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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2016

Directional Drilling Technology for HLW Disposal - Outline of System and its Application - 16078

During high-level waste (HLW) disposal site selection, borehole measurement and logging to investigate the hydro-geological and geo-mechanical conditions of the host rocks is a very important way to examine the potential of the disposal candidates. In Japan, attention is being given to Neogene soft sedimentary rock as the host rock for HLW disposal. In particular, the soft sedimentary rock in coastal areas is thought to be one of the best candidates, because there is little driving force from underground water. Directional drilling is supposed to be efficient under limited topographic and geological conditions, and the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI) has been conducting a project on directional drilling and logging/measurement technologies since 2000. Basic directional drilling system was developed and the system was applied to the Neogene normal sedimentary rock at the Hokushin area of the Horonobe town in Hokkaido. The borehole was drilled to the 700 m long and the applicability of the system was confirmed until 2004. A basic directional drilling system was developed, and the system was applied to the Neogene normal sedimentary rock in the Hokushin area, in the town of Horonobe in Hokkaido. A 700-m borehole was drilled, and the applicability of the system was confirmed in 2004. After conducting a seismic reflection survey for the Omagari fault distribution at the Kami-Horonobe area in the town of Horonobe, a drilling site was selected, and a borehole trace was planned to perpendicularly intersect the fault zone in 2005. Considering the planned trace, a 1000-m-long borehole was drilled to a depth of 450 m. From 750 m to the bottom (1000 m), the borehole was horizontal. The total core recovery was 99.8%, even though it was drilled in the fault zone. The geological, hydrological, geo-mechanical, geophysical, and geochemical data were collected using borehole logging/measurement/survey and core logging/measurement/analysis, and the Omagari fault was characterized. After conducting all the work in the borehole, a steel pipe was inserted into the borehole to case the wall. Open hole sections for monitoring were constructed considering the hydro-geological conditions throughout the hole. Then, the monitoring system was inserted and set up to obtain the initial conditions of the groundwater pressure and chemistry. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2019

Sulfide Stress Corrosion Cracking Behavior of G105 and S135 High-Strength Drill Pipe Steels in H{sub 2}S Environment

Slow strain rate testing was employed to investigate the sulfide stress corrosion cracking (SSCC) behavior of low-carbon high-strength drill pipe steels (G105 and S135) in the simulated drilling environment containing H{sub 2}S. Results reveal that both G105 and S135 steels have a high SSCC susceptibility in the simulated drilling environment containing H{sub 2}S. In the range of experimental slow strain rate, the SSCC sensitivity of drill pipe steel increases with the decrease in slow strain rate, and the ductility and fracture properties of drill pipe steels also decrease obviously. With the increase in the steel strength, the SSCC sensitivity of the drill pipe steel increases, and the S135 drill pipe steel has higher SSCC sensitivity than G105. There is no obvious plastic deformation on the fracture surface of G105 and S135 steels in H{sub 2}S solution. The cracks of fracture sprout on the surface of the specimen, the instantaneous fracture zone is in the middle, and the fracture can be divided into the cracking and the final fracture zone. The SSCC mechanisms of two drill pipe steels are hydrogen embrittlement. The hydrogen enters the steel and reduces the binding force of the iron atom, resulting in cleavage fracture.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Geothermal Drilling and Completions: Petroleum Practices Technology Transfer

In the summer of 2013, members of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Colorado School of Mines (CSM) identified an opportunity to improve geothermal drilling operations by transferring practices from the petroleum drilling field. The NREL/CSM group noted that significant changes in drilling efficiencies in petroleum operations have been made during the last decade. For example, five years ago, 14,000-foot wells in Wyoming took 60 days to drill. However, in September of 2015, these same wells were drilled in 7 days. This significant decrease in required drilling days resulted from analysis, goal setting, and management and technology improvements. The geothermal drilling industry can import these methods and technologies, where appropriate, with the possibility of similar improvements in drilling operations.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS2012

Single Piezo-Actuator Rotary-Hammering (SPaRH) Drill

The search for present or past life in the Universe is one of the most important objectives of NASA's exploration missions. Drills for subsurface sampling of rocks, ice and permafrost are an essential tool for astrobiology studies on other planets. Increasingly, it is recognized that drilling via a combination of rotation and hammering offers an efficient and effective rapid penetration mechanism. The rotation provides an intrinsic method for removal of cuttings from the borehole while the impact and shear forces aids in the fracturing of the penetrated medium. Conventional drills that use a single actuator are based on a complex mechanism with many parts and their use in future mission involves greater risk of failure and/or may require lubrication that can introduce contamination. In this paper, a compact drill is reported that uses a single piezoelectric actuator to produce hammering and rotation of the bit. A horn with asymmetric grooves was design to impart a longitudinal (hammering) and transverse force (rotation) to a keyed free mass. The drill requires low axial pre-load since the hammering-impacts fracture the rock under the bit kerf and rotate the bit to remove the powdered cuttings while augmenting the rock fracture via shear forces. The vibrations 'fluidize' the powdered cuttings inside the flutes reducing the friction with the auger surface. This action reduces the consumed power and heating of the drilled medium helping to preserve the pristine content of the acquired samples. The drill consists of an actuator that simultaneously impacts and rotates the bit by applying force and torque via a single piezoelectric stack actuator without the need for a gearbox or lever mechanism. This can reduce the development/fabrication cost and complexity. In this paper, the drill mechanism will be described and the test results will be reported and discussed.

ultrasonic impacts↗
NASA NTRS2013

Wireline Deep Drill for the Exploration of Icy Bodies

One of the most pressing current questions in space science is whether life has ever arisen anywhere else in the universe. Water is a critical prerequisite for all life-as-we-know-it, thus the possible exploration targets for extraterrestrial life are bodies that have or had copious liquid: Mars, Europa, and Enceladus. Due to the oxidizing nature of Mars' surface, as well as subsurface liquid water reservoirs present on Europa and Enceladus, the search for evidence of existing life must likely focus on subsurface locations, at depths sufficient to support liquid water or retain biologic signatures. To address these questions, an Auto-Gopher sampler has been developed that is a wireline type drill. This drill is suspended on a tether and its motors and mechanisms are built into a tube that ends with a coring bit. The tether provides the mechanical connection to a rover/lander on a surface as well as power and data communication. Upon penetrating to a target depth, the drill is retracted from the borehole, the core is deposited into a sample transfer system, and the drill is lowered back into the hole. Wireline operation sidesteps one of the major drawbacks of traditional continuous drill string systems by obviating the need for multiple drill sections, which add significantly to the mass and the complexity of the system (i.e. penetration rate was 40 cm per hour). Drilling to 2 meter depth and recovering of cores every 10 cm took a total time of 15 hours (a single step of drilling 10 cm and retrieving the core was 45 minutes). Total energy to reach the 2 m depth was 500 Whr. The Weight on Bit was limited to less than 70 Newton. The core recovery was 100%.

sampling↗
DOE OSTI2019

Natural Gas Drilling near the Underground Nuclear Test Site of Rulison, Colorado - 19571

In 1969, the Project Rulison test was conducted in western Colorado using a nuclear device to stimulate natural gas production by fracturing low-permeability, gas-bearing rock. The presence of radionuclides (specifically tritium) in the produced gas persisted above acceptable levels, and the test was abandoned. Advances in hydrofracturing technology over the past 10-15 years have revolutionized the extraction of hydrocarbons from low-permeability formations, leading to a significant increase of drilling in the Rulison area. Drilling activity nearing the Rulison site has raised concerns that remnant radioactivity might be encountered. The site, now under the care of the US Department of Energy (DOE), is protected by a 16-hectare (40 acre) institutional control boundary (Lot 11) that prohibits drilling or extraction of materials below 1830 meters (6000 feet) within the lot boundary. Drilling within 0.8 kilometer (0.5 mile) of the site requires a hearing before the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. DOE recommends that gas developers adopt a conservative, staged drilling approach, allowing gas reserves near the Rulison site to be recovered in a manner that minimizes the likelihood of encountering contamination. The staged approach calls for collecting data from wells away from the site before drilling closer. For instance, the wells 1.2 kilometer (0.75 mile) west of the site did not encounter any unexpected geologic conditions and now have 8 years of production without encountering any detonation-related radionuclides. The next set of wells would be 0.8 kilometer (0.5 mile) west of the site. This sequential method drills first at locations with a low probability of encountering contamination and then moves closer. This process protects public safety while allowing the collection of additional data to confirm that contamination has not migrated beyond the 16-hectare (40-acre) institutional control boundary. The staged drilling approach was simulated with a modeling effort that estimates the current extent of contamination and the potential for production-induced contaminant migration to nearby wells. The model incorporates geologic data from nearby wells and was calibrated to production data from both the reentry well production testing (1970-1971) and the wells 1.2 kilometer (0.75 mile) from the site that began producing in 2010. The geologic data include both sand/shale distribution statistics as well as the tendency of hydrofractures to preferentially propagate east and west due to the regional stress field. The model results indicate that it is unlikely that wells near the site would ever encounter site-related radionuclides. (authors)

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Evaluation of Microhole Drilling Technology for Geothermal Exploration, Assessment, And Monitoring

One of the greatest barriers to geothermal energy expansion is the high cost of drilling during exploration, assessment, and monitoring. Microhole drilling technology—small-diameter 2–4 in. (~5.1–10.2 cm) boreholes—is one potential low-cost alternative for monitoring and evaluating bores. However, delivering high weight-on-bit (WOB), high torque rotational horsepower to a conventional drill bit does not scale down to the hole sizes needed to realize the cost savings. Coiled tube drilling technology is one solution, but these systems are limited by the torque resistance of the coil system, helical buckling in compression, and most of all, WOB management. The evaluation presented herein will: (i) evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of low WOB technologies (specifically, a percussive hammer and a laser-mechanical system), (ii) develop downhole rotational solutions for low WOB drilling, (iii) provide specifications for a low WOB microhole drilling system, (iv) implement WOB control for low WOB drilling, and (v) evaluate and test low WOB drilling technologies.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1989

Lunar deep drill apparatus

A self contained, mobile drilling and coring system was designed to operate on the Lunar surface and be controlled remotely from earth. The system uses SKITTER (Spatial Kinematic Inertial Translatory Tripod Extremity Robot) as its foundation and produces Lunar core samples two meters long and fifty millimeters in diameter. The drill bit used for this is composed of 30 per carat diamonds in a sintered tungsten carbide matrix. To drill up to 50 m depths, the bit assembly will be attached to a drill string made from 2 m rods which will be carried in racks on SKITTER. Rotary power for drilling will be supplied by a Curvo-Synchronous motor. SKITTER is to support this system through a hexagonal shaped structure which will contain the drill motor and the power supply. A micro-coring drill will be used to remove a preliminary sample 5 mm in diameter and 20 mm long from the side of the core. This whole system is to be controlled from earth. This is carried out by a continuously monitoring PLC onboard the drill rig. A touch screen control console allows the operator on earth to monitor the progress of the operation and intervene if necessary.

Harvey, Jill↗
NASA NTRS2003

An Automated, Low Mass, Low Power Drill for Acquiring Subsurface Samples of Ground Ice for Astrobiology Studies on Earth and on Mars

As a project that is part of NASA s Astrobiology Technology & Instrument Development Program (ASTID), we are developing a low mass (approx.20kg) drill that will be operated without drilling fluids and at very low power levels (approx.60 watts electrical) to access and retrieve samples from permafrost regions of Earth and Mars. The drill, designed and built as a joint effort by NASA JSC and Baker-Hughes International, takes the form of a down-hole unit attached to a cable so that it can, in principle, be scaled easily to reach significant depths. A parallel laboratory effort is being carried out at UC Berkeley to characterize the physics of dry drilling under martian conditions of pressure, temperature and atmospheric composition. Data from the UCB and JSC laboratory experiments are being used as input to a drill simulation program which is under development to provide autonomous control of the drill. The first Arctic field test of the unit is planned for May 2004. A field expedition to Eureka on Ellesmere Island in Spring 2003 provided an introduction for several team members to the practical aspects of drilling under Arctic conditions. The field effort was organized by Wayne Pollard of McGill University and Christopher McKay of NASA ARC. A conventional science drill provided by New Zealand colleagues was used to recover ground ice cores for analysis of their microbial content and also to develop techniques using tracers to track the depth of penetration of contamination from the core surface into the interior of the samples.

Briggs, G. A.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Self-propelled instrumented deep drilling system

An autonomous subsurface drilling device has spaced-apart forward and rearward feet sections coupled to an axial thruster mechanism between them to operate using an inchworm method of mobility. In one embodiment, forward and rearward drill sections are carried on forward and rearward feet sections for drilling into material in the borehole in both forward and rearward directions, to allow the device to maneuver in any direction underground. In another embodiment, a front drill section has a drill head for cutting into the borehole and conveying cuttings through a center spine tube to an on-board depository for the cuttings. The feet sections of the device employ a foot scroll drive unit to provide radial thrust and synchronous motion to the feet for gripping the borehole wall. The axial thrust mechanism has a tandem set of thrusters in which the second thruster is used to provide the thrust needed for drilling, but not walking. A steering mechanism composed of concentric inner and outer eccentric rings provided with the rearward feet section allow small corrections in both direction and magnitude to the drilling direction as drilling commences.

Myrick, Thomas M.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Auto-Gopher-2 – An Autonomous Wireline Rotary Piezo-Percussive Deep Drilling Mechanism

Drilling deep into the subsurface of planetary bodies in the Solar System for samples acquisition enables critical capabilities for future NASA exploration missions in its quest to understand the origins of the Solar System and potentially the search for life. Such planetary bodies as Mars and Europa are key targets for potential missions that would require reaching great depths. Performing drilling while using minimal mass/volume systems and with low energy consumption are the main requirements that are imposed on such technologies. A wireline deep drill, called Auto-Gopher-2, is currently being developed as a joint effort between JPL and Honeybee Robotics Ltd. The Auto-Gopher II is a wireline rotary piezo-percussive deep drilling mechanism that combines formation breaking by rotating and piezoelectric actuator hammering and cuttings removal by rotating a fluted bit. The hammering mechanism is based on the Ultrasonic/Sonic Drill/Corer (USDC) mechanism that has been developed as an adaptable tool for many drilling and coring applications. The USDC uses an intermediate ball-shape free-mass to transform high frequency vibrations of a piezoelectric transducer horn tip into sonic hammering of the drill bit. The lessons learned from the previous studies are being implemented into the development of the Auto-Gopher-II, an autonomous deep wireline drill with integrated cuttings and sample management and drive electronics. Subsystems of the wireline drill are being developed in parallel at JPL and Honeybee Robotics, Ltd. Issues related to the bit and its ability to retain the cuttings for caching and removal are currently being addressed. This paper presents the development efforts of the piezoelectric actuator, cuttings removal and retention flutes and drive electronics.

Bar-Cohen, Yoseph↗
DOE OSTI2021

ROP model for PDC bits in Geothermal drilling

Geothermal energy is a renewable source of energy, where heat extraction is preferentially balanced with the reservoir's natural heat recharge rate. The objective of this paper is to present and validate a novel rate of penetration (ROP) model for drilling hard and abrasive formations including granite formations for polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) bits. The ROP model was developed based on a derived relationship of a threshold weight on cutter (WOC) and its corresponding depth of cut (DOC) for a single cutter. Laboratory data was used to scale the derived single cutter relationship to a full-hole ROP model for PDC bits. The ROP model includes a non-linear correlation for Phase I (inefficient drilling due to low WOB values) and a linear Phase II (efficient drilling) ROP response to WOB. The ROP model was verified using measured drilling parameter data from Utah FORGE well# 58-32 and data from Chocolate Mountains well # 17-8 in Southern California. When compared to oil and gas well drilling, geothermal drilling in granitic formations can be more difficult and complicated due to rock hardness and high temperatures. PDC bits can increase ROP and optimize drilling for these types of hard formations. This paper provides novel insight into the ROP response of PDC bits to drilling operational parameters.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

The Sensitivity of PBX 9502 to Drilling Operations

Polymer-bonded explosive (PBX) 9502 (95% TATB, 5% Kel-F 800 by weight) is dry-drilled on a CNC milling machine and its thermomechanical response to varying feed rates, drilling speeds, and peck depths with 4 mm and 5 mm diameter drill bits is investigated. The tested samples are affixed to a force sensor that enables recording temporally resolved cutting forces and torques, and a drill-embedded thermocouple yields local temperature data. From the data, an empirical relationship between temperature changes and feed per revolution is developed, which reveals reduced temperatures in higher feed per revolution regimes for PBX 9502. The observed relationship allows extrapolating to temperatures for other hole diameters, indicating increased temperature for smaller diameter drilling across the board. Additional testing was performed with PBX 9501 (95% HMX, 2.5% Estane®, 2.5% BDNPA/BDNPF by weight), albeit over a reduced parameter space, which revealed the opposite behavior for the feed per revolution temperature dependence. It is concluded that both PBX 9502 and PBX 9501 can be dry-drilled efficiently beyond the limits of presently applicable US-DOE standards, where cutting interface temperatures remain far below material critical temperatures. Finally, data reveals that coolant usage in the drilling process for these materials provides a wide safety margin.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2022

2022 GETEM Geothermal Drilling Cost Curve Update: Preprint

The Geothermal Electricity Technology Evaluation Model (GETEM) is an essential tool for the Department of Energy's (DOE) Geothermal Technology Office (GTO) to understand the performance and cost of technologies it is seeking to improve. This detailed model is used for supply curve analyses, assessing the current economic feasibility and Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) of hydrothermal geothermal systems and EGS, and evaluating the potential impact of advanced geothermal technologies. GETEM can be used to estimate the performance and costs of currently available U.S. geothermal power systems. It is also used to estimate the costs of technologies 5 to 20 years in the future, given the direction of potential research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) projects. The model is intended to help GTO determine which proposed RD&D programs and projects might offer the most efficient improvement when using taxpayer funding. The model requires annual updates as well as revisions to reflect the current state of the art. Drilling costs are a significant portion of total geothermal development costs. The current GETEM drilling cost inputs rely on drilling data from 2009 and require an updated analysis of more recent data to ensure they remain representative of current technologies. An updated, more accurate understanding of costs could help the geothermal industry secure project development financing and investment funding and better allow the oil and gas (O&G) industry (both operators and service companies) weigh potential geothermal market participation and customization. This report details recent drilling improvements from the Utah Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) and O&G, comparing drilling performance and costs with values in GETEM, particularly the baseline drilling cost curves. Though drilling performance at FORGE has improved significantly, we did not find associated cost decreases that would justify lowering the GETEM baseline cost curves as of now.

API↗
DOE OSTI2022

2022 GETEM Geothermal Drilling Cost Curve Update

The Geothermal Electricity Technology Evaluation Model (GETEM) is an essential tool for the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) to understand the performance and cost of technologies it is seeking to improve. This detailed model is used for supply curve analyses, assessing the current economic feasibility and levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of hydrothermal geothermal systems and enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), and evaluating the potential impact of advanced geothermal technologies. GETEM can be used to estimate the performance and costs of currently available U.S. geothermal power systems. It is also used to estimate the costs of technologies 5 to 20 years in the future, given the direction of potential research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) projects. The model is intended to help GTO determine which proposed RD&D programs and projects might offer the most efficient improvement when using taxpayer funding. The model requires annual updates as well as revisions to reflect the current state of the art. Drilling costs are a significant portion of total geothermal development costs. The current GETEM drilling cost inputs rely on drilling data from 2009 and require an updated analysis of more recent data to ensure they remain representative of current technologies. An updated, more accurate understanding of costs could help the geothermal industry secure project development financing and investment funding and better allow the oil and gas (O&G) industry (both operators and service companies) to weigh potential geothermal market participation and customization. This report details recent drilling improvements from the Utah Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) and the O&G sector, comparing drilling performance and costs with values in GETEM, particularly the baseline drilling cost curves. Although drilling performance at FORGE has improved significantly, we did not find associated cost decreases that would justify lowering the GETEM baseline cost curves at this time.

API↗
DOE OSTI2018

Utah FORGE: Drilling Data for Student Competition

Diagnostic drilling data (Pason log files) from Well 58-32 (previously labeled MU-ESW1), which was drilled near Milford Utah during Phase 2B of the FORGE Project to confirm geothermal reservoir characteristics met requirements for the final FORGE site. This dataset includes both raw, unprocessed drilling data recorded at 1Hz and a processed version downscaled to ~0.3m (1 ft) intervals. Diagnostic drilling data were collected to obtain useful information regarding the nature of the subsurface materials and performance of the drilling rig and drilling bits, including rate of penetration (ROP), weight on bit, temperature, pump pressure, etc.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1974

Rock melting technology and geothermal drilling

National awareness of the potential future shortages in energy resources has heightened interest in exploration and utilization of a variety of geothermal energy (GTE) reservoirs. The status of conventional drilling of GTE wells is reviewed briefly and problem areas which lead to higher drilling costs are identified and R and D directions toward solution are suggested. In the immediate future, an expanded program of drilling in GTE formations can benefit from improvements in drilling equipment and technology normally associated with oil or gas wells. Over a longer time period, the new rock-melting drill bits being developed as a part of the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory's Subterrene Program offer new solutions to a number of problems which frequently hamper GTE drilling, including the most basic problem - high temperature. Two of the most favorable characteristics of rock-melting penetrators are their ability to operate effectively in hot rock and produce glass linings around the hole as an integral part of the drilling process. The technical advantages to be gained by use of rock-melting penetrators are discussed in relation to the basic needs for GTE wells.

Rowley, J. C.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The reverse laser drilling of transparent materials

Within a limited range of incident laser-beam intensities, laser drilling of a sapphire wafer initiates on the surface of the wafer where the laser beam exits and proceeds upstream in the laser beam to the surface where the laser beam enters the wafer. This reverse laser drilling is the result of the constructive interference between the laser beam and its reflected component on the exit face of the wafer. Constructive interference occurs only at the exit face of the sapphire wafer because the internally reflected laser beam suffers no phase change there. A model describing reverse laser drilling predicts the ranges of incident laser-beam intensity where no drilling, reverse laser drilling, and forward laser drilling can be expected in various materials. The application of reverse laser drilling in fabricating feed-through conductors in silicon-on-sapphire wafers for a massively parallel processer is described.

Anthony, T. R.↗