and gas is a costly activity (around £1M/day). The drills are complex robotic machines, capable of autonomously controlling their steering using attitude sensors while working in some of the most extreme and challenging environments (up to 3000psi - 200 atmospheres - and 120C, and operating in drilling "mud" - heavy liquid designed to prevent well blowouts). Any enhancement to the performance of the drill has potentially large economic benefits, and that is the objective of this project. Magna Parva will investigate the feasibility of enhancing the performance of these drills (especially in hard rock such as granite or marble) by applying high frequency vibrations ahead of the cutting teeth. Such vibrations have two potential effects: (a) generating microcracks in the rock and (b) reducing friction. This latter is particularly interesting, because it may assist the autonomous steering of the robotic drill, so we will make "wet" tribometer measurements under drilling mud.