Projectile Drilling System for Hard Rock Penetration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drilling methods are inefficient and costly when dealing with hard rock, as they require significant mechanical effort, lead to rapid wear of drill bits, and necessitate frequent maintenance due to high temperatures and pressures.
Innovation Solution
A system that accelerates projectiles using a ram accelerator assembly with pressurized gas to break or weaken geologic material, allowing a drill bit to penetrate more easily and reduce wear on equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional drilling methods are used to penetrate hard rock, then the drill bit can eventually form a borehole, but the drilling process is slow and requires significant mechanical effort
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by accelerating projectiles through the launch tube to impact and fracture rock ahead of the drill bit, weakening the material before the drill bit engages. This pre-fracturing of rock reduces the mechanical effort needed during actual drilling and increases overall drilling speed through hard rock formations
2Productivity
If conventional drilling methods are used on hard rock, then the borehole can be formed, but the drill bit experiences rapid wear and requires frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The projectile acceleration system performs preliminary fracturing of hard rock ahead of the drill bit, breaking down the rock structure before mechanical contact. This reduces the stress and wear on the drill bit during drilling operations, extending equipment lifespan and reducing maintenance frequency while improving overall drilling efficiency
3Productivity
If conventional drilling methods are used, then the drill bit can penetrate rock, but high temperatures and pressures cause frequent maintenance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system accelerates projectiles to high velocities to fracture rock ahead of the drill bit, reducing the depth and intensity of rock engagement required. This preliminary fracturing lowers the temperatures and pressures generated during drilling, reducing thermal stress on equipment and decreasing maintenance requirements while maintaining or improving drilling rate
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables faster and more economical formation of boreholes through hard rock by using projectiles to weaken material before drilling, reducing mechanical stress and extending equipment lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
A system that accelerates projectiles using a ram accelerator assembly with pressurized gas
Implementation Method 2
accelerates projectiles using a ram accelerator assembly with pressurized gas to break or weaken geologic material
Data Source
AI summary
Geologic material in a borehole is weakened by accelerating a projectile into contact with the material. A drill bit is then used to bore through the weakened material. To accelerate the projectile, an endcap is placed in a conduit using a source of gas. The endcap isolates the conduit from the external environment. A projectile is then positioned in the conduit above the endcap. Movable members within the conduit are operated in sequence to enable single endcaps and projectiles to be moved into the conduit. Gas from the conduit is evacuated into an annulus between the conduit and a surrounding conduit, and a propellant material is provided into the conduit. The propellant material applies a force to the projectile to accelerate the projectile into contact with the geologic material. A fluid is circulated down a second annulus outside of the surrounding conduit to contact the drill bit and remove debris.